STUDY IN FRANCE
Study in France, where education is an exquisite masterpiece.
In France, let your academic journey unfold amidst the elegance of knowledge, where history, art, and science converge to shape a truly unique educational experience.
FACTS
Learn everything you need to know about studying in France
CAPITAL
Paris
Currency
Euro
Language
French
International Students
370,000
Population
68 million
Universities & Colleges
3500
Why Study in France?
Join a community of 2.5 million students of which 12% are of foreign origin to study in the fourth most popular higher education destination. Earn highly regarded qualifications in a wide range of subjects and work in the fifth largest economy in the world. Study abroad in France.
A Popular Choice Among International Students: Statista listed France as the fourth-top host destination for international students during 2022, while in a study by Campus France, 9 out of 10 students vouched for higher education in the country. Further, in the latest edition of the Global Student Satisfaction Awards by Study portals, France scored a 4.02 in student satisfaction, on a scale of 5. France is the popular choice among students when it comes to studying abroad.
Main Cities Live in some of the famous cities like Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Montpellier, Strasbourg, and Lille while you study abroad in France.
Universities
Here are some of the best universities in France where academic excellence takes center stage!
- Université PSL
- Institut Polytechnique de Paris
- Sorbonne Universite
- Université Paris-Saclay
- ESSCA
- ESC Clermont Business School
- Université Paris Cité
- Universite Grenoble Alpes (UGA)
- Sciences Po
- Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
- AgroParisTech
- Aix-Marseille Universite
- Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology
- Avignon Universite
- Centrale Lille
- Collège de Paris
- College de France
- IMT Atlantique
- Universite Claude Bernard Lyon1
- Universite de Lorraine
- Universite de Montpellier
- University de Bordeaux
- And Many more
Ready to Explore the Options and Move Ahead with your Educational Voyage
Courses
Popular courses that you can opt to Study Abroad in France are:
France study visa consultants at UniApplica provides you with loads of options matching your profile to choose from.
Turn your Study Abroad Dream to Degrees abroad in France
Why study in France?
- Rich Tradition of Intellect: France boasts of a vibrant cultural heritage and great minds that were born, educated in, and later worked for the country to win no less than 71 Nobel Prizes besides other international recognitions. Students stand a chance to imbibe this tradition of intellect during their study in France.
- High Academic Standards: Excellence in the French academic system is due to the government’s long- standing education policy focused on delivering quality. The result is visible in the consistently high rankings of French institutions in various global university ranking systems. In the QS World University Rankings 2024, 35 French institutions occupy positions of pride.
- In France, Study in English: Despite being the leading non-English-speaking higher education destination, there are more than 1,500 English-taught programs to study in France. So, you can take advantage of the fine French academic system even if you are not proficient in the language.
- Reasonable Cost of Pursuing A French Education: The cost of attending a French higher education institution is affordable in most cases. Although there is a difference in fees payable by home or EU students and international students, the availability of scholarships lowers the burden to a great extent.
- Experience The Ultimate Dream Destination of Travel-Enthusiasts While You Study in France: Yes, France is the most-visited country every year and Paris is on the bucket list of every travel enthusiast ever. 89 million people travel annually to experience the culinary and cultural heritage of France besides its scenic beauty. And it is for you to soak in while you pursue an education in France.
- Learning French Adds a Feather to Your Cap: Even if you signed up for an English-taught program to study in France, building some level of proficiency in the language broadens your horizon in terms of career opportunities as French is the official language in 28 countries, besides being the official language of the Olympics, the language of the UN as well as a working language of the EU.
- OECD Above-Average Quality of Life: Yes, the Quality of life in France is above the OECD average, making it a comfortable country to live, study and work, despite the generally affordable cost of living in the country.
Now, with so many advantages in favor of your study abroad in the France plan, you wouldn’t pass up the prospect of pursuing your dream, would you?
Study in the France with guidance from UniApplica
Bespoke Services
At UniApplica, we consider the Study in France dreams of each of our students a priority to create a bespoke plan starting from program selection through application and visa processing to settling down in the country.
Wide Range of Options Available
Review a wide range of higher education institutions under the expert guidance of the UniApplica Study in France Consultants to choose the ones that fit your interests and priorities the most.
