Hundreds of thousands of foreign students study each year in French universities or post-graduate schools. Some come through exchange programs, while others strike out on their own to pursue the dream student life.
The strong reputation of French education has a lot to do with it. But also the wish to enjoy a country with a rich history and cultural background, and a mellow lifestyle.
If you are planning on taking this journey, here’s a checklist of things to prepare, and some tips to make the move smooth.
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How the French higher education system works
The first step in studying abroad in France is to determine what sort of education you’d like. Higher education in France comes in a few different forms, including (but not limited to) undergraduate degrees. Here are the most common options.
Universities
Universities are the choice for students wanting to study law, psychology, medicine, literature, and the arts. Naturally, some are more famous than others (like the Sorbonne), and many have their own specialties.
Because the French government subsidies university studies, there are very low costs involved. As of 2024/25, a bachelor’s degree costs:
- €175 per year for EU residents
- €2,850 per year for non-EU residents
These are standardized rates for tuition across universities, as set out on the administration’s website. There may be other fees to consider, but overall the cost is low for a high-caliber education.
Les grandes écoles
Typically focused on engineering, business, and management, these elite private schools don’t have the same fees as the public universities above. They’re also highly competitive for French and international students.
Famous examples include Sciences Po, specialized in politics and public affairs, and INSEAD, the country’s leading management school.
But all that prestige comes with a price tag. For international students, tuition fees can be as high as €18,000 per year.
Preparatory classes (“Prépas”)
These two-year programs help students (including foreign students) ready themselves for the Grandes Écoles, building up to the major entrance exams. They’re a sort of hybrid between high school and undergraduate studies, and can be incredibly intense. They can also be every bit as competitive and elite as the Grandes Écoles their students move on to.
You’ll typically choose a focus area for your prépas, depending on which Grande École you wish to graduate to. This could be science, literature, or economics.
You don’t finish with a diploma, but you’ll be ideally placed for success at an elite higher education institution.
Because these are elite schools, the typical cost is around €2,000 per year. You also need to sign up for a university and pay its fees, which means an additional €175 per year.
Other schools
There are a range of highly specialized schools that don’t fall within these categories. These include cinema, journalism, architecture, fashion, culinary and language schools. They each have their own fee schedules and admission criteria.
How to apply to study in France
Choosing your course and submitting your application are the first steps to study in France. You can’t get a student visa until you’re enrolled in an educational institution. Which means you can’t move until you’re approved.
For EU citizens, the process is essentially the same as for French students. But for other international students, the system is a little more complex. Students from 69 listed countries — including the UK and US — must follow the “Etudes en France” procedure.
The Etudes en France website walks you through the process, so that’s the first place to visit. Normally, it goes like this:
- Choose your major(s) and choose 2-3 institutions to apply to.
- Check the admission conditions. You may need certain language proficiencies or previous school grades to enter a French university program.
- Assemble the (many) required documents. You can expect to prepare:
- An application form
- Authorisation from Campus France to study (new students get this via a “DAP” (Demande d'Admission Préalable). Find this through Etudes en France.
- A scanned passport, and extra passport-style photos
- High school results
- A cover letter or essay (if required by the university)
- Proof of competence in English or French, depending on the course
- Birth certificates (not always needed)
- Proof of financial means to support yourself during your studies
- Submit your application via the Campus France website. You can usually apply for up to three universities at once.
- Receive your notice of acceptance.
- Obtain your student visa. We’ll cover this next.
- Prepare to move to France!
How to get a student visa for France
Unless you’re an EU citizen or otherwise benefit from a visa waiver, you need a student visa to study in France. You can check whether you need a visa on the French government website.
The exact visa can take a few different forms:
- A short-stay visa for courses of three months or less;
- For courses of three to six months, a long-stay visa with no additional requirements (but also fewer rights for you);
- For courses exceeding six months, a long-stay visa (“VLS-TS Student”) which operates like a residence permit, lasting one year.
The VLS-TS Student visa is probably what you need, and is different from a long-stay tourist visa in several interesting ways:
- You can work up to 20 hours per week to offset your living costs
- You may receive a rental subsidy from the government
- After one year, you can apply for a multi-year residence permit
- Unlike working holiday or other tourist visas, student visas can easily become full residency permits once you finish your studies and join the workforce.
To get the VLS-TS Student visa, the following rules apply:
- You must be 18 or older
- You must have chosen your course and prove you were accepted
It can be quite a procedure so you need to start working on it at least three months before traveling.
Other important documents for international students in France
Before moving to France, it helps to prepare your administrative dossier. Some documents you’ll need simply to enter the country, while could become useful later on.
