Prestige & savings.
Your EU degree in France.
Public university tuition at €2,770–€3,770/yr plus 1,500+ English-taught programmes, Grande École prestige and a 1-2 year APS post-study residence to launch your EU career.
Why students are choosing France
Low Public Tuition
€2,770/yr Bachelor · €3,770/yr Master at public universities (indicative) — a fraction of UK, US and Australia costs.
Grande École Brand
HEC, INSEAD, ESSEC, EDHEC, Polytechnique — global top-tier business + engineering brands.
1,500+ English-Taught Programmes
France offers 1,500+ English-taught programmes — no French required for admission to many Masters.
APS Post-Study + Schengen
1-2 year APS post-study residence + full Schengen travel · a direct bridge from student to EU professional.
EU Founder + Economic Giant
2nd-largest EU economy · home of LVMH, L'Oréal, Airbus, Total, BNP, AXA · hiring across Business, Luxury, Engineering.
Welcoming to Indian Students
7,000+ Indian students in France · growing partnerships with Indian institutes · Campus France simplifies the pathway.
Why France is a smart EU bet for Indian students
Low public tuition, Grande École prestige, 1,500+ English programmes and genuine post-study residence rights.
Low Public Tuition
€2,770/yr at public universities for non-EU students.
France's public universities charge only €2,770/yr for Bachelor and €3,770/yr for Master programmes (indicative) — including many English-taught Masters.
Grande École Prestige
Globally-ranked business and engineering schools.
HEC Paris, INSEAD, ESSEC, EDHEC, École Polytechnique — France's Grandes Écoles consistently rank in global top 20 for business and engineering.
20 Hours Part-Time
Legal part-time work during studies.
International students can work up to 964 hours/year (~20 hrs/week) during studies — enough to meaningfully offset living costs.
APS 1-Year Stay-Back
Post-study residence to find a job.
The APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) gives Master and PhD graduates 1-2 years to search for employment in France — then transition to a work permit.
Where you can study in France
Four cities — pick based on your programme (Paris for business/culture, Grenoble for engineering, Strasbourg for sciences, Lyon for food+affordability).
Paris
Sorbonne · HEC · ESSEC · Finance · Fashion
- Global capital of business + culture
- 20+ world-ranked universities in region
- Most expensive French city
- Direct flights to major Indian cities
Grenoble
Grenoble Alpes · GEM · Engineering
- Grenoble Alpes Univ. (top engineering)
- Nestled in the French Alps
- Low cost of living vs Paris
- Strong tech + research scene
Strasbourg
Univ. Strasbourg · EU institutions
- Univ. of Strasbourg (Russell-equivalent)
- Seat of the European Parliament
- Border city — easy trips to Germany
- Strong Life Sciences + International
Lyon
EMLyon · Univ. Lyon · Food capital
- France's 2nd-largest city
- EMLyon Business School
- Food + culture capital
- More affordable than Paris, well-connected
Can I afford to study in France?
Indicative annual figures in Euros (€). Tuition varies wildly — public universities charge ~€2,770–€3,770/yr while Grandes Écoles charge €15,000–€35,000/yr. Living cost is Paris vs rest.
Public University (Bachelor)
Public University (Master)
Grande École (Business / MBA)
Grande École (Engineering)
Why France wins on value
Prestige · low public tuition · EU access
- €2,770/yr Bachelor · €3,770/yr Master at public universities
- 1,500+ English-taught programmes
- 1-2 year APS post-study residence
- Full Schengen access + CAF housing subsidy
Monthly living breakdown
These are indicative figures. Non-EU students can apply for CAF housing subsidy to offset rent. Exchange rates fluctuate.
Your France university options
Six partners — top public universities (Sorbonne, Paris-Saclay, Grenoble, Strasbourg) plus Grande Écoles (HEC, EDHEC).
Sorbonne Université
Best for: Sciences · Humanities · Medicine · Research
- • MSc Data Science
- • MSc Chemistry
- • MA Humanities
- • MD Medicine
Université Paris-Saclay
Best for: Science · Engineering · Research
- • MSc Computer Science
- • MSc Physics
- • MSc Data Science
- • MSc Life Sciences
Université Grenoble Alpes
Best for: Engineering · CS · Innovation · Business
- • MSc Computer Science
- • MSc Industrial Engineering
- • MSc Innovation
- • MSc Business
Université de Strasbourg
Best for: Life Sciences · Chemistry · International Studies
- • MSc Life Sciences
- • MSc Chemistry
- • MSc European Studies
- • MD Medicine
HEC Paris
Best for: MBA · Masters in Management
- • MBA (16 months)
- • MSc in Management
- • MSc Finance
- • MSc Strategic Mgmt.
EDHEC Business School
Best for: MBA · Finance · International Management
- • MSc Financial Markets
- • MSc Management
- • MBA
- • MSc Int'l Business
What can you study in France?
From €2,770/yr public Masters to Grande École MBA — all with 1,500+ English-taught options.
