Engineering, Sciences
Humanities, Sciences, Medicine
Business, MBA, Finance
Politics, Law, International Affairs
Research, Sciences, Engineering
Engineering, Technology
| Expense | Annual (EUR) | Approx. INR |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition (where applicable) | EUR 2,850–3,900 per year* | ~INR 3.18 - 4.3 lakhs |
| Tuition — Grande École | EUR 10,000–30,000+ | INR 11–33.5 lakhs |
| Accommodation (Paris) | EUR 8,000–12,000 | INR 8.9–13.4 lakhs |
| Accommodation (Other cities) | EUR 4,500–8,000 | INR 5.0–8.9 lakhs |
| Food, Transport, Misc. | EUR 3,500–6,000 | INR 3.9–6.7 lakhs |
| TOTAL (public univ., outside Paris) | EUR 28,850–59,900 | ~INR 31.98–66.8 lakhs/yr |
Campus France is the official French government agency that assists international students with studying in France.
The general process includes:
| Institution | Scholarship | Eligibility | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campus France (French Government) | Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme | International | Visit |
| French Government (MEAE) | French Government Scholarships (BGF) | International | Visit |
| CROUS (French Government) | Bourse sur Critères Sociaux (Social Criteria Grant) | Domestic | Visit |
| Sorbonne University | Sorbonne Excellence Scholarship | Both | Visit |
| Sciences Po Paris | Sciences Po International Scholarship | International | Visit |
| École Normale Supérieure (ENS Paris) | ENS International Selection Scholarship | Both | Visit |
| École Polytechnique | École Polytechnique International Merit Scholarship | International | Visit |
| HEC Paris | HEC Paris Merit Scholarship | International | Visit |
| University of Paris (Université Paris Cité) | Paris Excellence Doctoral Scholarship | Both | Visit |
| INSEAD | INSEAD MBA Scholarship | International | Visit |
| University of Bordeaux | Bordeaux Excellence Scholarship | Both | Visit |
| University of Lyon (Université de Lyon) | IDEX Scholarship – University of Lyon | International | Visit |
| Grenoble Alpes University | UGA International Excellence Scholarship | International | Visit |
| Fondation de France | Fondation de France Scholarship Programme | Domestic | Visit |
| Université Côte d'Azur (Nice) | UCA JEDI Excellence Scholarship | International | Visit |
| Aix-Marseille University (AMU) | AMU A*MIDEX Excellence Scholarship | Both | Visit |
| Université de Strasbourg | UNISTRA Excellence Scholarship | Domestic | Visit |
| CentraleSupélec | CentraleSupélec International Scholarship | International | Visit |
| Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III) | Toulouse III Doctoral Excellence Scholarship | Both | Visit |
| ESSEC Business School | ESSEC Excellence Scholarship | International | Visit |
WORK RIGHTS DURING STUDIES
International students are generally permitted to work up to 964 hours per year, which is approximately 60% of full-time working hours, subject to French labour laws.
AFTER GRADUATION
Campus France is France's official government agency for promoting French higher education and managing international student applications. All students from India, Nepal, and Pakistan must register with Campus France and attend a counselling interview before applying to French universities and obtaining a French student visa. The process is mandatory but straightforward — EPA Global provides Campus France interview preparation.
Public French universities charge EUR 2,770/year for Master's programmes — one of the lowest fees in Western Europe. This is not completely free, but is dramatically cheaper than UK, Netherlands, or Australia. Grande Écoles (HEC, Polytechnique) charge EUR 10,000–30,000/year. Paris is expensive for accommodation; provincial cities like Lyon, Toulouse, Grenoble, and Bordeaux are more affordable.
Not for English-taught programmes. France has 1,500+ English-medium programmes at Master's level. However, learning French (even A2–B1) significantly improves daily life and job prospects. For Bachelor's programmes, B2 French is typically required. French language skills also open career doors across Africa, Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Public university: approximately EUR 11,000–15,000/year total (tuition + living) — INR 9.8–13.5 lakhs. Grande École: EUR 20,000–45,000/year total. Paris adds EUR 2,000–5,000/year in additional living costs compared to other French cities. France is among the best value for money of any Western European study destination.
Yes — France is one of the top-performing destinations for Nepali and Pakistani students in terms of visa approval rates and student satisfaction. Nepal has a strong France study culture, particularly for engineering and sciences at public universities. Pakistan students benefit from France's affordable tuition and the French government's active scholarship programmes.
The France VLS-TS visa (Long Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit) typically takes 2–4 weeks after document submission. The Campus France process adds 2–4 weeks before that. Begin 4–5 months before your intended start date to allow time for Campus France, university application, and visa processing.
Yes. After graduating, you can apply for a 1-year APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) job search visa. Once employed, apply for a Talent Passport (multi-year work permit). After 5 years of continuous legal residence in France, you can apply for Carte de Résident (Permanent Residence). After 5 years as a permanent resident, you can apply for French citizenship.
Paris is the most prestigious but most expensive. Lyon is France's second city with excellent universities and more affordable living. Toulouse (aerospace engineering hub, Airbus HQ), Grenoble (tech and innovation, Alps location), Bordeaux (wine region, growing tech scene), and Montpellier (Mediterranean climate, affordable) are all excellent choices.
