France is home to some of the world’s greatest educational institutions. Because of its advantageous immigration policies and low tuition fees, the country is one of the most popular destinations for international students. In France, there are many well-known schools that rank highly in international rankings. A large number of them teach in French, with a few in English. If you will like to study in France, this post will provide you will all the details you need to know about how to study, work, and live in France.
Being a French-speaking country, students who are non-French native speakers are unenthusiastic to study in France. To shock you, some Universities have English and French-taught programs. The only downside of studying in English medium is that the tuition is twice higher than courses conducted in French. The French higher education system is one of the best in Europe, and the world, student adaptability, peaceful co-existence, and many more are some of the reasons to study in France.
How to study in France
To kick-start, the process to acquire the French education, here are steps to take.
Carefully choose your intending program and school
This is critical as it will help you stay focused while studying. Non-European students must pass the Preliminary Admission test, often known as the “Demande d’Admission Préalable – DAP,” to apply to French universities, this is done through Campus France. Campus France is a government-run organization tasked with promoting French higher education internationally and welcoming international students and researchers to France. It promotes worldwide mobility and administers scholarship programs as well as a network of alumni.
Also, when choosing a course, check the mode of study, best university, and very importantly, the demand for the course in the province and country. For example, management courses like economics, business management are among the top courses in France.
Visit the website to check the application requirements
After you’ve settled for a university and course to study in France, the next step is to check the study requirements. The documents may vary, which is why you must check so that you have them handy and as soon as the application portal is open, you will be among the first applicants which might be a selection criterion.
Study in France admission requirements
A completed application form signed by the official authorities
Campus France authorization
Passport photograph
Valid Passport
High school transcripts
Essay (if requested)
Proof of language competency in either English or French depending on the program
The most common English tests approved by French universities are:
PTE Academic
IELTS
TOEFL
Proof of payment of the application fee
Birth certificate
Arrange your documents
Get all the required documents and put them together. Arranging them will help you not omit any which can deny you admission.
Submit your documents
Follow the school direction on how to submit your application, then wait for the next step which is paying an application fee.
Apply for a French student visa
Your school will send you an acceptance letter showing that your admission was approved, take the letter and other supporting documents for the visa application in a consulate or embassy near you.
Please note: The study visa requirements for EU and Non-EU students differ. Follow accordingly.
France study visa requirements for non-European students
An acceptance letter
Proof of funds
Proof of health insurance (minimum cover €30,000)
Proof of accommodation.
Proficiency test scores (French or English test scores)
Receipt of application fee
Tuition fees in France
Students from non-EU countries are expected to pay tuition fees to study in France, while EU nationals are exempted from paying the tuition fee. France offers one of the cheapest tuition fees in Europe and the world. Non-EU students pay between 4,500-7,000 Euros yearly in a public university. Private universities are generally high for both EU and non-EU students with an average tuition fee of 20,000 Euros yearly.
Check tuition fees in France for more information as it regards program types and study level.
Cheap Universities in France
1. Université Paris-Saclay
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
2. Université d’Orléans
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
3. Université de Montpellier
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
4. Université de Strasbourg
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
5 Best Universities in France 2021 Rankings
1. Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris
National rank- #1
World university rank #46
2. École Polytechnique
National rank #2
World university rank #87
3. Sorbonne University
National rank #3
World university rank #87
4. University of Paris
National rank #4
World university rank #136
5. Paris-Saclay University
National rank #5
World university rank #178
Are there English taught programs in France?
Although, the lingua franca is French, there are some schools in France providing studies in English. The following French schools provide English-taught programs.
1. The University of Bordeaux
This is one of the best universities in France. It offers a large range of courses taught in English, available to all students.
2. The American University of Paris
It is one of the English-taught universities. It is situated in Paris, France. The American University of Paris is a French university located in the city of Paris. English is the most popular medium of education. Students must demonstrate competency in French before graduation.
3. Sciences Po
Sciences Po, or the Paris Institute of Political Studies, is a French higher education school. Sciences Po is a social sciences research institution with a reputation for doing high-quality research. The institution is one of the best English-taught universities in Paris, and it provides some English-language courses.
4. Panthéon-Sorbonne
The Institution of Pantheon-Sorbonne is a public research university in Paris, France, that focuses on social sciences and humanities. It provides a variety of courses in French and English, as well as entirely in English.
5. Université Paris Sud
Paris-Sud University is one of the leading universities in France that teach in English.
6.École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
Last but not the least is École Normale Supérieure de Lyon. It offers both English and French programs.
Can I work while studying in France?
While studying in France, EU and non-EU have the privilege to work, but, if you’re not a European student, you’ll need a student residence permit to work, and you’ll be able to work shorter hours per week in most cases (part-time).
As long as you have a valid residence permit, an international student on a study visa in France can work for up to 964 hours each year (about 60% of full-time employment for a year) while enrolled in classes.
Working in a university or other educational institution for up to a year (up to 670 hours September–June and up to 300 hours July–August) is also an option, as long as it does not conflict with your studies.
Staying in France after graduation
France allows students who have completed their studies in any French-recognized institute to stay back and job hunt. Students who spent their five years studying in France have a better chance of staying back after graduation. That is to say, 3-4 years undergraduate studies and 2 years postgraduate studies.
Once you get a job, it becomes easier for a foreign student to obtain a work visa or a residence permit. Furthermore, if you put in your best at your place of work, your employer will allow you to apply for a long-stay work visa with a residence permit or can file for you. You can also work in France full-time with this work permit.
As for students who only came to France for a master’s program, they can stay back after graduation for 12 months to search for a job. You can apply for a one-year, non-renewable temporary residence permit if you have a master’s degree, a CGE level 1 degree (equivalent to a 5-year studies course), or a professional license, which allows you to work up to 60% of a normal working week to support yourself while looking for a full-time job.
Students may stay in France for one year after graduation on a post-study work visa to hunt for work. Apply for a work permit after you’ve found a job and include a letter from the potential company confirming the position. The Talent Passport visa. may also be available to recent graduates.
Obtaining a permanent residence after studies in France
Since the French Government allows international students to stay back after their studies, you should also be thinking of getting a permanent residence. To apply for PR in France, you must have spent five years studying in France from a known institution. After that, you have to apply for the APS Visa, which allows you to stay in France for 2 years.
With a valid residence permit, you are eligible to take on paid work with some principles attached. Check the campus France for more information.
Conclusion
France is a beautiful country, it is not just open for tourism, education and business thrives there. International students from non-EU students can study in the English medium, as there are universities and business schools providing lessons in English. The tuition fee in public universities are cheap, but sometimes, your school location can gulp the larger cost. Cities like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Bordeaux are very expensive. While cities like Nantes, Lille, Grenoble, Montpellier, Toulouse are cheaper.