Bachelor or BTS: which one to choose?

Two qualifications, two levels

The BTS (brevet de technicien supérieur) is a national qualification, like the licence or the master's degree. Bac+2 for the BTS, Bac+3 for the bachelor's: that's the first thing to remember, before looking at the levels in detail. The BTS is completed in two years after the baccalaureate and corresponds to level 5 of the RNCP (France's National Register of Professional Certifications); the bachelor's, for its part, corresponds to level 6. This national recognition of the BTS comes, at a public institution, with State-subsidised training.

The BTS is also the most sought-after study format on Parcoursup, and several business specialisations are among the most in demand:

• operational business management
• customer relationship negotiation and digitalisation
• sales techniques

It's a short course, designed to train you quickly for a specific job.

A bachelor's recognition isn't limited to a title: it's verified diploma by diploma, through State accreditation, RNCP listing and, where awarded, the Grade de Licence. RNCP levels, from Bac+2 to Bac+5, allow each qualification to be precisely placed. The Bachelor in Business at Excelia Business School ticks all three boxes: it is State-accredited, listed on the RNCP at level 6 and leads to a Grade de Licence.

What each pathway gives you

The BTS focuses on immediate specialisation: in two years, you train for a specific job, with a tightly focused programme built around operational skills identified right from the start. This is a real advantage when your project is already decided.

A business school's bachelor's degree takes the opposite path. The first part of the course lays a general foundation in business, management and marketing, giving you time to refine your project before choosing a specialisation towards the end of the course. The full range of specialisations on offer can be found on the programme page. This is the logic behind the Bachelor in Business: building a profile progressively, rather than fixing it from the first year.

Cost, meanwhile, deserves to be looked at head-on rather than avoided. A BTS taken at a public institution benefits from State-subsidised training; a business school, for its part, charges tuition fees that are significantly higher than the fees for public-sector training. To gauge what this actually represents for your budget, our study cost simulator gives you a personalised estimate, with no obligation.

And afterwards: continuing your studies or working

A BTS doesn't lock you into a Bac+2 level. After earning the qualification, two pathways open up: joining a business school through direct entry to study for a bachelor's degree, or continuing towards a licence professionnelle. Our dedicated page sets out how to join a business school after a BTS.

The Bachelor in Business at Excelia Business School is a good illustration of this pathway: it welcomes school leavers straight after the baccalaureate as well as Bac+2-level students, including those coming from a BTS. Want to compare exactly what the programme contains before deciding? You can request the brochure to have it in front of you.

On leaving the bachelor's programme, two paths open up in turn: entering the job market directly, in operational roles, or continuing into a master's cycle to specialise further. Two years or three, the choice is less about level than about pace: whichever suits you today doesn't stop you shifting gear tomorrow.