Overview
The Diplôme d'Accès aux Études Universitaires (DAEU) is a French qualification that gives holders the same rights as a baccalauréat, particularly for access to higher education. It is aimed at adults who left initial education without a baccalauréat and now want to resume higher study, sit administrative competitive exams (concours) that require a baccalauréat, or gain a diploma certifying their general education level. It is delivered by universities through continuing-education arrangements, under a framework set by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Who can take it
Candidates must have interrupted their initial studies at least two years before applying, and meet one of these conditions:
Be at least 20 years old by 1 October of the exam year, with two years of salaried professional activity or two years of social-security contributions (which can include unemployment periods registered with Pôle Emploi, raising a child, national service, vocational training participation, or high-level sports activity), or
Be 24 years old or older by 1 October of the exam year.
Foreign candidates need a valid residence permit as of 31 October of the exam year. Candidates with disabilities can request a partial or full exemption from these entry conditions.
Structure
| Option | Compulsory subjects | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| DAEU A | French, a living foreign language | Literary, legal, social studies |
| DAEU B | French, mathematics | Scientific |
Each option requires at least four subjects in total (2 compulsory plus 2 optional), corresponding to a minimum of 225 hours of teaching. Optional subjects vary by university: DAEU A optional subjects can include history, geography or mathematics; DAEU B optional subjects can include a living language, physics, chemistry, or life and earth sciences.
Scoring and results
The DAEU is modular and its units can be banked (capitalisables): the full diploma can be obtained over up to four consecutive years. Two formulas exist: an overall average of at least 10/20 across all subjects, or a minimum of 10/20 in each individual subject. Some universities also allow the DAEU to be obtained through recognition of prior experience (VAE) or through distance-learning preparation.
Recognition
The DAEU gives the same rights as the baccalauréat, notably for access to higher education, since it is granted under the same regulatory framework (Article D. 613-6 of the Code de l'éducation, and the Arrêté of 3 August 1994).
How to register
The DAEU is delivered by individual universities' continuing-education departments, so registration and the specific optional subjects on offer are handled at the university where a candidate wants to study, not through a single national portal.
Preparation tips
Because the diploma is modular and can be spread over up to four years, and can in some cases be completed via VAE or distance learning, candidates who are working or have other commitments can plan their subjects and pace around their existing schedule, subject to each university's own offering.
What is the minimum age to take the DAEU?
Candidates must be at least 20 with two years of qualifying professional or equivalent activity, or at least 24 with no activity requirement, by 1 October of the exam year, and must have left initial education at least two years earlier.
What is the difference between DAEU A and DAEU B?
DAEU A is the literary/legal/social-studies option (compulsory French and a living language); DAEU B is the scientific option (compulsory French and mathematics). Each needs at least four subjects and 225 hours of teaching.
Can I take several years to complete the DAEU?
Yes. Its units are modular and can be banked over a maximum of four consecutive years.
Does the DAEU really count as equivalent to the baccalauréat?
Yes, according to the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, it gives the same rights as the baccalauréat, in particular for access to higher education.