If France has been on your wishlist for studying abroad, 2026 might be the perfect year for you. The French government has been wooing international students with new policies and incentives to encourage them to make Dijon (or Paris or Lyon or Toulouse) their destination for higher education.
What makes this opportunity noteworthy? Let’s go over the new changes, benefits, and address the questions that may be going through your mind at the moment.
Most Indian students don’t realize that at public universities, the tuition fees for Indian students studying in France amount to only €170–€277 per year for Licence (bachelor’s) and €243–€377 per year for Master’s degrees. The catch is that you need to know how to navigate the local system to get the best possible education without breaking the bank, and the 2026 changes to the student visa rules make things much easier for you.
France hosts around 412,000 international students in 2023, making it the third-most popular study destination in the world. While Indian students have shown consistent interest (up by almost 30% since 2021), France is still behind other G7 countries such as Canada and Australia in terms of appeal and competitiveness of its education system.
In 2025–26, France introduced its “French Touch” internationalization strategy, which includes several measures affecting Indian students:
The 2026 changes to the PGE visa rules are among the most significant for Indian students, as they remove many of the previous barriers to finding employment after graduation. Under the new rules:
As of 2026, there are dedicated desks in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru for Indian students wishing to study in France. The processing time for student visa applications has decreased from 6–8 weeks to an average of 3–4 weeks for complete applications. Additionally, the French Embassy can process most first-time applications electronically.
France offers a wide range of scholarships for international students, including the highly competitive Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, worth €1,400 per month for Master’s students and €1,700 per month for PhD students. Additionally, in 2026 France introduced the “French Tech Scholarship”, which can provide up to €5,000–€10,000 per year for Indian students studying in France in STEM fields.
Another valuable scholarship for Indian students is the Charpak Scholarship, which covers tuition fees at public universities in France and provides a monthly stipend.
In 2023, Indian students in France indicated the following fields of study as their primary areas of interest:
| Field of Study | Share of Indian Students |
|---|---|
| Engineering / computer science | 38% |
| Business / management | 27% |
| Arts / humanities / social sciences | 15% |
| Sciences (including pharmacy) | 12% |
| Architecture / design | 8% |
France has invested heavily in its engineering academies and technical universities, offering Indian students compelling alternatives to IITs and NITs. Toulouse is the city most associated with France’s aerospace industry and is home to many aviation-related engineering programs, while Grenoble is another major French city with a large number of technical universities and research institutes.
Lyon is known as the capital of French gastronomy and one of the most livable cities in Europe, and it has a thriving tech scene, making it a popular choice among students. Other than Paris, it has the best job market for young professionals among French cities.
Outside Paris, you can expect to spend between €800–€1,200 per month on food, transportation, and other expenses, with rent being the biggest expense. In Paris, you’ll need to budget between €1,300–€1,800 per month on average. Student-friendly housing options in France are available through the CROUS network.
Unless you’re studying in Paris, it’s a good idea to consider other large French cities as your primary residence, as living costs in the capital are among the highest in Europe.
Applying to a French university depends on whether you want to study at a public university or a Grand Ecole (engineering school):
You’ll need to apply through Campus France. You can create an account at campusfrance.org and complete your EFIC dossier (study abroad application). The best time to apply is from October 2026 for the 2027 academic year, with deadlines ranging from January to March 2027, depending on the program you’re applying to.
When applying to public universities, you must submit the following documents:
You may be invited to a Campus France interview in New Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai for certain programs.
You can apply directly to Grand Ecoles in France or take their entrance exams (some of which are held in English). The most popular Grand Ecoles in France for Indian students are ParisTech, Grenoble INP, Toulouse INP, and Mines ParisTech for engineering programs, and HEC Paris, ESSEC, EDHEC, and EM Lyon for business programs.
Most Grand Ecoles require candidates to take either the GMAT or GRE exams.
This is probably the single most common question about studying in France. The short answer is that while many programs are available in English, especially at the Master’s level, it’s a good idea to learn French to increase your employment prospects in France after graduation.
There are over 1,500 English-taught programs in France, including many at the Master’s level. However, most internships in France are advertised in French, and many multinational companies in France (including major multinational corporations) have a distinct preference for bilingual employees (French + English). Learning at least some French will make you much more attractive to potential employers, and it’s not that hard, especially if you’re already comfortable with another Indo-European language such as Hindi or Bengali.
Consider taking a pre-sessional French course if you’re not confident about your French skills at the moment. You can obtain official proof of your French language proficiency by taking the DELF or TCF exams.
France has one of the largest economies in Europe and is home to many multinational companies. Some of the most in-demand fields of employment in France are:
Average salaries for international graduates seeking employment in France vary significantly depending on the field of work, with most managerial positions paying between €35,000 and €50,000 on average per year.
The most important advantage of studying in France is that it’s a great place to learn the French language. Knowing French will open many additional employment opportunities for you, both in France and in other French-speaking countries around the world (such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada). Another advantage is that your French academic qualifications are recognized in many countries around the world, including India, which means that you’ll be able to continue your studies or find employment relatively easily after returning to your home country.
France may no longer be what it used to be in terms of being an “exotic” study destination, but it’s still much less competitive than Canada, the UK, or Australia. At the same time, the 2026 changes to the student visa rules make it much easier to stay in France after graduation, which was previously one of the main disadvantages of studying in the country compared to Germany.
If you’re considering studying in Europe, you should definitely keep France in mind as an affordable and accessible alternative to other popular study destinations. The application process for higher education in France can be quite involved, but the rewards in terms of quality of life and professional development opportunities are well worth it.
Make sure to start preparing your application to Campus France well in advance, as there are strict deadlines.
The most important tip for studying in France is to learn at least some French.
Even practicing with language learning apps such as Duolingo for 20 minutes per day will give you enough French language proficiency to get by.
I wish you the best of luck in your studies and future career!
– The Author is Mr. Ajay Thiara, Founder & Managing Director of 360 College Review
