Grandes écoles
"Grandes écoles" can be public or private, but the most prestigious ones are public. These institutions operate mostly in engineering studies and business administration. Universities and "grandes écoles" compete in these two fields. Some of them report to the Ministry of Higher Education, such as Arts et Métiers ParisTech and École Centrale Paris, and a few to the Ministry of Defense, such as École Polytechnique. Several private "grandes écoles" are members of the "Conférence des Grandes Écoles", a lobbying group representing grandes écoles. Most "grandes écoles" can be joined after following two years of "classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles", an intensive program following the "baccalauréat". A selective examination after the two additional years is taken to enter a "grande école". Following the Bologna Process, this full 5 year courses (two years of preparatory classes plus 3 years in engineering or business school) is equivalent to a master's degree.