Studying in France

How higher education in France works

University education follows the licence, master and doctorat system. A licence usually takes three years and carries 180 ECTS credits, followed by a two-year master’s degree worth a further 120 ECTS. L1, L2 and L3 refer to the three undergraduate years, while M1 and M2 mean the first and second years of a master’s degree.

Alongside universities, grandes écoles are selective higher education institutions that include engineering and business schools. They can be public or private. Some admit students straight after secondary school, while others offer routes following previous university study or preparatory classes. There is no single admissions route shared by all grandes écoles.

A more practical option is the BUT, or bachelor universitaire de technologie, offered by university institutes of technology, known as IUTs. This three-year qualification combines academic knowledge with professional preparation. Schools also offer programmes called Bachelor, BBA and MSc. For further study, what matters is the status of the specific qualification, including whether it confers the grade de licence or grade de master, rather than its English title alone.

Studying in English and French

English-taught degrees in France are available both straight after secondary school and at master’s level. One example is École Polytechnique’s three-year Bachelor of Science, taught entirely in English. Sciences Po also offers English-taught undergraduate pathways, including at Le Havre and on the North America track in Reims.

Public universities offer English-taught master’s programmes too. Université Paris-Saclay has options in subjects including physics, mathematics and computer science. These include both programmes starting at M1 and specialisations at M2. A second-year programme is not the same as a complete two-year master’s that you can enter directly after a bachelor’s degree.

Speaking French opens up a much wider range of courses. For example, licence programmes at Sorbonne Université’s Faculty of Science and Engineering require at least B2 French. Other programmes may set higher requirements. English-taught courses assess English proficiency according to their own admissions criteria.

Even if all your classes are in English, French is useful in everyday life, during internships and when looking for work. Being able to start a degree without French does not mean you will have no need for it throughout your stay.

What you can study

There is a broad choice for students interested in mathematics, computer science, physics and engineering. École Polytechnique places a strong emphasis on mathematical foundations, while Université Paris-Saclay offers a wide range of scientific specialisations. Options include data analysis, quantum technologies, electronics and applications of science.

Management, finance, economics and international business form another substantial part of the offering. Schools such as HEC Paris, ESSEC and ESCP provide different types of programmes, from courses after secondary school to master’s degrees and further specialisation. BBA, Master in Management and MBA programmes serve different stages of education and professional life, so these names are not interchangeable.

France also offers many opportunities in the social sciences and humanities. Sciences Po brings together subjects including political science, law, economics, history and sociology. At Sorbonne Université, students can study languages, literature and other humanities subjects. Art and architecture schools form a separate part of the system, often with admissions based on a portfolio and assessment of applicants’ work.

Well-known universities and schools in France

Université PSL

Université PSL, or Paris Sciences et Lettres, brings together the sciences, humanities, social sciences and the arts. Its programmes illustrate the French approach to interdisciplinary education. Students entering the CPES programme can follow pathways in science, humanities and society, or economics, society and law. It is an option for those who want to build strong foundations across several fields before choosing a narrower specialisation. The language of instruction varies by programme; the inclusion of some English-taught courses does not mean that the whole degree is taught in English.

Université Paris-Saclay

Université Paris-Saclay is particularly recognised for mathematics, physics and other sciences. Its master’s programmes offer both a broad theoretical foundation and specialised pathways. For example, the English-taught M1 General Physics covers topics ranging from quantum physics and cosmology to condensed matter physics. Mathematics programmes offer opportunities to explore both theory and applications. The wide selection of English-taught programmes also makes the university a significant option for students planning further study after a bachelor’s degree.

Sorbonne Université

Sorbonne Université offers a broad range of humanities and science programmes. Subjects include languages, literature, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and electronics. The university also offers programmes combining two disciplines, allowing students to pursue more than one area of interest. French is particularly important at undergraduate level, as many courses are taught in the language. It is worth using the full institution name in applications: Sorbonne Université and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne are separate universities.

École Polytechnique

École Polytechnique offers demanding programmes for students with a particular interest in mathematics and science. Its English-taught Bachelor of Science combines mathematics with physics, computer science or economics. The first year provides a common foundation, while subsequent years develop the chosen combination of subjects. The programme also includes a research internship leading to a bachelor’s thesis. This Bachelor is a separate pathway and should not be confused with the school’s distinct engineering programme.

Sciences Po

Sciences Po specialises in the social sciences and humanities. Undergraduates study subjects including law, economics, history, political science and sociology before developing their interests in selected areas. Individual campuses have regional specialisations, such as Asia-Pacific in Le Havre and North America in Reims. This allows students to combine a shared academic foundation with an in-depth focus on a particular part of the world. The offering includes French- and English-taught pathways as well as international dual degrees.

HEC Paris

HEC Paris is a business school known for programmes including its Master in Management. The programme builds a foundation in management before allowing students to develop a chosen business specialisation. It is designed for a later stage of education, following previous higher education, rather than as an undergraduate degree straight after secondary school. The school also offers other master’s programmes and an MBA. Applicants can apply for financial support based on merit or financial circumstances, which can be important given the high tuition fees.

