Would you like to study in a country that combines high educational standards with affordable tuition fees? France fits that description perfectly. One of the most popular destinations in Europe opens its doors to start your professional training, continue your studies or learn its elegant language. Live and learn in the famous wine nation and home of the unmistakable Eiffel Tower. With several of the world's top universities and schools, studying in France is a decision you will never regret. You want to know why? Here we tell you!
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France is not only one of the most visited destinations for tourists in Europe, but also for international students. With a versatile environment that ranges from metropolitan centers to laid-back dream Alps, studying in France is a unique experience that attracts thousands of foreigners each year. One of the main advantages of choosing this country as an academic destination is the competitive quality/price ratio of education.
If you are a citizen of one of the EEA (European Economic Area) nations or have already obtained permanent residence in one of them, you will have access to very low tuition fees. On the other hand, for Latin American students or students from another part of the world, the cost of studying in France remains very affordable. For bachelor’s programs, prices are around $3,300 a year, a tempting number considering the reputation of French higher education.
How good is the education in France? Well, to give you an idea, in this country you will find several of the best universities on the planet . According to the QS Top Universities ranking, the top 3 universities in France are Université PSL, École Polytechnique and the Sorbonne University. We are talking about a country that was the birthplace of great inventors such as Joseph-Nicéphore Niépce and the Montgolfier brothers. In addition, it is also one of the most recognized in the field of Literature, with great writers such as Victor Hugo, Jean-Paul Sartre, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Maurice Druon. To study in France as a foreigner , you will need to apply for a visa according to the duration of your program and your nationality. The visas available for this purpose are:
According to statistics from the Ministry of Higher Education, in 2018 France received more than 300,000 international students, thus becoming the 4th most visited country for this purpose. There are more than 3,500 public and private schools waiting for you in the land of Napoleon, most with programs for foreigners taught in English. Likewise, if what you are looking for is to study French in France, there are many academies with courses that will adapt to your needs.
Options range from intensive programs in the heart of Paris, to summer courses on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Corsica. Ready to live the most unforgettable experience of your life? So don’t waste time and read this complete guide on how to study in France from Latin America.
|
Shared room |
$1,548 |
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Shared room |
$635 |
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2 bedroom apartment |
$2,521 |
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2 bedroom apartment |
$1067 |
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Bus or Metro ticket |
2$ |
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Movie Ticket |
$13 |
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A beer in a bar |
$8 |
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A beer in the supermarket |
$2 |
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Typical Street Food |
$11 |
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Meal in a Restaurant |
$37 |
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Medical consultation |
$30 |
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Phone plans |
$8 |
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Average Cost of Living per Month |
USD $2,604 |
Although they say that money does not buy happiness, it is an essential resource to study in France or in any other country. For this reason, it is extremely important to know your cost of living and the price of tuition according to the level of study. If you are considering studying in this European nation, it is best to have at least $2,604 dollars a month for basic expenses . By this we mean food, rent, hygiene products, transportation, among others. The cost of living can vary considerably depending on the city where you are going to live. Iconic Paris is the most expensive city to live in, followed by Lyon and Montpellier. On the other hand, for tighter budgets, the cities of Nantes, Bordeaux and Grenoble offer relatively cheap prices. As we mentioned in the introduction, France has a very interesting quality/price ratio at an educational level. The cost of studies for international students outside the EEA is as follows :
These figures represent the costs of the different levels of study in public universities. Keep in mind that in private universities (such as the Catholic University of Lyon) the cost of tuition can be higher, ranging from $3,600 to $24,000 per year.
In autumn 2019, a change was made to the registration system in France for foreigners. Until then, international students only had to pay about $240 a year for their education, but now the numbers have changed. If you are a citizen or permanent resident of an EEA country or of Switzerland, tuition prices are incredibly low ($200 to $723 per year).
