Universities in France

France has a large and varied higher education system. According to Campus France, the national agency for international students, French higher education involves 2.9 million students, 14% of them from abroad, in more than 3,500 public and private institutions, including 78 universities and communities of institutions, 227 engineering schools authorised to award the title of engineer and 220 business and management schools.

Universities are public, financed by the French State and found all around the country. They receive 63% of the international students who choose France, and their national degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) have the same academic value wherever they are awarded. Alongside them are the Grandes Écoles, selective public and private institutions recognised by the State. Our directory lists more than 100 universities and Grandes Écoles in France, from the Université Paris Cité and the Université de Strasbourg to Sciences Po Lyon and INSA Lyon.

How French higher education works

France uses the European LMD system (licence, master, doctorat). Each semester awards up to 30 ECTS credits:

• Licence (Bachelor's): six semesters, 180 ECTS credits
• Master: four more semesters, an additional 120 ECTS credits
• Doctorat: doctoral studies, usually after the master

The main types of institution are:

• Universities: open to everyone with a secondary school diploma or equivalent in the first year, and covering science, literature, languages, arts, humanities, medicine and sport
• Grandes Écoles: Écoles Normales Supérieures (for example the École normale supérieure in Paris and the ENS de Lyon), Instituts d'Études Politiques (such as Sciences Po Bordeaux and Sciences Po Toulouse), engineering schools (such as the INSA network or Centrale Lille) and business schools; admission is very selective, often by competitive exam after two years of preparatory classes, and fees are higher than at university
• Specialised institutions: for example INALCO in Paris, which teaches around a hundred languages and civilisations, or the Cnam, a public higher education and research institution founded in 1794

The academic year begins in September or October, depending on the institution. Most programmes are taught in French, but Campus France lists more than 1,600 programmes taught in English. A French diploma is guaranteed by the State when it is a national degree, a degree certified by the ministry ("diplôme visé") or a title registered on the RNCP, the national directory of professional certifications.

Admission for international students

Each institution sets its own admission criteria, and only the host institution can accept or refuse an applicant. The route depends on your nationality, your country of residence and the level you apply for:

• Études en France: the reference procedure for students resident in 75 countries and territories, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic and the United States. It is completed online, from the application to the visa.
• DAP (demande d'admission préalable): for non-EU students entering the first year of a licence; for the 2027-2028 academic year, registration runs from 1 October to 15 December 2026.
• Parcoursup and Mon Master: the national platforms for first-year bachelor's courses (EU students and selective programmes) and for master's programmes.

For courses taught in French you need a recognised certificate such as the DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF; level B2 is required for first-year admission through the DAP. For courses taught in English, French is not required. The ENIC-NARIC centre can issue an attestation comparing your foreign degree with French degrees; it costs 120 euros per request.

Students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need a long-stay student visa for studies of more than three months; the VLS-TS student visa serves as a residence permit for the first year. Applications are made on the official France-Visas website.

Costs and funding

At public institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education, tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is 178 euros a year for a licence and 255 euros for a master for EU, EEA and Swiss students. Most other international students pay differentiated fees: 2,902 euros a year for a licence, 3,950 euros for a master and 398 euros for a doctorate. Some groups are exempt, for example residents of Québec, and French government scholarship holders receive a full fee waiver. Grandes Écoles and private institutions set their own, usually higher, fees.

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs funds international master's and PhD students; applications are submitted by the French institutions, not by students directly. International students with a residence permit may work up to 964 hours a year, the equivalent of 60% of full-time working hours.

How to choose a university in France

• Type of institution: a university gives broad access and low public fees; a Grande École offers selective, often smaller programmes at a higher cost
• Language: check whether the programme is taught in French or English and which certificate you need
• Recognition: prefer national degrees, "diplômes visés" or RNCP-registered titles if you want a State-guaranteed qualification
• Deadlines: the DAP and Études en France calendars close months before the academic year starts

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to study at a French public university?

In 2026-2027, EU, EEA and Swiss students pay 178 euros a year for a licence and 255 euros for a master; most non-EU students pay 2,902 euros and 3,950 euros respectively.

Do I need to speak French to study in France?

Not for programmes taught in English, of which there are more than 1,600. For programmes in French you need a certificate such as the DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF, and level B2 for first-year admission through the DAP.

What is the difference between a university and a Grande École?

Universities are public institutions open to all holders of a secondary school diploma in the first year. Grandes Écoles are selective public or private institutions, usually with competitive entrance exams and higher fees.

Can I work while studying in France?

Yes. International students may work up to 964 hours a year; students from outside the EU need a student residence permit.