Test Preparations
We will advise you to choose the right standardized admission tests to study in France, apart from helping with customized test prep guidance.
Documents Guidance
The UniApplica Study in France Consultants will guide putting together all admission and visa processing documents. The experts at UniApplica will also assess your documents required to study abroad in France to ensure that they are approved at every point of scrutiny.
Assistance with Scholarships
Get your profile matched with the best-fit scholarship option by the UniApplica Study in France Consultants to ensure an award.
Interview Preparations
Further, polish your interview skills under the expertise of the Study in France Consultants at UniApplica to face the French admission and visa interviews confidently.
Post-Departure Help
To make your study in France journey comfortable, we will help you find convenient accommodation in the country before your arrival. The last-minute briefing from the UniApplica Study in France Consultants will ensure that travelling away from home and settling in a new country alone is free of hiccups.
Intakes
Intake: Spring
Session Starts: January
Intake: Fall
Session Starts: September
Institutions establish distinct application deadlines and session start dates. To obtain precise information, seek advice from recognised France Education Consultants regarding the timeline of your desired university.
Tuition Fees
To Study abroad in France, average tuition costs may range from € 7,000 and € 28,000 depending on the university, level of course, field of studies etc. These might be on a higher scale depending on the course offering and the popularity of the university and course.
Scholarships
Cost of Living
Moving to a foreign land alone can be terrifying, not to mention managing the day-to-day activities and expenses on your own! To ease your trouble to some extent, here’s an estimate of the expenses that you may incur during your study in France. Please bear in mind that the total spend every month towards your living costs depends upon the lifestyle choices you make, like staying in university residences instead of private boarding or depending upon public conveyance for commuting.
Particulars | Cost/ month |
Accommodation | Student Hall of Residence €200 – €400 Share/Rent an Apartment €400 – €700 Homestay €200 – €800 |
Utility Bills (Electricity, Water, Internet, etc.) | €200 |
Groceries | €250 – €300 |
Transportation costs (monthly pass for public transport) | €30 – €75 |
Health insurance | €20 – €50 |
Books and Stationeries | €50 |
Here is an average indication of your living costs in some of the major cities in France. Paris is one of the most expensive cities in Europe and if you stay within the city limits, you’d end up spending between €1200 – €1800 a month towards living costs, including accommodation in the student hall of residence.
The cost of living in Nice ranges from €900 to €1,400 a month, while in cities like Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux or Toulouse it is between €800 – €1,000. In the other regions of France, a monthly spend of €650 will suffice to cover your bills.
Consult the Study In France Consultants at UniApplica if you need help preparing a budget for yourself.
Work Opportunities:
Getting employed allows you to soak in the culture of your study destination. Such employment will enhance your professional skills with hands-on experience, besides supplementing your finances with significant earnings. While post-study is definitely what international students look forward to, you can also work while you study in the France
Non-European students who have completed their degree in France should have a job offer in hand that pays at least one and a half times the minimum wage (€1,747.20 gross per month in 2023).
If you do not have a job offer yet, but.
- Have completed a French professional Bachelor’s or Master’s-level degree, or
- Are a French graduate planning to start a business in France, you may request a temporary residence permit or Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour – APS. The APS, which is non-renewable and valid for twelve months, will allow you to stay back and seek employment in the country. During this period, you can work 20 hours a week while you search for a full-time job.
It is reserved for holders of a professional Bachelor’s, a Master’s-level degree and all graduates who are starting a company.
Once you land a permanent job in France, apply for a work permit supported with a certificate from your employer.
You may check with proven Study in France Consultants about the applicability of certain conditions that citizens of a few select countries enjoy in France regarding the issuance of the APS or the updated list of approved professions that international students can undertake.
EU or EEA students under 28 do not have any restrictions in staying back and looking for work in France after the completion of their program in the country.
All international students with a valid student visa, except Algerian nationals, are eligible to work up to 60 per cent of a working week while they study in France. This amounts to about 20 hours a week for all except Algerian students who can work only 50% of the work week. You are entitled at least to the minimum wage in France, which is €11.52 per hour. Please note that a mandatory social security contribution of about 20 per cent is deducted from your minimum hourly wage at source.
