Babil Abroad
Study in France

Europe

Study in France

France combines very low tuition at public universities with highly prestigious engineering and business schools (Grandes Écoles).

Programs
3,400+
Institutions
75+
Avg Tuition
€170 – €4,500 / yr (Public Universities)
Top Cities
Paris · Lyon · Toulouse
Key facts for international students studying in France
Avg. tuition€170 – €4,500 / yr (Public Universities)
IELTS requirement6.0 – 7.0 overall
TOEFL requirement80 – 100 iBT
Bachelor's duration3 years
Master's duration2 years
Major intakesSeptember / October
Post-study workAPS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour): 1-year post-study work permit for eligible graduates. Rules subject to change.
Study visaVisa de Long Séjour Valant Titre de Séjour (VLS-TS)

Last verified: August 2026 · Official visa source

France at a Glance

Capital
Paris
Currency
€ EUR
Language
French
Bachelor's
3 years
Master's
2 years
Major Intakes
September / October
Avg Tuition
€170 – €4,500 / yr (Public Universities)
Application Window
December–May for September intake

About Studying Here

France combines very low tuition at public universities with highly prestigious engineering and business schools (Grandes Écoles). Paris is a global fashion, luxury, art, and business capital.

Why Students Choose This Destination

Decision-relevant advantages — not tourism copy.

  • Public university fees among the lowest in Europe (€170–€380/year for many programs)
  • Highly prestigious Grandes Écoles for engineering, business, and science
  • Paris as a global luxury, fashion, and business capital
  • Sciences Po, INSEAD, HEC Paris internationally recognized
  • Eiffel Excellence Scholarship program for international students
  • Access to EU labor market and Schengen zone

Things to Consider

Honest tradeoffs every student should know.

Most programs at public universities taught primarily in French
Bureaucratic immigration processes (titre de séjour, Campus France)
Housing in Paris is expensive and competitive
Grandes Écoles fees are high despite low public university costs

What Can You Study?

Program availability across indexed institutions in France.

Engineering & Technology
760+ programs
Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
680+ programs
International Relations & Law
380+ programs
Fashion & Luxury Management
220+ programs
Life Sciences
320+ programs
View All France Programs

Key Industries & Career Sectors

Career context — not employment guarantees.

Luxury & FashionAerospace (Airbus HQ in Toulouse)Financial ServicesTourismFood & WineAutomotive

Employment outcomes depend on skills, experience, language ability, labour market conditions, and immigration eligibility. Sector presence does not guarantee employment.

Destination Scorecard

Explainable indicators based on indexed data.

Academic Choice7/10
English Program Availability6/10
Budget (Cost Competitiveness)9/10
Career Alignment8/10
Scholarship Availability7/10
Lifestyle & Quality of Life9/10

Scores reflect indexed program data and publicly available information. They are guides, not guarantees.

English Language Requirements

6.0 – 7.0
IELTS
80 – 100
TOEFL iBT
54 – 65
PTE
English-taught programs are available but French remains the primary academic language. Growing number of English-taught Master's, especially at Grandes Écoles and Sciences Po. Most public university Bachelor's programs are French-taught.

Rankings Context

France has multiple globally ranked institutions including Sciences Po, CentraleSupélec, HEC Paris (top European business school), and École Polytechnique. INSEAD (near Paris) ranks among the top global MBA programs.

Frequently Asked Questions — Study in France

Do I need to speak French to study in France?
For public university Bachelor's programs, French is typically required. For English-taught Master's programs at Grandes Écoles, Sciences Po, or selected other institutions, no French is required. Daily life in France is primarily French-speaking.
What is the Campus France procedure?
Students from many countries must complete the Campus France pre-application procedure before applying for a French student visa. This involves creating a Campus France account, selecting your institution's program, and attending an interview. Check if this applies to your country.