Basis

France is one of the fairly popular study destinations which make it the preferred choice for international students. There are currently more than 250,000 international students in France. Around 10% of enrolments at French universities are international students where most of the students study at graduate level (Master’s and Doctoral studies). Moreover, the country offers an excellent environment for all international students with a provision of excellent quality education, lectures and research opportunities.

France has 71 public universities which are funded by the national government, offering excellent education at an affordable price range to all students; domestic or international. French higher education system is one of the best in the world being one of the most accessible destinations. With low tuition fees, studying in France is more economical for international students. France is particularly a better choice for those who pursue education for business related subjects. The country being a hub for international business and management education has lots of business schools in the worldwide rankings.

About French Education

The tuition rates at public institutions are set by the government which is very affordable as compared to other education destinations. Moreover, tuition rates at France’s public institutions of higher education are identical for domestic and international students.

Some of the features about the education service in France are briefed as below:

• Average annual tuition costs for undergraduate courses is less than €200 (under US$250).
• For master’s courses, the rates are around €259 (around US$305)
• For doctoral courses, the costing is around €393 (US$460). Students are often required to pay certain administration fees which raise tuition costs slightly.
• Education service at private institution is fairly high as the rates tend to be much higher up to €10,000 (US$12,000) per annum.
• Certain scholarships and mobility schemes are available for the students who pursue their higher education France. Some of them include scholarships from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research; funding provided by National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), awards from regional councils, Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus programs.

Living Expenses

Costs of living in France are fairly high as compared to the neighboring countries. There are specialized housing available to international students who pursue higher education in France. Costs of living are preferably lower in smaller towns. International students will have several choices for accommodation in France which include university accommodation for around €120 per month, renting a private studio apartment which costs around €457-€542, home stay for international students which costs around €200-€800 per month depending on the location that includes at least one meal per day provided.

Students have the option to apply for a grant from their local Caisse d’Allocation Familiale (CAF). It is free to apply for, and the eligible student can get up to 35% of the rent back monthly. Apart from these, other living costs are 60 EURO for electricity, gas and internet, 250 EURO for groceries and so on.