Study in France

Why study in France?

Quality at a lower cost

At France’s public universities, tuition is set each year by the French state. For most non-EU students, a Master’s at a public university costs €3,950 a year in 2026-27 – a fraction of what many private institutions charge. Private business and engineering schools charge more, but they offer close links with industry and many programmes taught in English.

A wide choice, including in English

French higher education includes universities, grandes écoles, engineering schools, business schools and specialised schools for art, architecture and more. Campus France publishes a catalogue of programmes taught in English, most of them at Master’s level, so you do not need to speak French to start.

Strong links with India

France and India have a long-standing education partnership. In 2023 France announced its ambition to welcome 30,000 Indian students by 2030, and France introduced a five-year Schengen visa for eligible Indian alumni the same year. Indian Master’s graduates can also stay in France for up to 24 months after their studies to look for work.

As of October 2026 — sources: Campus France – tuition fees, Campus France – programs taught in English, Embassy of India, Paris – India–France cooperation in education.

The education system

French higher education follows the European LMD system (Licence, Master, Doctorat), with credits counted in ECTS, so French degrees are easy to compare with degrees across Europe. Each semester is worth 30 ECTS credits.

Universities

Public universities teach every academic field, from science and engineering to law, economics and the humanities, and award the national Licence, Master and Doctorat. Many have strong research laboratories. Because fees are set by the state, they are usually the most affordable choice.

Grandes écoles, engineering and business schools

Grandes écoles are smaller, selective institutions that run alongside the universities. They include engineering schools, business and management schools, and schools such as Sciences Po. Business schools often offer a “Programme Grande École” (a Master in Management), MSc and MBA programmes, and many are private, with higher fees. For private schools, check that the programme leads to a degree or title recognised by the French state, and check any accreditations the school holds.

As of October 2026 — source: Campus France – French degrees, the LMD system and equivalences.

Popular universities and schools

• Sorbonne Université, Paris
• Université Paris-Saclay
• Institut Polytechnique de Paris
• Université Grenoble Alpes
• Aix-Marseille Université
• Université Côte d’Azur, Nice
• Toulouse INP
• Centrale Nantes
• IMT Atlantique
• Sciences Po, Paris
• HEC Paris, ESSEC and ESCP Business School
• EDHEC Business School, SKEMA Business School and Rennes School of Business

Entry requirements

Every institution sets its own requirements, and they vary by programme.

Master’s studies

• A recognised Bachelor’s degree in a related subject, with good marks – whether a three-year Indian degree is accepted depends on the institution and programme
• A CV and a statement of purpose (motivation letter) for each programme
• Letters of recommendation, if the programme asks for them
• An English or French language test score (see below)
• For some business schools, a GMAT or GRE score and an interview

Bachelor’s studies

Check carefully whether a Bachelor’s programme is taught in French or in English. Students who do not yet speak French can look at English-taught Bachelor’s programmes or at “international classes” – a year of French-language preparation offered by around 35 French universities and schools since 2024 that leads to French-taught undergraduate programmes.

As of October 2026 — sources: Campus France – Études en France procedure, Embassy of India, Paris.

The Campus France India procedure

If you live in India and want to study for a Master’s in France (or a Bachelor’s from the second year), you must follow the Études en France procedure, run by Campus France India, before you apply for a visa. It is a paperless process: you apply to several institutions through one online file and deal with the Campus France office nearest to you.

1. Create your account on the Études en France platform. You receive a Campus France registration number.
2. Complete your file: personal details, academic record, language skills, CV and statement of purpose, with your photograph, passport, mark sheets and certificates. Choose your programmes and write your motivation for each.
3. Wait for validation. A Campus France adviser reviews your file and gives you an interview appointment.
4. Pay the fee. The Études en France fee increased from INR 18,500 to INR 20,000 from 1 August 2026. Pay only through the link from the official platform once your file is validated – Campus France India warns students not to use links from anyone else, including agencies. The fee is generally non-refundable.
5. Attend the academic interview. Be ready to explain your study project and why you chose France. Bring all original documents, one set of photocopies and the fee receipt; the adviser checks them and gives you an interview completion certificate.
6. Get your decisions. Institutions reply on the platform; you choose one and print your acceptance letter.

Holders of some French government scholarships, such as Eiffel and Charpak, are exempt from the Études en France fee.

Procedure as of October 2026 — sources: Campus France India – application and admission procedure, increase in Études en France fees, Campus France – Études en France procedure.

English and French language requirements

• English-taught programmes: French is not required. Institutions usually ask for IELTS Academic, TOEFL or a similar test, often around B2 level, and each programme sets its own minimum score.
• French-taught programmes: you usually need at least B2 level in French, and some programmes ask for C1. Accepted proofs include DELF B2, DALF C1, TCF and TEF. TCF results are valid for two years, while DELF and DALF diplomas do not expire.