On the other hand, for people with nationality and residence outside the EEA, registration fees are more expensive. In short, studying in France is not free, but it is much more accessible than in other popular academic destinations such as Australia and the United Kingdom.
The good news is that, together with the renewal of registrations for foreigners, the French Government will sponsor 3 times more scholarships for foreign students than in the past. Thus, there is the possibility of studying for free in France or significantly reducing student expenses. To learn more about this topic, we recommend you visit the following page on tuition and fees in France.
Universities in France represent the highest splendor and prestige of higher education in the country . Many of them, such as the Sorbonne University, are considered the most important in Europe and the world. This institution alone brings together more than 30 Nobel Prize winners, of the 69 that the country has won between 1901 and 2018. More than 70% of the international students that France receives each year enroll in one of its universities . This means that the competition is tough, but fortunately there are many institutions and programs to choose from. The French university sector is divided into public and private institutions. Public universities financed by the State extend throughout the territory, from the New Aquitaine region to the Grand Est region. University programs in France cover all kinds of fields and areas of study, such as art, medicine, languages, science, and sports. If you are interested in studying a bachelor’s degree at a French university , these are the degrees you can obtain:
You can also obtain a diploma at the master’s or doctoral level, whichever you prefer. To find out more about the training programs that you can study at a University in France, click here .
To study in France as a foreigner, you should know that each university has its own admission process and specific requirements. That is why, if you want to know exactly what the university you are interested in is going to ask of you, it is best to contact it directly. However, so that you can enter a bit in context, we will talk about some aspects that you should know. The first, and perhaps most important, is the Campus France Procedure ” Études en France ” (EEF). Campus France is a national agency that is in charge of guiding and helping foreigners who want to study in France at a Higher Education Institution (HEI).
As we already mentioned, the requirements may vary according to the university, the program and your nationality. If you are interested in registering on the Campus France website and starting an application, you must verify that your country is connected to the agency. Some of the associated Latin American countries are Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Mexico. On the other hand, the general requirements that you must surely meet are:
In France there are many other higher education institutions that are not considered universities, but still admit 20% of the international students that come to the country. The Grandes Écoles, or as they are called in French ” Les Grandes Écoles”, encompass several French institutions, such as:
Most of the programs at these institutions are taught in English and award degrees that are equivalent to 5 years of undergraduate study. There are public and private Grandes Écoles , and some award Master’s degrees. Tuition at the private Grandes Écoles can be even more expensive than the university ones. If you are interested in signing up for a program taught by one of these institutions, you should know that the admission process is quite selective and consists of entrance exams, preparatory classes of up to 2 years, among other requirements. To find out exactly what conditions you must meet, we recommend you contact the institute of your interest.
Below we give you some details of the process to be accepted in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in France depending on your situation. If you are from a country affected by the ” Études en France ” procedure:
If you are not European or from a country affected by the ” Études en France ” procedure:
Important. Complete the process in advance, preferably in the month of November prior to the academic year in which you plan to study in France. Registration closes in January and you should receive a response by April. If you apply to more than 1 university and receive several acceptance letters, you will have to choose the most suitable one.
In France there are hundreds of public and private universities where you can study and become the professional you want to be. Some of the institutions you can choose are:
Do you want to go study in this first world country? Below we will tell you everything about the types of visas, their requirements and the process that you must carry out in order to carry out your dream and study abroad.
To study in France for more than 3 months , there is a specific visa you can apply for, called the Long-Term Study Visa ( VLS-TS étudiant ). This document attached to your passport allows you to stay in France as a student for a period of 4 months to 1 year. So, if you are going to study in this European country for more than 1 year or for a period longer than the expiration of the visa, you will have to apply for a residence permit. The VLS-TS student must be validated as soon as you arrive in France . To be sure that this is the visa that corresponds to you according to your nationality, purpose of visit and duration, we suggest you visit this link .
