Study and Research Opportunities in France

Long and short-term academic programs are available in France across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in France. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make France an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in France and apply.

Scholarships in France

Fellowships in France

Grants & Awards in France 

Summer Programs in France

France as an academic destination

If your desire to visit France goes beyond seeing Louvre and Triumph Arc to getting a quality education, this article will help you in that!

France is developing its positions in the list of the most desirable academic destinations for international students in Europe. The country has lower tuition fees, high-quality universities, and well-known Business Schools in Europe. All those opportunities added to Paris's natural charm as a travel destination make it hard to resist studying in France. 

In this regard, it's important to note that not all of the best universities are located in Paris. Smaller cities like Toulouse, Rennes, Montpellier, Grenoble are also ready to welcome international students with high-quality university programs. 

There are two characteristics for the French educational institutions, which are not very common for other countries of Europe. Firstly, French universities are strictly focused on academic issues, which means there are little or no after-study student activities. 

Secondly, most French people prefer to communicate in their mother tongue, even if they can do it in English. Therefore, you are highly encouraged to learn at least basic French, to communicate with locals. 

There are not many English programs in France. For most academic degrees, you need to have a good French command and prove it when applying for the university. The French version of SAT is DELF or DALF. Sciences Po is one of the not many higher educational institutions that offer English programs.

The most developed academic directions in France include:

  • Art
  • Business
  • Law
  • Management
  • Fashion and Luxury Goods
  • Political Science
  • Biotechnology

Read on to know where it's better to take the above-mentioned programs in France. 

Universities in France

The oldest university in France is the University of Paris. It has an interesting story. Founded between 1160 and 1250, the University of Paris temporarily ceased its activities after the French Revolution between 1793-1896. Then, continuing its operations, the university was divided into 13 independent universities, the two of which are very famous and globally ranked universities currently. 

Those two divisions of the former University of Paris are Sorbonne University and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. The mentioned universities offer many programs and funding opportunities for international students, so you have the opportunity to feel the atmosphere of the oldest educational institutions in France. 

There are two main academic spots in France you should focus your studies at: Internationally ranked French universities and unranked but highly popular business schools of Europe. This article shortly guides you on both categories. 

French higher educational institutions are divided into three main types:

  1. The first one is universities offering bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs in different academic, technical, and professional degrees. The common bachelor's degree that we all know is called a License degree in France and usually takes three years to complete. 
  2. Grandes écoles are the second type of educational institutions in countries that are both public and private. The main difference between them is that courses are more specialized in subjects like engineering, business, or public administration. 
  3. Specialized schools provide training for professional careers such as architecture, social work, tourism, art, etc. They typically do not offer Ph.D. degrees. 

Around 35 universities in France are included in the global rankings, the two most popular ones being Université PSL and Ecole Polytechnique. The other in the list of French best universities include:

Besides, the widely respected and known business schools located in France include ESCP Europe, ESSEC Business School, and INSEAD.

International Student Expenses in France

All the France universities catch the attention due to the rather affordable tuition fees, with the average cost per academic year being around 1,000 EUR. In non-public universities, the tuition does not vary much. The costs are the following:

  • Bachelor's: 2,700 EUR per year.
  • Master's: 3,700 EUR per year.
  • PhD's: 2,770 EUR per year

Student halls of residence might cost you around 200 EUR per month, and renting an apartment will vary in the range of 400-700 EUR per month depending on will you share it with other students. Of course, Paris doubles the accommodation prices. 

Student Visa in France

All international students, except for EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens, should have a student visa for attending an academic program in France. If the student plans to live longer than six months in the country, the additional requirement is to apply for a residence permit. As in many other countries, in France, you will need to prove your financial readiness to fund your costs and have a visa. 

If you need some additional information about your studies in France, The Campus France website is the right place to land. It is the main public agency providing information to international students and is attached to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Otherwise, we hope this section of ARMACAD will help you take the first successful steps towards building a successful academic and career journey in France.