Expat Guide to French Universities

If you want to apply for higher education in France, check out out expat guide to French Universities. British expat Sarah Daly who has two children at university in France, looks at the steps you’ll need to take to go to university in France.

Expat Guide to French Universities

Moving to France to study is a very realistic goal, whether or not you speak French. In fact, around 14 per cent of French students at any one time come from overseas. There are even courses taught exclusively in English in some universities and grands écoles (the latter specialising, for instance in economics, architecture or engineering). The costs of studying in France are reasonable and there is support available to help with the practicalities of the move. If you’re already a French or EU resident, you’ll usually apply in the same way as other French candidates via Parcoursup. If not, or if you are unsure of your status, the first stop is to visit Campus France. If you’re applying from the UK, Campus France UK aims specifically to support students, researchers and British universities. On both sites, you’ll find information on courses and the application process as well as case studies from overseas students and useful information, for instance on applying for grants and visas.

How much should I expect to pay?

The real cost of education in France is around €10,000 a year, which is not dissimilar to other countries. French and other EU students, however, pay nothing like this amount. Fees are usually around €200 a year for a degree course and students who receive a grant pay no fees at all. Even if you live outside the EU, fees are still usually low. They vary depending on a number of factors, but fees for a degree course were below €3,000 on average for the academic year 2025/26.

The cost of living in France will need to be factored in, but many major cities have rent caps in place in the private rental market. Applying from overseas you may be eligible to apply for official accommodation via Crous and it’s possible that, once you have a place, the institution you’re studying with can help you with this. International students are likely to be eligible for the €1 lunches available to all students at Crous restaurants wherever they are living however.

Most students can also get discounts on train travel, with valid student ID, or will be eligible for travel cards offering discounts either regionally or nationally.

Do I need a visa?

The chances are that if you live outside France, you are not an EU citizen or you don’t have the Withdrawal Agreement Residency Permit (WA RP), you will need a VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour Valant Titre de Séjour) in order to study in France. Again, Campus France has guidance on choosing the right visa and making your application.

How do I find out what courses are available?

MonProjetSup is probably a good place to start researching courses if you are able to do so in French. This is a government-run website aimed at high school pupils that allows you to complete a personal profile. Based on your answers, the site will suggest potential careers and courses.

Once you have an idea of what you want to study or what career you’re aiming for, Onisep has descriptions of various jobs and what the entry requirements are for these. If you know what you’re looking for, you can research specific university courses and their selection processes too.

If you would like to search in English, Campus France has a list of courses available to overseas students.

How do I apply via Parcoursup?

Most French teenagers will begin higher education in the year they turn 18. If you already have rights as an EU citizen, and in various other circumstances, like them, you will need to apply for courses via Parcoursup. This is the platform used by pupils to apply for almost all courses, whether state-run or private. Those not listed here are not state monitored and approved, so they could have higher fees and less credibility with employers. Students attending high school (lycée) in France, will be offered support from their class tutor (prof principal) in refining their ideas and putting together their applications.

There is a strict time frame for applications. The school should guide pupils, and sometimes parents, on deadlines but as a parent, or as a potential student, it’s definitely a good idea to stay informed and to be ready as early as you can for each step of the process.

Parcoursup contains a lot of information about what grades are needed, how many places are available and how many pupils usually apply for each particular course. When looking at the percentage acceptance rate however, it’s worth remembering that each pupil will apply for at least 10 courses and many will receive more than one offer and reject one or more places. This results in a fairly complex system of waiting lists (and often lots of nail-biting tension) but it does mean the chances of getting in are not as bleak as they can at first appear. At the same time, it’s wise to be realistic and include courses with a high acceptance rate, just in case your dream course eludes your grasp.

Parcoursup also allows you to request a gap year, but be warned that this is not nearly as common in France as it is elsewhere. You may not even get confirmation from the institution you’re applying to that they’ve accepted it until a matter of weeks before the beginning of the first term. This may not be an issue if you live locally, and could take up your place if the application to defer is rejected, but for students needing to relocate for studies, this could potentially be another major cause of stress.

Once you are ready to apply for higher education courses, you can set up an account with Mes services étudiant This allows you to apply for grants, search for accommodation – via CROUS and vetted private rentals – and create a rental file to show prospective landlords.

When will I hear if I’ve been offered a place?

Most offers of places via Parcoursup are not dependent on the results of the baccalaureat exams, usually published in early July. Instead they are based on an average of grades over the last two years of lycée, together with school reports and an application letter. Some, particularly at the Grand Écoles, will require an interview too. Either way, offers start to be made in early June. This could be a straight acceptance or rejection, an offer conditional on grades or you may join a waiting list. If you’re on a waiting list, it could take a month or more before you know whether you’ve been accepted, which can have a knock-on effect for finding accommodation etc.

Sarah Daly is a freelance writer who lives in the far north of France.