Expat Student helps you understand the issues involved in choosing your specialities for your higher education projects abroad

Since the baccalaureate reform, it is from Year 11 onwards that your child needs to think about their career path.

Indeed, that year he already owed determine one's specialities for her first year of Sixth Form before refining it their choices at the end of Year 12 for Year 13. 

These choices are going to motivated by the pupil's interests and aptitudes for the subjects, but also through their post-secondary higher education study abroad project. 

Although it is often difficult at such a young age to envisage one's future career path, it is essential to know the main points right now so as not to close off any possibilities and to maximise one's chances to enrol on the training course of their choice.

The issue of choosing specialities concerns all high school students, whether their plans are to pursue higher education abroad or in France. Indeed, universities abroad may demand academic requirements in their admission conditions with subjects that must have been studied at high school and sometimes with grade requirements. Most of these universities, since the Baccalaureate reform in France, have updated their admission conditions which will apply from the next academic year.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you check right after the Second World War that choice of specialisms your child is leaning towards compatible with the requirements provided by each ofthe training courses he is aiming for abroad. These can indeed vary from one country to another, from one university to another and can also differ from those requested in France for comparable courses.

We are giving you a few points to consider 

with concrete examples for higher education abroad:

How important is mathematics for business studies?

One of the recurring questions asked by our pupils and their parents concerns whether or not it is necessary to continue with mathematics right through to Terminale to continue studies in a Business School.

• There is no standard answer to this question as each university has its own requirements.
• However, it should be noted that, most of the time, you will need to have studied maths at least up to Year 12. That is what is required, for example, when applying in England for a Bachelor's degree in International Managementt of Warwick. Of course, even if it is not compulsory, continuing with Maths in Year 13, by taking the Further Maths option for example, could strengthen the application.
• Other universities require students to have taken the Maths specialism until the end of Terminale or to have chosen the Complementary Maths option in Terminale.  That will be the case if your child wants to study International Business à Rotterdam Erasmus in the Netherlands or take a training course in Management à McGill in Canada.

The choice of taking the Maths specialism or the Additional Maths option in Year 13 must therefore be made by considering all the courses to which your child plans to apply, whilst of course also taking into account their standard in Maths and their ability to succeed in the Maths specialism. versus Further Mathematics.

Which science subjects for veterinary studies?

Requirements may vary here too. Thusif you wish to apply in the United Kingdom It is strongly recommended to take the Physics/Chemistry and Life and Earth Sciences specialisms up to Year 13 (Terminale), and the Maths specialism in Year 12 (Première), and ideally to continue into Year 13 (Terminale) with the complementary maths option.

Are there country-specific differences for studying international relations?

If your child is considering studying international relations and politics, be aware that universities can also require maths here too. So to apply for International Relations and Organisations à Leiden In the Netherlands, it is recommended to have taken Maths until the final year of lycée (Terminale), either as a specialisation or as the complementary Maths option.

With regard to the courses for which there is no requirement or recommendation to pursue a specialism, your child can prioritise the subjects most relevant to their choice of study and in which they feel most comfortable and will be able to excel.

We would like to point out that there is obviously no standard career path and when we advise families We take all these criteria into account while always prioritising the pupil's well-being and aspirations.

Still hesitating? Need tailored advice?

Any questions about training courses and higher education abroad? 

We offer you a free one-to-one consultation with an average duration of 30 minutes to discuss your child's study plans with you and help you choose their specialisms. 

 ****************

Expat Student supports you in all your higher education projects abroad by offering you individual and bespoke support. 

We help you apply stress-free at prestigious universities ouch United Kingdom, in Europe and in Canada in courses as diverse as International Business, Management, Engineering, English Literature, History, International Relations and Politics, International Law, Medicine, Veterinary Studies. 

Get a free remote consultation by contacting us by email contact@expatstudent.fr  or by phone on + 33 (1) 34 84 70 94

SFollow us on Facebook