Diploma Recognition in France

Decision of March 4, 2025

The Ministry of Higher Education recognizes that a Master’s degree in psychology from SFU is “equivalent to national diplomas” and has officially authorized one of our graduates to practice. (See decision: here).

In a ruling issued on July 19, 2024, the Administrative Court of Paris determined that, by conducting a review exceeding the limits set by current regulations and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), “the administration committed a fault liable to incur its responsibility.” As a result, the court ordered the State to compensate SFU Paris for the damages suffered, amounting to €185,703.

Prior Rulings:

• June 29, 2023: The Administrative Court of Rouen ordered the Minister of Higher Education and Research to grant a graduate from SFU authorization to practice as a psychologist in France.
• February 20, 2024: The Administrative Court of Appeal of Douai ruled that “the training provided by SFU Paris is equivalent to the diploma awarded by French universities, which allows the professional use of the title of psychologist, and therefore meets the requirements of Article 44(I) of the Law of July 25, 1985.”
• May 24, 2024: The Administrative Court of Paris ordered the Minister of Higher Education and Research to grant two more SFU graduates authorization to practice as psychologists in France.

10 Out of 10 Court Rulings in Favor of SFU

To date, all 10 court decisions have ruled in favor of SFU Paris.

We now trust in the wisdom of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research to comply with the law and recognize the equivalence of every diploma submitted for official recognition.

And, anyway :

ECTS credits

SFU-Paris is the French branch of SFU-Vienna. Since SFU-Vienna is duly accredited by a member state of the European Union, Austria, the ECTS credits it issues are transferable to all public and private universities in the E.U., subject only to the agreement of the host university, especially insofar as places are available. (See the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research website: https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/eees-les-instruments-de-la-politique-46489). As a result, at any time during their studies, SFU-Paris students can use their ECTS credits to continue their studies at a public university. Thus, a student who has completed a first year at SFU-Paris can apply to enroll in the 2nd year at any other institution, etc. Every year, many SFU-Paris students obtain bridges to public universities.

Bachelor “ Psychology ” : 180 ECTS credits | Bac +3 | UNESCO ISCED Level 6

Thanks to the ECTS credit conversion system (see above) resulting from the Bologna Process (https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/eees-les-instruments-de-la-politique-46489), SFU is authorized to award ECTS credits corresponding to the Bachelor’s degree (Bac +3). To date, several SFU students have benefited from this system and are enrolled in Master’s programs at public universities.

Master “ Psychologie clinique et Psychothérapie ” : 120 crédits ECTS | Bac +5 | UNESCO ISCED Level 7

• The ECTS credits obtained at SFU at Master level enable their holders to enroll in postgraduate studies and pursue doctoral studies.
• To use the title of psychologist in France, authorization must be obtained from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.