University Institutes of Technology

The University Institutes of Technology or IUT (Instituts Universitaires de Technologie) are parts of the university system in France. The IUT were created in 1966. There are 108 IUTs which are attached to 80 universities including the ones in the French Overseas Territories and Departments. It is important to note that, contrary to what their name suggests, these IUTs are not engineering schools and are not authorised by the French State to award an engineering degree or a Bachelor of technology.

The IUTs allow the preparation of a three-year career-focused vocational undergraduate diploma called Bachelor universitaire de technologie. They are similar to the BTEC Higher Nationals Diploma. After the three-year IUT diploma, students are expected to enter the job market. Some choose to continue their studies on a post-graduate course at university.

Until 2020, the IUTs allowed the preparation of a two-year undergraduate technical diploma called Diplôme universitaire de technologie or DUT. After finishing their DUT, students had the option to work, do a one-year professional degree called Licence Professionnelle (a course also offered by IUTs), or further their studies in a university.