ESCP Business School

ESCP Business School stands out for its model of studying on campuses in different countries. The school has six European campuses: Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin and Warsaw. Its international approach therefore means more than studying alongside people from around the world: it also offers the opportunity to experience several countries within a single programme.

Available after secondary school, the three-year Bachelor in Management allows students to study in three different countries, at campuses available for that programme. It combines management, economics and law with humanities subjects and language learning. Teaching is mainly in English, while requirements for other languages depend on the chosen pathway. Internships, group projects and business simulations are important parts of the programme, helping students put their knowledge into practice.

Applying to French universities

Entry requirements for studying in France depend on the level of study, subject, previous education and the applicant’s circumstances. Undergraduate applicants need a secondary school leaving qualification that allows them to apply for higher education. Assessment may consider grades, subjects studied, language proficiency, motivation and other achievements. Selective programmes may also require an interview or additional tasks.

EU applicants use Parcoursup for many first-year undergraduate programmes. Applications to the first year of national master’s degrees may go through Mon Master. Selected schools and programmes have their own systems. For some non-EU applicants, the Études en France procedure is also relevant, depending on factors including their country of residence. It is not a single portal that every international student must use.

Application documents may include school certificates or a degree certificate, transcripts, required translations, evidence of language proficiency and a statement explaining your choice of programme. Art courses also require a portfolio, while selected admissions processes may involve references, a CV or additional test results. Applications often open well before the summer, so it is important to plan ahead.

How much it costs to study in France

Fees at public universities

For standard programmes leading to a national licence or master’s degree, EU students usually pay a few hundred euros a year. To illustrate the scale, Sorbonne Université lists fees of EUR 178 for a licence and EUR 255 for a master’s degree in 2026/2027. This excludes living expenses and the separate CVEC contribution where students are required to pay it.

Some non-EU students are subject to higher fees amounting to several thousand euros a year. Applicant status and exemption rules matter. Public institutions can also offer programmes with separately determined tuition fees. The low fees for a standard licence do not automatically apply to every Bachelor, international programme or course at a grande école.

Private institutions and business schools

At business schools and private specialist institutions, annual tuition typically ranges from several thousand to well over ten thousand euros, with the most expensive programmes charging more than EUR 20,000 a year. A complete multi-year degree can cost tens of thousands of euros. Well-known business schools include HEC Paris, ESSEC and ESCP, but each sets fees for specific programmes and entry cohorts.

Scholarships and tuition reductions are available. HEC Paris offers merit-based and need-based support, while ESSEC awards scholarships to selected international applicants based on the quality of their applications. Funding may cover part of the fees, but admission does not automatically mean receiving financial aid. When budgeting, it also matters whether a quoted price covers one year or the entire programme.

Living costs and accommodation

Housing is usually the largest expense. Options include university residences, private student residences, rooms in shared flats and renting your own place. The difference between Paris and a smaller city can be greater than the difference in tuition fees.

For an initial estimate of living costs in France, allow around EUR 800 to EUR 1,100 per month outside Paris. In the capital, a more realistic starting budget is around EUR 1,250 to EUR 1,600 per month or more, particularly if you rent your own place. These are planning ranges, not guaranteed costs: the exact location, type of accommodation and everyday spending make a substantial difference.

Beyond rent, you need money for food, transport, a phone, home insurance and personal expenses. Initial costs also include a deposit, travel and furnishing your room. Your budget should cover the full duration of your stay, including the summer if your tenancy runs through the holidays. A place in a lower-cost university residence requires a separate accommodation application.

Scholarships to study in France

Funding may come from universities, public institutions or foundations. Scholarships in France have different criteria: some reward academic results and achievements, while others consider family income, nationality or a particular field of study. Some reduce tuition fees, and others help cover living expenses.

France Excellence Eiffel is a programme for selected international applicants at master’s and doctoral levels. A French institution submits the nomination. The programme provides an allowance and additional support, but does not itself pay tuition fees. Entitlement to a tuition fee exemption on certain public programmes is governed by a separate rule.

Sciences Po offers the Émile Boutmy scholarship to eligible non-EU applicants at undergraduate and master’s levels. Conditions include requirements relating to a first-time application and the household’s tax residence. It is not available to every international student. Business schools also run their own financial aid schemes, often linked to admission to a specific programme.

Internships and alternance

Students can gain practical experience through company internships, coursework projects and involvement in student organisations. Some programmes include an internship as a scheduled part of the degree. This differs from alternance, which combines education with employment under an appropriate contract.

Not every course offers this model, and students do not automatically qualify for it. Both a suitable programme and an employer are required. For example, ESCP offers selected third-year Bachelor in Management students on its Paris campus an apprenticeship pathway, with a salary and tuition funding for the duration of the contract. The school’s eligibility criteria include conditions relating to EU citizenship, age and French proficiency.

Working during your studies

EU citizens can work in France without a separate work permit. For non-EU students, the right to work depends on their residence documents. The standard limit for holders of a valid student residence permit is 964 working hours per year, although exceptions arise from specific rules applying to certain nationalities and circumstances.

Employment can supplement your budget and provide experience, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed source of funding from the first month. Speaking French broadens your options, particularly in jobs involving customers or a local team. Alternance and compulsory internships follow their own rules and are different from ordinary part-time employment.