--- title: "Study in France" description: "France charges non-EU students EUR 2,770 a year for a bachelor's and EUR 3,770 for a master's at public universities, among the lowest in Europe. Most Indian applicants apply through CampusFrance, which for many includes an interview. Graduates get a 12-month job-search residence permit, 24 months after some master's programs." url: "https://kcoverseasedu.com/destinations/france" archetype: "destination" locale: "en-IN" --- # Study in France Public-university tuition among the lowest in Europe, strong engineering and business schools, and a Paris recruiting hub - with the CampusFrance procedure as the usual route for Indian applicants. ## Top institutions - **Université PSL** (QS #28) - **Institut Polytechnique de Paris** (QS #41) - **Université Paris-Saclay** (QS #71) - **Sorbonne University** (QS #72) - **Université Paris Cité** (QS #300) - **Université Grenoble Alpes** (QS #321) - **Sciences Po Paris** (QS #367) - **INSA Lyon** (QS #406) - **HEC Paris** - MBA, Master in Management, Finance - **INSEAD** - MBA, Executive MBA ## Cost snapshot - **Tuition:** EUR 2,770/year for a bachelor's and EUR 3,770/year for a master's at public universities (non-EU rate, introduced in 2019). Private business schools are a different market: INSEAD and HEC Paris run EUR 80,000+ for a full MBA. - **Living:** EUR 10,000-14,000/year outside Paris; EUR 12,000-18,000/year in Paris. A total annual budget of EUR 12,000-18,000 is among the lowest in Europe. - CROUS subsidised student accommodation is well below market rent. Apply as soon as you accept your offer, because allocation is by application date rather than need. ## Visa overview - **Visa type:** Student visa via the CampusFrance procedure (VLS-TS) - CampusFrance is the standard pathway for Indian applicants to French universities, and for many it includes an interview. - Processing takes 2-8 weeks depending on the consulate. - Credential recognition runs through the diplôme d'équivalence process. Allow 2-3 months before the visa stage. - Graduates get a 12-month job-search residence permit, extended to 24 months after some master's programs. ## Entry requirements - **English:** English-taught master's programs are widely available and admission is in English. French at A2-B1 is not an admission requirement but matters for part-time work and for staying on after graduation. - **Academic:** Public-university master's programs accept a second-class bachelor's, roughly 55-65%+. Top business schools and the grandes écoles are considerably more competitive. - **Other:** Counselling matters more here than for the English-speaking destinations: the procedure, the credential assessment and the school-by-school selectivity all differ from what Indian applicants expect. ## Scholarships - France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship (French government) (EUR 1,200/month for master's students and EUR 2,000/month for PhD from January 2026, plus tuition at eligible public institutions, return flights and health insurance) - France Excellence Charpak Master's Scholarship (Indian applicants only) (EUR 860/month for one to two years, plus a visa-fee waiver, Campus France procedure-fee exemption, priority CROUS housing and EUR 1 university meals. Travel is not covered) - Emile Boutmy Scholarship (Sciences Po, non-EU students) (EUR 18,500 off tuition in each of the two master's years; at bachelor's level a full exemption or EUR 9,500. A fee exemption, not a stipend) ## Post-study work A 12-month job-search residence permit after graduation, 24 months after some master's programs. Paris has a substantial tech and finance recruiting ecosystem hiring at master's level, and EU Blue Card eligibility begins around EUR 45,000-50,000, which leads to permanent residence after 21-33 months depending on French proficiency. ## Why is French public-university tuition so low? France sets a national non-EU rate rather than letting each university price its own international intake. That rate is EUR 2,770 a year for a bachelor's and EUR 3,770 for a master's, introduced in 2019, against the EU-student equivalent of EUR 170-243. It is a public policy, not a scholarship, so it applies whatever your profile. Private business schools sit outside it entirely. ## What is the CampusFrance procedure, and why does it matter? CampusFrance is the pre-application process Indian students go through before a French university can enrol them, and for many programs it includes an interview about your study plan and your reasons for choosing France. It runs alongside, not instead of, the university's own admission. It is the single biggest procedural difference between applying to France and applying to the UK or Australia, and it is where most avoidable delays happen. ## Do I need French? Not to be admitted to an English-taught master's, and France has many. You will need it to work part-time, to handle administration, and to compete for jobs during the post-study permit. A2-B1 by the time you graduate is a realistic target, and starting during your first semester is far easier than starting after. ## How does France compare with Germany for an Indian student? Both are low-tuition public systems. Germany's public universities charge no tuition but the application-support route KC runs there carries a fee, and German-taught programs still dominate outside a set of English master's. France charges a small national fee, has a broader English-taught master's offering at that price, and adds CampusFrance as a procedural step Germany does not have. Which fits depends on your subject and your language plans more than on cost. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is a French degree recognised in India? Yes. France uses the diplôme d'équivalence process for credential recognition, and you should plan 2-3 months for it before the visa stage rather than treating it as a formality at the end. ### Can I stay and work in France after graduating? You get a 12-month job-search residence permit, and 24 months after some master's programs. Moving from that to longer-term status usually runs through the EU Blue Card, which begins around EUR 45,000-50,000 and leads to permanent residence after 21-33 months depending on your French. ### How much should I budget in total for a year in France? EUR 12,000-18,000 a year all-in is realistic at a public university, which is among the lowest totals in Europe. Outside Paris, living costs run EUR 10,000-14,000; in Paris, EUR 12,000-18,000. CROUS housing is the main lever on that number. ### Are the grandes écoles and business schools worth the higher fee? They are a different proposition from the public universities, not a premium version of them. INSEAD and HEC Paris run EUR 80,000+ for a full MBA and recruit accordingly. Whether that maths works depends entirely on your target role, and it is a conversation worth having before you apply rather than after.