Comprehensive study abroad resources

Why Study In France

About the Country

France is one of the popular and largest countries in Europe. It is a popular tourist destination. Being in the Western part of Europe, France occupies a diverse area from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea. The breathtaking natural beauty, amazing climate art museums, galleries, etc. are the reasons that make this country a preferred destination. France has a long history and rich scientific, philosophical as well as artistic tradition.

Along with tradition, this country is one of the major centres of literature, cuisine, and culture. France is well known for its wines as well as cuisine. Typically, there are three to four courses in the French meal that includes cheese before the dessert. All the French meals are accompanied by wine and freshly baked bread. In France, sea scallops cooked in butter and chicken cooked in red wine sauce are popular foods.

Be it a man, women, kids or teens, France has something for the individuals of all the ages. From lakes to mountains, history to sandy beaches, France has something to offer to everyone. The major tourist attractions in France include The Lourve, Mont Saint Michel, The Cote D’Azure, Eiffel Tower, Chateau de Versailles, and Mont Blanc.

Why France is Good Choice for Study?

Apart from the culture, food, and beauty, education is another major factor that keeps France high on the list of best places. France is one of the famous countries in the world that offers fabulous colleges as well as universities. Here, an individual of any age can attend college and earn an education. France is home to some of the reputed universities in the world. The outstanding educational opportunities are the reason why people across the world choose France for their studies.

Food is one of the major benefits of this country. When you would taste the authentic cuisine of France, you would experience that has something set your taste buds alight. Paris is the city that is known for upscale restaurants. The restaurants there serve some of the finest dishes that you would ever taste. Moreover, the weather in France is extremely comfortable which makes it an ideal country for the students who like mild temperatures.

The best thing about this country is that you have numerous options for entertainment, you would not have a dull day. At the weekend, you can explore the beautiful cities. You can visit the art galleries, museums, and entertainment venues. Moreover, you would get the chance to see the Eiffel Tower that is one of the seven wonders of the World.

Education System

In France, there are around 5 Catholic universities, 82 state universities, and numerous private institutes. Generally, the universities award three types of degrees i.e. Doctorate (Ph.D.), Masters (PG), and License (UG). Grande Ecoles are the gateways to achieve success in France. The candidates who have completed 12 years of schooling can apply for an undergraduate program in France. Along with schooling, there are several other requirements.

In France, the academic year runs from September until June. However, some courses or institutions might have the enrollments round the year. The major reasons students prefer studying in France are

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• It houses leading international corporations like Orange, Danone, Airbus, LVMH, Total, etc.
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• World-class economic power
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• Innovation as well as entrepreneurship sectors value the young talent
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• French is one of the major business languages
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• Excellent research and development opportunities
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• Quality higher education

Popular Destination of Students

The list of top universities in France includes Paris-Sorbonne University, HEC Pierre-and-Marie-Curie, Ecole Normale Superieure, INSEAD, and Ecole Polytechnique. Nice, Lyon, Paris and Grenoble, and Orleans are the major cities that have the best colleges. Out of these, Paris is the center of all the reputed academic institutions. The institutes there follow the highest teaching standards and offer a variety of courses.

Every year thousands of Indian students go to France for pursuing higher studies. Most of the students pursue a two-year degree course. Hotel Management, Space and Aviation Teaching, History, Engineering, Tourism, Business Studies are the popular courses that Indian students pursue. Currently, there are nearly 65,000 immigrants that are living in France. Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Toulouse, and Paris are the cities where most of the Indians reside.

Life of Indian Students in France

Studying abroad is a path to quality education as well as a promising career. France is considered as one of the popular educational destinations as it is home to some of the best universities in the world.

