Tuition Fees in France for International students in 2024

Typically, tuition in France would cost roughly €10,000 annually, as it does in other nations.

However, tuition is quite reasonable because the French government funds higher education. In particular, the cost of tuition for overseas students, who have numerous funding options.

Several variables influence the total amount of money you must pay for tuition. First, it is dependent upon the city and university.

You could spend a little extra if the university is more well-known than you would at one that isn’t.

Next is whether you are an EU student or not. There are specific variances between EU and non-EU students’ tuition policies.

For European Students

For students from Andorra, Switzerland, the European Union, or the European Economic Area, the estimated fees are as follows:

Bachelor: €170 per year

Master: €243 per year

Doctorate: €380 per year

Engineering School: €601 per year

For Non-European Students:

As a non-EU/EEA student, you will be required to pay different fees from European students if:

For the start of the 2020–2021 academic year, you are enrolling for the first time in an engineering program or a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

When working in an institution of higher learning covered by the MESRI

as long as you’re not living there permanently.

The state will, after that, pay the remaining two-thirds of your tuition. In total, the following will need to be paid:

• Bachelor: €2,770 per year
• Master: €3,770 per year
• Doctorate: €380 per year

Higher Education Institutions

Universities and higher education institutions, or “Grande écoles,” differ because entrance examinations determine admissions.

While these schools’ tuition costs are higher than those of universities, they are still very affordable compared to other countries. Sixty grandes écoles exist. The annual costs vary from €450 to €1100.

Tuition Cost in Private Institutions

Private schools, especially those with private business schools, charge between €3,000 and €10,000 in tuition per year, which is more than public schools charge.

You may find out more about the tuition costs for the programs you’re interested in by visiting your chosen university website.

18% of students in France attend private schools. The institution’s private status indicates that it receives no state funding.

The amount of money each receives from the government varies. An institution may occasionally receive formal governmental recognition and be permitted to award national diplomas.

In certain situations, the government can determine the curriculum for those degree programs, guaranteeing students a particular calibre of care.

Who is Not Required to Pay a Tuition Fee?

Some students can study in France for free, regardless of their origins. Naturally, though, they would have to fit into one of these three categories:

Students who travel to France to study as part of an academic collaboration between two universities that offers complete waivers from enrollment costs (such as the Erasmus+ exchange program);

Students who have received a grant from their host university that completely waives their enrollment fees; Students who have obtained a grant from the French government (BGF).

Scholarships in France for students

Here are some scholarships from some of the most prestigious Universities in France.

If you are still looking for your chosen university here, check their website for any scholarship updates; most universities offer them.

• Master’s degree scholarship at Paris Dauphine University

• PhD program scholarship at Paris-Saclay

• Master of Science in Fashion Management Scholarship at IESEG

• Sciences Po Undergraduate scholarship

• École Normale Supérieure Master’s degree scholarship

• ENS de Lyon Master’s degree scholarship

• Sciences Po Bachelor’s and Master’s degree scholarships

• Université Paris-Saclay Master’s degree scholarship

• Grenoble INP Master’s degree scholarship

• INSEAD MBA scholarships

• HEC Paris MBA scholarships

Costs of Living in France for International Students

It goes without saying that you will reside in France if you are studying there. And you’ll start worrying a little about how much it will cost you to live there while you’re a student.

There are many affordable and cosy places for international students to reside in France while enrolled in classes or employed there.

To begin with, you should be aware that France has its most expensive and least expensive regions for living, just like any other country in the globe.

Living expenses in places like Paris or Lyon will be significantly more than in rural areas like Creuse in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and cities like Metz, Versailles, and Montpellier.

If choosing a town isn’t an option, we’ve compiled a list of numerous ways to cut costs while still finding a cosy spot to live.

Here are some of the most common ways to live in France and what international students usually opt for:

1. University residence halls managed by CROUS

The French government owns and provides subsidies for the dormitories overseen by CROUS, the country’s regional centres for student services.

When looking for less expensive housing, students initially consider the CROUS buildings.

2. Student residences owned by private companies

Private homes are the most excellent. I am still looking for several options if you need help finding a place at CROUS.

You can search for private housing on several websites, including Student Factory, Kley, Neoresid, Cardinal Campus, Fac-Habitat, Studea, Les Estudines, Suitetudes, Accueil, and Lokaviz (as previously noted).

3. Living with a family

If you want to live cheaply in France, this is one of the most sensible options.

Some families will even provide childcare services like help with homework, language classes, etc., for free or at a reduced rent rate.

4. Private apartments and shared rentals

Students choose to rent out an apartment, usually a studio, which costs from €400 to €800, depending on the city.

Recommended Read

Study in France: LISAA School of Arts and Design

Required documents to rent out an apartment in France

The documents you have to submit when renting an apartment in France include:

• ID or passport
• Information provided by the guarantee: photocopies of the ID, the job contract, the last three paystubs, and the most recent tax return.
• A French-language letter from your guarantors (parents, etc.)
• A bank reference from (a financial account in France is required).

Tips to spend less in France

Here are some affordable food, transit, and utility options that you may find helpful, provided to you by a student residing in France:

• Leboncoin is a website for selling new and secondhand clothes throughout the country, and there is a section dedicated to accommodation.
• Blablacar is the world’s largest long-distance ride-sharing community that connects drivers with empty seats with people going to the same destination.
• CROUS – once again, it is not only for accommodating students in housing but also they provide restaurants where you can eat for less than 5 Euros.
• Velib – bike sharing company, you can rent a bicycle for 10 Euros a week; not only does it save you much money and is an excellent form of transportation as well as exercise, but it is also eco-friendly.
• Phone applications for Paris: RATP, Le Parisien Sortie, L’internaute Restos, Free Wifi Paris.

Conclusion

Although excellent educational prospects exist when studying in France, managing living expenses and tuition fees requires careful planning.

Through accessible scholarships and the implementation of economical techniques, overseas learners can ensure that their educational experience in France is both enriching and reasonably priced.

You can seek support from our experienced counsellors at Edify for personalised advice and guidance during the application process.

FAQ’s

IELTS is required for studies in France?

One of the requirements for admission to study in France is the IELTS exam. While many universities provide alternatives to the IELTS

Is there free education in France?

Public higher education institutions charge minimal tuition because the government subsidises higher education in France.

How much a student can earn in France?

The minimum pay is 11.65 euros. This pay is gross; required social security contributions must be subtracted (around 20%) to calculate actual earnings.