FRANCE

France is a country where public education remains one of the most affordable in the world, even for foreigners, while the quality of teaching — especially in engineering, business, art and the humanities — is recognised globally. People come here not only for a prestigious diploma, but also to learn French, for the cultural heritage and for a distinctive way of life. In 2025, France welcomed around 430,000 international students — the fifth-highest figure in the world after the USA, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.

What people usually come to study

For school students. French private boarding schools are mostly Catholic institutions with a history, located in the countryside or in small towns. They are less heavily marketed abroad than the Swiss or British ones, but they offer a very high-quality education following the French curriculum (the school-leaving diploma — the Baccalauréat). Some schools also offer bilingual programmes (French-English). Foreign pupils usually need to have French at a B1–B2 level or take an intensive language course before starting their studies. The number of boarding schools that actively work with foreigners is small — roughly 30–40 schools across the country. Important: for children under 18, guardianship in France is often required if the school does not take on this role itself.

For students. This is precisely where the main interest is concentrated. France has a dual system of higher education: state universities (universités) and the "grandes écoles". State universities (over 70) offer almost free tuition and a wide range of disciplines. The grandes écoles are elite engineering schools (Polytechnique, Centrale, Mines), business schools (HEC, ESSEC, ESCP) and higher teacher-training schools (ENS). Admission is by competition after two years of preparatory classes, and they are considerably more expensive, but their diplomas are worth their weight in gold. The most popular fields among foreigners are business and management (40% of international students), engineering and technology (25%), the humanities, art and design, and hospitality management. In 2025, the largest sources of international students were Morocco, Algeria, China, Tunisia, Italy, Spain and Germany. From Russia — around 5,000–7,000 students (mostly at Master's level).

Features of studying

Secondary education. In boarding schools, teaching is conducted in French, with the option of bilingual programmes. The school day starts at 8:30 and ends at 17:00, followed by sports, clubs and supervised study. Many schools have a compulsory uniform. Life in the residences is supervised by house staff (surveillants). Foreign pupils are offered courses in French as a foreign language (FLE). The cost of additional language modules is often included in the overall fee.

Higher education. State universities follow the Bologna system: a Bachelor's (Licence) — 3 years (180 ECTS credits), a Master's (Master) — 2 years (120 credits), a doctorate (Doctorat) — 3 years. Teaching is conducted predominantly in French, but since 2020 more and more Master's programmes have been offered in English (in business, engineering and digital technology). Studying at a state university is very cheap, but the French-language requirements are high (usually B2/C1 for a Bachelor's). At the grandes écoles, tuition is paid (from 12,000 to 25,000 euros per year), but the diplomas give direct access to top employers, and most programmes are in English. The academic year begins in September, and Master's admission often runs through the MonMaster or Campus France platform.

Visa requirements

Citizens of non-EU countries need a long-stay student visa, the VLS-TS (Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour), to study for longer than 90 days. The procedure is mandatory and, for many countries, includes a Campus France stage.

Stage 1: Campus France. Almost all foreigners (including from Russia) are required to register on the Campus France platform, complete a questionnaire, pay a fee and attend an interview. The aim is to confirm your academic plan and language level. Without Campus France approval, you will not be granted a visa. The Campus France fee ranges from 50 to 150 euros depending on the country. The processing time is 3–6 weeks.

Stage 2: Visa application at the embassy. After Campus France approval, you submit the application for the VLS-TS visa.

Main requirements:

• Confirmation of enrolment (or pre-registration) at a French university
• Proof of finances: a minimum of 615 euros per month for the entire intended period (around 7,380 euros per year). In practice, it is advised to show 800–1,000 euros per month.
• Medical insurance (can be arranged in France after arrival)
• A certificate of no criminal record from your country of residence (not always required)
• A foreign-travel passport valid for at least the entire period of study

Cost and timelines: The consular fee is 99 euros. The biometrics fee is 25–50 euros depending on the embassy. Visa processing can take 4–12 weeks. After arriving in France, you need to register with the migration service online (validation du VLS-TS) and pay a fee of 50 euros. Within 3 months, you must apply for a plastic residence permit card (titre de séjour étudiant), which will be valid until the end of your studies.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Unbelievably low tuition costs at state universities (2,770–3,770 euros per year) for foreigners.
• The very highest quality of education at the grandes écoles, in engineering and in business.
• Diplomas from French universities are recognised worldwide, especially in Europe, Africa and Canada.
• A large number of Master's programmes in English (more than 1,500).
• A unique opportunity to learn French to a native-speaker level, which gives a competitive advantage.
• CAF housing subsidies, which reduce your rent.
• The possibility of staying for 2 years after your studies to look for work.
• Affordable student healthcare (basic cover is free, supplementary insurance — 100–300 euros per year).
• A country with a rich culture, excellent transport links and a varied climate.

Cons:

• Language barrier: for a Bachelor's, French at B2–C1 is almost mandatory. Without the language, daily life (doctors, banks, renting) will be difficult.
• Enormous bureaucracy: Campus France, long visa processing times, then VLS-TS validation, then the titre de séjour — this takes months and frayed nerves.
• The high cost of living in Paris and a housing shortage. Even with subsidies, finding a studio for 800 euros in Paris is a great stroke of luck.
• Competition for places in CROUS is enormous; many students live in private residences or shared flats.
• State universities are less prestigious than the grandes écoles, and getting into a grande école is difficult (preparatory classes, competition).
• The quality of state universities varies greatly: there are excellent ones (the Sorbonne, Paris-Saclay, Strasbourg, Lyon) and weak ones.