MSc Management / Business
MBA
MSc Data Science / CS / AI
MSc Engineering
MSc Life Sciences / Chemistry
MD Medicine (French-taught)
Admission requirements & journey
- Bachelor's with 60%+ · 16-year education recommended
- English proficiency (IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL 90+) OR DELF B2 for French-taught
- Statement of Purpose + 2 LORs
- CV / resume · work experience (MBA)
- GMAT / GRE (Grande École / top programmes)
- Campus France NOC (mandatory for Indian students)
- Valid passport · financial statements
Intakes: September (main) + January (secondary)
The September intake is the main entry across all universities. A January intake is offered for selected Masters. Grandes Écoles typically have only September.
Your application journey
Free Consultation
Patrick's France specialist assesses your profile + Campus France steps.
Profile Assessment
Shortlist based on academics, budget and target cities.
Campus France + Tests
Campus France pre-consular interview + IELTS / DELF prep.
Applications
University applications submitted via Études en France portal.
Receive Offer
Admission letter + Campus France NOC generated.
Long-Stay Visa (VLS-TS)
VLS-TS student visa validated as residence permit on arrival.
Pre-Departure
Flights, CAF housing subsidy prep, insurance, winter clothing.
Arrival Support
Airport, OFII validation, bank account, SIM, accommodation.
Work during studies. APS 1-2 years post-study.
France lets Master and PhD graduates stay 1-2 extra years to find a job — then transition to Talent Passport.
964 hrs/year part-time
~20 hrs/week · tutoring, retail, hospitality, research — ~€11.65/hr minimum wage.
APS 1-2 years + Talent Passport
1-2 year post-study residence for Master+ graduates · PR in 5 years.
The full picture
- Students can work up to 964 hours per year (~20 hrs/week during term, full-time during holidays).
- Master's and PhD graduates can apply for the APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — 1-2 years to search for a job.
- Once hired, switch to a Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) or Salarié visa.
- Permanent residency possible after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
- CAF housing subsidy (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) can cover 20-30% of your rent — a huge advantage for students.
- Common hiring sectors: Luxury & Fashion, Engineering, IT, Finance, Pharma, Tourism.
APS requires at least a Master's degree (not for Bachelor's graduates). Salary thresholds for the Talent Passport change periodically — we help you verify what's current at the time of your application.
🇫🇷 France at a Glance
Where is France?
Western Europe · full EU + Schengen member · founder of the EU · home of Paris, Lyon, Marseille · bordered by Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain.
Pros, cons — and whether France is right for you
Why choose France
- €2,770–€3,770/yr public tuition — among the lowest in Europe
- Grande École prestige — HEC, INSEAD, EDHEC
- 1,500+ English-taught programmes
- APS 1-2 year post-study residence (Master+)
- CAF housing subsidy can cover 20-30% of rent
- Full Schengen + EU access · founder-member state
- Direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore
What you should know
- French language a real advantage (B1+ for most jobs)
- Paris cost of living is high — book accommodation early
- Campus France process adds steps vs direct application
- Bureaucracy (OFII, CAF, prefecture) takes time
- Winters are grey and rainy (Paris, north)
- APS only for Master's / PhD graduates (not UG)
Is France right for you?
- You want a prestigious European degree at low tuition
- A Grande École brand matters (MBA / Business)
- You want 1,500+ English-taught Master options
- You're open to learning French (A2–B1 for daily life)
- You value APS post-study + Schengen travel
- You expect everything in English (daily life needs French)
- You want a quick visa + short course
- You cannot show maintenance funds (€615/mo min.)
- You expect warm weather year-round (Paris is grey Oct-Mar)
- You expect APS as a Bachelor's graduate (Master+ only)
Life in France as an Indian student
Indian Food
Paris has excellent Indian restaurants + groceries. Lyon, Strasbourg, Grenoble have smaller but reliable scenes.
Community
7,000+ Indian students · ISI (Indian Students in France) societies in every major city · growing fast.
Weather
Four seasons · wet autumn + winter in the north · warmer south. Pack layers + umbrella.
Language
English works for academics (many Masters) · A2-B1 French makes daily life + part-time dramatically easier.
Accommodation
CROUS student dorms (€250–€450/mo) · Private shared flats (€500–€900/mo) · CAF subsidy applies to both.
Money
Euro (€) · open a French bank account (BNP, Société Générale) · UPI not available.
A day as a student in France
Breakfast
Café au lait + croissant at your dorm or local boulangerie.
University
Lectures at Sorbonne / Paris-Saclay / Grenoble / Strasbourg.
Déjeuner
CROUS university canteen (€3.30 subsidised meal) or café.
Study / TD
Travaux Dirigés (tutorials) + library work + group assignments.
Part-time
964 hrs/yr — retail, tutoring, admin, research assistant.
Fitness
University sport, running by the Seine or local park.
Dinner
Cook with flatmates — French pasta nights are a thing.
Wind Down
Netflix in French (learn passively) · plan a Schengen trip.
Our students in France
Adding fresh France stories soon. Meanwhile — we can share stories relevant to your programme.
📸 France through our eyes
Placeholder tiles — real France photos can be dropped in later.
France — frequently asked questions
We guide you into France — step by step.
Ready to explore France?
Whether it's a Masters at Sorbonne, Engineering at Grenoble Alpes, or MBA at HEC Paris — we'll help you shortlist and apply.
Talk to a France Specialist
A senior counsellor will call you within 24 hours — free and no obligation.