Study in France 2026

Top Universities

Best Universities in France

#1 Europe MBA

HEC Paris

HEC Paris Business School

Global Politics

Sciences Po

Sciences Po Paris

Founded 1257

Sorbonne

Sorbonne University

#1 World MBA

INSEAD

INSEAD Fontainebleau

Top Engineering

Polytechnique

École Polytechnique

#1 QS France

Paris-Saclay

Université Paris-Saclay

✈️ Visa Process Step-by-Step

Campus France Registration

Attend Campus France Interview

Attend interview at Campus France India office in Delhi/Mumbai/Pondicherry.

Apply for VLS-TS

Apply for Long-Stay Visa Equivalent to Residence Permit (VLS-TS) at VFS France.

Collect Visa

Collect your visa — allows entry and stay in France for studies.

OFII Registration

CAF Housing Aid

Apply for CAF (housing assistance) — can save €100–200/month.

💰 Complete Cost Breakdown

🏫	Tuition (Public University)	€2,770 – €3,770/year (heavily subsidized)
🏛️	Tuition (Grandes Écoles)	€10,000 – €30,000/year
🏠	Accommodation Paris	€10,000 – €15,000/year
🏠	Accommodation Other Cities	€6,000 – €10,000/year
💳	CAF Housing Aid	€100 – €250/month rebate (claim after arrival)
🍽️	Food & Living	€6,000 – €10,000/year

💡 IELTS Requirement: English programs: IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL 85+. French programs require DELF/DALF B2 minimum (C1 for competitive programs). TCF also accepted. Grandes Écoles often require both French + English tests.

Financial Aid

Scholarships for France

French Government

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

€1,181/month + insurance + return flight. Highly competitive.

Sciences Po

Emile Boutmy Scholarship

€5,000–€14,700 for non-EU students at Sciences Po

EU Program

Erasmus+ Exchange

€300–€500/month for students from partner universities

Regional Govts

Regional Council Scholarships

Various regional grants for students in specific study areas

University

University Merit Grants

Partial tuition waivers for excellent academic profile

💼 Work Rights & Career Path

Students can work 964 hours/year (equivalent to half-time) during studies. After graduation: Job Seeker/Company Founder Visa (APS) for 1 year to find employment in France. Must have Masters or above. Can work full-time while job seeking. Leads to Talent Passport residency.

🏆 PR Pathway

France PR pathway: APS Job Seeker Visa (1yr) → French job → Talent Passport (4 yrs) → 10-year Resident Permit → French Citizenship after 5 years legal residence. French citizenship gives EU passport.

📅 Intake Seasons

📆

September Intake

September/October

Main intake — most programs

📆

January Intake

January/February

Some Masters programs available

Why France?

Top Reasons to Study in France

Lowest public university fees in Europe (€3k/yr)

Eiffel Scholarship covers full living + tuition

HEC Paris & INSEAD top global business schools

EU member — access to 27 European countries

World capital of fashion, art, and luxury

Vibrant startup ecosystem in Paris

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about studying in France

Public university tuition is only €2,770–€3,770/year — set by the French government. With CAF housing aid, you can save €100–250/month on rent. Overall, much cheaper than UK, Australia or USA.

Many Masters programs in business and tech are fully in English. For Bachelors and public university programs, B2 French is usually required. Learning French helps enormously for daily life and job prospects.

Campus France is the mandatory pre-visa step for Indian students. You register online, upload documents, and attend an interview at one of the India offices (Delhi, Mumbai, Pondicherry) to get your visa.

The Eiffel Scholarship is awarded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It provides €1,181/month living stipend, airfare, insurance, and cultural activities. Apply through your target French university.

Yes! The APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) job seeker visa gives Masters and PhD graduates 1 year to find a job in France or start a business. You can work full-time during this period.