About France
France is the leading non-English-speaking study destination in the world, hosting nearly 445,000 international students across more than 3,500 public and private institutions, from research universities to specialist Grandes Écoles in engineering, business and the arts. Non-EU applicants apply through Campus France, a single national platform that coordinates admissions across most institutions and, for many countries, is a required step before a student visa can be issued. From the 2026/2027 academic year, non-EU students at public universities pay differentiated tuition of roughly EUR 2,895 a year for a bachelor's degree and EUR 3,941 for a master's, still far below the UK or US, while private business and engineering schools charge considerably more. After completing a degree at Bachelor's level or above, graduates can apply for the Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour, a one-year permit to look for work or launch a business in France.
Institutions
3,500+
Tuition fees
EUR 2,895 – EUR 25,000/year
Student life
83%
International students
445,000+
Employability
82%
Work rights
The France advantage
France's higher education system runs public research universities in parallel with specialist Grandes Écoles in engineering, business and the arts, institutions like HEC Paris and the various École Centrale and Polytechnique campuses that carry global weight in their fields.
From 2026/2027, non-EU students at public universities pay a standard rate of roughly EUR 2,895 a year for a bachelor's degree and EUR 3,941 for a master's, a fraction of comparable programmes in the UK or US. Grandes Écoles and business schools charge considerably more.
Campus France coordinates applications across most French institutions for students from participating countries, replacing dozens of separate application systems with one process and one point of contact for visa preparation.
Academic specialties
The journey ahead
Most non-EU applicants first create a Campus France account, called Études en France in participating countries, to research programmes and begin the application and visa process in parallel.
Submit transcripts, language test results and, for many programmes, a personal statement through Campus France or directly to Grandes Écoles and business schools that run their own admissions.
Show proof of at least EUR 877.50 a month in financial means and apply for the VLS-TS long-stay student visa at the French consulate. Processing follows your Campus France file, so keep both up to date.
Within three months of arrival, validate your VLS-TS online through the French immigration portal, which serves as your residence permit for the first year of study.
Common questions
Not for every programme. A large and growing number of Master's degrees and Grandes Écoles programmes are taught entirely in English, particularly in business and engineering, though most bachelor's degrees at public universities remain in French.
From 2026/2027, non-EU students at public universities pay roughly EUR 2,895 a year for a bachelor's degree and EUR 3,941 for a master's. Grandes Écoles and private business schools charge considerably more, often EUR 10,000 to EUR 25,000 a year.
Campus France is the national platform that coordinates study in France for international students, from researching programmes through to preparing your visa file. In many countries it is a mandatory first step before applying to French universities.
Yes. International students can work up to 964 hours a year, roughly 20 hours a week on average, on a valid student residence permit.
Yes. Graduates of a Bachelor's degree or above can apply for the Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour, a one-year permit to search for work or start a business in France.
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