Postgraduate study in France

One in three PhD theses in France is prepared by an international student. The French education system actively welcomes international students – who make up 14 per cent of the student population – and one of the benefits they offer is that tuition fees are among the lowest in Europe. However, lectures and seminars for most courses are held in French so you will need a good command of the language. 

The French system offers a wide variety of degrees and subjects. Courses of study are very strictly defined so that it is easy for employers to tell what you have studied and what you are capable of doing. 

France’s three-level higher education system is based on the European system of Licence (equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree), Master and Doctorat (PhD). Institutions are a mixture of public – offering standardised government-accredited degrees or diplômes nationaux – and private. 

CampusFrance, the agency promoting French universities to international students, had more than 198 members institutions in 2007. These range from traditional universities to specialised schools that are designed to prepare students for professional practice in engineering, business and other specialist disciplines. There are also Grande Écoles, prestigious institutions (public or private) training high-flying graduates for top-level jobs. They enroll fewer students than the universities and are highly selective.

Applying for your course

In most cases you need to apply directly to the institution. However, it is possible to apply online for certain disciplines (engineering, law, arts, economics and management, literature and humanities, and maths) via CampusFrance. This means you only have to make one application, which is then forwarded to the institutions you have chosen. 

Each institution sets its own admission standards, and the selection process is likely to include both written applications and interviews. Selection committees meet in June. 

Grande Écoles are difficult to get into but if you achieve this your qualifications will be highly respected when you leave. They have their own admission process for foreign students, which is based on degrees and exams.

Funding your course

Government subsidies mean that university fees are affordable, and international students pay the same as French students. In 2006 the annual fee for a Masters was €211, for a doctorate €320 and for engineering schools €500. Tuition fees at Grandes Écoles are higher (particularly for business courses), ranging from €3,800 to €14,000 per year. You will also have to find living expenses: you will need around €1,000 per month in Paris and €800 elsewhere. 

Some government funding may be available from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which administers a variety of scholarships and grants. You should contact your French Embassy or Consulate to find out about these. Research grants are also available from the French Ministry of Education. 

Don’t forget European Lifelong Learning programmes such as Erasmus and Leonardo, which provide grants across the EU: your Careers Service can give you information about these.

What to expect

The academic year is similar to that in the UK and Ireland, from September or October to May or June. As well as a Christmas and Easter break, French universities also have a winter break in February and various public holidays in May. 

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