STUDY IN FRANCE

After the lycée, students choose to pursue either a vocational diploma or an academic diploma.

Vocational diplomas:

2 year technology degrees are the DUT (diplôme universitaire de technologie) and BTS (brevet de technicien supérieur). High schools deliver BTS courses, while universities grant DUT degrees. A DUT or BTS may be followed by one more year of qualifying study to earn a licensed career.

Academic diplomas:

There are three types of higher education institutions in France: specialized schools, universities, and Grandes écoles.

Universities are public institutions that award academic, technological, and professional degrees to students who have completed a baccalauréat or its equivalent in a foreign language. A university education contributes to degrees in a variety of fields. Degrees are granted at three different stages of achievement, referred to as cycles, within a system known as license, master, and doctorate (LMD), which is outlined in the following sections.

The Grandes écoles are a group of elite public and private schools. They’re close to colleges, but they usually deliver a more specialized three-year program in subjects like accounting, public administration, or engineering. The Grandes écoles accept students based on their performance on a competitive test. Students must have completed a baccalauréat and, in certain cases, a 2-year preparatory course (course préparatoires or prépas) before taking this test. A master’s degree is awarded to students who graduate from a Grande école (master).

Specialized schools are public or private educational institutions that prepare students for careers in fields such as art, architecture, social work, or tourism. They have master’s and license degrees.

EQUIVALENCES OF DIPLOMA AND DEGREE

There is no standard or official equivalency between French and American degrees. The following information is provided as a guideline:

An American high school diploma sometimes qualifies the student to enter an institution of higher education in France. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An associate degree from the United States also allows a student to enroll in a French institution within their first or second year. On a case-by-case basis, the institution will assess its equivalency.

A bachelor’s degree from the United States can be considered equivalent to a license. It is equivalent to two or three years of study for a DUT, BTS, or license at some universities. As a result, the st may be eligible. This may, in turn, qualify the student for application to a master’s degree program in a French institution. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American master’s degree qualifies the student to begin a second master’s degree program in Europe or a doctoral degree program. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

A doctoral degree in the United States (Ph.D.) is considered equal to a doctorate in France. The degree qualifies the researcher to start a postdoctoral program or teach in a French higher education institution.

• Medicine.
• Geography.
• Pharmacology.
• Art History.
• Linguistics.
• Sociology.
• European and Mediterranean Cultures.

• Communication technology.

HIGH RANKED UNIVERSITIES OF FRANCE

• Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)
• Ecole Polytechnique
• Sorbonne University
• CentraleSupélec
• Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
• Ecole des Ponts ParisTech
• Sciences Po Paris
• Université de Paris
• Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
• ENS Paris-Saclay

• Attested versions of the X, XII, and Graduate Degrees (if applicable), as well as Mark Sheets and Backlogs (Re-sits)
• IELTS, TOEFL, and other tests of English language proficiency are examples.
• GMAT, GRE, and other standardized tests (where necessary for the program)
• There are two scholarly sources.
• Two employers’ references (where applicable)
• Photographs the size of a passport
• Application fees, if applicable, 
• Statement of Intent (SOP)
• Resume/CV 
• Draft a portfolio of work (for Art, Design & Architecture program)
• Extracurricular Activity Certificates and Achievements

• Documents

  You should provide two sets of application photocopies containing the following documents:

  Long-term visa application form for stays of more than 90 days

  • Two photos of passport size
  • Passport photocopy
  • A copy of your NOC from CampusFrance
  • Academic Institution’s Letter of Registration
  • A cover letter outlining the research project as well as a CV/Resume are needed.
  • Proof of funds – tuition fees plus a monthly minimum of 615 Euros for the whole academic term
  • Proof of medical insurance with coverage that is available in France is required.
  • Copy of round-trip airline ticket (if studying in France for less than six months) or one-way ticket (if studying in France for more than six months)
  • OFII is an acronym for “Office of Foreign Investment in India” (Office Français de Immigration et de Integration)
  • Proof of residence in France for a period of three months, such as a contract, energy bill, land title, etc., or a hotel reservation.
  • A copy of your CV
  • Copies of college diplomas and degrees, as well as certificates

  When you go to your interview, you must bring all of your original documents as well as a copy of each document.

