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VES Scheme

What is the VES scheme?

La Validation des études supérieures (VES), or 'Validation of Higher Educational Studies' in English, is a special-dispensation scheme which allows candidates to obtain either partly or totally a diploma thanks to their studies completed in France or abroad, in a private or public organisation or institution, regardless of the stipulations and duration.

The VAPP scheme is governed by Book VI of the Education Code, articles R.613-32 to R.613-37, and modified by the decree n°2023-1275 dated 27th December 2023 which sets out the conditions to obtain a diploma issued by a higher education establishment.

The scheme is open to everyone who wishes to access a diploma (at a certain point, not from the very beginning) or obtain either partially or totally a diploma, certificate or professional qualification.

All candidates can, every calendar year:

  • apply once for one diploma
  • apply up to three times for 3 different diplomas

At Cnam, VES applications are systematically studied by the regional Cnam centre of the candidate. VES applications cannot be processed for a module that the candidate has failed. VES applications do not except candidates from having to apply to the diploma in question, but it can replace an eliminatory mark in a module the student was already enrolled in.

If a VES is granted, it is only valid for the specific diploma in question. If there are multiple VES applications, each one constitutes its own file and therefore a different notification.

As a guide, the average application processing time at Cnam can vary between 1 and 6 months. During this period, your Cnam centre stays your main representative. Any incomplete application may delay its processing time.

Contact with an expert advisor for Validation of Experience (link in French).

Key Steps in the VES Procedure at Cnam

At Cnam, there are 4 types of VES application, according to the candidate's end goal:

  • Application to access a diploma at a certain point, not from the very beginning: for example, a student who wishes to enrol in the 3rd year of a bachelor's course without having validated the 2nd year of the course in question. The VES scheme takes into account the candidate's previous studies to enrol in the 3rd year.
  • Application to partially validate a diploma: for example, a candidate aims to obtain a diploma and wishes to be dispensed from certain parts of the course given their previous studies. The VES scheme takes into account some of the modules from the previous qualification.
  • Application to validate a diploma in its entirety: for example, a candidate has already obtained a diploma in another institution, most often abroad. This diploma is the same as a diploma at Cnam. The VES scheme allows the continuation of the candidate's studies at a higher level at Cnam.
  • Application to substitute a module of a Cnam diploma: for example, a student on a course at Cnam wishes to merge two modules. The VESS scheme enables them to validate one module instead of another module that appears in the course programme of the diploma in question.

It is important to note that the VES application does not except the candidate from having to apply to the diploma in question. Certain VES applications are recurring: for example, people who hold a BTS (Brevet de technicien supérieur) in one domain and who wish to access the 3rd year of a bachelor's course in a related domain. To do this, there are notes de règlement VES (specific VES instructions) which automate the processing progress. All of these notes de règlements constitute a VES legal precedent at Cnam.

The process can be broken down into 4 key steps, detailed below:

1-un - rouge Get in contact with Cnam

Depending on your academic career and your professional/personal project, the advisor will identify the equivalence to your desired diploma, advise you about the process at Cnam, key dates, stipulations, etc. and finally support you in the overall VES application process.

There are 3 different VES forms available at Cnam depending on your application situation: a classic application, a light application and a conditional application for apprenticeships (specific calendar and dates).

Talk with the VES advisor at the nearest Cnam centre in your region.

2-deux-rouge Complete the VES Application

A Cnam advisor assesses the feasibility of your application, and will then invite you to complete the form as an editable PDF document and provide the necessary supporting documents.

  • "Classic" VES application means that each application will be individually studied one by one. You should pay particular attention to completing the summary table, clearly indicating the correlation between your previous diplomas achieved and the Cnam modules/diploma you are applying for.
  • "Light" VES application (via legal precedent) refers to an internal VES note de règlement at Cnam which automates your diploma being recognised. The application is less involved, and the supporting documents you provide match with those required for the exact diploma in question, in keeping with the name of the exact diploma title stated in the legal precedent and any other document mentioned in the legal precedent.
  • "Conditional as part of an apprenticeship programme" VES application refers to an internal VES note de règlement at Cnam which allows you to pre-enrol on a course before obtaining the necessary entry requirement diploma for the course in question. The application is less involved, and a final positive decision of your application is effective subject to the express condition of producing a copy of the achievement diploma/certificate within 6 months.

In order to fully showcase the nature of your academic knowledge and skills, all supporting documents are welcomed when studying your VES application in relation to the training courses on offer at Cnam: Transcript of Marks, copies of diplomas, detailed content of previous courses, training course certificates... Additionally, we also highly recommend providing the ERIC-NARIC certificate (European Network of Information Centres - National Academic Recognition Information Centres) as well as the translation of achieved diplomas abroad (translated by a sworn translator). We also welcome any other supporting documents that you believe support your application.

3-trois-rouge Save the VES Application

The VES application is presided over by the Cnam centre nearest to your home location. It is imputed into the DIVES platform by the regional Cnam centre, including for VES applications that use the VES legal precedent for which there is automated processing.

4-quatre-rouge Receive a decision about your application

The VES application is studied by a head teacher of the diploma, who acts under the control of the teaching commission of the diploma in question. They determine the extent to which the application is accepted. They can communicate recommendations or advice to you in order to facilitate the next stages of your academic journey.

There are three possible outcomes of your VES application: complete validation of application, partial validation of application or application refusal.

You will receive an answer for each VES application for a different diploma. Each of the VES decisions, signed by Cnam's Administrator General, is made available to the Cnam centre on the DIVES platform. The Cnam centre informs you of the decision.

If the decision is positive, the candidate can enrol in the course in question.