Get more information about the basics and the Higher Education Area in several countries!
Checklist to study abroad >
Study in Germany >
Study in France >
Study in Spain >
Study in Italy >
Get more information about the basics and the Higher Education Area in several countries!
Checklist to study abroad >
Study in Germany >
Study in France >
Study in Spain >
Study in Italy >
France is world-famous for its "savoir vivre", but it's also pretty good to study there: in the term 2005/2006 there were more than 2 million students among about 65 million inhabitants. Slowly, the centralisation of France is decomposed and the opportunities to study are discovered also beyond the capital. Toulouse, Tours, Nantes and Aix en Provence belong by now to the most favoured university cities. As France is geographical wide-area, you can choose the climate you like: rough Atlantic Ocean weather in Brest by the Mediterranean life-style in Nice or Marseilles.
How many universities do exist?
Altogether there are about 400 universities and research centres, therefrom about 90 public universities (attention: we don't list the écoles doctorales).
What types of universities do exist?
There are three main types: the university, the Grand Ecole and the école spécialisée. Universities offer courses from all faculties and with all types of degrees. The Grande Ecoles are more specialised: presumed to be elitist, the Grand Ecoles offer just master courses from special faculties and you need to pass a demanding test (concours) to register. The third type is specialised universities like academies of art or of music.
How are the studies organised?
With the Bologna Process the System "LMD" was launched: Licence (bachelor), master and doctorate. Bachelor and master courses are split to practical orientated (Licence professionnelle / Master professionel) and scientific courses (Licence / Master recherche).
Do they have tuition fees in France?
The tuition fees of the public universities are countrywide regulated: bachelor courses cost 165 Euro per year, for master courses you pay 215 Euro and doctorates cost 326 Euro. France has a broad offer of financial supports, also for foreign students. Find appropriate informations in our article "Trouver un financement".
How can I apply?
For foreign students, the application is pretty lengthy and complicated. Fresher (as bachelor students) send their application to the French consulate respectively embassy. Master students or doctorates contact the appropriate university itself. In all cases you need minimum one year to do the "paperwork" (the time to apply starts in January - start the translations and accreditations of your certifications in time!).
Get further information on the admission procedures here >
Specifics?
Have you ever thought about studying in the South Seas? The former French colonies in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean still belong to the French republic as a complete equated part of France. Here it is possible to graduate a French study at a university in Caribbean ambience: Gouadeloupe, Martinique, La Réunion, Frensh Guyana and Tahiti.
Important links
French Ministry of Education
www.education.gouv.fr
French Ministry of Higher Education and Research
www.etudiant.gouv.fr
French Foreign Office:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/de
Checklist for foreign students coming to France:
http://studieren.fr/foreign-students-faq.0.html