Most of these are fairly obvious, but here’s what you should bring with you to France:
- Passport: You won’t be let into (or out of) the country without it. And scans or photocopies are always helpful.
- Birth certificate: Not the original from decades ago, but a modern update. Many processes in France require this.
- Proof of address: If you already have this, make a copy. You may need it to open a bank account or get a cell phone plan.
- Admission to your course: You already used this to get the visa, and you’ll likely use it again for other processes.
- Proof of education: Copies of earlier diplomas or certificates may prove useful.
- Driver’s license: Essential to hire a car in Europe, but can also be a useful form of ID.
What next? Preparing study abroad in France
Once you’re accepted by an institution and have your student visa, most of the hard administrative work is done. But you still have steps to prepare to ensure life as a student in France is comfortable and enjoyable.
Find accommodation in France
You need to have accommodation organized before you arrive. You’ll need proof of address to open new accounts and sign up for services. And you really don’t need extra uncertainty during an exciting but stressful lifestyle change.
At the very least, arrange 1-2 months of temporary housing until you find your base for the long term. You may be able to live on-campus, but student dorms are less prevalent in France than the United States.
There are also furnished apartments for foreign students, which are perfect while you settle in, learn about your new home, and make friends. And you don’t need to worry about finding furniture or getting utilities.
Longer term, you may find it cheaper and more social to live with roommates.
More resources
- Everything you need to know when renting in France.
- Worried about money? Learn how to find great student accommodation on a budget
- Read this guide to furnished apartments near the American University in Paris
Plan your budget
As we’ve seen, a university education in France can be relatively affordable. But you still need to plan for the cost of living in Paris, Lyon, Montpellier, or whichever location you choose.
Even if you can find part-time work, you may find your savings don’t last as long as you’d like. Prepare a simple budget that includes:
- Rent (paid monthly), plus a security deposit and any other upfront housing expenses
- Food
- Entertainment
- A laptop, books and stationery for your studies
- Local transport. (Most transport operators offer discounted student passes.)
- Travel around France from time to time
Prepare your credit cards and bank account
It’s definitely a good idea to open a French bank account upon arrival. This isn’t necessarily essential, but can make it easier to pay rent and transfer money to friends or roommates. Most student bank accounts have few (or no) fees and are easy to set up once you have a home address.
If you want to keep your existing accounts and credit cards, inform your bank. Otherwise it may look suspicious when transactions start appearing in France.
You may also want to check the fees for international payments and currency conversion.
What to do when you arrive
Even with a French student visa in hand, there are a few additional steps to complete upon arrival.
Validate your visa
You must validate your visa within three months of arriving, at the very latest. But there’s no reason to delay, except if you haven’t yet found somewhere to live (a home address is required).
This is done online via the government website and should be quick and easy.
Pay the CVEC
CVEC (“Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus”) is an administrative fee to support healthcare, sport facilities, student activities, and associations.
All students have to pay it unless you have been granted a scholarship or if you are coming within the framework of an exchange program or doctoral stay. In this case you need to fill an exemption form.
You pay it online by credit card. For the year 2023-24, the amount due was €100.
Register for social security
Every French resident (including students) is part of the social healthcare system Ameli. Once you register, you’ll receive a “Carte vitale” which covers a huge proportion of medical, dental, and emergency costs.
- Read Ameli’s guide for foreign students (in English)
Get a French phone subscription
French phone and internet services are relatively inexpensive. The only challenge is the amount of competition, which can make choosing a plan overwhelming.
The good news is that most of the major players offer the same services at roughly the same price. So either choose a hot deal, or just go into a nearby store and ask for their advice.
You likely won’t need a lot of international calling texting, so prioritize a good amount of data.
Figure out your commute
Public transport is the norm in Paris and other French cities, and you’re unlikely to drive to classes. Which means you either want to live close to campus, or determine your best option each day.
Most cities have an unlimited pass subscription offer that you can pay on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis. You’ll need a photo ID to register.
You can also subscribe to local city bikes which you hop on and off, and some cities will rent you a bike for the long term. Paris has the Véligo bike rental system, and other cities have their own versions. As long as you have somewhere secure to lock them overnight, these are a convenient and cost-effective choice.
Get excited to study abroad in France
Hopefully this guide has been useful, and has helped you plan your first steps to studying in France. While the administrative formalities can be daunting, they’re really no more complex than studying almost anywhere in the world.
There are more resources for foreign students being published every day, and the Etudes en France process makes most of the paperwork clear.
Ready to study in Paris? Let the experts at Paris Attitude help you find a furnished apartment!
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