Définition
The “Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées” (DESS) is an old diploma delivering a fifth year of higher education, oriented towards professional practice.
This diploma normally validated one year of training and was accessible after obtaining a “Maîtrise” diploma or equivalent. From 2003 to 2006, the implementation of the three-cycle system (bachelor/master/doctorate) had replaced this diploma by the professional Master, whose training proceeds in four semesters and belongs to the second cycle.
Remarque
This third cycle degree was classified at level I in the French classification of education levels and at level 7 in the international standard one (ISCED 2011).