The reasons why France is the preferred choice of Indian students for studies are

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• Optimised Education Keeping in mind the international students, the French education system has taken some measures. Language is not a barrier anymore. Around 1400 programs in France are taught in English that includes the master level courses the most. This has encouraged students from different countries. Moreover, during their stay in France, students can learn French. It would broaden their horizons and help them to tap global opportunities.
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• University Tuition Fee The tuition fee in Public universities varies according to the level of study. For example, the average tuition fee for Bachelor’s programs is around 170 EUR per year, engineering degree 620 EUR per year and Medicine studies 450 EUR. Based on the specialisation in the Master's degree or Ph.D., you can expect higher fees.
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• Location and Lifestyle The lifestyle of France is rich and pleasant. It has a diverse culture. From food to natural sceneries and architecture, you can everything here. Being surrounded by the major trading countries like Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, etc, it offers numerous employment and business opportunities to the students. With the popular international gateways, the students can move around easily and explore the continent while working.
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• Accommodation Along with education, another major factor is accommodation and living costs. The student halls of residence are the popular accommodation options for international students. You can also rent a small apartment in the smaller French cities. Sharing an apartment would also be a good option to save and have a comfortable stay in France. Moreover, saving would help you to accommodate your food and transportation expenses.

How to Get Admission in France

For getting admission in a foreign university, the candidate needs to follow a proper format. The procedure for admission varies from one country to another. If you are planning to enroll at a French university, you can follow the below-given steps for the admission

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• Search for the universities and colleges according to your preferred course
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• Visit the website of colleges or contact at the given number for information
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• Narrow down the list of schools/colleges
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• Take the required entrance exams like GMAT/GRE, French language test
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• Write the SOP (Statement of Purpose) and request for the LOR (Letter of Recommendation)
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• Apply to the universities or colleges that fits best to your interest
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• Appear for the interviews (video) of the colleges that shortlisted you
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• Apply for the study visa

Once you receive the letter of recommendation, you can start the preparation like arranging funds, accommodation, and most importantly visa.

Documents Required for Admission in French University

For the admission to the French college or university, having command in the French language is important. As the language of the instructions at the educational institution would be in French, the candidate is required to have a command over the language. The international students might have to appear for the French language test first.

Depending upon the course, there are some universities that accept the students having proficiency in English. The study programs taught in English belong to the Master’s degree and Ph.D. Along with the language, the documents requirements for the admission might vary from one educational institution/university to another. However, for the reference purpose, you can check the given list of major required documents

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• Attested photocopy of the mark sheets of class X and XII, and Bachelor’s degree (for Master’s degree or Ph.D.)
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• Minimum, two academic references letters from the teachers who taught you
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• Letter of recommendation from the manager/employer to who you have served (If you have working experience)
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• Resume (Edited and updated)
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• Copy of your passport
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• Statement of Purpose
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• Copy of other certificates (achievements at the state or national level as well as extra-curricular activities)
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• Campus France Authorization
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• Civil liability certificate
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• Health insurance
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• Valid ID card
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• Medical certificate
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• Cover letter
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• 4-6 coloured passport size photographs
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• Photocopy of the score report cards of language tests and GMAT/GRE (if required)
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• Proof of funds (Financial resources required for pursuing the course and stay in France)
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• Portfolio (If the candidate is applying for the architectural program or art and design course)

Exams for Studying in France

Studying abroad is the dream of many students. However, only a few students get the opportunity to make their dream come true. For studying abroad, the candidate has to fulfil the requirements and clear the tests. If you are looking forward to pursuing higher studies abroad, you would need to appear in the tests.

France is one of the preferred countries for higher education. Every year thousands of students migrate to France for pursuing their studies. However, enrolling in French colleges or universities is not easy. You need to fulfil the admission requirements. The language test is one of the major requirements be it English or French.

Language Exam

For French, TCF and Le TEF are the standardised language tests. For getting admission in the French colleges, the candidates need to take these exams. TCF means Test of knowledge of French ana Le TCF means French assessment Test. You can take both exams at the nearest test centre in India and test your proficiency. Apart from these tests. There are three French proficiency tests i.e. DILF, DELF, and DALF. These are the official tests. If you are planning to apply for a post-graduate course, you might the score of this exam.

There are some French universities and colleges offer courses in English. In that case, the candidates need not appear in the French language test. However, for enrolling in the courses with English, the candidates might require the score of TOEFL or IELTS. TOEFL means Test of English as a Foreign Language and IELTS means International English Language Testing System. Both exams are taken by the candidates to test English proficiency.

