How to Study in Paris for International Students

Paris, one of the beautiful cities in France, is a city that needs to be considered when planning on studying abroad. Here, you can immerse yourself in a rich local culture and learn about its history and the factors that make it unique.

Currently, 30,200 international students are studying in universities and colleges in Paris. This number accounts for 7.1% of the whole student population. You can be one of those students if you choose to study in Paris for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in your preferred academic program.

When it comes to the choices that are available, Paris currently has 44 universities, from which 23 universities are a part of the public sector and 21 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 Paris you should definitely check out are Sorbonne University, École Normale Supérieure, and Paris Cité University.

Being able to study in Paris 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 Paris, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in Paris

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 Paris don't charge tuition fees to international students like you! Sorbonne University, Sorbonne University, and Sorbonne University 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 Paris with their tuition fees:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
IFP School 30,000 EUR
ESCE International Business School 7,900 EUR - 12,400 EUR 11,100 EUR - 12,400 EUR
IPAG Business School 7,700 EUR - 8,900 EUR 9,100 EUR - 16,000 EUR
Leonard de Vinci Graduate School of Engineering 9,300 EUR - 14,900 EUR
ICD Business School 7,900 EUR 11,700 EUR
ESITC Paris 6,990 EUR
SKEMA Business School 12,000 EUR 15,000 EUR - 30,000 EUR
ECE Paris 7,140 EUR 10,900 EUR
Institut Supérieur d’Électronique de Paris 9,600 EUR
ISC Paris Business School 8,500 EUR - 9,950 EUR 9,950 EUR - 22,500 EUR
KEDGE Business School 10,000 EUR 19,900 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
American University of Paris 32,800 EUR 26,600 EUR

2. Requirements to Study in Paris for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Paris, 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 Paris, 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 Paris and their required minimum scores for each program level.

IFP School

Master’s degree

ESME Sudria

Master’s degree

IPAG Business School

Bachelor’s degree

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 Paris

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

Sorbonne University

École Normale Supérieure

Paris Cité University

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 Paris 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.

Most universities in Paris have online applications, saving you time and effort in processing your admission. To help you apply to these institutions, we gathered the top universities in Paris and their official websites and admission links for their bachelor’s and master’s degree:

Sorbonne University

École Normale Supérieure

Paris Cité University

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 Paris.

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 Location

If you’re going to study in Paris, you will need to apply for a student visa in France

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 Paris, you will need to present the following:

  1. Completed visa application form
  2. Two recent photos in line with the guidelines
  3. Valid passport
  4. Copies of older visas
  5. Proof of health insurance
  6. Proof of accommodation
  7. Proof of financial means
  8. Proof of paid visa application fee
  9. Certificate of criminal record
  10. Proof of pre-registration or registration at a French academic institution
  11. Academic records, proof of academic status, and cover letter explaining your study project in France

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 40 USD.

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 Paris. 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!