French students tend to go to their nearest university, but ambitious ones who can afford the rent in Paris might choose one of its 17 universities instead, often ranking among the country鈥檚 best.
The majority stay with their parents, or share with roommates or partners. Universities do offer accommodation, known as logement Crous, based on household revenues, but only a fraction of students get it.
University applications are made via a government platform called Parcoursup, on which students list their choices by order of preference.
Securing a place is practically guaranteed 鈥� only a handful of students end up without one in September, most often because of technological glitches.
However, French universities are known for providing little guidance or support in undergraduate years, nor are there checks on student attendance.
As a result, 40% to 60% of students either fail, drop out or change course each year.
Those who do graduate with a licence (bachelor鈥檚 degree) are not necessarily accepted on to master鈥檚 programmes as competition is fierce.
Like in the UK and US, there is a lot of snobbery in the French higher education system. Much centres around the grandes 茅coles 鈥� specialised top-level institutions that operate alongside the public university system.
Similar in status to Oxbridge and the Ivy League, they admit students based on their ranking in exams called concours, organised by the Ministry of Education.
HEC and Essec are France鈥檚 top two business schools, while maths and engineering students aspire to polytechniques 鈥� the equivalent of Harvard or MIT.
Ecoles normales sup茅rieures (ENS) are France鈥檚 best schools for scientists and researchers.
How to apply to a French university
Applications for French university places for non-EU foreign students begin in October, via the Etudes en France platform.
Final submission deadlines are in December-January, to start in autumn 2026. Do check, however, that the institution you are interested in is part of this system (most are), which is designed to tie in with the process for obtaining a visa.
If not 鈥� this applies, for example, at Sciences Po and certain engineering or business schools 鈥� there will be a separate admissions process and visa application.
If you are a non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss national coming from abroad, you will need a visa to study in France for more than three months.
If accepted on a course for longer than a year, this will usually be a visa de long s茅jour valant titre de s茅jour (VLS-TS 鈥� equivalent to a first residency card). This should be validated at the Interior Ministry鈥檚 Anef website within your first three months in France.
Moving forward, you should apply for a student carte de s茅jour (residency card) via the same site three months before the visa expires.
However, if you have an EU nationality or live in France already with a suitable visa/residency card (such as a Brexit WA card), apply instead via the standard French admissions procedure at . Registration runs from January to March.
Affordability
Going to university is fairly affordable compared with the UK or US, due to heavy state subsidies.
Even so, since 2019 most universities charge different fees to local/EU or international (non-EU/non-EEA/non-Swiss) students. Note that non-EU nationals applying as established residents of France should not, however, be treated differently from EU nationals.
Standard annual fees include (for 2025/2026) 鈧�178 for an undergraduate degree or 鈧�254 for a master鈥檚 or 鈧�2,895 and 鈧�3,941 at the international rate.
Obtaining a VLS-TS permits free travel in the Schengen area, working up to 20 hours a week, a free Visale rental guarantee (visale.fr), and, depending on means, the possibility of applying to Caf for housing benefit (all these are also available to local/EU etc applicants).
The place to start is campusfrance.org/fr. See top-right to find a country-specific version for the place you live. Funding and scholarship links give information on financial help.
International students
International students are eligible for help finding accommodation via the .
They can also (but only after two years as French tax residents) qualify for means-tested Crous scholarships with benefits including no tuition fees, 鈧�1 meals in some university restaurants and priority for accommodation.
State-guaranteed student loans are also only available to non-EU, etc, students after living in France for at least two years.
If coming from the US, options aside from the standard French courses include 鈥榙ual鈥�, 鈥榡oint鈥� or 鈥榮tudy abroad鈥� programmes with US institutions.
You can search for courses at the Campus France site/s or at (EEF). For standard French courses .
Institutions with the Bienvenue en France logo have been vetted as being especially welcoming to international students. If you want a course taught in English, there is also a specific search feature .
Once you have identified courses, the application for a non-EU etc international student usually starts at Etudes en France.
Create an account then select 鈥渃ourse application鈥� (candidature). Follow instructions to upload required documents in digital format, including passport (valid for at least the first year of studies), a CV and your highest relevant diplomas. Two references may be required.
For courses in French you must supply proof of French language skills of at least European level B2 via an approved test such as TCF, Delf or Dalf. See your country-specific Campus France site for information on taking one.
If you have questions, Campus France can help via email or video call (see FAQ sections or 鈥渉ow we can assist鈥�).
French translations of documents in English are generally not needed for UK applicants, but for those from the US they are asked for, along with your passport and French test results.
You can apply for up to three courses at undergraduate level or seven for a master鈥檚. 鈥楳otivation statements鈥� must be given for each.
Campus France鈥檚 UK site states the application will be reviewed in a week. Only then must applicants pay a processing fee (eg. 拢110 for an undergraduate course) if accepted. Campus France US states a payment is needed upfront ($460 for undergraduates) and processing can take up to three weeks.
Interviews
Finally, a 鈥榤otivation interview鈥� will be carried out by Campus France by phone or video before your application is sent to institutions.
It will be in French if you want to study in French. Interviewers will be looking for a generally coherent attitude and plans, familiarity with the chosen course, and thought-through reasons for studying in France.
You should receive answers via EEF by April-May and must make your decision by the end of May.
Once you have accepted an offer you complete a visa application, starting in the Visas section at Etudes en France. You will then be directed to complete an application on the platform, providing your EEF account number. There is a 鈧�50 visa fee.
You can use the site鈥檚 visa wizard to obtain a list of required documents, which may be submitted online.
You will need to show funds to support yourself of 鈧�615/month and of accommodation booked or arranged (US students are asked to show three months arranged, or otherwise at least for the week of arrival and a letter explaining longer-term plans; the UK process requires at least three weeks).
The final stage is booking to visit a visa centre to give fingerprints. A centre fee of 鈧�220 in the US or 鈧�55 in the UK is payable on booking. You need to provide your passport on the day. When your visa is ready you must collect it, or pay to have it couriered.