Always check the exact score on your programme’s admissions page.

As of October 2026 — sources: Campus France USA – applying to a French institution, Campus France South Africa – French requirements and tests.

Scholarships

• France Excellence Charpak Master’s Scholarship – for Indian citizens and OCI card holders aged 30 or under, studying a full-time Master’s in France. It pays a living allowance of €860 a month and covers the Campus France fee, student social security and extra health insurance; holders may also be exempt from differentiated fees at public institutions, depending on the institution. Applications are made through the Institut Français en Inde.
• France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship – for Master’s and PhD students. You cannot apply yourself: the French institution applies for you, so ask its international office about its internal deadline. Since January 2026 the Master’s allowance is €1,200 a month, with travel, health insurance and other benefits. For the 2027 call, institutions must apply by early January 2027.
• Institution scholarships – many French universities and schools offer their own awards, for example the Émile-Boutmy scholarship at Sciences Po, IDEX Master’s scholarships at Université Grenoble Alpes and Université Côte d’Azur, and excellence scholarships at business schools such as EDHEC.
• Indian trusts – such as the JN Tata Endowment, the Inlaks Scholarship and the Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship (a loan scholarship).

As of October 2026 — sources: Campus France India – scholarships for Indian students, Charpak Master’s scholarship, Campus France – Eiffel implementation, Eiffel 2027 call.

Education and living costs

Tuition fees

At public universities, most non-EU students pay “differentiated” fees set by the French state. For 2026-27:

Universities can exempt some non-EU students from differentiated fees, and some charge them the EU rate instead – the rules for these exemptions changed in May 2026, so check each university’s fees page.

Private institutions, especially business schools, cost much more: typically about €6,000 to €18,000 or more a year. Fees differ widely, so always check the institution’s own figures.

Other costs

• CVEC (Contribution de vie étudiante et de campus): €105 for 2026-27, paid online before you enrol.
• Visa and residence: the visa fee and the VFS service charge, and €150 to validate your VLS-TS after you arrive.
• Living costs: rent, food, transport and other costs depend on the city.

Proof of funds

For a student visa applied for from 1 August 2026, you must show resources of at least €877.50 a month – €10,530 for 12 months – on top of your tuition. Applications filed before then needed €615 a month.

Figures as of October 2026 — sources: Service-Public – university fees 2026, Campus France – tuition fees, etudiant.gouv.fr – CVEC FAQ, Service-Public – student long-stay visa.

Working while you study and after graduation

While you study

With a validated VLS-TS or a student residence permit, you can work up to 964 hours a year – 60% of the annual legal working time – without a separate work permit. Your employer must declare you to the prefecture at least two working days before you start. Do not go over the limit, as it can put your residence permit at risk.

After your Master’s

• Job search or business creation: international graduates with a Master’s (or equivalent) from France can get a residence permit to look for work or start a business. For Indian students, a France–India agreement allows an extra 24 months after their studies – a 12-month permit, renewable once. If you have returned to India, you can apply for this long-stay visa at a VFS centre within four years of obtaining your Master’s in France.
• Five-year short-stay Schengen visa: Indian nationals with a Master’s or higher degree who studied in France for at least one semester (on a long-stay student visa of at least four months) can apply for a multiple-entry short-stay visa valid for up to five years, depending on their passport. It allows stays of up to 90 days at a time, but it does not allow you to work or look for a job in France.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: Service-Public – can a non-European student work in France?, Service-Public – job search or business creation, Campus France India – alumni visas and two-year extension, Campus France India – five-year short-stay visa.

Student visa

For a course longer than three months, you need a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) “student”. It acts as your residence permit for the first year.

How to apply

1. Complete the Études en France procedure and receive your acceptance letter.
2. Fill in the visa application on France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr), the official French visa website. Apply at least three months before your course starts.
3. Book and attend a VFS Global appointment to submit your documents and give your biometrics, then collect your passport from VFS.

Typical documents

• Valid passport
• France-Visas application form and receipt
• Acceptance letter from your French institution
• Proof of resources of at least €877.50 a month
• Any other documents in the France-Visas checklist for your case

The visa fee and the VFS service charge are paid when you apply and are not refunded if the visa is refused. French government scholarship holders are exempt from the visa fee but still pay the VFS charge.

After you arrive

• Validate your VLS-TS online within three months of arriving and pay the €150 fee. This makes you a legal resident in France.
• Pay the CVEC (€105) before you enrol at your institution.
• Renew on time: to stay beyond the first year, apply online for a student residence permit between four and two months before your VLS-TS expires.

Process as of October 2026 — sources: Campus France India – preparing the visa application, Service-Public – student long-stay visa or residence permit, France-Visas – student.