French Higher Education - Overview

Craze for Higher Education is growing in popularity among Indian students. Education in France can be affordable as it is subsidized by the State. It is also not necessary to know French for post-graduate study in France as subject areas like Management and engineering are increasingly being taught in English in more and more institutes. As per Edufrance, Higher education in France is imparted through various institutions with varying objectives, structures and admission requirements.

O  Universities

O  University Colleges

O  Grandes écoles (Described as Competitive Institutes).

O  Advanced studies centre


Higher Education in France offers the following two options:
Admissions at competitive institutes ( Grandes écoles) is selective. Specialisation is offered in these Grandes écoles in the fields of engineering, commerce, civil services and teaching. Duration of studies varies from 3 to 5 years.

In State universities, any student who has completed the secondary school examination may qualify. Two categories of courses are offered:

General courses
These are divided into 3 cycles. Each cycle leads to a national degree:

1st cycle 2 years undergraduate studies 2nd cycle 2 to 3 years graduate studies 3rd cycle 1 to 3 years post graduate studies. Professional courses These are offered at Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés (IUP). The curriculum consists of 3 years of technical courses with a 6 month vocational training and practice in an international firm.

Medical studies
These include medicine, dental and pharmacology studies. They are offered in universities at the Faculty of Medical Studies. The duration of these courses are 7 years.

Art, Architecture, Agriculture, Law, Public Administration
These are offered in specialised schools. The duration of the courses varies from 3 to 7 years.

What about costs ?
Your costs will depend on the choice you make. Usually study budgets abroad comprise 4 chapters:

Admission and tuition fees The cost of living The cost of the compulsory medical insurance The cost of the language training

Admission and tuition fees
At the universities, admission fees are nominal. They vary from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 34,000 ( 150 - 300 € ) per annum for a course leading to a national diploma.

The tuition fee at the Grandes écoles (competitive universities) are approximately Rs. 26,000 for public engineering schools and vary from 10,000 to 40,000 €/year for private engineering and business schools.

The cost of living
The cost of living in France varies from place to place. Accomodation expenses in towns, specially private lodgings, vary from Rs. 10,500 to Rs. 20,000 per month ( 200 to 400 € per month ).

In the university residences, the accomodation expenses vary from Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 8,000 per month. Food, transportation and pocket money would amount to between Rs. 19,000 to Rs. 27,000 per month ( 400 to 500 € per month).

The cost of the compulsory medical insurance
The cost of compulsory medical insurance is approximately of Rs. 7,000 (150 €) to Rs. 38,000 per year, depending on the student's age and existing convention regarding medical insurance between France and India.

The cost of language training
The cost of language training in France is approximately of Rs. 19,000 per month ( 350 euros per month ). It is therefore advisable to learn French from recognised learning centres in India before leaving for France.

The above mentioned costs are as of March 2003. For the current costs, kindly get in touch with the Cultural, Scientific and Technical Section of the French Embassy in Delhi or with the Alliance Française Centres elsewhere or directly with the concerned university.

What qualifications are needed ?
The President or Director of the university to which the student is applying, will decide on the recognition of diplomas/degrees on the basis of the recommendation of an education committee

When should you apply ?
The academic year usually runs from September to June. You should therefore apply before the turn of the year, or at the latest by January 15th. However, for post-graduate studies, the timings are less rigid.

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