How to Study in France for International Students
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.
Currently, 183,800 international students are studying in universities and colleges in France. This number accounts for 8.5% of the whole student population. You can be one of those students if you choose to study in France for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in your preferred academic program.
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 Sorbonne University, Paris-Saclay University, and École Normale Supérieure.
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! Sorbonne University, VetAgro Sup, and VetAgro Sup are some of the tuition-free schools. 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 EUR - 11,000 EUR | 13,000 EUR - 15,500 EUR |
| Supmicrotech – NSMM | 1,103 EUR | |
| IFP School | 30,000 EUR | |
| École d’Ingénieurs de Purpan | 11,000 EUR | |
| ESC Amiens School of Management | 6,200 EUR | 7,300 EUR - 7,900 EUR |
| EBI – The School of Industrial Biology | 6,000 EUR | |
| ECAM-EPMI | 7,200 EUR | |
| ICN Business School | 8,000 EUR - 8,200 EUR | 9,000 EUR - 29,100 EUR |
| Paris Higher Biotechnology Institute | 12,100 EUR | 12,100 EUR |
| ESCE International Business School | 7,900 EUR - 12,400 EUR | 11,100 EUR - 12,400 EUR |
| ITECH Lyon | 7,800 EUR - 8,000 EUR | |
| École Supérieure du Bois | 5,750 EUR | |
| Catholic University of the West | 6,580 EUR | 7,280 EUR - 8,300 EUR |
| CY Tech | 7,500 EUR | 7,000 EUR - 11,500 EUR |
| Institut catholique d’arts et métiers | 7,240 EUR | 9,060 EUR |
| ECAM Lyon | 1,281 EUR - 7,900 EUR | |
| L’École de design Nantes Atlantique | 8,200 EUR - 9,000 EUR | 9,000 EUR |
| ESEO | 5,900 EUR - 6,500 EUR | |
| IPAG Business School | 7,700 EUR - 8,900 EUR | 9,100 EUR - 16,000 EUR |
| ESSCA School of Management | 8,210 EUR - 12,000 EUR | 12,000 EUR - 16,300 EUR |
| Leonard de Vinci Graduate School of Engineering | 9,300 EUR - 14,900 EUR | |
| ICD Business School | 7,900 EUR | 11,700 EUR |
| IÉSEG School of Management | 11,100 EUR | 8,250 EUR - 9,450 EUR |
| ESITC Paris | 6,990 EUR | |
| UniLaSalle | 2,333 EUR | 2,400 EUR - 5,900 EUR |
| Burgundy School of Business | 8,200 EUR - 9,200 EUR | 11,500 EUR - 29,000 EUR |
| ESIEE Paris | 8,100 EUR - 10,500 EUR | |
| EM Normandie | 7,500 EUR - 10,000 EUR | 11,500 EUR - 19,400 EUR |
| SKEMA Business School | 12,000 EUR | 15,000 EUR - 30,000 EUR |
| South Champagne Business School | 8,300 EUR - 9,000 EUR | 9,500 EUR - 10,400 EUR |
| Rennes School of Business | 9,000 EUR | 18,200 EUR |
| Institute of Polytechnic Science and Aeronautics | 11,300 EUR | |
| ECE Paris | 7,140 EUR | 10,900 EUR |
| Institut Supérieur d’Électronique de Paris | 9,600 EUR | |
| NEOMA Business School | 6,300 EUR - 12,000 EUR | 15,100 EUR - 17,300 EUR |
| EDC Paris Business School | 9,770 EUR | 25,500 EUR - 26,500 EUR |
| HEI Lille | 9,000 EUR | |
| ISC Paris Business School | 8,500 EUR - 9,950 EUR | 9,950 EUR - 22,500 EUR |
| Graduate School of Management, Chambéry | 6,300 EUR - 11,600 EUR | 9,550 EUR - 14,800 EUR |
| EPF School of Engineering | 10,600 EUR | |
| Graduate School of Agricultural Studies of Angers | 5,056 EUR - 6,856 EUR | 7,004 EUR - 8,800 EUR |
| Grenoble School of Management | 11,200 EUR | 11,000 EUR - 13,000 EUR |
| Catholic University of Lille | 2,000 EUR - 9,000 EUR | 2,000 EUR - 9,000 EUR |
| Lyon Catholic University | 9,330 EUR | 12,200 EUR - 13,900 EUR |
| Audencia Business School | 8,150 EUR - 12,000 EUR | 15,400 EUR - 31,500 EUR |
| KEDGE Business School | 10,000 EUR | 19,900 EUR |
| EPITA School of Engineering and Computer Science | 9,900 EUR | 5,500 EUR - 9,700 EUR |
| EDHEC Business School | 11,700 EUR - 17,300 EUR | 23,000 EUR - 68,000 EUR |
| EMLYON Business School | 38,500 EUR | |
| ESCP Business School | 22,300 EUR | 21,600 EUR - 47,000 EUR |
| HEC Paris | 21,900 EUR - 37,900 EUR | |
| ESSEC Business School | 14,000 EUR | 12,500 EUR - 49,500 EUR |
| EFREI Engineering School of Information and Digital Technologies | 6,800 EUR | 8,100 EUR |
| American University of Paris | 32,800 EUR | 26,600 EUR |
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.
Agrocampus Ouest
Bachelor’s degree
- DELF: B2
Master’s degree
American University of Paris
Bachelor’s degree
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 88
- Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page
Master’s degree
- IELTS: 7.0
- TOEFL: 101
- Master's English Language Requirements Page
Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology
Master’s degree
- CEFR: B2
- IELTS: No minimum scores
- TOEFL: No minimum scores
- DELF: B2
- Master's English Language Requirements Page
- Master's French Language Requirements Page
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 Sorbonne University and Paris-Saclay University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in France.
Sorbonne University
Paris-Saclay University
École Normale Supérieure
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:
- Application form (Etudes en France)
- Proof or Certificate of enrollment
- Passport or travel document
- ID photograph
- Proof of funds
- 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:
- Prepare the requirements to apply for a student visa.
- Schedule your visa interview at a consulate or embassy near you.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Attend the interview and submit your documents at the embassy or consulate.
- 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!
