[em-bee]

well, i am not trying to claim that they are equivalent, but that they could be, or should.

i was not aware that the french engineering schools were at that level.

so in fact that means that france has achieved what everyone else should aspire to.

[atxbcp]

they are not equivalent, and they couldn't be, shouldn't be, and won't be. Most engineering schools recruit after two years of highly theoretical education in mathematics and physics (classes préparatoires) and the level in mathematics and physics is much higher than the undergraduate level in the university. You're being misled by the term "engineering school" which makes it sound like this is some practical / technical education, when it's in fact the exact opposite.