Next, we are going to present you with a list of general requirements to apply for your Long-Term Visa for Studies in France. We have used the ” Assistant Visa ” tool to know the necessary documents in case of having Argentine nationality and carrying out the procedure in Argentina. Therefore, keep in mind that the requirements may vary depending on your nationality and the country from which you apply .
Yes! Your VLS-TS étudiant allows you to work up to 20 hours a week in France , which translates to 964 hours a year.
In Europe, there is a common visa policy between several countries, called the “Schengen Area”. This agreement stipulates that, by having a Schengen Visa, travelers of some nationalities can move freely between the countries of the Schengen Area for short stays. France was one of the first countries to sign this agreement in 1985. Since then, foreigners from some countries must apply for a Schengen Visa if they want to study in France for a maximum of 90 days . As not all nationalities require this visa for short stays, we recommend you open the following page and check if your country needs a Schengen Visa. If you are from one of the countries exempt from the Schengen Visa (such as Chile, Peru and Colombia), then you do not need to carry out this procedure to study in France for less than 3 months.
No, unfortunately a Schengen Visa ( court séjour ) does not allow you to work in France while you study.
It would be a mistake to think that learning French will only serve you well during your stay in France. This Romance language is spoken in various countries around the world, such as Canada, Monaco, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Belgium, Switzerland, and Haiti. Also, if after studying it you meet the language requirements, you would expand your repertoire of academic programs to study in France. If learning this Germanic-influenced language calls your attention, take a look at these academies:
The best way to start preparing to study French in France is to find out the requirements of the institute or academy on its official website. In most cases, international students must take a test or exam to determine their level of French. You may also have to pay the full course fee or part of it at the time of registration. Finally, remember that the duration of the course determines the type of visa you must apply for to study in France.
Each academy or language center manages its own admission process. Currently, it is normal for you to complete the entire application online and be notified by email if you have been accepted. Keep in mind that many of the French courses accept less than 20 participants per class, so try to enroll at least 1 month before the course start date.
At the moment, there is no visa to study French in France . Although the catalog of courses and academies to learn this language is quite extensive, there is no specific visa that you must apply for this purpose.
Basically, to study French in your native country, you only have to look at the duration of the program. If it is a short course of less than 12 weeks and your country is exempt from the Schengen Visa, you do not need to apply for a visa. On the other hand, for intensive programs of more than 3 months, a Long Term Study Visa could be indicated.
Now that tuition fees for foreign students outside the EEA and Switzerland have increased, you might think that your dream of studying in France is far from being fulfilled. However, thanks to the many scholarship programs available, you can receive financial support to reach your goal. Some of the most popular scholarships to study in France from Latin America are:
To find the ideal scholarship for your level of study, area and nationality, we recommend using the following tool.
While it is true that education in France is much cheaper than in other countries, the cost of living in some cities can be quite high. To compensate for this situation, the French Government authorizes all foreign students to work while completing their training. With a Long-Term Study Visa, you can work up to 964 hours a year, equivalent to 60% of the permitted working day.
You are also guaranteed a minimum wage, which is about $9 an hour after deducting the mandatory social contributions. Getting a job should not be a complicated task, since you do not need to have the Provisional Work Authorization (APT) if you have a student visa.
In addition, many universities offer jobs for their international students, on contracts of 12 months maximum.
Congratulations graduate! Now that you have completed your studies in France, you can stay and work in this proud nation. As a qualified foreigner from a country outside the EEA, you must have a promise of employment or employment contract . The salary for such employment must be at least 1.5 times the legal minimum wage. If you do not have this document, you should not be alarmed, because there is still an option that you can take advantage of.
If you are the holder of a professional degree, a master’s degree or are managing a business project, you are a candidate to request a Provisional Stay Authorization (APS) , valid for 12 months while you find employment.
Go-Study-In is a platform where you can find all the information you need to start your studies abroad. We have a team of experienced advisors who will help you throughout the process and the management of procedures to study in France or another country. If you want one of our advisors to contact you, please fill out the form that you will see below.
