Study in France

Scholarships availbale in France
Several scholarships exist. On an average the French government supports 300 scholarship holders every year.

The various types of scholarships include
The French Embassy in India’s incentive scholarships
The French ministry of External affairs offers the Eiffel grants of excellence
The institutions in France themselves may waive certain fees
Corporate scholarships offered by Thales, Orange, Air Liquide,DCNS, Neemrana Foundation, Krishnakriti Foundation etc,
Regions of France that offer grants thus the Ile de France region offers a grant of 10,000 euros per annum for students going to Parisian region of France
Other scholarships include those supported by Erasmus Mundus Commission of the European study. To know more about the ligibility, award of scholarship: please refer to the “French government grant” page in the website: www.india-campusfrance.org

How does France compare to the US/UK and Australia as a study destination and number of Indian students go there?
France devotes fully 20% of its annual budget to education. The cost comparison is 1/3 of US/U as the French state largely subsidizes the educational cost. For French and international students alike, the government subsidizes a very large part of the cost of instruction in France's universities and other public institutions.

For example: University de Lyon offers a two year Msc in Nanoscale Engineering for INR 30,000(500 Euros) or University Joseph-Fourier –Grenoble 1 offers Msc in Informatics for INR 60,000 for the two-year program. Toulouse Business School offers Master in Economics, Economic Theory and Finance in INR 18000 for their one-year program.

In the year 2009-2010, 1945 student visa requests for France were processed for pursuing higher studies in various disciplines.

Is language a barrier for Indian students wanting to study in France?

No, several courses especially in engineering (all branches), management, hospitality, fashion studies, economics, etc are available in English. However, it is a good idea to start on French to make your stay more rewarding and fruitful and also for getting an internship opportunity in France. Furthermore learning a foreign language is no longer an impediment for global careers it is a necessity and thus studying in France gives even more value addition for awesome global mobility and excellent career options.

Does French universities have exchange programmes?
More than three hundred MoUs exist between French and Indian institutes of higher education. Of these a great deal are very active and represent an annual academic exchange of over 400 students. About 200 French students come to India on a principle of reciprocity and study at institutes such as the IITs, IIMs,FMS, MDI, Delhi University, JNU , Manipal University, Jamia Milia Islamia, University of Pune, XLRI, MERI amongst many others.

In India, Most of the IIMs have exchange programs with French Institutes for example IIM Lucknow, Ahemadabad and Indore.IIM Ahemedabad has an exchange program with ESSEC Business School. There is a twinning program established between Loyala College and ISA Lille in the field of Master of Sustainable Food and Manufacturing Management.ITM Business School in Mumbai and ESSCA has established a joint Master in Management program.

Within the framework of the Indo-French Consortium of Universities, there are several joint projects at Master and PhD level between Indian and French Universities.

For example: UJF Grenoble –Delhi University for Master in Nuclear Engineering and Master in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies

How expensive is staying on campus in France as opposed to staying off it?
Living in University Housing

Universities throughout France offer rooms and studio apartments at reduced rates (between 120 to 300 Euros per month) in student residences managed by CROUS, the regional affiliates of the French national student-service agency, known as CNOUS.
Relying on the private rental market

Monthly average rents average 15 Euros per square meter in Paris and 7 Euros per square meter elsewhere in France. The supply of units in privately owned student apartment buildings is rising. These buildings offer furnished and equipped studios and shared services such as cafeterias, coin laundries, and game rooms. The monthly rent for a studio in such a building is 500 to 700 Euros outside Paris and 550 to 700 Euros in Paris.

Every International student is entitled to receive an offset equivalent to approximately 30 % of rent by the French Government. The two types of assistance are Allocation de logement sociale and Aide personnalisée au logement, often referred to as ALS and APL. Payments are made by local family assistance funds (caisses d'allocations familiales, or CAF).Thus a 500 euros studio may work out to cost 350 euros per month with CAF benefits.

Do French universities offer Teaching Assistantships?
No. But other type of work can be envisaged such as internships, communications, data entry,receptionists, etc students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week.