Cost of Studying and Living Expenses

1. University tuition fees in France

Tuition fees at public universities

• The cost of tuition at public universities in France varies depending on the study level chosen.
• The estimated annual tuition fees for Bachelor’s programs are about 190 EUR.
• Tuition fees for engineering degrees are higher, averaging around 620 EUR per academic year.
• Medicine tuition fees will cost up to 450 EUR per year on average.
• A Master’s degree costs around 260 EUR per year, while Ph.D. costs around 396 EUR per year; higher fees are expected for such specialized degrees.
• Aside from tuition, you will be required to pay a 90 EUR contribution to campus and student life.

Tuition fees at other types of institutions

• Students at France’s highly selective grandes écoles and grands établissements (great schools and establishments), which set their own rates, will pay more (about 500-600 EUR per year, but in some cases, they can lead up to 10,000 EUR per year).
• Private universities – Private universities have tuition fees that range from 1,500 to 20,000 EUR a year.
• In business schools, regardless of the degree level, fees range between 5,000 and 7,000 EUR a year.

2. Living costs in France

Average living costs in French cities and towns

• The overall cost of living in France is determined by your lifestyle, but it is also determined by your chosen area, primarily the French city in which you reside.
• Check out the average budget needed for each of France’s major cities:
• Between 1,200 and 1,800 EUR per month in Paris (this will include housing if you want to live in a student hall of residence);
• Nice: 900 to 1,400 EUR per month;
• Between 800 and 1.000 EUR in Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux, or Toulouse;
• You can get by for less money in the rest of France (at least 650 EUR).

Accommodation

• Accommodation costs are typically higher than the international average of 200–300 EUR per month.
• The following are the most popular student housing options in France:
• Student halls of residence – prices range from 150 to 600 EUR per month, depending on whether the room is private or shared. Approximately 13% of foreign students live in student housing.
• Rent/share an apartment – between 400 and 700 EUR/month, whereas a small apartment in a smaller French city can be rented for about 300 EUR/month;
• if you will be living with your partner and/or child(ren), the rent may vary between 700 and 1,000 EUR/month, and you can pay more if you want an apartment in the city center. Another expense will be energy bills (electricity, water, and internet).
• In Paris, you can find rates ranging from 200 EUR per month to about 800 EUR per month with a host family. They all do, however, have at least one meal a day.
• According to a report conducted by Euro student.EU, foreign students’ satisfaction with housing conditions in France is about 58 percent, just a few percentage points below the European average of 60 percent.
• International students can also use VISALE to get a free rent deposit. It enables students to have a guarantee for rent payment, increasing their chances of rapidly finding housing.

A permanent residency permit, also known as a Carte de résident, is a unique document that allows you to stay in France indefinitely. Permanent residency permits are valid for up to ten years and can be extended at the discretion of the beneficiary. Visas are not needed for foreign nationals whose home countries are members of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland.

If they intend to remain in France for more than six months, they may need to apply for a permanent residency permit. A permanent residency permit is available to any EU resident who has lived in France for more than 5 years.

The holder is not required to provide evidence of income or employment, but they must be able to demonstrate that they have resided in France for more than 5 years in order for the permanent residency permit to remain valid.

Non-EU people are treated the same way. After your visa application is approved, you and any family members over the age of 21 must apply for a carte de séjour before they can enter the country.

Non-EU/EEA nationals planning to remain in France for more than three months must apply for a long-stay visa that will be valid for the duration of their stay. Both applications for permanent residence in France must be submitted two months prior to the expiration of their visa.

A permanent residency permit in France does not entitle you to a French passport or voting rights. It only helps you to reside in France and work there.

Documents needed for permanent residency in France

If you’re an ex-pat who wants to stay in France for the foreseeable future, you’ll need to apply for a permanent residency permit. The following are the documents needed for this application:

• Passport with copies of the main pages;
• Two copies of the completed application;
• Four passport photographs;
• Birth certificate;
• Marriage certificate;
• Proof of residence;
• Proof of medical insurance;
• Employment contract;
• Proof of sufficient financial stability.

How to apply for French permanent residency

All applications for permanent residency in France must be sent to a local French town hall. You must bring the above-mentioned documents with you. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to process, and you’ll be informed when it’s finished.

A permanent residency application fee varies in price. It all depends on why you’re submitting your application. You must pay €269 to gain permanent residency in France for the purpose of family reunification. A permanent residency permit costs only €19 for asylum seekers and veterans.

You would be penalized if you have a one-year residence card but fail to report it at the time of your submission.

For Colleges: 

January, April, June, and September

For Universities: 

January and September