Study in Paris, France

About Paris

The Opera in Paris

Paris is the capital of France and has the country's widest choice of places to study. The city itself had 2,103,778 inhabitants in 2023, according to INSEE, the French statistics office; the wider metropolitan area is much larger.

Students come to Paris for very different reasons: a degree at a public university, a business or design school, an American-style programme taught in English, or an intensive French course. The choice is wide, and so are the differences in price and admission rules, so it pays to compare carefully.

Studying in Paris

Our directory lists 23 schools in Paris: 14 universities and other higher-education institutions, seven language schools, one vocational school and one study abroad programme. Some examples, with figures as the institutions publish them:

• Sorbonne Université, a public university, has 55,000 students, 12,000 of them international.
• The Institut Catholique de Paris, a private university, has nearly 11,000 students, a quarter of them international.
• ESCP Business School, founded in 1819, teaches on six urban campuses: Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw.
• Other higher-education institutions in the directory include the École normale supérieure, the IAE Paris-Sorbonne Business School, Université Paris-Saclay and several American institutions, such as the American University of Paris and Parsons Paris, which teach in English.

At French public universities most teaching is in French. Campus France recommends level B1 or B2 for bachelor's and master's studies, but French is not required for programmes taught in English.

The seven language schools include Lutece Langue, which states that its courses hold the Label FLE and Qualiopi certification and that classes have 3 to 8 students, as well as ACCORD, Etoile Institut de Langue, Elfe and Ecole Perl. Campus France suggests choosing a centre with the "qualité FLE" label, a French quality certification for schools teaching French as a foreign language.

Cost of living for students

Campus France warns that the cost of living in France can be fairly high, especially in Paris and the big cities, and that everyday life is slightly more expensive in Paris than elsewhere.

• Tuition at public universities (2026-27): €178 a year for a bachelor's and €255 for a master's for EU, EEA and Swiss students; €2,902 and €3,950 for other international students. Every student also pays the CVEC student life contribution, €105 for 2026-27. Private schools set their own fees.
• Housing: a room in a Crous university residence costs about €450 a month in Paris, according to Campus France, but places are hard to get because demand far exceeds supply. The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CIUP) in the 14th arrondissement houses nearly 6,000 students and researchers.
• Food: the French spend about €300 a month on food on average, and a meal in a university restaurant costs €1.
• Transport: Campus France gives €374.40 for an annual public transport pass in Paris at the student rate.

Getting around and daily life

Paris and its region are served by metro, RER suburban trains, trams and buses, and most institutions can be reached by public transport. Some universities and schools teach on several sites, some of them outside the city itself, so check where your courses take place before choosing housing.

Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a long-stay student visa for studies of more than three months; European students do not need a visa. International students may work up to 964 hours a year, the equivalent of 60% of full-time hours.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Paris as a student?

Costs are higher than elsewhere in France. Campus France gives about €450 a month for a Crous room in Paris, €374.40 a year for a student transport pass and about €300 a month for food on average.

Can I study in English in Paris?

Yes. Several institutions in our directory, such as the American University of Paris and Parsons Paris, teach in English, and French is not required for programmes taught in English. At public universities most courses are in French, with B1 or B2 recommended.

Where can I learn French in Paris?

Our directory lists seven language schools in Paris, including Lutece Langue, ACCORD and Etoile Institut de Langue. Campus France recommends checking for the "qualité FLE" label.

Is it hard to find student housing in Paris?

Yes. Crous residences are cheaper but hard to get because demand far exceeds supply. The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris houses nearly 6,000 residents; most other students rent privately or share a flat.