In France, there are two tracks of high education: universities and Grand ecole. Whoever gets a high school deploma can go to universities. Grand ecoles are heritage from Napoleon. They are the elites of France. After high school, the best ones (advised by the high school teachers) go to preparatory for two year, after that they pass a national exam (very much similar to chinese gaokao) to get into grand ecoles. The best ones go to the best schools (Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Normal Superieur)
Bachelor fron universities take 4 yeay to get an equivalent of BA. Master degree is called in France D.E.A which normally takes one year. DEA alows you to enrolled into a PhD program