You will have to keep in mind that your part-time work engagement should not disrupt your academic activities or performance. The kind of jobs that you can do during your study abroad in France include administrative roles, bartending, retail businesses or cafes and restaurants, or museum and art galleries. You may also find work with your university in tutoring, administrative and student support roles, or in events and marketing.
The advantage of taking up on-campus jobs with your university is that the roles are scheduled to suit your class times, so your academics are not affected. In university jobs, you can work up to 670 hours between September and June, and up to 300 hours from July to August.
EU/EEA/Switzerland nationals studying in France are eligible to work up to 964 hours a year.
Climate / Weather:
Although France is located in the temperate zone, the prevalent climate varies with altitude and proximity to the sea. Western France, along the Atlantic Ocean, experiences moderate temperatures with damp winters. In the east, summers are warm and thunderous, while winters are cold with the mercury dipping below 0 degrees. Southern France enjoys a dry, Mediterranean climate. The higher altitude regions in the country get heavy rainfall and prolonged snow cover for three to six months every year.
How to Apply
The French admission application process may appear confusing to first-time applicants. But to make the most of your time and effort, consult the Study in France Consultants at UniApplica for guidance in completing your application successfully.
Primarily, there are different types of higher education institutions where you can study in France. Each of these institutions has varying admission procedures.
- Public Universities, by French law, cannot be selective in offering admissions to students. Candidates with the relevant eligibility qualification can apply for a probationary first year. Progressing from the first year to subsequent years of study is subject to meeting the specific grade requirements. However, in-demand programs such as engineering or medicine may have additional entry criteria.
- Grandes Écoles are elite institutions that can either be public or private and are extremely competitive. These institutions do not have any restrictions upon setting entry barriers for student admissions. In most cases, they have their entrance exams and getting in is so tough that applicants undertake two years of preparatory study after secondary school. However, you can attempt to seek entry through the direct post-baccalaureate route or seek parallel admissions, by transferring from another institution.
- Grands Établissements are selective public universities but lesser than the grandes écoles. You may gain entry without the two years of preparatory study required in grandes écoles. Entry requirements vary from institution to institution.
The Private universities in France have their own admissions criteria.
Most programs in France are taught in French, although there are 1,500+ English-taught programs. To study abroad in France, you should be able to demonstrate a language proficiency level equivalent to B1/B2 on the CEFR for Languages.
If you are a non-native French speaker applying for a French-taught program, you will need to demonstrate your language proficiency through any one of the following means:
- A language test like the DELF/DALF, TEF, TCF, or CEFR.
- Studied French A1 as a native language in the French or international baccalauréat qualification
- Prove that they’re citizens of an officially French-speaking country
- Prove that they underwent secondary education in French
If you are a non-native English speaker applying for an English-taught course in France, you will have to prove your language proficiency through either IELTS or TOEFL.
The application process is different for EU and non-EU applicants
EU nationals (and non-EU applicants holding European qualifications) applying to French public universities should do so through the Parcoursup platform. They can apply to three institutions through the platform, choosing up to 12 programs at each, in their order of preference. Once you receive your admission decision from the universities, you may choose to accept the order or wait for a second round of allocations with the remaining preferences.
Non-EU students who do not hold European qualifications like the French Baccalauréat or A-levels, or pursuing one, have to submit a Demande d’Admission Préalable (DAP) which is a preliminary request for admission. Such applicants have to submit their DAP applications to the French Embassy in their home country.
Students from an Études en France country are eligible to submit a DAP and can do so online through the Études en France website.
Applicants belonging to countries where the Études en France is in vogue, and who are working to acquire a European qualification should submit online applications through the Études en France online application system instead of submitting a DAP.
- Prior admission/ pre-registration certificate from the university
- Campus France authorization
- Passport or ID card (valid through your stay in France)
- Passport-type photos
- Academic records and transcripts supported by their French translation
- French and/or English Language certificate (depending on the tuition language of the chosen degree)
- Proof that you can fund your stay in France (with a minimum of 800 EUR per month)
- A copy of European Health Insurance Card (EU-nationals)
- Resume (only for postgraduate and select undergraduate programs)
- Cover letter
- Registration fee
- Social security registration
- A civil liability certificate
Visa Guidance to Study in the France
If you are from the EEA and Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, you do not need a student visa to study in France. Medical insurance and sufficient funds to sustain you during your stay are enough.
