Study in France

France is one of the world's leading study destinations. According to Campus France, 443,500 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024-25, close to 15% of all students, putting France seventh among host countries worldwide. Public university fees are low compared with English-speaking countries and more than 1,500 programmes are taught fully or partly in English.

Types of institutions

• Public universities teach every subject at every level, from licence to doctorate, and charge fees set by the state.
• Grandes écoles are selective schools, either public or private. They include engineering schools, business and management schools and political science institutes. Getting in is competitive, and fees are higher than at universities.

Degrees and how long they take

Most French degrees follow the European LMD system (Licence, Master, Doctorat) and award ECTS credits.

• Licence (bachelor's): 3 years.
• Master: 2 years after the licence.
• Doctorat (PhD): usually 3 years after the master, completed within a doctoral school.

How much it costs

For 2026-27, students from outside the EU pay "differentiated" registration fees at public universities:

• Licence: €2,902 a year, or a reduced €1,934 for a second programme at the same institution.
• Master: €3,950 a year, or a reduced €2,633.
• Doctorat: €398 a year, the same as French students pay, because differentiated fees do not apply to doctorates.

On top of this, every student pays the CVEC (student and campus life contribution), which is €105 for 2026-27. Private schools set their own fees, and these can exceed €10,000 a year. Registering with French public health insurance is free and compulsory, and you do it online once you arrive.

For the visa, you must show at least €877.50 a month for living costs, or about €10,530 for a 12-month stay. If you hold a French government scholarship, you are exempt from both the registration fees and the CVEC.

Applying

• In many countries, applications go through Campus France's Études en France procedure. You create a single online file, choose your programmes, pay a fee and attend an interview. Your local Campus France office sets its own deadlines and fees.
• For the first year of a licence taught in French, you make a demande d'admission préalable (DAP) and can choose up to 3 universities. For the second or third year of a licence, or for a master's, you can choose up to 7 programmes.
• Key dates for 2027-28: applications opened on 1 October 2026, and the national DAP deadline is 15 December 2026. Universities reply by 30 April 2027, and you must accept one offer by 31 May 2027.
• French-taught first-year programmes require at least level B2 in French, shown through the TCF, DELF/DALF, or a score of 400 on the TEF. English-taught programmes usually do not require French.
• If you are aiming for a PhD, contact doctoral schools directly. You then apply for a "talent passport – researcher" visa rather than a student visa.

Getting your long-stay student visa (VLS-TS)

1. Accept your offer and complete the pre-visa (pre-consular) step with Campus France, which includes an interview.
2. Fill in your application on France-Visas. The visa fee is €50 for students from Études en France countries, plus the visa centre's service fee.
3. Submit your application in person at the visa centre that serves your country, bringing proof that you have enough money to live on.
4. Within 3 months of arriving in France, validate your VLS-TS online and pay a €100 tax. Without this, your stay is not legal.

The VLS-TS is valid for between 4 months and 1 year. To stay longer, apply online for a student residence permit 2 to 4 months before it expires.

Working while you study

Your student visa or residence permit lets you work up to 964 hours a year (60% of full time) without needing a separate work permit.

Working after you graduate

If you earn a master's degree, a professional licence or an equivalent qualification in France, you can get a one-year, non-renewable job search / business creation residence permit. You can apply in France before your student permit runs out, or from abroad within 4 years of graduating.

This permit lets you work full time. Once you find a job related to your studies that pays at least €2,800.53 gross a month, you can switch to a work permit. Higher salaries may qualify you for a multi-year "talent" card instead, for example from €39,582 a year for a qualified employee.

Recent rule changes

• Higher proof of funds (in force): for applications made from 1 August 2026, the minimum rose from €615 to €877.50 a month. This applies to first visas and renewals.
• Fewer fee waivers (in force): many universities used to waive the higher fees for non-EU students. Under a decree in force since 21 May 2026, however, waivers are now decided case by case based on your personal situation, and capped at 30% of eligible students in 2026-27, 25% in 2027-28 and 20% from 2028. Students who received a waiver before 21 May 2026 keep it until the end of their current licence or master, as long as they stay at the same institution.