What can French Universities offer that universities in India cannot?
French higher education institutes are very closely linked to research laboratories of national and international repute with excellent facilities and equipment. Students also get an opportunity to work in research centers. For example ,Ecole Polytechnique has many research laboratories operating in various scientific fields (physics, mathematics, computer science, economics, chemistry, etc.), most operated in association with national scientific institutions such as CNRS, CEA, or also INRIA

French Institutes also offer European degrees along with French degrees. For example: EM Lyon offers European Master in Management.

Within the framework of Erasmus Mundus Programmes that are fully funded masters programmes offered by universities in the European union , French Institutes offer various courses in the field of Advanced Robotics, Computational Mechanics, Humanities

Certain French Institutes offer paid internships as a part of their curriculum and this internship is mandatory for students to complete their degree.

France is a signatory to the Bologna process that sets European standards of education and homogenizes the duration of studies to acquire degrees and hence French Universities recognize Indian degrees and vice-versa.

An excellent platform to learn a foreign language that will set one apart in a world where more and more global skills are essential, all while the student may be studying a program taught in English.

Could you tell us the names of some of the more prominent universities in France?
For Management studies, France has elite institutions like INSEAD, HEC, ESSEC, ESCP-EAP, and EM LYON.
For Engineering and Technology, France has INSA Lyon, Grenoble Institute of Technology, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, TELECOM Parsitech, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie.

There are engineering grande ecoles such as the groupment des ecoles des mines, ecoles centrales, the INSAS, the ENPC, ENSAMs
In humanities and eserach there are some excellent institutions like the ENS, the Sciences-po as also many Public Universities such as the Sorbonne.

All the institutes recommended by Campus France are accredited by French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Education. For more details, kindly visit the website: www.india-campusfrance.org

Does France have universities that specialize in any particular field of study? Which one?
French Institutes and Universities offer all major courses and specializations. Certain fields that are popular due to French expertise and knowhow in the industry encompass specializations such as aeronautical engineering, nuclear energy and sciences, biomedical engineering wine studies, luxury brand management, culinary arts and tourism management, nanotechnology, telecommunications, fashion studies, architecture studies, journalism , design etc.

Luxury Brand Management: refer to ESSEC Business School, Paris Graduate School of Management

Perfume and Cosmetics: refer to University of Versailles Saint-Quentin –En –Yveline with Groupe ISIPCA.

For Aeronautical Engineering: refer to ISAE

Fr Nuclear Energy: refer to ParisTech, Ecole des Mines de Nantes,

For Hospitality Management: refer to Vatel, Essec, and Cordon Bleu

For telecommunications: refer to TELECOM Paristech, TELECOM SudParis.

For doing Public Health: refer to University Rennes 2 and EHESP.



How expensive is it to study in France?
In France, the tuition fees vary according to the nature of the Institute whether it is a PublicUniversity, a grande ecole (or a professional institution) or a private institution and thus tuition fees can vary from 400 euros annually to as much as 40,000 euros . The living expenses are 500 Euros per month anywhere in France except for Paris which is 600 Euros per mont on a frugal student budget

How employment-friendly is France towards students wanting to work and stay on in the country?
In France, once a student finishes his course is entitled to stay in France for six more months to hunt for a job. Should the student find a job commensurate to his/her qualification he can obtain a fixed duration work contrat or a periodically renewable work contract. There is no law that forbids meritorious and deserving foreign students from finding employment in France.

How many of the Indian students who have gone to France to study Have stayed back?
French Embassy in India has launched an IFAN (Indo-French Alumini Network) in India. This network comprises of 5000 Indian graduates who have studied in France. The stock of Indian students in France is around 3000 approximately.

If one wants admission to a French university, how does one go about It?
Campus France –a sector of French Embassy in India is set up by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in association with the French Ministry of National Education and Research to promote French Higher Education across the globe.CampusFrance is the first point of contact for students wishing to study in France. A student aspiring to study in France must first visit the website : www.india-campusfrance.org and then contact the local Campus France offices .Campus France offices in India will provide free counseling session, help the student in obtaining admission, help in finding accommodation and finally guidance in obtaining a student visa.

