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France

France

Quick facts

Continent
Europe
Languages
French
Currency
EUR
Visa
EU/EEA students need no visa. Non-EU students apply through Campus France and need a VLS-TS student visa for stays over 90 days.
Guide score
6.8/10

Overview

France is home to the largest international student population in continental Europe, with nearly 445,000 foreign students choosing to study there each year. The country's appeal lies in its world-renowned universities and grandes écoles, generous student benefits (including housing aid, transport discounts, and subsidized meals), and a cultural richness that is hard to match anywhere in the world. From Paris to Lyon, Toulouse to Strasbourg, France offers diverse academic and living environments across its regions.

French higher education has a unique dual structure: public universities (universités) that are open-access and charge minimal fees, and selective grandes écoles and business schools that charge higher tuition but offer elite networks and career prospects. Public university tuition for EU students is remarkably low — around €178/year for Bachelor's and €255/year for Master's programs (2026-27). Non-EU students pay differentiated fees (€2,902 and €3,950 respectively); universities can still grant waivers or scholarships, but from 2026-27 waivers are capped at 30% of their non-EU students.

France has built an impressive infrastructure of student support: CROUS (Centre Régional des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires) manages subsidized housing, university restaurants (restos U) where meals cost €1 for all students since May 2026, and financial aid. The CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) provides housing assistance (APL/ALS) to nearly all students regardless of nationality — this can reduce your rent by €100–280/month. These benefits, combined with a 26-and-under transport discount, make France more affordable than its reputation suggests.

Education system

France follows the Bologna/LMD system: Licence (Bachelor's, 3 years / 180 ECTS), Master (2 years / 120 ECTS), and Doctorat (PhD, 3+ years). The academic year runs from September to May/June, typically divided into two semesters. In addition to traditional universities, France has its distinctive grandes écoles — highly selective institutions for engineering (like École Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec) and business (HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP) — which have separate competitive entrance exams (concours).

The grading system uses a 0–20 scale, where 10 is the pass mark. Grades above 16 are extremely rare and considered exceptional. Academic culture in France can be more formal and hierarchical than in Anglo-Saxon systems — professors are addressed formally, and lectures (cours magistraux) tend to be less interactive. However, smaller tutorial sessions (travaux dirigés/TD) allow more participation. French-taught programs dominate at the Bachelor's level, but there are over 1,600 programs taught entirely in English, primarily at the Master's level and in business schools.

Visa & immigration

EU/EEA students can study in France freely with a valid passport or ID card. No visa is required, though registering with the local authorities and obtaining a social security number is necessary for accessing healthcare and benefits.

Non-EU students must go through Campus France — the official French higher education promotion agency — to validate their academic project before applying for a visa. The VLS-TS (Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) is the standard student visa for stays over 90 days. Requirements include acceptance at a French institution, proof of financial resources (at least €877.50/month or €10,530/year for applications filed since 1 August 2026, up from €615/month), proof of accommodation, health insurance, and a valid passport. Upon arrival, students must validate their visa online within three months. The process also requires paying a visa fee (€50 for countries using the Études en France procedure, €99 otherwise) and a validation tax (€100). After graduation, non-EU students with an eligible degree (such as a Master's) can apply for a one-year, non-renewable residence card to search for employment or create a business in France; nationals of a few countries with bilateral agreements can still use the APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour).

Cost of living

France's cost of living varies dramatically between Paris and the rest of the country. Paris is among the most expensive cities in Europe, while cities like Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Lille are significantly more affordable. As a national average, students should budget €800–1,400/month, with Paris at the higher end and provincial cities around €700–1,000.

Housing is typically the largest expense. In Paris, a room in a shared apartment ranges from €500 to €950/month, while in other cities €300–600 is more typical. The CAF housing aid (APL/ALS) can cover €100–280/month and is available to virtually all students — applying early is essential. University restaurant meals through CROUS cost just €1, and supermarkets like Lidl, Auchan, and Carrefour offer affordable groceries (€30–50/week). Public transport cards for under-26s offer significant discounts: the Imagine R pass in Île-de-France (Paris region) costs about €401/year including fees, covering unlimited metro, bus, RER, and tram travel.

Culture

French culture places high value on intellectual discourse, the arts, gastronomy, and savoir-vivre (the art of living well). Conversation is taken seriously — the French enjoy debating ideas, discussing politics, and analyzing films, books, and current events. Learning French, even at a conversational level, is essential for integration and is deeply appreciated by locals. While many young Parisians speak English, daily life in France operates in French.

The French take their food culture seriously. Lunch is a proper meal (not a sandwich at your desk), and dinner is a social occasion. Boulangeries, fromageries, and marchés (open-air markets) are integral to daily life. Wine is part of the culture but binge drinking is frowned upon. Administrative bureaucracy (la paperasse) is legendary and can be frustrating — expect long waits and extensive documentation for everything from opening a bank account to signing a lease. The concept of "la rentrée" (September return) marks the cultural start of the year, when everyone returns from summer holidays and life resumes its full rhythm.

Healthcare

France has one of the world's best healthcare systems. All students enrolled at a French institution are automatically affiliated with the French social security system (Sécurité Sociale), which reimburses approximately 70% of medical costs. Registration is done through the Assurance Maladie website. Most students also get a mutuelle (complementary health insurance) to cover the remaining 30% — student mutuelles cost €10–30/month.

EU students can use their EHIC card temporarily, but should still register with the French social security system for full coverage. Seeing a general practitioner (médecin traitant) costs €30, of which social security reimburses 70% (minus a €2 flat contribution). Prescriptions, specialist visits, and hospital stays are partially covered. Mental health services are increasingly accessible, with many universities offering free psychological consultations. In emergencies, call 15 (SAMU medical emergency), 17 (police), or 18 (fire/rescue). Pharmacies are easily identifiable by their green cross signs and pharmacists can provide basic consultations.

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