Study in France

Studying abroad always includes immersion in the culture and life of the country, which is why France with its rich culture and history, beautiful cities, the azure coast and a slice of the alps so strongly attracts students from all over the world. How is education arranged in the land of baguettes, croissants and cheeses? Is it possible to study for free in expensive Paris? Is it possible to enter universities in France, knowing only “bonjour” and “merci”? Read on in search of answers!

How higher education works in France

Tertiary education in France has the LMD (licence-master-doctorat) system, which is the usual bachelor-master-doctorate system of education, i.e. Licence is a bachelor degree in France which lasts 3 years and is equivalent to 180 ECTS as in many countries.

The structure of higher education has its own features thanks to the so-called Grandes Écoles, which literally translate as “Big Schools”. The country has more than 3500 public and private institutions of higher education - the familiar to all universities, Grandes Écoles (more on that later), schools of art and architecture. France now has 1,351 programs offered entirely in English, of which 1,041 are Master's programs.

Universities

Most foreign students study at public universities, which are funded by the state. Universities in France do not differ much from those in other countries by their structure: here you can get Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D. diplomas, which will be recognized in many countries. Studying here is inexpensive: the cost of bachelor's program for a year is €2,770, master's - €3,770. List of public universities in France.

The most famous universities:

  • Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) is the top university in France according to several ranking agencies (ranked 46 in the world by Times Higher Education), with high rankings in math, philosophy, statistics, science and engineering;

  • University Sorbonne is in the top 100 of the best universities in the world, the history program is ranked 9th in the world, also geophysics, linguistics, earth and sea sciences, anatomy and psychology are considered prestigious here

  • Sciences Po is a research university that is famous for teaching in the sciences and diplomacy, the university has about 500 partner universities worldwide, 50% of its students are foreign, and it also has 6 campuses across France;

  • University of Paris (Université de Paris) ranks first among French universities in terms of citations, the following areas: life sciences, medicine, pharmacy, anatomy and psychology, linguistics, mathematics rank high in the rankings;

  • Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (also known as Paris 1) is one of the oldest universities in France, founded in the 13th century, famous for its programs in economics and management, arts and humanities, law and political science, while being the largest French university in the social sciences and humanities.

Also prominent universities include University of Grenoble-Alpes, University of Strasbourg, University of Bordeaux, Aix-Marseille University and others.

Grandes Écoles

What is it? There is actually no official (legal) definition of Grandes Écoles, but historically they are prestigious institutions where the admission of students is highly competitive. Grandes Écoles specialize mainly in the technical and business fields. It is important to understand that these are always private institutions, among Grandes Écoles there are also public ones, which means that you can also study here at a price of €2,770 for bachelors and €3,770 for masters if you pass the selection. Grandes Écoles are very popular because the emphasis is on internships and gaining practical knowledge, so networking happens naturally here. Before entering Grandes Écoles, French and international students most often take preparatory courses.

The most famous Grandes Écoles:

  • Ecole Polytechnique is ranked 61st among all universities in the world by QS, it ranks 18th in the world in terms of graduate employment, with fields like science, mathematics, engineering, physics and astronomy highly valued;

  • CentraleSupélec was awarded second place among French universities by several French media, with engineering and mathematics programs ranking well;

  • École Normale Supérieure de Lyon is an elite French public institution of higher education that trains professors and researchers of the academic system through fundamental research;

  • Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, which trains highly qualified engineers and actively supports the concept of “lifelong learning”

  • École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay (ENS Paris-Saclay) 

Business schools in France are very popular all over the world, they are also part of the Grandes Écoles and are called in French “Grandes Écoles de Commerce”. Business schools are often private, and education in them is expensive. In the Financial Times' 2019 ranking of European business schools, HEC Paris ranks first, with ESSEC Business School, EDHEC Business School, Emlyon Business School, Grenoble Ecole de Management, Kedge Business School, Audencia Business School also high on the list.

Schools of art and architecture

In France, there are about 50 public schools of art and design under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Programs in art, design and communication are offered in two phases of three or five years, some even offering a third level of study. Four respected public art schools are under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education: Boulle, Olivier de Serres, Duperret and Estien. They award national degrees in graphic design, spatial design, fashion and arts and crafts.

Financing studies and housing in France

The question of financing studies has always been a hot topic, but now it is especially acute because of the euro exchange rate against the ruble (we miss the early 2010s too!). Below we've handpicked for you full scholarships, scholarships at popular universities, and information about applying for housing funding, so scroll down in search of your scholarship!"

Full Scholarships

Can you go to study in France without a fat wallet (or lots of zeros on your card)? The answer is “oui”! There are two main full scholarships, which we will break down now. One of them is suitable for all foreign students - the Eiffel Scholarship, the other one is suitable for students from Russia.

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program was established by the French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs to allow French higher education institutions to attract the best foreign students to enroll in Master and PhD programs in economics, management, exact and natural sciences and politics. To qualify for the scholarship, you must be under 25 for a master's degree and under 30 for a postgraduate degree. The scholarship is for the entire period of study and amounts to €1,181 per month for master's students and €1,700 for PhD students. Scholarship holders are also covered for flights, trains within France and local transportation, medical insurance, and cultural activities. Keep in mind that the scholarship does not cover the costs of the program, but we already know that the master's program at public universities costs €3,770 per year!

Direct application from students is not accepted, application is made through the university, which means you first apply to the university and express your desire to apply for the Eiffel Scholarship. Any institution of higher education in France can apply for an Eiffel scholarship! Some of the universities whose websites provide information about the scholarship are: Sorbonne University, Université de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Université PSL, HEC Paris, Sciences Po, University of Bordeaux, EDHEC, University of Lyon and many others.

