Study Abroad in France

To study abroad in France is a dream for most students all over the world knowing the economic stability of the country. This article at Start Skool is aimed at giving you an exceptional tour through this informative piece on all you need to know about to studying abroad in France.

You won’t want to miss all the information you can’t get elsewhere that we’ve brought you here, so relax and read through this article which would definitely answer most questions you had all along.

Educational System of France

France is a country that takes education very serious and because of this, it has a centralized educational system made up of subdivisions and they are as follows :

• Primary education called enseignement primaire in French
• Secondary education called enseignement secondaire in French and
• The higher education called enseignement supérieur still in French

For a child to begin schooling, he/she has to be six years old before that child is enrolled into the primary education and from there the child move higher into other levels.

Study Abroad in France High School 

Studying in high school comes with its pecks but in France, the high school or secondary education has a lot of programs available to the students and one advantage of these programs is that the student can customize his/her studies to suit their needs and schedule.

France has three high school programs namely; semester programs, Immersion program and the volunteer program.

The semester program is just like the every day school program, with the day starting by 8am and ending by 5pm and as an international student, choosing this program, you have to be good in communicating in French.

The immersion program is meant for any student who needs to expand their knowledge of the French language while learning the culture of France.

The volunteer program is the last of these programs and it is meant for anyone who wishes to volunteer and give back to the community and learn a service program under this.

Top 10 Best High School Programs to Study Abroad in France

Below are some high schools to study in:

• EdOdyssey: Custom Student Trips in USA, China, Italy, Peru and Spain
• GLA Volunteer in Tanzania: Children’s Education Adventure
• ActionQuest: Summer Adventure Program in British Virgin Islands
• MEI International Academy: High School Abroad Program
• Educational Camps Abroad: Cultural and Language Immersion in Europe
• UWC España Action x Change Summer Program
• Sol Abroad: High School Program in Mexico
• Global Works: Costa Rica Summer Service Adventures
• School of the World: Adventure of a Lifetime in Guatemala

Type of Students who Study Abroad in France

Basically any kind of student can study in France but there are specific students that are favored by the environment and culture of France thus giving the first hand experience. Such students are:

Students of Art: France being the center of arts with a growing number of art students trooping into this country to have a better experience in their chosen courses or area of specialization.

France having interesting places to visit and also talented people who showcases their works is an opportunity for these students to visit and learn. Places like Louvre, where works of French artists such as Monet, Matisse and Renoir are kept.

Also reading articles of some incredible writers and poets such as Baudelaire, Proust and Voltaire.

The music of France isn’t left out as France is a home of great musicians like Air, Daft Punk and Debussy.

Architecture Students: Studying abroad in France is a dream of this kind of students. Knowing the architectural style and structure of France makes students flock to this country. Some of these structures includes ; the Gothic Chateau de Chambord built in 1500s, Place Dauphine built in 1607 and the modernize Marne-la-vallee.

History students: France is a place of ancient history ranging from French revolution, rise of Napoleon and the rise of the fifth republic under President Charles de Gaulle. France is also the site of the D-day of WWII.

Higher Institution in France

Unlike most countries where there are large universities and small universities, in France university system there are small universities forming a chin and sharing resources as part of a larger higher education house or institution.

This higher education system favors post graduates and creates very specialized degree programs.

Also this type of system makes small cities like Grenoble have at least two or three universities while large cities like Paris have 13 research universities beside smaller institutions.

Public Universities to Study Abroad in France

There are 140 public universities to study abroad in France. These universities are called Établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel (EPSCP) (Public Establishments of a Scientific, Cultural or Professional Character).

The majority of these EPSCP are universities while others are smaller institutions given power to conduct public research and give degrees.

In France, there are 83 public universities that are comprehensive academic research and training institutions. In addition to it’s universities, France is also home to elite higher education institutions and the most famous is the Grandes Ecoles.

There might be many universities under different categories but they share a specilised nature and an incredible selective admission process. Most of them have entrance exams and preparatory classes.

Also it is worthy to note that these universities support Master’s programs.

Popular Courses to Study Abroad in France

To study abroad in France, there might be a problem of choosen the course to apply for or knowing which course is available and lucrative after school.

Below are some popular courses you can study abroad in France

• Archaeology
• Classics
• Ancient History
• Modern Language
• Performing Arts
• Philosophy
• Mathematics
• Accounting and Finance
• Business and Management Studies
• Politics and International Studies

To study abroad in France, you have a chance to be accepted globally with the degree certificate you are presented with and you do not need to be scared of the language because most of the institutions offer their programs in English language and they are mostly in the fields of economics, management marketing, international business and MBA. These courses are not just the only ones you could learn in English, courses like technology, engineering, law and international studies are learnt in English.