General Exams

Apart from the language proficiency tests, there are some other exams that candidates need to take for getting admission in French universities. Here is the list of general exams

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• GMAT - Most of the MBA courses in France in English. For these courses, English would be the teaching language but with French. French colleges and universities prefer multi-lingual students. Therefore, the knowledge of the French language would be a bonus for you. Due to the bilingual clause, the candidate has to appear in the GMAT exam for getting admission to the business school.
• GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. It is a standardised computer-adaptive exam. The purpose of this exam is to analyse the reading, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills of the candidate. The candidates applying for the management program in the top business schools take this exam.
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• GRE - GRE stands for Graduate Record Examinations. It is a widely accepted test for the admission in Masters and Doctoral programs. The validity of the GRE score is 5 years. There are some universities in France that require the GRE score for admission in the Master's degree course.

The score of these tests helps the candidate to get admission to the top universities. Before you finalise a French college or a university, it is important to check the eligibility as well as tests requirements. It would help you to choose the university that offers the course of your choice and get quality education according to your qualification.

Cost of Studying in France

In terms of living expenses, France is an expensive country for international students. The cost of studying in France depends on numerous factors like a university, type of course, study material, and many others. The first and most important aspect is the tuition fee. The tuition fee of a course varies from one educational institution to another. Apart from the university or college, the major factor that influences the tuition fee is the type of course.

The course (level of study) determines the tuition fee. The average tuition fee in France ranges from 150 EURO to 920 EURO per year. The fees of the courses are lower for the students belonging to the EU and higher for international students.

In the academic year 2018-19, the fees for the License course was around 170 EURO per year. Whereas for pursuing the master’s degree the fee is around 245 EURO. Apart from these courses, a student is required to pay a fee of 600 EURO per year for the engineering program.

Scholarships & Loan for Studying in France

Studying abroad is an expensive affair. However, there are some universities that offer scholarships to talented students. The international students are awarded the fee waivers on the criteria of merit. The candidates having a good score in the standardised exams, strong academics and extracurricular achievements become eligible for the financial assistance and scholarship awards. To avail the scholarship, it is essential for the candidates to submit all the necessary documents to the specified centre by particular deadlines.

In France, there are some academic institutions that cover total or partial expenses of pursuing the course. Here is a list of scholarships that international candidates can avail

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• International Education of Students
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• Annette Kade Scholarship (International Student Exchange Program)
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• GSE Summer Scholarship (Global Student Experience)
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• Chateaubriand Fellowship Program (University of Illinois)
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• ISA Diversity Scholarship (International Studies Abroad Inc)
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• Boren Scholarship and Fellowship (Boren Awards)
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• GSE Academic Scholarship (Global Student Experience)
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• Arcadia University Gilman Scholarship
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• Dr. Carlos E. Memorial Scholarship (International Studies Abroad Inc.)

Loans

Pursuing higher education from a foreign university requires a good amount of funds. Apart from the scholarship, an education loan is an ideal way to fulfil your dream of studying abroad. In case you do not have enough funds, you can take the loan for the studies. However, for the loan, it is essential to know whether you are eligible for the loan or not.

Eligibility Criteria for the Student Loan

The student eligibility criteria for the loan vary from one financial institution to another. Hers is the general criteria that are followed by most of the banks

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• The candidate must have the Indian Nationality
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• The candidate must have a strong academic record
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• The candidate must be applying for a technical or a professional course
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• The candidate must have secured a seat in a foreign university or college
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• The candidate must have attained the age of 18 years
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• The course opted by the candidate should be job oriented

Amount of Loan

The amount of the loan depends on the fee of the course and eligibility. Generally, the maximum amount of education loans for studying abroad is around Rs. 20 lakhs. If the total fee of the course exceeds this amount, the student needs to arrange the remaining funds on their own. Banks also charge a certain percentage of the total amount of the loan as a processing fee. The standard processing fee is around 1% of the total loan amount.

Apart from the processing fee, there is another major aspect that is the margin amount. If the total course fee is 15 lakhs, the bank would provide you a loan of 80% of the amount. The remaining 20% of the total amount would be paid by the candidate.

