Study in France

Requirements for studying in France
To study in France, you need to finish school, and the main criterion for the admission of applicants is the academic performance of the last two years of high school. Documents are submitted to most public universities through the Etudes en France portal. There are no preparatory programs for regular universities in France.

Knowledge of the French language is optional to study in France. However, you must have English language knowledge at a level similar to B2. French universities offer approximately 800 programs taught entirely in English.

Free education in France
Every year, the French government allocates more than one million euros for scholarships and student financial aid. There are more government scholarships. The French government provides a grant as well as covers all admission costs. One of the most popular government scholarships is the Bourse Eiffel scholarship. This includes the European Commission’s Erasmus program and other government scholarships for studying abroad. The university itself determines the amount of the scholarship. It generally ranges from USD 243 to USD 851 per month. Depending on the city, such fees may partially or fully cover the student’s living expenses and less tuition. Scholarships from companies and non-profit organizations are generally the most difficult to obtain. Many of them need EU citizenship or a year of residence in France.

Bachelor studies in France
Bachelor studies in France last three years. You can read in both English and French. The admission process usually starts in December and ends in March. The following documents are required at this stage:

• The original of the foreign passport;
• Original and notarized translation of the completed secondary education certificate (or half of the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade transcripts if the applicant submits the documents before graduation);
• French diplomas or test results in French or English.
• A letter of motivation about the applicant’s goals and why they want to enter a French university.

The academic year is divided into two semesters; students take an exam at the end of each semester, and 180 credits must be completed to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

Master studies in France
It lasts two years. There are two types – academic and experimental master’s degrees. If you want to continue your bachelor’s degree, you will study the practical one, but if you want to change your specialty, you will study the first academic year and then the practical master’s degree. The only requirement for admission to a master’s program at any French university is a diploma in a related field.

Duration of study in France
In France, a bachelor’s degree is three years, a master’s degree is two years, and a doctoral degree is four years. The duration of education in Higher Vocational Schools, other than universities, is two years.

Language of education in France
French universities mainly teach in French. However, at the same time, it offers students 800 programs entirely in English. Programs in English are mainly for business management, exact sciences, and engineering. If you choose humanities, literature, design, or art, you must study more French.

Job opportunities in France
As in many countries, students in France can work up to 20 hours a week. This means 60% of the French work. Students usually look for jobs such as couriers, cashiers, sales clerks, and nannies. Graduates can work as teaching assistants or private foreign language teachers. After graduating from university, a 1-year work visa is issued to find a job.
Graduates who have completed their master’s degree in France are granted a 4-year special work visa – visa recherche d’emploi. You can get citizenship if you stay in the country for two years without interruption.

The best French universities
• Paris Sciences et Lettres University – PSL Research University Paris
• École Polytechnique
• Sorbonne University
• University of Paris
• Paris-Saclay University
• Telecom Paris
• École des Ponts ParisTech
• Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon
• University of Montpellier
• Aix-Marseille University
• Centrale Supelec
• Sciences Po
• University Paris 1 Pantheon – Sorbonne
• ENS Paris – Saclay
• University of Strasbourg

Getting a visa to France
A visa is optional for study periods of 90 days or less. If you do not live in one of these countries, you must apply for a short-stay visa for a stay of 90 days or less. If you stay there for more than 90 days, you must apply for a long-term visa. You must apply to the French consular authority to obtain a visa to enter France and other countries in the Schengen area.

There is a visa application fee, and you must also have a passport valid for three months from either party’s expiry date. You must complete the signed application and submit three photographs with the application.

When completing your French visa application, you must fill out the application completely. It would help if you did not leave anything blank, as it can significantly delay the application period.

You must ensure you have all the necessary documents and submit them with the application. These documents are necessary for your application to be processed and will delay your application.

A visa application can take up to two months to be approved, so you should submit all of the necessary information as soon as possible before you plan to leave.

If a visa is granted, you will receive it quickly. An undeclared visa will result in your passport being returned without a valid visa label.

If you are applying for a long-term visa, you must do all of the above and have a travel passport valid for your stay. Again, there is an application fee for processing the application, and it is non-refundable even if your Visa application is rejected.

Documents required for a French study visa
• Visa application form
• Two passport-style photos
• Copies of relevant passports and previous visas
• Official registration or acceptance letter from the university
• Monthly cost of funds to cover all your expenses during the study period (around 615 EUR per month)
• Airline/ticket showing flight date
• Medical insurance that will cost between 311 and 714 EUR / year.
• Documents indicating the place of residence during the studies
• Certificate of French language proficiency (if you enrolled in a French-taught course)
• Proof of visa fee payment (99 EUR).
• Proof of marital status (if applicable)

Working in France with a student visa
Yes, it is allowed! International students studying in France can work part-time to support their studies in France. This law allows the student to work 964 hours of the year, about 60% of the annual work.

The best majors to study in France
1. Fashion design
2. Cooking and gastronomy
3. Science and technology
4. Business

Semester
Education in France starts in September-October and lasts until May-June. In France, as in our country, exams are held at the end of the semester, and students’ results are determined based on those exams.