Studying in France can mean exploring artificial intelligence in a research laboratory, developing a business idea with an international class, or learning to see art, food and cities through a different lens. The experience is shaped as much by your course, classmates and everyday surroundings as by the name of the institution.
For students looking for a degree taught in English, France offers several routes, particularly at master’s level. You can study in English while gradually building the French that makes everyday life, friendships and professional opportunities more accessible.
This guide focuses on choosing a bachelor’s or master’s programme, understanding the full cost and preparing for life in France. Reviewed on 18 October 2026. Fee figures below refer to 2026/27 where stated; application dates are labelled separately.
Is France a good fit for your studies?
France is worth exploring if you want an international education with room to experience another language and culture. A business student might value a class drawn from different countries. An engineering student might be more interested in laboratory access and a substantial project. Someone studying design might want time in workshops and opportunities to build a portfolio.
Start with those experiences. Read the modules, look at how students are assessed and find out what a normal week involves. A programme with an appealing title may be highly mathematical, mainly theoretical or designed for people who already have professional experience. The course description should help you picture the work you will actually do.
Think about your preferred environment too. A large city offers plenty to explore, while a more compact university town may make it easier to settle into a routine. Neither is automatically the better choice. A manageable journey to campus and a home you can afford often matter more than a famous postcode.
Can you study in France in English?
Yes. Campus France’s English-taught programme resources are a useful starting point. Search by subject and study level, then visit the institution’s own course page to see whether the whole degree or only part of it is taught in English.
For a bachelor’s degree, be particularly attentive to the campus and track. An institution may teach one version in English and another in French, or offer an English first year followed by different language requirements. For a master’s, check the language of both years, optional modules and any internship or fieldwork.
שני דוגמאות לחוויות לימוד שונות
ה ESSEC Global BBA includes an English track at its Cergy campus in France within a four-year programme with international campus options. It is an example of a business-school route where the location and track should be part of your comparison, rather than treating every campus as the same experience.
At Université Paris-Saclay, the Human-Computer Interaction master’s pathway is taught in English over two years and includes a final-semester internship in a research or industry setting. It illustrates a different direction: using computing and research to understand how people interact with technology.
These are examples to help you explore, not a ranking. Ask what students create, investigate or practise during the degree. A project demonstration, module handbook or conversation with a current student can tell you more about the learning experience than a list of promotional claims.
How much French will you need?
An English-taught course does not mean that every conversation outside class happens in English. French can help when arranging housing, joining a local club, visiting a doctor or applying for a part-time role. You do not need to arrive fluent to start learning.
Look for language classes that fit around your timetable. Small, regular habits are useful: ordering lunch yourself, listening to a local podcast and spending time with French-speaking classmates. If your course includes contact with patients, school pupils, customers or local organisations, ask about the language needed for that activity before choosing it.
Understanding your study options
Compare public universities, specialist schools and business schools through the particular course they offer. Public university study can be an attractive option for a student seeking a subject-focused academic environment. Specialist institutions may offer a more concentrated experience in areas such as business, engineering, hospitality or the arts.
For undergraduate study, ask how much freedom you have to explore subjects before specialising. For postgraduate study, distinguish a broad management course from a specialised finance degree, or a conversion computing course from one that assumes a strong computer-science background.
Pay attention to programme length. A fee quoted for one year does not tell you what the complete degree will cost. If an internship, exchange or additional study period is optional, work out how it affects your timeline and budget. The aim is to choose a course whose learning opportunities make sense for you.
Tuition fees in France
France does not have one tuition price for every international student. Your fee depends on the institution, programme and applicable student category. Private schools and specialist programmes can set fees very different from the standard public university rates.
Campus France’s 2026/27 fee guidance lists the following annual rates for the relevant public university categories:
- Standard licence rate for EU/EEA/Swiss students: €178.
- Standard master’s rate for EU/EEA/Swiss students: €255.
- Differentiated non-EU licence rate, where applicable: €2,902.
- Differentiated non-EU master’s rate, where applicable: €3,950.
Exemptions depend on your circumstances and the institution. Rules affecting institutional exemptions changed in 2026, so use the amount confirmed for your own offer rather than assuming that every non-EU student receives the lower rate. These figures do not describe all engineering schools, private institutions or specially priced programmes.
ה student and campus life contribution, CVEC, is €105 for 2026/27 for students who must pay it; exemptions apply. Keep it separate from tuition when comparing offers.
Ask for a complete fee schedule covering the whole programme. Include registration charges, compulsory equipment, field trips and any additional semester abroad. If the institution offers instalments, check when the first payment is due and what happens if your visa or funding decision arrives later than expected.
Living costs: plan for your own address and lifestyle
Your largest regular expense may be housing, so build the budget around accommodation you could realistically rent. Compare a university residence, a room in a shared flat and a studio. For each, note whether utilities, internet, furniture and transport are included.
Use the actual campus address when checking the commute. A room that seems inexpensive may be less attractive if it requires a lengthy journey, particularly when you have early classes or evening group work. Equally, living outside the centre may work well if the transport connection is straightforward.
These are illustrative planning scenarios, not city averages or rental quotations:
- €1,200 a month becomes €14,400 over 12 months.
- €1,600 a month becomes €19,200 over 12 months.
- €2,000 a month becomes €24,000 over 12 months.
Tuition, travel and arrival costs are additional. Replace these scenarios with your own housing offers, grocery allowance, transport needs, insurance costs and personal spending. A room with meals included needs a different food budget from a self-catering flat.