Documents Required for the Loan

For the application of the education loan, the candidate needs to submit numerous documents. Every bank has different documentation requirements. However, the acceptance letter sent by a foreign college or university is one of the major requirements. It would reflect your selection for the course as well as the schedule of the fee. Along with this letter, you must keep the following documents ready for the smooth loan approval

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• Valid ID proofs (Aadhaar card, PAN card, Driving license, or voter ID card)
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• Proof of Residence
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• Passport size photos of applicant and co-applicant
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• Photo ID of the applicant and co-applicant
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• Application Form
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• Income proof of the co-applicant
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• proofs of your academic record
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• Financial statement of the applicant and co-applicant
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• In case the collateral is required, the candidate needs to keep the documents of the immovable property handy

It is advisable to confirm the list of documents required by the bank for the loan.

Visa Process

There are several countries whose students do not require Visa to study in France for 90 days. However, the Indians need a visa to enter France be it for vacation or study. In order to study in French college or University, the Indian student needs to obtain a study visa. For the study visa, you need a valid Passport. The student can submit the visa application and passport himself/herself or take the help of a travel agent. However, it is important to ensure that a travel agent must be authorized by the Embassy of France.

Before submitting the student visa application at French Consulate, the candidates are required to create an online Campus France Registration File. For creating the registration file, the candidate can contact the closest Campus France office or schedule an appointment via the online file.

To schedule an appointment for submitting the application form at the visa application centre, the candidate needs to visit the VFS website. Along with the visa application form, the candidate needs to submit the set of other applications containing the different documents like

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• Copy of Passport
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• 2-4 passport size photographs (coloured)
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• Long stay application form (for a duration exceeding 90 days)
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• Letter of registration from the French college/university
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• CV/Resume
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• Bank statement reflecting proof of funds (tuition fee and an amount for miscellaneous expenses for an academic term)
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• Cover letter reflecting the study project
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• Airline ticket showing the date of your departure
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• Documents reflecting the accommodation arrangement in France during your studies
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• A printed copy of Campus France ID number
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• Proof of health insurance (including coverage valid in France)
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• OFII form

Work Permit

The French law permits the students to work. It allows the students to spend around 964 hours a year at part-time work. Therefore, international students become eligible for student jobs at colleges and universities. The students are hired for the different types of jobs like helping disabled students, providing assistance to the new students, tutoring, etc. The students are hired for IT support and assistance and for working in the career centres as well.

For working the students need to follow some rules. The student employees are given a work schedule to ensure that their studies are not affected. Keeping in mind the student’s course, the employment terms and conditions are adapted so that they achieve academic excellence while gaining working experience.

Top 10 universities in France

France boasts numerous reputed universities. If you are planning to study in France, you need to know which are the best universities. Here is a list of top 10 universities in France where you can earn a quality education.

PSL- Paris Science et Lettres Research University - It is a collegiate university that was formed in 2010. It has nine constituent colleges that include the highly selective École normale supérieure.

Ecole Polytechnique (ParisTech) - Ecole Polytechnique is a founding member of the ParisTech collegiate university. It specialises in business and science courses.

Sorbonne University - It is a new academic institution that was formed by the merger of Pierre and Marie Curie University and Paris-Sorbonne University.

CentraleSupélec - It is one of the prestigious as well as selective grandes écoles. This renowned institute provides research and higher education in System Sciences and Engineering.

École normale supérieure de Lyon - It is one of the top universities in France that offers training the researchers and professionals in the sciences as well as humanities.

Sciences Po Paris - It is a renowned university that offers specialised courses in history, law, social sciences, and economics.

Télécom ParisTech - It is one of the top engineering schools in the country that was founded in 1878. This school prepares its graduates for the new digital world.

École des Ponts ParisTech - This higher education establishment was created in 1747. This school trains the engineers for a high level of general, technical, and scientific competency.

University of Paris - The University of Paris consists of 13 institutions that have produced around 50 Nobel Prize Winners. It is known for its academic excellence especially in the humanities.

Université Paris-Sud 11 - It is a prestigious university that has an outstanding environmental heritage. It is hosts numerous research programs in Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science.