Study in France

About France

France is one of Europe's leading economies and a global centre for business, luxury, aerospace and the arts. It offers more than 1,600 English-taught programs and affordable public universities. Main intakes are September and January. The currency is the euro (EUR).

Why study in France

• Low tuition at public universities, and world-class business schools (grandes écoles)
• 1,600+ English-taught programs
• Work up to 964 hours a year while you study
• Post-study stay for job search, with extra benefits for Indian graduates
• Charpak, Eiffel and Erasmus Mundus scholarships for Indian students

Popular fields of study

Business and management (MBA, MIM, luxury brand management), finance, fashion and design, aerospace and engineering, hospitality and culinary arts, data science and AI. Well-known schools include HEC Paris, INSEAD, ESSEC, ESCP, Sorbonne University and Université PSL.

Student visa, step by step

Student visa: VLS-TS.

1. Get admission from a French institution.
2. Complete the Campus France (Études en France) process: register, upload documents, pay the fee and attend the interview.
3. Show your tuition plus at least €615 a month for living costs.
4. Fill in the France-Visas application online.
5. Submit documents and biometrics at VFS Global and pay the visa fee.
6. Collect your passport with the visa, usually within 2–4 weeks.

After you get your visa

• Validate your visa online with OFII within 3 months of arrival. Without this you can't stay legally.
• Pay the CVEC student life fee and apply for CAF housing support if eligible.
• Work up to 964 hours a year (about 20 hours a week). No separate work permit is needed.

Work and staying on

Working while you study

Work up to 964 hours a year (about 20 hours a week). No separate work permit is needed.

After you graduate

12 months; up to 24 for Indian Master's graduates The APS / RÉCE residence permit gives Master's graduates 12 months to look for work or start a business, with full-time work rights. Indian Master's graduates can get up to 24 months under the France–India agreement. Indian alumni of French Master's degrees can also get a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa.

Settling long term

Employee work permit (salarié): when you find a job related to your studies. Talent Passport: a renewable residence permit of up to 4 years, for skilled jobs above the salary threshold. Long-term residence: possible after 5 years of legal residence.

Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.

Visa expenses

Average salary

Graduates typically start at about €35,000–€45,000 a year (approximate). Business-school and engineering graduates often earn more.

Good to know

• Basic French (A2–B1) makes part-time work and daily life much easier.
• The amount of funds required and the Campus France fee may change. Check before you apply.
• Accommodation usually costs about €500–€800 a month (more in Paris).
• Popular choices with Indian students: MBA and management, engineering, data science and computer science, finance, luxury brand management, hotel management, fashion design and film studies.
• Big employers include LVMH, Hermès, L'Oréal, AXA, Michelin, Carrefour, TotalEnergies, Stellantis (Peugeot), EDF, Renault and Auchan.