Study in France
Grandes écoles and public universities with regulated fees, 1,600 English-taught programs, and a post-study permit that lets master’s graduates stay a full year.
France pairs some of the world’s best business and engineering schools with public universities where the state sets fees at €3,879 a year for a master’s.
English-taught programs have more than tripled in a decade — 1,600 and counting, concentrated in business, engineering and the sciences. Paris is the world’s most-awarded student city, but Lyon, Toulouse and Grenoble offer the same quality at half the rent. After a master’s you get a one-year job-search permit (APS), and graduates from India get two years. Gradsy handles the Campus France step for you.
- Universities
- 61
- English programs
- 1,600+
- Stay-back permit
- 12–24 mo
- Public master’s
- €3.9k
Why france
- Regulated fees: State-set tuition at public universities (€3.9k)
- English-taught: Business, engineering and science in English (1,600+)
- Stay after: APS permit — two years for Indian graduates (12–24 mo)
- Student city: Paris, the most-awarded student city (#1)
Intakes
- September — starts Sep – Oct — apply Nov – Apr of the prior year — The main intake — every program opens here; Campus France deadlines fall in spring.
- January — starts Jan – Feb — apply Jul – Oct of the prior year — Mainly business schools and some engineering master’s.
- Rolling — starts Sep — apply Rounds all year until places fill — Business schools run admission rounds — earlier rounds get more scholarship money.
What it costs: TUITION €4–25K · LIVING €11–15K · + CVEC €103
- Public university: €2.9 – 3.9k / yr — Regulated fees for non-EU students — bachelor’s €2,895, master’s €3,879.
- Grandes écoles: €12 – 25k / yr — Business and engineering schools set their own fees.
- Living costs: €11 – 15k / yr — Paris at the top; Lille, Toulouse and Grenoble well below. Visa proof-of-funds is €615 a month.
- CVEC & insurance: €103 + free — The student life contribution is €103; French public health cover is free for students.
Scholarships and funding
- Eiffel Excellence: €1,181 / MONTH — Government award for master’s and PhD — nominated by your school in December.
- Charpak & country awards: FEES + STIPEND — Embassy schemes for India, Brazil, Vietnam and others — apply through Campus France.
- School scholarships: 10 – 50% TUITION — Grandes écoles offer merit and early-bird awards in their first admission rounds.
Tests you may need
- English proficiency: English-taught — IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 85 typical for English programs.
- French proficiency: French-taught — DELF B2 or TCF for French-language programs.
- Graduate entry: Business schools — GMAT or GRE for many grande école master’s — some accept the TAGE MAGE.
Public universities rarely ask for GMAT — each program page lists exactly what its intake asks for.
Student visa (vls-ts) · four steps
- Campus France file: Register on Études en France, upload documents and attend a short interview.
- Acceptance letter: Your school issues the attestation once you accept and pay any deposit.
- Show funds & housing: €615 a month for a year and proof of your first accommodation.
- VFS appointment & validation: Submit biometrics, then validate the visa online within three months of arrival. Gradsy tracks it.
Work while you study and after
- Part-time work: Up to 964 hours a year — about 20 hours a week — automatically allowed.
- Internships: Paid internships (stages) are built into most master’s, with a legal minimum stipend.
- APS permit: Job-search permit after a master’s — 24 months for Indian graduates.
- Talent passport: Four-year residence permit once you sign a qualifying contract.
Typical graduate salaries
- Software engineering: €42k – 62k
- Data & AI: €45k – 68k
- Engineering: €40k – 58k
- Business & finance: €40k – 60k
Student cities
- Paris: The world’s most-awarded student city — every industry’s French HQ
- Lyon: France’s second city — gastronomy, biotech and lower rents
- Toulouse: Aerospace capital — Airbus and Europe’s space agency
- Grenoble: Alpine tech town — semiconductors and a top engineering school
- Lille: An hour from Paris, London and Brussels — a true student town
- Montpellier: Mediterranean campus life with one of Europe’s oldest universities
Questions students ask
Do I need to speak French?
Not for the 1,600+ English-taught programs, mostly at master’s level. Bachelor’s programs are largely in French. Most schools include French classes, and B1-level French widens your job options considerably.
What is Campus France?
The government agency that processes most international applications and visa files. You create an Études en France account, upload documents and attend a short interview — Gradsy prepares the file with you.
How much does a public university cost?
Regulated fees: €2,895 a year for a bachelor’s and €3,879 for a master’s at public universities. Grandes écoles set their own fees, typically €12–25k a year.
Can I stay in France after graduating?
Yes — master’s graduates get a 12-month APS job-search permit (24 months for Indian nationals). Once you sign a qualifying job you switch to a Talent Passport, a four-year residence permit.