Low public fees
State universities charge modest amounts even for non-EU students.
Study in France
Study business, engineering, and design in France.
France blends low public tuition with elite grandes écoles, giving students paths into luxury brands, aerospace, fashion, and European business.
Why France offers culture plus careers.
Public universities keep fees remarkably low, while schools like HEC, ESSEC, and SKEMA rank among Europe's finest for management education. After a master's, the APS permit gives graduates one to two years to launch careers in France.
Ratnas Overseas handles Campus France procedures, interview scheduling, and accommodation guidance so your French adventure begins without administrative stress.
Euro (€)Currency
French & EnglishLanguage
€3,000 - €20,000Annual tuition
Sep-Oct, Jan-FebMain intakes
APS permit: 1-2 yearsPost-study work
VLS-TS studentStudent visa
Why study here
Reasons students choose France.
Elite business schools
Grande École programs rival any MBA brand worldwide.
Industry icons
Airbus, LVMH, L'Oréal, and Michelin recruit directly from campuses.
Schengen mobility
Study in France while travelling freely across Europe.
Top universities
Institutions our students frequently target.
Sorbonne University
Historic public research university in central Paris.
HEC Paris
Europe's most celebrated business school for management careers.
ESSEC Business School
Prestigious grande école with strong finance and consulting placement.
SKEMA Business School
Multi-campus programs popular with international students.
emlyon business school
Lyon-based school known for entrepreneurship education.
Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Elite engineering consortium including École Polytechnique.
Tuition fees
What programs cost per year.
| Program level | Indicative annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Public bachelor (licence) | €2,770 per year (non-EU rate) |
| Public master's | €3,770 per year (non-EU rate) |
| Grandes écoles / business schools | €9,000 - €20,000 per year |
| Engineering schools | €10,000 - €18,000 per year |
Living expenses
Monthly cost of living.
Budget €6,000 - €12,000 per year depending on city. The government CAF housing benefit meaningfully reduces rents for registered students.
| Expense | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (Paris) | €700 - €1,200 per month |
| Accommodation (outside Paris) | €400 - €700 per month |
| Food and transport | €250 - €400 per month |
| CAF housing subsidy | Reduces rent by €100-€200/month |
Scholarships
Funding options worth pursuing.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship
Prestigious monthly allowance plus travel for top master's and PhD candidates.
Charpak Scholarship
Dedicated French government awards exclusively for Indian students.
Ramanujan / Franco-Indian agreements
Research-oriented funding across partner institutions.
Regional grants
Île-de-France and other regions offer additional fee reductions.
Eligibility
Academic requirements at a glance.
For bachelor's programs
Completion of 10+2 with 60%+ plus the mandatory Campus France India procedure including an interview.
For master's programs
A relevant bachelor's degree with 55-65%+. Design and art schools require portfolios; some engineering programs expect GRE scores.
English requirements
Accepted tests and scores.
Over 1,300 English-taught programs now operate across France. Learning basic French remains valuable for part-time work and daily life.
| Test | Typical score |
|---|---|
| IELTS (English-taught) | 6.0+ overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 79+ |
| DELF / TCF (French-taught) | B2 level typical |
| Campus France procedure | Mandatory before visa filing |
Intakes
When can you start?
Autumn intake
Primary intake across universities and grandes écoles alike.
Spring intake
Business schools and select engineering programs admit mid-year.
Campus France deadline
Indian applicants complete Campus France interviews months before departure.
Student visa process
Your France visa, step by step.
Ratnas Overseas prepares every document in sequence so your France visa file stays complete from first submission to final decision.
Create your Campus France file
Register online, pay the procedure fee, and upload academic documents.
Attend the Campus France interview
A motivational interview assesses coherence of your study plan before any visa step.
Receive institutional admission
Your acceptance letter completes the academic requirement for the visa.
Book the VFS-TLS appointment
Submit the long-stay VLS-TS student application with funds and accommodation proof.
Travel and validate your visa
Validate the VLS-TS online within three months of arrival through the ANEF portal.
Renew as a residence card
Extend into a multi-year student residence permit as your program continues.
PR opportunities
Settlement pathways after graduation.
After a master's degree, the APS temporary residence permit gives one to two years to find qualified employment. Talent Passport categories then support longer stays toward permanent residence.
- APS permit allows 12-24 months of job searching after graduation
- Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) covers qualified employment up to four years
- Carte de résident becomes available after five years of continuous stay
- French language ability accelerates both hiring and settlement
Job market
Where graduates find work.
Paris anchors European banking, consulting, and luxury management while Toulouse leads aerospace with Airbus and its supply chain. Hospitality, gastronomy, and fashion careers flourish nationwide.
Salary after graduation
Typical starting salaries by field (per year).
| Field | Average starting salary |
|---|---|
| Business / Luxury Management | €38,000 - €50,000 |
| Aerospace Engineering | €40,000 - €55,000 |
| Software Development | €38,000 - €52,000 |
| Hospitality Management | €30,000 - €42,000 |
| Data Analytics | €40,000 - €55,000 |
Student testimonials
Hear it from students like you.
Chaithaya K.
SKEMA Business School
★★★★★
“The Campus France interview felt easy after two mock sessions at Ratnas Overseas. My Eiffel application was also submitted on time.”
Jayaraj M.
emlyon business school
★★★★★
“They handled my CAF housing registration guidance even after I landed in Lyon. Support did not stop at the visa.”
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about studying in France.
Is studying in France affordable?
Yes. Public universities charge €2,770 - €3,770 yearly even for non-EU students, among Europe's lowest tuition rates for quality education.
What is the Campus France procedure?
It is a mandatory pre-consular process for Indian applicants involving document verification and a motivational interview before you can apply for the visa.
Can I study in English in France?
Yes, over 1,300 programs are taught entirely in English, particularly at business schools and engineering grandes écoles.
What is the APS permit?
The Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour lets master's graduates remain 12-24 months to seek employment matching their qualifications.
Do I need French language tests?
Only for French-taught programs (usually B2 via DELF/TCF). English-taught tracks require IELTS or TOEFL instead.
How does the CAF subsidy work?
Once registered with a lease, students apply to the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales and typically receive €100-€200 off monthly rent.
Free counselling
Get free France counselling.
Talk to an experienced counsellor about universities, budgets, scholarships, and visa timelines for France. No charges, no obligation.