Last year 378 students received a scholarship, who knows, maybe next year you'll add to the statistics? The deadline is Jan. 8, 2021.

French government scholarship program

French government scholarship program, offered by the French Embassy in Russia is designed for Russian students with excellent academic results. This scholarship is provided for Master degree courses at a French public university, you must have a Bachelor degree and proof of knowledge of the language (French or English). The scholarship covers everything: tuition fees of up to €4,500 per academic year, monthly payments of €700 for 9 months, student insurance, fees for long term student visa, expenses for CampusFrance procedures, registration, and cultural activities. In addition, students receive assistance from the CampusFrance agency in obtaining a room in a student dormitory. Acceptance of applications began Dec. 1, with a deadline of Feb. 26, 2021.

Universities with scholarships

  • École Normale Supérieure (ENS): École Normale Supérieure International Selection Scholarships. This scholarship is for outstanding international students who will be enrolled in the third year of a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science (License 3) or the first year of a master's degree. Scholarship recipients will receive €1000 per month for 3 years of study. Selection includes written and oral exams. Must be under 26 to apply for the scholarship. The deadline for science programs has unfortunately passed, but there is still a deadline for arts and humanities programs on Dec. 29;

  • Sciences Po: Emile Boutmy Scholarships. The Emile Boutmy Scholarship is for international students from outside the EU/EEA who have been nominated for an undergraduate or graduate program at Sciences Po. Scholarship amounts range from €3,000 to €10,000 per year. Selection is based on merit, and the social status of applicants is also taken into account. No separate application for the scholarship is required, students should indicate their desire for a scholarship when applying to the program. Deadline for undergraduate programs: February 28, 2021, for master's programs: December 6, 2020;

  • EDHEC: Joint scholarship program of EDHEC and the French Embassy in Russia. eligible for a 1-year master's program in Business Management or Financial Economics at EDHEC business school. The program includes tuition fees (up to €27,000) and a scholarship for 10 months. Selection is based on academic performance and achievements. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2021.

  • École normale supérieure de Lyon: Ampère & MILYON Scholarships. Ampère Scholarships are designed for future graduate students in the exact sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences, with a stipend of €1,000 per month for two years. The MILYON Scholarship is designed for students in the following master's programs: Advanced Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science. Must have an undergraduate degree with a transcript, two letters of recommendation, motivation letter, CV, IELTS/TOEFL/DELF/DALF results depending on the program. Deadline: January 8, 2021 

CAF

The majority of students (both European and non-European) living in France with a valid residence permit are eligible for financial aid from the French government. CAF stands for “Caisse des Allocations Familiales” and is financial aid for renting if you rent or plan to rent a certain accommodation for at least three months.

The amount of the CAF will depend on your income, type and location of housing, and the amount of rent. There are several types of financial assistance available through a CAF:

  1. ALS (Allocation de Logement Sociale) is a discount in the form of an allowance that will be credited directly to a French bank account each month; 

  2. APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement).

The official website through which you can apply for CAF online is entirely in French, so if you don't know it, ask your university for help with this procedure. The CAF application process is quite grueling and long, but then you'll get about 150-250 euros every month to cover your rent! Note that ALS and APL are never paid during the first month of residence. Tip: apply for CAF as soon as possible, even if you apply at the end of the month, the CAF will count from the first day of the next month.

Work while studying

In France it is possible for foreign students to work while studying if you have a long term visa valid as a VLS-TS residence permit. By law, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. The minimum wage, which is called SMIC, applies to students too and is 7.61 euros per hour (after mandatory payments). A little math: if you work 20 hours a week, you will get 152.2 euros per week, which means 654.46 euros per month! Not bad, right?

Admission steps

There are different procedures for applying to universities in France. If your country of residence is part of the "Etudes en France" (Russia is included) procedure, and if you plan to enroll in undergraduate and graduate programs, follow these steps:

  1. Find a suitable program in France on the official website of the agency that promotes higher education in France (you can apply filters by field, and even by region):

    1. Catalog of undergraduate programs;

    2. Catalog of graduate programs;

    3. Catalog of graduate and postdoctoral programs;

    4. Catalog of programs in art and architecture.

  2. Register on the official portal for applying to institutions of higher education in France - Etudes en France (Campus France or CEF procedure), which fully manages all admission procedures up to the visa request;

  3. If you are applying to an undergraduate program (first year), you will need to make a preliminary enrollment request in the portal by January 17, 2021;

  4. Check if there is a scholarship or financial aid available for your dream program;

  5. Prepare documents for the study program and separately for the scholarship (if required): motivation letter, recommendation letters, CV, IELTS/TOEFL/DELF/DALF on request, copy of your certificate/diploma, certified translation to it and apostille if required and other documents

  6. Now you can apply on the portal (a separate university application is not required if the desired university is on the given list). universities have different deadlines, but often they have one in March (you should check the exact date on the university website);

  7. Apply at least two months in advance for your VLS-TS visa (you can do this at Etudes en France): proof of enrollment, proof of accommodation, sufficient financial resources, and other documents.

If you are going to apply to a graduate program, you should apply immediately to the university you want.

French Studies

As we mentioned, there are now 1351 programs in France that are taught entirely in English. In college towns like Lille, for example, it wouldn't be particularly difficult to live without knowing French. But in general, if you believe the stories of students, it is much easier to live with knowledge of French: not all stores and cafes can know English, plus most French people will speak their language even if they know English.

French is the second most popular language on Earth and certainly one of the most beautiful! So we recommend at least learning the basics of the language and offer the following resources:

2022-01-14 07:24:16
© Saiyyna Vasileva

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