How to Study in France for International Students

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France is an excellent option for your studies. Aside from its famous monuments and multicultural atmosphere, this country offers affordable education to everyone. As a student here, you'll have access to some of the best universities globally, and you will have the opportunity to learn one of the world's best languages- French.

When it comes to the choices that are available, France currently has 230 universities, from which 146 universities are a part of the public sector and 84 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in France you should definitely check out are Paris-Saclay University, Paris Cité University, and Claude Bernard University Lyon 1.

Being able to study in France as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in France, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in France

The cost of your studies is a big factor to consider when you're planning to study abroad. It can financially burden you, but here's the good thing: the public universities in France don't charge tuition fees to international students like you! there is Sorbonne University a tuition-free school. You will just be required to pay some registration and other study fees, but these won't be as high.

On the other hand, if you choose to study in a private institution, expect that you'll pay higher fees. Here are some of the private universities in France with their tuition fees:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Montpellier Business School 8,600 Euros - 11,000 Euros 13,000 Euros - 15,500 Euros
Supmicrotech – NSMM 1,103 Euros
IFP School 30,000 Euros
École d’Ingénieurs de Purpan 11,000 Euros
ESC Amiens School of Management 6,200 Euros 7,300 Euros - 7,900 Euros
EBI – The School of Industrial Biology 6,000 Euros
ECAM-EPMI 7,200 Euros
ICN Business School 8,000 Euros - 8,200 Euros 9,000 Euros - 29,100 Euros
Paris Higher Biotechnology Institute 12,100 Euros 12,100 Euros
ESCE International Business School 9,090 Euros 9,990 Euros
ITECH Lyon 7,800 Euros - 8,000 Euros
École Supérieure du Bois 5,750 Euros
Catholic University of the West 6,580 Euros 7,280 Euros - 8,300 Euros
CY Tech 7,500 Euros 7,000 Euros - 11,500 Euros
Institut catholique d’arts et métiers 7,240 Euros 9,060 Euros
ECAM Lyon 1,281 Euros - 7,900 Euros
L’École de design Nantes Atlantique 8,200 Euros - 9,000 Euros 9,000 Euros
ESEO 5,900 Euros - 6,500 Euros
IPAG Business School 7,700 Euros - 8,900 Euros 9,100 Euros - 16,000 Euros
ESSCA School of Management 8,210 Euros - 12,000 Euros 12,000 Euros - 16,300 Euros
Leonard de Vinci Graduate School of Engineering 9,300 Euros - 14,900 Euros
ICD Business School 7,900 Euros 11,700 Euros
IÉSEG School of Management 11,100 Euros 8,250 Euros - 9,450 Euros
ESITC Paris 6,990 Euros
UniLaSalle 2,333 Euros 2,400 Euros - 5,900 Euros
Burgundy School of Business 8,200 Euros - 9,200 Euros 11,500 Euros - 29,000 Euros
ESIEE Paris 8,100 Euros - 10,500 Euros
EM Normandie 7,500 Euros - 10,000 Euros 11,500 Euros - 19,400 Euros
SKEMA Business School 12,000 Euros 15,000 Euros - 30,000 Euros
South Champagne Business School 8,300 Euros - 9,000 Euros 9,500 Euros - 10,400 Euros
Rennes School of Business 9,000 Euros 18,200 Euros
Institute of Polytechnic Science and Aeronautics 11,300 Euros
ECE Paris 7,840 Euros 11,200 Euros
Institut Supérieur d’Électronique de Paris 9,600 Euros
NEOMA Business School 6,300 Euros - 12,000 Euros 15,100 Euros - 17,300 Euros
EDC Paris Business School 9,770 Euros 25,500 Euros - 26,500 Euros
HEI Lille 9,000 Euros
ISC Paris Business School 8,500 Euros - 9,950 Euros 9,950 Euros - 22,500 Euros
Graduate School of Management, Chambéry 6,300 Euros - 11,600 Euros 9,550 Euros - 14,800 Euros
EPF School of Engineering 10,600 Euros
Graduate School of Agricultural Studies of Angers 5,056 Euros - 6,856 Euros 7,004 Euros - 8,800 Euros
Grenoble School of Management 11,200 Euros 11,000 Euros - 13,000 Euros
Catholic University of Lille 2,000 Euros - 9,000 Euros 2,000 Euros - 9,000 Euros
Lyon Catholic University 9,330 Euros 12,200 Euros - 13,900 Euros
Audencia Business School 8,150 Euros - 12,000 Euros 15,400 Euros - 31,500 Euros
KEDGE Business School 10,000 Euros 19,900 Euros
EPITA School of Engineering and Computer Science 9,900 Euros 5,500 Euros - 9,700 Euros
EDHEC Business School 11,700 Euros - 17,300 Euros 23,000 Euros - 68,000 Euros
EMLYON Business School 38,500 Euros
ESCP Business School 22,300 Euros 21,600 Euros - 47,000 Euros
HEC Paris 21,900 Euros - 37,900 Euros
ESSEC Business School 14,000 Euros 12,500 Euros - 49,500 Euros
EFREI Engineering School of Information and Digital Technologies 6,800 Euros 8,100 Euros
American University of Paris 32,800 Euros 26,600 Euros

2. Requirements to Study in France for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in France, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In France, English and French are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting DELF for French.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in France and their required minimum scores for each program level.

Montpellier Business School

Master’s degree

IFP School

Master’s degree

ESME Sudria

Master’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in France

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in France have online applications available on their websites, like Paris-Saclay University and Paris Cité University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in France.

Paris-Saclay University

Paris Cité University

Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in France differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in France.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in France

Now that you’re accepted into your chosen institution, it’s time to apply for a student visa in France. A student visa is an essential document for studying abroad. It’s an important government document that you need to present before going to France as an international student.

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in France. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a Long-stay Visa.

To start your student visa application in France, you will need to present the following:

  1. Application form (Etudes en France)
  2. Proof or Certificate of enrollment
  3. Passport or travel document
  4. ID photograph
  5. Proof of funds
  6. Proof of accommodation

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in France is 99 EUR.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Prepare the requirements to apply for a student visa.
  2. Schedule your visa interview at a consulate or embassy near you.
  3. Pay the visa application fee.
  4. Attend the interview and submit your documents at the embassy or consulate.
  5. Collect your passport and visa upon approval of your application

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in France. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!