For your Master’s degree, there are three main categories you can study abroad in France

• Taught Master’s (Mas, MScs, MEng)
• Research masters (MRes, MA by Research)
• Doctorate and PhDs

Top Ranked Universities to Study Abroad in France 

According to 2021 statistics brought about by the rankings of Times Higher Education and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), the below universities meets the top of the list

• Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris
• École Polytechnique
• Sorbonne University
• University of Paris
• Paris-Sarclay University
• Télécom Paris
• École des Ponts ParisTech
• École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
• Montpellier University
• Aix-Marseille University
• Grenoble Alpes University
• IMT Atlantique
• Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
• University of Bordeaux
• Centrale Nantes
• Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées
• L’institut Agro
• CentraleSupélec
• Claud Bernard University Lyon
• University of Côte d’ Ivor

To learn more about these universities, click this

Cost of Studying Abroad in France

While many think it would cost a fortune when decisions are made to study abroad in France, but this is not the case as the cost to study abroad in France is affordable and the cheapest when compared to countries like the UK and US.

Through direct admission, tuition fees can be affordable and with exciting locations to visit in France, the costs are of lower price tags than you think.

Here are a few schools and their tuition fees per semester:

• American University of Paris costs $17,046 as of 2020
• Syracuse University Strasbourg Center: $26,105 (2020)
• University of Bordeaux: $3,072 per year (2020)

Tuition for a semester with a third-party provider:

• IES Abroad Paris – French Studies: $18,970 (2020)*
• Study Abroad in Grenoble with API!: $11,980 – 18,480*, depending on area of study (2020)
• AIFS Study Abroad in Paris, Sorbonne: Semester: $14,995* (2020)
• CEA Study Abroad on the French Riviera: Starting at $15,995* (2020)

*Note this particular total includes housing

The city you visit can also add up to your cost, cities like Paris can cost you a much amount of money than little cities becwof its tourist attraction area. So you would have to be careful when choosing a location to study or stay.

Scholarships You Could Apply for to Study Abroad in France

Due to the 2020 pandemic, some schools increased their fees but this increment doesn’t affect the scholarship programs available in France. Infact the France government decided to triple its scholarship programs.

Top scholarships to apply for when studying abroad in France are listed below:

• Scholarships of Excellence for Master’s Degrees at Paris Dauphine University in France, 2021
• Emile Boutmy Scholarship at Sciences Po University
• Labex DigiCosme Master Awards for International Students at the University of Paris-Saclay in France, 2021
• Master Award Program in France
• Sciences Po Rene Seydoux Scholarship in France
• IESEG MSc Scholarship in Digital Marketing & CRM for International Students in France
• Stephen M. Kellen Undergraduate funding for International Students in France and Germany, 2021
• Campus France PRESTIGE Postdoctoral Research International Fellowships, France
• IARC WHO Senior Visiting Scientist Award in France, 2021
• IESEG School of Management MSc Scholarships in France, 2021
• IESEG MSc Scholarships in Fashion Management, 2021

Challenges Encountered when Studying Abroad in France

Students encounter some problems while studying in France and they are:

• Difficult to Afford

International students from developing countries encounter this problem the most because most of them can’t afford the fees. In as a much as the location of the school affects this problem. Cities like Paris are more expensive to live in.

• Non-English Population

France is a French speaking nation, the owners of the language to be precise, so this poses a problem to students who cannot communicate with French. Not everyone can speak in English in is country and you would encounter this problem more if you desire to get a part me that job.

• Difficult Application Process

The application process of France educational system is rigorous and difficult. Students have to write a test at the French embassy in their country of origin and then you are allowed to apply if you pass the test

Student Visa and Requirements to Study Abroad in France 

French student visa is available in just two types namely the shirt stay visa which is less than 3 months and the long term visa which is more than three months.

In as much as the visa process is time consuming, there are some requirements needed by the French embassy for international students before getting the visa.

Long term visa If you want to study abroad in France and it would need more than three months to complete your course, this type of visa is advised to go for. One benefit of this visa is that you need not apply for residence permit and there is need for validation upon arriving in France.

There are three types of this long term visa namely; the student visa for Bachelors and Masters students, the talent passport visa for doctorate studies and the internship visa for interns.

Temporary Long term Visa or Short term Visa

Unlike the long term visa, this visa doesn’t need validation on arrival and you cannot stay more than a year except for educational purposes. The only benefits of this visa is that you are free to travel within other neighboring countries.

Requirements for Internship Visa

To apply for this visa in order to study abroad in France, the following are the documents you need to present to the embassy.

• A valid passport.
• Proof of financial resources like scholarship grant or proof of personal funds proof through bank statements.
• Proof of residency in France like the contract of your rented apartment or dormitory.
• A three-party internship agreement that’s stamped by the Prefect and signed by you, the training institute, or your employer and your training organisation, company or the health institution in France. The Prefect’s stamp is obtained from the Regional Department of Competition, Consumption, Work and Employment.

Requirements for Bachelors and Master’s Visa 

• A valid email address.
• The relevant information on your visa.
• Your arrival date in France.
• Your home address in France.
• A bank card to pay the online fee for validation. If you still don’t have a French bank card then you can buy an electronic stamp at a kiosk and pay in cash there.

You can also get to know more about students in Germany.