Study in FRANCE

While most people know of France, from a cultural and gastronomic perspective, there is more to France. Most study abroad aspirants are flocking to this beautiful and scenic country in Europe for studies. You may feel inquisitive as to why. Let us explore the top reasons why one must choose to study in France. 

• The tuition fees at France’s top universities are extremely attractive for international learners. 

• You get outstanding research opportunities in France. 

• France happens to be one of the top economic powers. 

• The French lifestyle is one of the most popular ones in the world. 

• After completing a degree in France, you get direct access to any of the 570 French companies operating in India. 

• In France, over 1,700 courses are English-taught. 

• If you happen to learn French while pursuing courses in France, it helps you in over 30 countries that speak the language. 

• The environment is extremely friendly for entrepreneurs. 

• The courses are professionally aligned, so that you can land lucrative work opportunities after completing them. 

As international students, it is extremely crucial for you to know about the education system in France. If you are looking forward to a rewarding educational and cultural experience, then this knowledge is non-negotiable. 

The French education system follows a three-tiered approach. It is similar to the Bologna process. The three-tier framework includes:

As international students aiming to study in France, you must know about the different institutions in France. They are listed below. 

• Universities 

These institutions are ideal for students who want to pursue science, humanities, and law.

• Grandes Ecoles 

These are aimed towards highly competitive fields like business, public administration, and engineering. 

• Specialised Schools 

These are mainly vocational course-oriented and offer subjects and courses in fashion design, culinary arts, and hospitality.  

Those students who are eager to study in France must know about the top student cities, as the cost of living and education vary according to the choice made. 

• Toulouse

• Besançon

• Montpellier 

• Rennes

• Caen

• Grenoble

• Lyon 

• Nantes 

• Strasbourg

• Nancy

These are the top 10 cities in France, where students from all across the globe settle for the duration of their studies. Paris happens to be on the expensive side, so it is not ranked amongst the top 10. 

With almost 3,500 institutions operating in France, it is more than just a place for fashion, culture, and cuisine. If you aim to study in France, you ought to choose courses and universities that align with your aptitude and career goals. For now, here is a list of universities and top courses offered. 

Before explaining the process of admission, it makes sense to know about the admission intakes. So, here are the details. 

France mainly has two intakes:

• Fall/ September – Deadline is October – December of the previous year to start the process of application. 

• Spring/ January – Deadline is March – August of the previous year to start the process of application.

Those students who are eager to start their academic journey must follow a certain stepwise process for successful application. Let us read about the same underneath. 

• Choose your courses and specialisations. This step is extremely crucial, and one can successfully accomplish the same, if you choose to take an aptitude test beforehand. 

• The next step involves shortlisting the universities. It is very important as the choice will decide your future course. 

• Once you finalise the university, you must find out the admission requirements. 

• Apply through the French Embassy in your country or online, through Campus France. You may get most common queries answered, there itself. 

• Start compiling all your documents. Take note of any special requirements as well, and comply with the same. 

• Non-EU students must pass the Preliminary Admission or ‘Demande d'Admission Préalable – DAP’ to apply to French institutions. 

• After you receive the offer of acceptance, you must apply for your French visa. Contact the French Embassy for the visa. If you require any assistance in this process, you can connect with a study abroad advisor, like Admissify. 

You will be amazed to know that every year, the French Embassy and French companies award more than 500 scholarships to meritorious students. These are available at all the levels of education – undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral. Let us find out about some of them here. 

There are many other scholarships which you can avail yourself of. To know all the details, it is important to work with a consultant, like Admissify. 

Cost of Studying in France

Those students intending to study in France must know about the costs involved. There are public universities, private ones, and elite ones, like the Grandes Écoles. And the cost at each one of these differs. Here is a breakdown of the cost of studying at French universities. 

These tuition fees, as mentioned in the table above, span across bachelors’ to master’s and doctoral level courses. The fees at public universities are much lower than those at private universities. 

Cost of Living In France 

The cost of living in France will depend on the university you are enrolled on and the city where you will be staying. Let us take a look at the various cost heads. 

Here are the various student accommodation options for international students. The costs will vary according to the city you stay in and also the type of accommodation you choose. On-campus accommodations will always be cheaper. 

After you have completed your postgraduate level studies from a French institution, you will be eligible for a 12-24 month post-study work visa. 

• This allows graduates to stay in France and look for jobs. 

• There are other long-term visas as well, which any PG student from France can avail of. These allow for a 5-year stay. 

• The booming sectors in France for international students are engineering, technology, and business.