Studying in France: Honest Pros and Cons for International Students

Studying in France is worth it for many non-EU students, especially at master's level: public fees are low (€3,950 a year for a master's in 2026/27, less where universities apply exemptions), there are hundreds of English-taught master's programs, and you can work while you study and stay after graduating to look for a job. The downsides are just as real: a complex application process, visa appointment pressure, housing shortages and a daily life that runs in French.

This article gives you both sides, using official rules and figures only, so you can decide with clear eyes. No glossy promises, no invented statistics.

The quick verdict

Pro: public tuition is low

Non-EU students at institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education pay €2,902 a year for a bachelor's and €3,950 for a master's (2026/27). Doctoral fees are €398 a year. Several universities with English-taught programs, including Paris-Saclay and Marie and Louis Pasteur University, bring non-EU students down to EU rates through partial exemptions in 2026/27.

Be careful, though: not every English-taught program follows national rates. International tracks and special diplomas can cost more (for example €7,166 a year for IP Paris international-track master's), and private business schools generally charge about €6,000 to €18,000 or more. Details are in our cost of studying in France guide.

Pro: a real choice of English-taught master's programs

FindUniPath tracks 714 English-taught master's programs at 93 French public institutions, in fields from AI and data science to economics, chemistry, energy and management. Big providers include Paris-Saclay (74), the University of Lille (36), the University of Montpellier (32) and Aix-Marseille (31). See English-taught programs in France.

Pro: work rights and a post-study path

With a VLS-TS or student residence permit you may work up to 964 hours a year, and required internships don't count toward that limit. The minimum wage was €12.02 gross per hour on 1 January 2026. After a master's or equivalent degree you can apply for a 12-month job-search or business-creation permit. Read work and stay in France after graduation.

Pro: health cover and student support

Students register for French social security for free, and it reimburses 60% of health costs. Public student residences (CROUS) average around €450 a month in Paris and €350 in the regions according to Campus France, and the free Visale guarantee helps if you rent privately without a French guarantor.

Pro: you are not limited to Paris

English-taught programs are spread across the country, which matters for your budget because Campus France rents are lower in the regions. Examples of English-taught master counts at public universities in FindUniPath data:

Pro: PhD study is cheap, and some tracks are funded

Doctoral students are not charged differentiated fees: the PhD rate is €398 a year for non-EU students in 2026/27. Some institutions run integrated master and PhD tracks with funding, such as PSL PhD Tracks (a €10,000 yearly grant during the master years, then a doctoral contract) and the IP Paris PhD Track. Funded doctoral candidates use the passeport talent - chercheur visa.

Pro: clear official information

France publishes its rules in one place more than many countries do. Campus France runs a national program catalogue, country offices and a scholarship directory; Service Public explains visas and permits; and the visa, validation and renewal steps are online. Procedures are long, but they are documented, so you can check every claim an agent makes against an official page.

Con: English-taught bachelor's programs are rare

This is the biggest limitation for school leavers. FindUniPath tracks only 19 English-taught bachelor's programs at French public institutions, and most start in the third year. First-year licence programs are almost all in French and usually require a French test through the DAP. If you want a full bachelor's in English, France offers few options, and some of them are expensive (Sciences Po charges €14,900 a year for non-EEA bachelor's students).

Con: a long, paid application process

If you live in one of the 75 Études en France countries, you go through a platform application, a non-refundable fee (PKR 30,000 in Pakistan for 2026/27, INR 20,000 in India), document checks and an interview before you can even request a visa. Windows open in October and can close as early as mid-November. Our guide on how to apply to universities in France walks you through it.

Con: visa appointments and processing

Campus France Pakistan warns that visa appointment slots are limited and given first come, first served, and decisions in Pakistan come between 2 weeks and 2 months after the interview. For applicants from Afghanistan it is harder still: the embassy in Kabul is closed, applications go through India, Iran or Pakistan, and the AEG Pakistan page currently mentions appointments only for the OFPRA Afghan category in embassy-handled cases. Check before paying anything.

Con: housing is tight

Campus France notes that demand for CROUS rooms is high, and private studios start at about €800 a month in Paris. Have a backup plan before you travel. Apply for CROUS from 7 July, consider cities outside Paris, and budget for a deposit.

Con: daily life in French

Your classes may be in English, but your bank, landlord, prefecture appointments and most part-time jobs will often operate in French. Some English-taught programs even recommend or require some French, such as French B1 recommended for some Paris-Saclay programs. Learning basic French before you arrive makes everything easier, from housing to job hunting after graduation.

Con: fees and rules are changing

Decree 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 changed fee waiver rules, and some universities are moving from EU rates to differentiated fees. Université Paris Cité, for example, charged EU rates in 2026/27 but plans differentiated fees from 2027/28 unless you're exempt. Always check the fee for your intake year.

Con: a lot of money moves before you arrive

Before your first class you may have paid an Études en France fee, language tests, translations, the visa fee and visa centre fee, the CVEC (€105 for 2026/27), and tuition, while showing at least €877.50 a month in your account for the visa. Families should plan this cash flow months ahead, and keep in mind that the EEF fee is non-refundable even if you are not admitted.

Questions to ask yourself before choosing France

1. 1.Is there an English-taught program at my level, in my field, at a public institution?
2. 2.What exactly will I pay in my intake year, and does the university offer a partial exemption?
3. 3.Can my family show €877.50 a month for the whole year, with a six-month bank history?
4. 4.Am I ready to start the process in October, almost a year before classes begin?
5. 5.Will I learn basic French for daily life and job hunting?

Who France suits best

• Master's applicants in science, engineering, economics, data and management who want low fees and an English-taught program
• PhD candidates, who pay only €398 a year and can find funded tracks
• Planners who can start in October for a September start the following year
• Students willing to learn French, at least for daily life and job hunting

Who should think twice

• School leavers who want a low-cost bachelor's fully in English
• Applicants who can't show €877.50 a month for the visa
• Students who need to arrive within a few months: the process takes most of a year
• Anyone counting on part-time work to pay tuition and rent

Still interested? Start with the complete guide to studying in France, explore the France country hub, and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.