France, known as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, is the 3rd largest economy of Europe and the 6th largest economy in the world. Being a significant economic powerhouse, France offers abundant job opportunities in the field of aerospace, automotive, tourism and luxury retail. French is currently the 6th most popular language in the world and is touted to become the most spoken language in the world by 2050. In addition to strong economy and popular language, France offers one of the most affordable education amongst other study abroad countries. Every year, thousands of international students from all around the world come to this European country to acquire an excellent education at an affordable cost. France has many high ranked universities and offers courses across management, engineering, arts and languages. Indian student gets an additional advantage of 2 years of post-study work visa which helps them in settling down in France. International students in France can work up to 20 hours per week on or off-campus and are given discounted mobility cards to commute and work. Students are also given support in paying their rents in form of allowance through CAF (Caisses d’Allocations Familiales) and get access to free healthcare in public hospitals.
France boasts several reputed universities and institutions of higher education that are featured in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings. The degrees and certificates offered by these institutions are recognized globally. Whether you pursue studies at the undergraduate level or postgraduate level, you can explore an interdisciplinary curriculum which allows you to be creative and innovative in your academic pursuits. Some of the top universities of France are.
List of top universities to study in France
| University Name | France Rank | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL) | 1 | 53 |
| École Polytechnique | 2 | 60 |
| Sorbonne University | 3 | 77 |
| CentraleSupélec | 4 | 139 |
| École Normale Supérieure de Lyon | 5 | 160 |
The French universities give significant emphasis on research-based learning that helps students to have a better understanding of the concepts. Also, with the availability of interdisciplinary courses, the students get the advantage of selecting from a wide range of streams like Arts, History, Medicine, Business, Luxury Management, Business Analytics, etc. at different levels of studies such as Certificate, Diploma, Degree or Doctorate level.
List of top courses to study in France
| S.No. | University Name | Popular Courses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Université PSL) Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Pari | MathematicsComputer Science & Information SystemsChemical EngineeringMineral & Mining EngineeringPhilosophyMaterials ScienceAccounting & FinanceHistoryStatistics & Operational Research |
| 2 | Sorbonne University | Classics & Ancient HistoryModern LanguagesPhilosophyAnatomy & PhysiologyBiological SciencesMedicineChemistryEnvironmental SciencesMathematics |
| 3 | École Polytechnique | Physics and AstronomyEconomics & Econometrics Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing EngineeringMaterials ScienceMathematics |
| 4 | École Normale Supérieure de Lyon | Earth & Marine SciencesBiological SciencesNatural SciencesArts & Humanities |
| 5 | CentraleSupélec | Electrical & Electronics EngineeringMechanical EngineeringModern LanguagesCivil & Structural EngineeringMathematicsEngineering & Technology |
Career opportunities:
Studying in France gives international students an opportunity to undertake paid work up to 964 hours per year subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. An international student needs to have a valid work contract and residence permit to work in France. Also, in order to stay in France after the completion of studies, he/she must be paid at least 1½ times the minimum wage of EUR 2,220 per month. This work opportunity allows the students to develop interpersonal skills, confidence, creativity and other relevant skills that most employers search for.
Types of Students Visa France
| S.No. | Visa Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schengen Student Visa | Visa Name: Court séjour pour étude Duration: 3 monthsApplicable for courses less than 3 months duration |
| 2 | Visa for Entrance Exam | Visa Name: Visa de court séjour étudiant concoursApplicable for one-time visit to France (to sit for university entrance exams) |
| 3 | Temporary Long-stay Visa | Visa Name: Visa de long séjour temporaire pour étudesDuration: Up to 6 months |
| 4 | Long-stay Visa | Visa Name: Visa de long séjour pour études (VLT-TS)Duration: 3 years for bachelor’s degree, 2 years for master’s degree and 4 years for a PhD programmeThis is a residence permit |
Cost of living in France:
Known for its wonderful people, excellent food, revolutionary fashion industry, museums and art galleries, France is definitely a cheaper country than many European countries, the UK and the USA. A student can easily manage his/her stay in France, if he/she plans his/her budget with efficiency. The cost of living in France majorly includes the cost of accommodation, food, phone calls, travel, internet, clothing and other miscellaneous expenses. Highlighted below is an average estimate of expenses incurred by international students in France on a monthly basis.