Scholarships available for studying in France
"Foreign students are eligible to apply for three kinds of scholarships for study in France: Scholarships of the French government: Information is available at the Service de Coopération et d'action culturelle ( SCAC ) at the embassy of France in your country.

Scholarships granted by your own government: Inquire with the authorities concerned with education in your own country.
Scholarships granted by international or non-governmental organizations
( foundations, associations, etc. ): consult especially the brochure published by UNESCO every two years, “Studies Abroad”: http://portal.unesco.org

Candidates are advised to make their application at least one year before they register at a French institution.

It is not possible to combine two different scholarships either from the same or from different institutions. Students holding a scholarship from their country of origin are requested to inform the Service de coopération et d'action culturelle de l'ambassade de France or the consulate of their presence in France. Holders of scholarships from an international organization or a non-governmental should also inform the representatives of these organizations in France."

Documents required with an application for a visa to study in France
10th Marksheet, 12th Marksheet, Graduation Marksheet (All years), Biodata, Recommendation letters, SOP, Certificate of French Language. Also it is not mandatory to give IELTS / TOEFL Test . January and September are the two intakes in France. Proof of registration or preregistration -A positive response to your application for admission or a certificate of pre-admission from the public or private institution where you will be pursuing your training or studies is considered to be sufficient proof.

In the case of a private institution, the certificate should mention the number of hours of study and should confirm that the registration and fees have been satisfactorily settled for the following academic year. The passport must be valid for the entire period of the stay.
Proof of sufficient financial resources ( a minimum of 430 € per month )



If the student holds a scholarship: a certificate on the letterhead of the institution granting the scholarship, mentioning the amount and duration of the scholarship.
If the financial resources are guaranteed by an individual living in France, the required documents are:
a signed guarantee.
a photocopy of a piece of personal identification of the guarantor.
a proof that the guarantor's means are sufficient ( a copy of the three
last paycheck stubs or pension check stubs, or a copy of tax forms )."

Health insurance is mandatory to study in France
France's system of social protection is one of the world's best. The system covers all or part of the health-care costs of insured parties. Students under the age of 28 are covered by social security when they register with an approved educational institution. Students 28 and older must obtain individual coverage. To establish the French VISA the student has to necessarily take an insurance for a minimum duration of three months. This insurance should start from the date of departure and should cover medical expenses and repatriation. An approximate cost for subscribing to such a plan is between Rs 3500 -Rs 4000 and guarantees a cover of up to 50000 US dollars. These insurances can be purchased from companies like TATA AIG, Bajaj Allianz, New India Insurance, ICICI Lombard etc.

Grants and scholarships available for study in France
"Applications for the study grants offered by the French government are made through the cultural service of the French embassy in the country in which you reside. Applicants are assessed according to the terms of binational agreements. Most grants are made for graduate study, usually at the doctoral level. The length of grants varies by program. Review of applications begins in March for programs beginning in the fall of the same year, so applications should be submitted as early as possible.

Scholarship students receive administrative assistance from the Centre National des Oeuvres Universitaires (CNOUS)."

International students may work half-time as long as they are registered at an institution approved by the French social security system. Even first-year students and students coming to France for the first time have the right to work half-time.

Cost to goto France for studies
Studying in France is relatively inexpensive because the government funds a significant share of the cost. Annual tuition in a public university is between 126 and 692 Euros, depending on the program. A meal in a university restaurant costs less than 3 Euros. Costs in private institutions are higher. Remember, international students are treated just like French students.

"In order to be able to live properly in France, a student needs between 650 and 850 € per month ( between $ 880 and $ 1150 ). This sum covers lodging,
meals, leisure activities, etc. For foreign students, there is a required minimum
( 430 € per month for the year 2009/2010 ). Consult a Consulate of France in your country."

International students coming from countries outside the European Union must obtain a long-term student visa from a French consulate. Upon arrival in France, international students must first register with their educational institution and then obtain a student residency permit from the local authorities.

Mostly Management and engineering programs are taught in english and some taught in Spanish, a knowledge of French will enable you to benefit more fully from your stay and to get more out of life in France.If your French isn't as good as you'd like, take some courses in France or in your home country. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a catalog of programs in French as a foreign language–including specialized French in various disciplines–for students at all levels.