Study at France
France is a very popular study destination and welcoming to international students in admissions policies. Incredible diversity of higher education institutions as well as programs – something for everyone. It has a high-quality, well-recognised degrees and is rich, old, and vibrant culture – a main reason France is the world’s #1 tourist destination. Many French schools have added international elements to their courses, allowing students to experience other European cultures.
Location and Geography
Metropolitan France is the largest nation in
Western Europe, with a total area of 674,843
square kilometers. It is surrounded by Belgium
and Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Switzerland,
Italy, and by water bodies the Bay of Biscay,
the English Channel, and the Mediterranean.
France is a land of flat plains or gently
rolling hills in the north and west, forests and
mountainous areas in the Pyrénées (south), Alps
(east), and lower Vosges mountains (north east).
The capital city is Paris.
Society and culture
France and particularly Paris have been key centers in European cultural development, including philosophy, arts, architecture, design, fashion, music, cuisine, wine, and filmmaking. A tradition of independent thinking has helped to fuel significant periods of internal social unrest. French beliefs and values hold that quality of life is of the essence and that work, a home, and education are essential rights.
Food and drink play a major role in French culture, with fresh produce, fine meats, cheese, and wine the mainstays of the family table and a source of pride internationally. Meals are generally slow, often with several courses, and accompanied by conversation.
The urban areas of France contain a diverse multicultural society. Football, tennis, skiing, and equestrianism are popular sports. Boules games are a traditional marketplace social activity in regional villages.
France’s economy is the fifth-largest in the
world in nominal terms and is a member of the G8
and G20 groups of leading industrialized
countries. It has transitioned from an
interventionist to a free market economy, with
gradual privatization of public assets and labor
reforms; still, the government continues to play
a significant role in some areas of the economy,
particularly with regard to infrastructural
industries. It has a mixed industrial and
agricultural export-oriented economy, and is
also prioritizing its knowledge economy. France
has an international reputation for excellence
in the fields of space, transportation,
sciences, biotechnology, health, and
electronics, which many people attribute to its
excellent higher education system.
With 82 million foreign tourists per year, France is the world’s most visited country and has the third-largest income from tourism in the world. The currency is the Euro.
The Fifth French Republic has a semi-presidential style of government with a dual executive: the president and the prime minister. The French parliament consists of the National Assembly (five-year term) and the Senate (nine-year term). The Executive (Council of Ministers) is appointed by the prime minister at the suggestion of the president.
France has three levels of local government: 22 Régions plus four Régions d'outre-mer; 96 Départements plus four Départements d’outre-mer and 36,679 municipalities (Communes).
The French government is highly invested in its higher education system. It subsidises a large share of the cost of higher education for students, allowing as many students as possible to achieve post-secondary education by making it more affordable. In 2007, the government allocated fully 1.3% of France’s GDP to higher education.
Students can live reasonably well on around €800 a month (other than Paris, which is more like €1,000): accommodation €215–€450; food €210; books/stationery €50 and other €250, depending on location and lifestyle. An accommodation grant may be available for international students from the 2nd month (the amount varies according to rent, e.g., for a university room at €215, the grant is around €95). Tuition fees vary considerably, €500–€15,000 per year. Language courses can be expensive, depending on the type of institution and whether it is public or private. The average cost of health insurance is around €40–€50 per month.
France spends more per capita on education (20% of total budget) than many other Western countries and has traditionally had high academic standards. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) currently ranks the French education system 25th in the world.
The French education system consists of primary education (enseignement primaire), secondary education (enseignement secondaire – colleges and lycées), and higher education (enseignement supérieur). Primary and secondary education is predominantly public although well supported by private institutions. There are more than 400 institutions of higher education and research in four different types: universitaires (universities); grandes écoles; écoles spécialisées, and sections de techniciens supérieurs. Grandes écoles and écoles spécialisées or supérieurs are considered to offer higher quality learning environments than the universitaires.
France’s 83 public universitaires offer degree
programs in all disciplines and are spread
throughout the country. There are three levels
of degree: licence (three years), master’s (five
years) and doctorate (eight years). Degrees can
be academic, technical, or professional. To be
considered for admission, international students
need to demonstrate they have the credentials
that would allow them to undertake higher
education in their home countries.
Grandes écoles can be public or private, and they are a unique French invention. They are very selective in their admissions, much more so than the universitaires, and most specialise in business and engineering programs. Others have reputations for public administration, teaching and research, veterinary medicine, and military sciences, to name a few. The grandes écoles have admission procedures and guidelines for international students as well as for French students.
Prospective international students must contact individual institutions directly for admission information and requirements for studying in France. Most programs are taught in French, although more higher education institutions are now offering courses in English. Entry requires appropriate French-language proficiency. Some students may need to sit a French language test or undertake a French-language course. Enrolments should be made no later than September.
International Students
France has more international students than any country except for the U.K. and the U.S. The French higher education system is very accessible to international students; admission requirements are in fact the same for international students as for French students.
Prospective international students should check
current visa requirements at the French embassy
or consulate in their home country. A long-term
student visa is required for study exceeding six
months, except for EU members and other
specified countries. Passports must be valid for
the length of stay. Proof of financial capacity
is also required. Visas cannot be extended and
tourist visas cannot be converted into
student
visas.
Student visas don’t automatically include permission to work, though students from the EEA (plus Switzerland) are allowed to work freely. Campus France notes the following about international students and work:
“Since July 1, 2007, French law has allowed non-EU international students to work under the following conditions:
A residency permit (VLS-TS, validated by OFII, or a residency permit in addition to a visa) marked “student” entitles the student to accept paid employment for up to 60% of the legally defined working year (or 964 hours per year) without prior administrative authorization. However, the time that students spend in internships connected with their academic program (and covered by a written internship agreement) are not counted toward the maximum allowable working hours, even if the student is compensated during the internship.”
Within two months of arrival, international students on a visa must apply for a temporary residence permit (carte de séjour) from the local préfecture (services des étrangers or government centre). The permit is valid until completion of the applicant's study, but must be renewed annually. Students need this permit to obtain housing assistance. Upon arrival, students (under 28) must also register with French National Health Insurance. This may be organised after arrival by the education institution.