Build a separate arrival fund for the deposit, initial rent, temporary accommodation, bedding and household basics. A monthly average can make a budget look comfortable while hiding a large payment due before classes start. Leave some money available for surprises rather than committing every euro to the first bill.
מלגות ותמיכה כספית
Look for funding alongside your course search. An institution’s scholarship may be tied to a particular programme, while an external award may depend on nationality, subject or previous academic work. Compare what is actually covered: a tuition discount, a living allowance and a fully funded place are different offers.
ה France Excellence Eiffel programme supports selected master’s and doctoral students through nominations made by French institutions. Students do not submit directly to Campus France. The programme provides an allowance and services, but does not itself cover tuition fees.
למען 2027 Eiffel campaign, the institutional submission deadline is 6 January 2027. A university can set an earlier internal deadline to select and prepare nominations, so contact the programme you are interested in well before that date.
Also explore university awards and opportunities relevant to your home country. Prepare a short explanation of what you want to learn, what you have already done and how you hope to use the experience. Strong applications connect your interests to the course rather than relying on a general wish to study abroad.
Use our growing מדריך לפרסים to explore other opportunities, and read each award’s official terms. Plan a budget that still works if an unconfirmed scholarship does not arrive.
מודולים ומועדי קבלה
The route into French higher education depends on your study level, previous qualification, nationality and country of residence. You may encounter Études en France, Parcoursup, Mon Master or an institution’s own application system. Follow the route the university identifies for your particular situation.
One time-sensitive example is the DAP route for certain non-EU applicants outside the Études en France procedure. For first-year licence entry in 2027/28, the published application period runs from 1 October to 15 December 2026. This is not a universal deadline for every degree or applicant.
Prepare transcripts, qualification documents, language evidence and any requested motivation statement early. A design course may ask for a portfolio; a research-oriented master’s may want evidence of relevant academic preparation. Use the requirements of the exact course rather than assembling the same application for every institution.
Before accepting an offer, understand any remaining conditions and when you must meet them. Allow time for document translations, funding decisions, housing and the visa process where applicable. A course deadline is only one part of the preparation calendar.
Student visas and arrival in France
Your nationality and the length of your studies determine the entry and residence arrangements. Start with France-Visas for the appropriate route and country-specific process.
For student applications submitted from 1 August 2026, the published minimum financial-resources requirement is €877.50 per month. This is an immigration evidence threshold, not a promise that it will cover your accommodation and everyday spending.
If you arrive with a student long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, the הדרכה לגבי מגורים רשמיים explains the online validation required within three months of arrival. Your university’s international office can help you understand the arrival steps alongside enrolment and local practicalities.
Give yourself a few days to settle in before teaching begins if your timetable and accommodation allow. Find the campus, test the journey, buy essentials and attend orientation. Those ordinary tasks are easier before assignments and group projects begin competing for your attention.
Working during your studies
Part-time work can provide experience, confidence and extra income, but it is a poor foundation for an otherwise unaffordable study plan. Finding a role takes time, and the available shifts may not fit your classes or language level.
Campus France’s work guidance explains that many non-EU students with the appropriate student residence status can work up to 964 hours a year. Different rules apply to some students, including Algerian nationals. Your own residence conditions determine what is permitted.
Think about what you want from the experience as well as the pay. A campus role might make it easier to balance work and classes. A course internship could help you explore a career direction. Customer-facing work may be an opportunity to develop French, although employers may already need you to communicate comfortably.
Ask how internships are organised, whether students find their own placements and what support is available. An internship appearing in the curriculum does not tell you whether it is paid or whether a particular placement is guaranteed.
Life beyond the classroom
Make room for interests that are not part of your degree. Student societies, sport, volunteering and cultural events can help a new place feel familiar. They also bring you into contact with people outside your immediate class.
If you are choosing between cities, imagine an ordinary Tuesday rather than a holiday weekend. Where would you study between lectures? Could you cook at home? Is there an activity you would enjoy regularly? Would the journey to campus still feel manageable in winter?
For Paris and its surrounding campuses, distinguish the institution’s postal address from the neighbourhood where you expect to live. For other destinations, compare the same practical details instead of assuming that every city outside Paris offers the same costs or atmosphere.
Learning a language while studying another subject can be tiring. Give yourself time to develop a routine and make friends gradually. An international experience is not measured by how many places you visit in the first month.
לאחר סיום הלימודים
Some eligible graduates can apply for a French job-search or business-creation residence route, generally for one year. Eligibility depends on the qualification and personal circumstances, including nationality; it is not an automatic extension for every course.
Use the degree itself to build things you can talk about: research, a portfolio, a team project, a placement or a problem you helped solve. Those experiences can be useful whether you remain in France, return home or continue your studies elsewhere.
Questions students often ask
Is studying in France free?
Not generally. Some public university fees are relatively low, and exemptions or scholarships can reduce costs. Housing, food, transport and other living expenses still need funding, while private and specialist programmes may charge much higher tuition.
Can I complete a degree entirely in English?
Yes, on an appropriate programme. Confirm the teaching language for the full course and campus, including later years and practical activities. French remains useful for everyday life and many work opportunities.
Should I choose a university or a business school?
Choose through the course experience: subjects, teaching methods, projects, classmates, support and total cost. Both can offer worthwhile learning; the right choice depends on what you want to do and the environment in which you learn best.
Can a student job cover everything?
It is better to arrive with your essential study and living costs funded. Treat work as a possible supplement and learning opportunity, not as money you are certain to earn immediately.
Continue exploring with our guides to תכניות לימוד באנגלית ו שכר לימוד בחו"ל, or compare destinations in the country guide collection.