Average Monthly Expenses for Students in France
| S.No. | Particulars | Monthly Expenditure in Paris | Monthly Expenditure in Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Housing | EUR 990 | EUR 630 |
| 2 | Food | EUR 150 | EUR 150 |
| 3 | Transportation | EUR 30 | EUR 20 |
| 4 | Cellphone, internet, TV | EUR 25 | EUR 25 |
| 5 | Insurance | EUR 5.3 | EUR 5.3 |
| 6 | Electricity | EUR 50 | EUR 50 |
| 7 | Outings and leisure | EUR 80 | EUR 80 |
| 8 | Taxes (10% of the lease) | EUR 73 | EUR 42 |
College application deadlines:
Students who wish to pursue higher education from one of the French institutions/universities must be aware of their application timelines. Since most of the universities accept applications through Campus France, the key dates to apply there have been highlighted below.
| S.No. | Particulars | Key Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parcoursup | Registration starts – 22 January 2019 Last date to complete the list of academic choices – 14 March 2019Last to complete the file – 3 April 2019 |
| 2 | DAP (Preliminary request for admission) | Registration opens – 3 December 2018Registration closes – 15 February 2019University response and proposals for acceptance – Before 11 May 2019Student response – Before 17 May 2019 |
| 3 | CampusArt | Registration opens – 5 November 2018Registration closes – 28 February 2019 |
How to apply for colleges in France:
Housing over 3,500 private and public institutions of higher education, the country offers a vast choice for international students that includes Grandes Ecoles, Universities and Schools of Art or Architecture. To get admission in any of these institutions of France, the prospective students can follow the simple steps given below.
Step 1: While planning to study in France, the students should initially decide on the college/university and the course of study. To do so, the students can search on France course page where every significant information relating to higher education institutions, programmes offered, cost of study, quality of institutions and degrees, and scholarships is available.
Step 2: Once the students have finalized their course and university preference, Buddy4Study counselling team will help students in applying to these universities and help them in securing admission offers from universities.
Step 3: Once the student has secured admission offer from university. Students will have to appear for the interview in person with all relevant documents at Campus France office.
Step 4: Once visa is received, Buddy4Study will help student in availing education loan and accommodation at France as well.
Top scholarships for international students:
The cost of higher education at public universities in France is very low for both EU and Non-EU students. Adding to this, the French government and other institutions offer a number of scholarships, bursaries, and grants to international students for their higher education. Highlighted below are some of the popular scholarships that Indian students can avail to study in France.
List of top scholarships to study in France
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charpak Master’s Program, France | Tuition fee waiver up to EUR 5,000 and other benefits |
| 2 | French Academic Cooperation and Excellence (FACE) Scholarship | Up to EUR 5,000 |
| 3 | HFSP Post-Doctoral Fellowship, France | Living allowance, relocation, research & travel allowances and other benefits |
| 4 | INSEAD Diversity Scholarships | EUR 13,000 |
| 5 | Eiffel Scholarship Program of Excellence | A monthly allowance of EUR 1,031 and other benefits |
| 6 | Erasmus Mundus Scholarships | Fully funded scholarships cover living costs, tuition, travel and insurance for masters and PhD students |
| 7 | The Ecole Centrale Paris Graduate Fellowship | Four merit-based scholarships of EUR 4,000 each year |
| 8 | Ile-de-France Masters Scholarships | A lump sum of EUR 10,500 |
| 9 | SciencesPo Emile-Boutmy Scholarship | Full or partial tuition and cost of living funding |
| 10 | INSEAD PhD Fellowships | Up to 100% tuition fee waiver |
- Study Abroad Popular Courses InFrance
- Master of Science in International Business, Brest Business School
- Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA), France International Graduate School (FIGS)
- MSc Global Luxury & Management, SKEMA Business School
- Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Industrial Engineering, Ecole Centrale de Nantes
- Bachelor in Hotel Management, VATEL
- Study Abroad Popular Universities InFrance
- Brest Business School, Brest
- France International Graduate Schools (FIGS), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- SKEMA Business School, Lille
- Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Brittany
- IPAG Business School, Paris
Source: Admission.buddy4study