To apply for a French student visa as a non-EU candidate, you must
- Be above 18 years
- Have been accepted at a higher education institution in the country.
Student Visa Types to Study Abroad in France
- A short-stay visa (court séjour pour études) for a training program not more than three months
- Student in competition (étudiant concours) visa, if you are to appear for an entrance examination or interview at a French institute.
- A temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) for a training program of duration between three months to six months. This visa type is non-renewable, doesn’t require any further formalities upon your arrival in France and is valid for a maximum of one year
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A long-stay visa (VLS-TS) is equivalent to a residence permit, for a program exceeding six months. This visa type warrants further formalities upon your arrival in France.
This visa type has three subtypes:
01. The student VLS-TS for pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree02. The Talent passport VLS-TS for a doctorate and beyond;03. the internship VLS-TS to undergo an internship in France as part of the program you are pursuing in your home country.
Visa Application Fees to Study in France
- For countries under the purview of Etudes en France: €50
- For all other countries: €99
Documents required to apply for a French Student Visa
- Passport (issued less than 10 years ago and valid through 3 months after you are scheduled to leave France)
- ID photograph
- Purpose of Visit
- Academic Records
- Proof of Availability of Sufficient Funds (minimum €615/month)
- Proof of accommodation or an explanatory letter from the student on how the accommodation is planned.
Visa Application Steps
- Step 1: Fill out the Visa Application Form online on the France-Visas website.
- Step 2: Submit copies of the supporting documents and application fees
- Step 3: Set up an appointment to meet the visa officials
- Step 4: Submit the printed copy of the visa application form, the physical copies of the supporting documents, and biometric data.
Your visa application will be processed within 15 to 45 days.
The Study in France Consultants at UniApplica will help you through the entire visa application process to ensure that you do not face any roadblocks.
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FAQs
Why Study In France With UniApplica?
UniApplica covers the basics every Study needs. For everything, Anything.
Yes, you can study in many public and private universities in France without IELTS in the following alternative options:
- If you have studied in an English language institution and can submit a Medium of Instruction Certificate to support your claim.
- Have exceptional academic records to mitigate the lack of English language test scores
- Demonstrating your English-speaking skills through a university interview
- Taking alternative language tests equivalent to IELTS
Speak to the Study in France Consultants at UniApplica today to find out about the institutions that accept students without IELTS.
Although prior experience will help you grasp the real-world concepts taught in an MBA class, there are business schools in France that do not list professional experience as mandatory for admission. However, you should have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an outstanding academic record. Besides, relevant extracurricular activities and a strong internship will help rank up your application. You may also consider putting forth a stellar GMAT and language proficiency test scores.
The UniApplica team of Study in France Consultants will be able to help you with the names of institutions accepting students without work experience for MBA admission.
If you have been living in France for the last 18 months at least, your family can join you in the country by the “family reunion” procedure, subject to you demonstrating the availability of sufficient funds to support them. You need to place your request at the nearest Direction Territoriale de l’Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII). The local Préfecture will ascertain if the conditions are met, following which the consular services will issue a long-stay visa and residence permit for your family.
Some programs at French universities may have an internship component required for the completion of the degree. Such internships are usually prearranged between the university and the organization covering the scope to complete the internship. The duration of the internship is more than two months, the interns are paid a compensation of about €600 a month.
Please note that the time you spend on your internship does not count towards the annual working hours limit for international students, leaving the option open for you to take up part-time employment after you balance your internship and studies.
On average, you can expect to receive an admission decision from the university within 2-4 weeks from the time of application.
International master’s students are eligible to undertake apprenticeships and training contracts while they study in France, right from the first year of their studies. International undergraduate students however have to wait until their first year is over to take up apprenticeships in the country. A note of caution though: check the hours that are expected of you to complete your training. In case the hours exceed the maximum annual working hours allowed for international students then your employer will have to get a temporary work permit issued for you.
