Consistently among the most popular international study destinations, France has been grabbing additional study-abroad headlines over the past few years due to its capital’s run at the top of theQS Best Student Cities index – a listing of the world’s top 50 cities for students. While few would dispute Paris’ position among the world’s most iconic, cultured and generally delightful urban centers, the inaugural results of the Best Student Cities project in 2012 nonetheless caused something of a stir. After all, there’s plenty of stiff competition out there for the title of “Best Student City” – not least from Paris’ cross-channel rival, London, which currently comes third in the list.
A closer look at the results reveals that Paris has an impressively large selection of universities ranked at international level, combined with a high quality of life, large and international student population, solid reputation among employers, and – crucially – a much stronger score for “affordability” than most comparable student hubs. This last is due not so much to the local cost of living – in fact Paris is notoriously expensive – but to the fact that tuition fees at universities in France are relatively low, for both local and international students.
This point applies of course not only to those studying in Paris, but anywhere in France. And while the capital undoubtedly claims a lion’s share of the nation’s top-ranked universities, there are strong options across the country. Indeed, much like neighbor Germany, France’s presence in the international rankings tables is impressive not so much for its forerunners, but for the consistency in quality demonstrated by a large swathe of its higher education institutions.
Universities in France
In the QS World University Rankings? 2014/15, two French universities are ranked among the world’s top 50: école Normale Supérieure, Paris (ENS Paris) in 24th place, and école Polytechnique ParisTech in 35th. A further 11 French universities appear in the top 300, and a total of 22 in the top 500. About half of these are members of the prestigious academic community of the capital, but the rest are spread much more broadly around the country. Lyon, Grenoble, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse and Lille all claim at least one university in the global top 500.
| Top 10 Universities in France Based on the QS World University Rankings? 2014/15 | ||
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| World rank | Location |
| école Normale Supérieure, Paris (ENS Paris) | 24 | Paris |
| école Polytechnique ParisTech | 35 | Paris |
| Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) | 115 | Paris |
| Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon | 179= | Lyon |
| Université Paris-Sud 11 | 209 | Paris |
| Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 | 210 | Paris |
| Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 | 215= | Grenoble |
| Sciences Po Paris | 222= | Paris |
| Université de Strasbourg | 226 | Strasbourg |
| Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) | 227 | Paris |
| Discover more of the top universities in France > | ||
France’s relatively low tuition fees certainly don’t mean students can expect any less for their money. Indeed, French universities are often known for providing small class tuition, particularly among the selective grandes écoles, for which admission is more competitive and overall student numbers fairly small. This is reflected in some of the world’s strongest scores for faculty/student ratio (number of full-time academic staff relative to student enrolments), one of the indicators assessed in the QS World University Rankings. The école Normale Supérieure de Lyon, for example, is ranked just outside the global top 10 on this indicator, and is joined by école Polytechnique ParisTech and école des Ponts ParisTech in the top 50.
Why choose graduate study in France?
In a 2013 survey conducted by Campus France, the national agency which promotes French higher education overseas, teaching quality was among the most-cited reasons for choosing to study in France, along with opportunities to improve French language proficiency and interest in French culture. The same survey reflected the increasing competitiveness of the international student market – 45% of respondents said they had hesitated between France and another country – but found that nine out of ten who did choose to study in France would recommend it.
Feedback from a group of international postgraduate students at ESSEC (école Supérieure des Sciences économiques et Commerciales), a well-known business school based just outside of Paris, largely reflects the Campus France findings.
Mowei Li, from China, was initially attracted by the prospect of immersion in the French language and culture, as well as by the strong reputation of the grande école system. Dhruv Kumar, from India, says the country’s reputation specifically in the field of Masters in Management (MiM) programs attracted his attention, followed by a word-of-mouth recommendation from a friend who was already enrolled at a grande école. And for Marcel-Patrique Taube, who’d already spent time studying in both Germany and China, France represented an opportunity for a “truly international” postgraduate experience.
In addition to the strong reputation of French business schools, the country itself is one of the world’s major business hubs – adding to its appeal for students with an interest in the “FAME” (finance, accounting, management and economics) group of subjects. The world’s fifth largest economy, France is the headquarters for global leaders in sectors including cosmetics, electronics, automotive and aerospace. The “La Défense” area of Paris remains Europe’s largest purpose-built business district, and as of 2013 France had more Global 500 company headquarters than any other country in Europe (fourth in the world, behind the US, China and Japan).
The French “art de vivre”
Significant as the French economy may be, the country’s culture is arguably just as globally pervasive and influential – and many of those attracted to graduate study in France will be largely motivated by the prospect of immersion in the French language, lifestyle and cuisine. As well as being a useful language for anyone seeking an international career, French also holds an appeal beyond the purely functional, regularly topping lists of the world’s most beautiful languages. More widely, the French “art de vivre” holds a special place in the hearts of many.
This appeal is reflected in international tourism figures. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, France welcomed some 83 million overseas visitors in 2012, substantially more than any other country (the US came second, with 67 million). Attempting to list all the reasons for the country’s popularity would take too long; suffice to say its attractions include some of Europe’s most popular ski slopes, acclaimed art galleries, historic monuments, celebrated foods and wines, and picturesque landscapes that range from dramatic cliffs to sun-trap beaches, and from peaceful vineyards to awe-inspiring mountain ranges.
Those who choose to study in France have the opportunity not only to visit some of the country’s most famous urban and rural sites, but also to immerse themselves in daily French life and culture. Rafaela Echterdiek, another international postgraduate student at ESSEC, says, “Paris and its surroundings have so much culture to offer. Every week there is a new exhibition or event for every kind of art, history or amusement. I enjoy that I am exposed to French culture from baguettes and croissants in the bakery all the way to the appreciation for fashion which can be admired walking down the Champs-élysées.”
Applications, costs and funding for graduate study in France
As mentioned earlier, France represents a relatively affordable option for international students, thanks to low tuition fees. At public universities, fees are set nationally. For 2014-15, the annual fee for a master’s program is €261.10 (approx. US$310), while a doctoral program costs €396.10 (~US$470). At private institutions, fees are usually higher; according to Campus France, the typical range is between €3,000 and €10,000 per year (approx. US$3,600-12,000).
Funding options available to international students include grants via the EU’s Erasmus+ program, grants from the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (including the Eiffel Scholarshipsfor master’s and PhD students), awards from individual universities and funding provided via regional councils, usually in partnership with public research agencies such as the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).
Doctoral students can also apply for a contrat doctoral, which means they legally become an employee of the university, receiving a regular salary in return for research and teaching work. Minimum national requirements for paying those with a contrat doctoral are €1,685 per month (approx. US$2,000) for those who solely pursue research, and €2,025 (~US$2,400) for those who take on additional tasks.
The application process varies depending on your nationality and the type of institution and program you are applying for. Those from certain countries (listed on the Campus France website) are required to apply using the online CEF procedure. Those from countries not covered by this system should apply directly to each institution. Depending on the language in which the program is taught, students may be asked to submit proof of proficiency in either French or English, either through evidence of having completed an earlier degree in the relevant language, or by taking a language test such as the DELF, DALF, IELTS or TOEFL.
Final advice from the students, for those preparing to study in France? Dhruv recommends getting an international driving license, in preparation for road trips across Europe during the vacations – and bringing plenty of copies of important documents such as your passport, in preparation for France’s notoriously paper-work-heavy system. Mowei warns newcomers to prepare for “a totally different study environment which requires you to motivate yourselves and find your own way to move forward”. And Rafaela reassures those unsure about the language that even if you don’t become completely fluent, you’re still guaranteed “an extraordinary experience”.
