Why Study in France?
Since France is such a country with a population that comes from a myriad of countries, foreign students fit right in, and the warm French demeanor only eases the process. Some of the world’s best restaurants, art galleries and entertainment venues are only the tip of the iceberg as far as what the country offers.
There are a plethora of reasons why attending an institution in France is an interesting proposal for a student who is not of French origins, these include the lowest tuition costs, the chance to explore the amazing country that France is and the benefit of receiving some of the most valued education and training from top notch tutors. The benefits that come with a European degree, and a French one at that, extends way beyond what can be listed in this article. Don’t think twice, the French will welcome you with open arms, and it will without doubt be the best decision that you make if you choose France for your higher education.
Education System in France
The higher education system in France is the similar to the pan European style of administration, called the Bologna system, which eases the international mobility as the degrees are valid in most EU countries. France utilizes the same three-level higher education system as do the rest of the 29 European countries involved in the Bologna system.
The French Bachelor’s degree are recognized throughout the world. The undergraduate degrees are -
- Licence
- Licence Professionnelle
Post graduate courses include -
The French implement a credit-based system whereby each module within the course is given a certain amount of ECTS (European credits). These credits are usually transferable within courses. Once a student is able to acquire 180 ECTS, he/she will earn a Licence, and a further 120 ECTS must be acquired for a Master’s qualification.
The low tuition fees are a hallmark of universities that are government institutions (most are government run). However, the most prestigious of the French institutions are the Grandes Écoles. These are private institutes that offer degrees that are sought after by the top most organizations in the European Union. Students must have completed 2 years of validated study after graduating the Baccalauréat (Secondary education, a degree like the 12th std in the Indian educational system) or equivalent - an addition that public universities bypass.
Cost of Studying in France
Life in France is generally costlier than the average of Europe. It is heavily dependant on the area that one resides in. If one has chosen a metropolitain area like Paris, living expenses will be a major concern and a part time job may not be able to completely take care of living expenses while in Paris. There are a lot of contributors to the daily expense of a student in France, the following are a few of them. Read more about cost of studying in France.
Life in France, Health and Safety
Life for an international student is a blast. After a tired day of absorbing knowledge and doing the additional reading that one’s tutor has asked one to do, one can unwind and relax in multiple ways. The country has some of the best restaurants and museums (with the best renaissance artisans’ work). Most of the museums are free for students (students ID is a must therefore).
Universities in France maintain many modern sports facilities accessible to students. In most cases this access requires that you pay a small fee for joining. To help students who work part time while studying at university, most Universities allow very flexible schedules for courses. The students can pick and choose the times and the dates of the course that they will attend. French universities have a love of oral presentations. So if you have a fear of talking in front of large groups of people, then this is your chance to practice.
There are lots of different options for accommodation. The most common choice is student residences. However, you can also stay with a host family. Flat sharing or collocation is also a very viable possibility. The climate of France is generally cold in winter and mild in summer, but mild winters and hot summers are usual along the Mediterranean Sea (French riviera) and in the South West of France.
Living on a budget is possible only when you cook your own food. French students normally do not like to socialize with non French speaking students; however, if you do want to make French friends, the best way would be to join clubs that you are interested in, where one can interact with others with similar interest. The best way to befriend the French is to immerse yourself in their culture.
Popular Cities and Courses
France is a vibrant country in western Europe. With about 1300 english programs and numerous french programs in business, engineering, technology, arts, literature, music etc. the city has seen large numbers of international students flocking to be a part of french education & culture. Paris has been ranked world’s no.1 student friendly city by QS but there is more to France than just the capital city. A list of top 10 such cities in the country based on the parameters like presence of schools, student mix, affordability and employment opportunities are presented here
- Paris
- Lyon
- Toulouse
- Nice
- Montpellier
- Grenoble
- Lille
- Rennes
- Bordeaux
- Marseille
Popular Universities In France:
- University of Paris-Sud (Paris 11)
- University of Strasbourg
- Ecole Normale Superieure Paris
With more than 70 different colleges there is certainly something there for everyone. While the above colleges are the most prestigious in the country there are numerous other college choices available that will provide you with a quality education based on your desires for your future career.
- Paris Tech
- American University of Paris
- Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
- Louis Pasteur University Strasbourg
