On a brochure, everything looks the same: Bachelor, license, MSc, MBA, "Bac+5", "master's degree". On a CV, it is not the same. In France and in much of French-speaking Africa, the official framework is not that of marketing. It is the LMD: license, master, doctorate.
MBA, MSc or Master's: behind the acronyms, the same rights are not always attached to the degree. Here is what to check before paying for a program.
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Professional Certificate in Store, Warehouse and Supply Management
| Training | Current level | Nature | Typical audience | To check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| License | Bac+3 | Academic grade | Students | Authorization / institution |
| Bachelor | Often Bac+3 | Variable by country and institution | Students | Grade, recognition, official lists |
| Master | Bac+5 | Degree and/or grade according to the system | After Bac+3 | Authorization, grade, further studies |
| MSc / MA | Often Bac+5 | Variable | Specialization | Institution, country, program status |
| MBA | Variable by country | Management training | Professionals | Institution, level, experience required |
The framework that matters: the LMD
Onisep reminds us of the three degrees for France: license at Bac+3 (180 ECTS credits), master at Bac+5 (120 additional credits), doctorate at Bac+8. UEMOA adopted the same scheme in 2007 for the universities of the Union: license Bac+3, master Bac+5, doctorate Bac+8. Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar presents it to its students this way: three diplomas, three cycles. CAMES has, for its part, supported this architecture in the African and Malagasy space.
This is the language understood by universities, many equivalence commissions, and some competitive exams. A marketing title that does not correspond is not "false" by nature. It is simply harder to read for a recruiter or an administration.
License and Bachelor: same level, not always the same degree
The license is the first university degree. In six semesters, it can aim for a continuation in a master's program or, in a professional form, a quicker entry into the job market. It is not "less good" than a Bachelor: it is the name of the degree.
The term Bachelor's, taken alone, does not allow one to know the academic recognition of the degree. Depending on the country and the institution, a Bachelor's may or may not confer an academic grade equivalent to a Bachelor's degree. In France, the ministry publishes lists of schools authorized to issue a degree conferring the grade of Bachelor's or Master's. A Bachelor's on this list does not have the same status as a Bachelor's at Bac+3 that is not on it.
Therefore, a Bachelor's does not automatically equate to a Bachelor's degree. Two programs may carry the same name and open different doors.
Bachelor A
Bac+3, and the program confers the grade of Bachelor's degree (after evaluation and inclusion on an official list, in France for example). Further studies and certain equivalencies are clearer.
Bachelor B
Bac+3 as well, but without a bachelor's degree. The diploma can still be useful in the job market. It does not automatically open the same doors as a university degree.
The useful question is therefore not "Bachelor or degree?". It is: does this diploma confer a university grade, in which country, by which institution, and for what duration of authorization?
Master, MSc, MA: what the acronym does not say
The university master's degree is, in France, a national Bac+5 diploma. It should not be confused with the master's grade, which other Bac+5 programs can obtain after evaluation. Onisep warns that some schools use "master", "Master of Science" or "Master of Arts" without the program being a national diploma, nor conferring the corresponding grade.
The designations MSc, MA or Master of Science do not, by themselves, allow one to determine the academic status of a diploma. Internationally, a Master of Arts can be an official university diploma, issued by a recognized university. In France, the same acronym can designate something entirely different. It is necessary to verify the institution that issues it, the country concerned, and the recognition that the program benefits from.
The MBA is not a more prestigious master's degree
The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a management training designed, in principle, for professionals who already have experience. A young graduate of 23 years and a manager of 38 years do not aim for the same object. Taking an MBA without understanding the difference with a professional master's degree is a common and costly mistake.
If you are in initial training, a master's degree (university or professional) is often the right level. If you are already managing a team, an MBA may make sense, provided that the institution, the pace, and the target audience correspond to your situation, not to a phantom hierarchy of acronyms.
And what if my diploma comes from another country?
For a Gabonese student following a French, British, Senegalese or other program, the acronym is never enough. Five points to consider, in order:
- the country where the diploma is actually issued;
- the status of the institution (public university, private school, offshore campus, online institution);
- the organization that issues the diploma, if it is not the school where you are taking the courses;
- the accreditation or recognition of the program, not just that of the brand;
- the possible equivalence in the country where you want to use it: competitions, further studies, public service, professional order.
A program followed from Libreville may be British on paper, French by agreement, or Gabonese by authorization. It is not the same thing. Ask for the issuing country before paying.
What to check before deciding
- What grade (bachelor's, master's, doctorate) does the program claim, and who certifies it?
- Is the program listed on an official list, for what period?
- What further studies or competitions does this title make possible in your country?
- Are you in initial training, or already active, in which case an MBA does not have the same meaning?
A diploma indicates a level, a field, sometimes a degree. It does not guarantee a position. The rest depends on the targeted profession, experience, and local recognition of the institution.
Official sources
- Onisep, "The degrees (license, master, doctorate)"
- Onisep, "The school master"
- Official Bulletin ESR, decree of February 12, 2026 (NOR ESRS2604539A), lists of schools authorized to confer the grade of bachelor's or master's degree
- UEMOA Directive No. 03/2007 adopting the LMD system
- Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, "LMD: user manual"
- African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES)
To go further: how to validate an online diploma with a recruiter
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