Bonjour! French is the most favoured foreign language in India and the reason behind it is the influence of France and its culture globally. France, a country known for its elegance and glory globally, Its academic reputation is highly regarded internationally and provides a thriving and sophisticated atmosphere to develop scholars into ambitious professionals. 

Paris, the capital of France, has gained popularity throughout the cosmos as a city of love and romance. France hosts more than 3,50,000 international students in its prominent universities and colleges, among whom more than 10,000 are of Indian nationality. The French foreign minister aims to attract more than 20,000 Indian students by the year 2025. 

If you love the grandeur of France and wish to study there, refer to the extensive guide. 

Language and culture 

France has an enriching heritage, history, and diversity. The French revolution has influenced the world with great innovations. The country has set great standards for fashion, lifestyle, cuisine, literature, and romance. For foodies, French food and cuisine are the epitome of sustenance. The main language of France is French, which is also the official language of many other countries like Canada, Luxembourg, Switzerland, etc. More than 300 million people across the globe speak French. Around 39% of people in France speak English fluently. 

Education System 

Like in any other country, the education system in France flows like a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s degree and a doctorate degree. In order to get admission to French universities, you need to prove your linguistic proficiency through various exams like DELF, DALF, TCF, or TEF. Moreover, a student can pursue a bachelor’s degree, which is a minimum of three years, from a French university only if he has a high school diploma. A master’s degree in France takes about two to six years to complete. France offers four types of master’s degree: MA, MS, MSc, and MBA. 

The Top Universities in France

Universities in France offer courses in both languages—French and English. If you are looking for a university that teaches courses in English, then the following are the best universities: 

• Université PSL

• École Polytechnique

• Sorbonne University

• CentraleSupélec.

• École Normale Supérieure de Lyon.

• École des Ponts Paris Tech.

• Sciences Po.

• Paris University

Moreover, if you are fluent in French, then the following are the best universities that teach courses in French: 

• University of Paris Sciences et Lettres

• École Polytechnique

• Sorbonne University

• Paris University

• Paris-Saclay University

• Télécom Paris 

• École Normale Supérieure de Lyon

Tuition fees and living costs.

Campus France is the government organisation that guides international students about the admission process and requirements for French universities. According to their data, the following are the approximate tuition fees for international students belonging to non-European countries at different education levels at public universities: 

• Bachelor’s degree -2,770 euros per year 

• Master’s degree – 3,770 euros per year 

• Doctorate (Ph.D) degree-380 euros per year

Moreover, the tuition fees for private universities are much higher, and they ordinarily range between 3,000 and 20,000 euros per year. The complete tuition fees have to be deposited at the beginning of the semester, i.e., in the month of September. 

The cost of living in France is determined by the city in which you wish to live, the type of housing you select, and your monthly requirements.On an average, in cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, etc., the monthly living costs are around 850 to 1,000 euros per month. But in the capital city of France, which is Paris, the living costs are quite high and range between 1,250 and 1,400 euros per month if you incur minimum expenditure.