 Welcome to France
It is a very old French tradition to welcome foreign students. Since the Middle Ages, and the birth of La Sorbonne, the first French University, more than 800 years ago, students from all over come to France to study.
Today, more than ever, there is no such thing as a high standard university without an international dimension. In 1998, the French government introduced a vigorous support policy to welcome foreign students into French educational institutions.
French higher education has a long tradition of openness and accessibility. No distinction is made between French and international students - under French law, the requirements for admission are the same, as are the degrees awarded. The country that coined the phrase human rights rejects all forms of discrimination.
Today France is the world's fourth largest economy and second largest exporter of services. The successes of France's scientists, engineers, and designers are known around the world through Airbus, the TGV (high-speed train), the Ariane rocket, the discovery of the human immune-deficiency virus, high fashion, luxury goods, fine food and wine, and much more.
Whether your speciality is engineering, management, political science, the arts, or the humanities, you, too, can excel in France.
France's 200+ universities and many specialized postsecondary schools are located throughout the country. Large and venerable universities are found alongside the modern campuses of leading schools of business and engineering that may enroll no more than a few hundred students in close-knit communities of learning. Specialized schools of a similar size are devoted to art, tourism, health, and many other subjects. They all welcome international applicants.
The quality of the country's educational system is a source of pride for the french people, acting together through their national and regional governments. France devotes fully 20 percent of its annual budget to education. The central government closely monitors the quality of instruction as well as the curricular content of the country's national diplomas. 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.
One big benefit of studying in France is the opportunity to live in the place that invented savoir-vivre —the art of living well. Did you know that France is the most visited country in the world? The French people are proud of their cultural heritage, lovely countryside, quiet towns, and fine restaurants—all of which they're eager to share with visitors.
France is a beautiful country. It's also a major cultural center. And that's really important. You can't choose to study here without taking into consideration the richness of the culture and history of the country.
France is a relatively large country of amazing geographical variety. Her transportation and health systems are among the world's very best. France is a safe and tolerant country.
In France you'll have access to a multitude of athletic, touristic, and cultural activities—all at special student prices. Most of France's institutions of higher education are located in city centers, close to cultural and social life. Museums, libraries, cinemas, theaters, and cafes are rarely very far away.
Studying in France in France rarely means studying only in France. Many if not most schools have added European components to their programs, offering courses on Europe or internships elsewhere in the European Union. Students have the opportunity to enrich their French experience with new discoveries and experiences.
Not surprisingly, most courses in France are taught in French, a language spoken by more than 200 million people in 50 countries. But you'll have ample opportunities to learn or practice other European languages - English, in particular. Advanced English is taught in many programs, especially in business and engineering.
France is an ideal place for the student who wants to explore Europe. It's easy, really easy, to reach most of Europe's important cities - all await you for the weekend or for a longer stay.
Studying in France
Studying in France is easier than you think...
The flexibility of French higher education allows you to design an academic itinerary that is perfectly suited to your goals and background. Thousands of possibilities exist in every field of knowledge. Are you interested in a general degree program? In acquiring a professional skill? Maybe you're ready to specialize at the graduate level? Or to do research? Somewhere in France there's a program that meets your personal goals. More likely you'll find a multitude.
The flexibility of French higher education allows you to design an academic itinerary that is perfectly suited to your goals and background. Thousands of possibilities exist in every field of knowledge.
Are you interested in a general degree program? In acquiring a professional skill? Maybe you're ready to specialize at the graduate level? Or to do research? Somewhere in France there's a program that meets your personal goals. More likely you'll find a multitude.
The quality of the French higher education system rests on the country's many and varied institutions, each of which has unique goals as well as unique structures and programs through which to pursue those goals. Naturally, each also has its own admission requirements.
The quality of the instruction offered is closely scrutinized by the French government.CampusFrance's membersall enjoy recognition for the excellence of their programs. They are proud ambassadors of French higher education.
International students who already have begun their higher education, and who may even hold a university degree, may obtain further training in France. Many opportunities exist for students to transfer into degree programs and receive credit for the postsecondary work they have already done. In fact, that's one of the best ways to study in France.
university courses in Frence
French university courses are of two basic types:
Lecture courses
are given in halls seating from 100 to 1,000 students. The professor presents the subject; students take notes. Many professors prepare and distribute course outlines or lecture notes that help students prepare for exams.
Study sections
(known as travaux dirigés and travaux pratiques) consist of small groups of students. In the seminar-style sections, students apply and deepen what the professor has presented in the lecture hall. Attendance is mandatory, as opposed to lecture courses, where attendance is not checked.
Tests and grading
Student performance is assessed in two ways:
. Short quizzes given throughout the semester allow instructors to check what their students have learned in each unit.
. Examinations covering all of the material presented during the semester are given at the end of each semester, generally just before the February break and again in June, before the summer break.
In the university system, courses are usually organized into modules, some of which are mandatory and some elective (optional). To earn a degree, students must complete a certain number of modules. Once a module has been completed, it counts toward a degree. Failure in one module does not in any way reduce the value of a completed module.
The academic year
In France the academic year begins in September or October and ends in May or June. The exact starting and ending dates vary from institution to institution and from program to program.
There are several breaks during the year:
2 weeks in December-January for Christmas and the New Year
2 weeks in February for winter break
2 weeks in late March–early April for the Easter break
Quite a few holidays fall in May: May 1 (Labor Day), May 8 (Victory Day, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe), Ascension Thursday, and Pentecost Monday.
Summer vacation stretches over the entire months of July and August, and sometimes includes parts of June and September as well.
University tuition is rarely more than 300 Euros per academic year. In public schools of engineering, the annual tuition is approximately 600 Euros.
The range of tuition at other institutions, particularly business schools, is much wider. Tuition rates vary by program and by type of institution.
The French government supports higher education to the tune of about 6,000 Euros per student per year.
That high level of public support means that higher education in France is very affordable, for international as well as French students !
You'll need to have about 1,000 Euros a month to live in France. Below that level, you are likely to have trouble living normally and may not be able to devote sufficient attention to your program of study.
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