The EU country offers a wide variety of options; this includes art, nuclear energy and research, biology and pharmaceuticals, hotel management, automobile, food, aviation, high fashion and many more.
Since the population of France has come from different countries, international students find it very easy to fit in. The French are warm and friendly, making the experience all the way better.
In 1998 the government of France made several modifications in their education system in order to make French education available to international students.
One must experience France at some point in their life, and if you get the opportunity to study there, nothing could be better. The people are known for their elegance, and the country is famous for art galleries, some of the best restaurants, and uncanny entertainment venues, yet this is just the tip of the iceberg that France is.
Unlike other countries government of France gives medical insurance to students without charging them any money whatsoever. There are just a few formalities and rules to avail the insurance –
The benefits of studying in France are endless, besides the insurance – the government lets the students’ work as much as 20 hours a week. This number is much more than a lot of other countries.
Note: This is strictly for the international students who are enrolled on a full-time course. The intention is to help the students sustain themselves for the time they live in France.
You may find yourself a job with minimal pay, which is 9.61 euros per hour. On average, students may require approximately 600 Euros to sustain the monthly expenses without the tuitions fees. Needless to say, this amount varies from city to city. With these part-time jobs, the students can manage their expenses comparatively easily.
There are just too many reasons why France is an excellent option for international students. This include – lifetime opportunity to explore France, affordable tuition costs, receiving knowledge and training from the most renowned tutors in the world.
Other than that, the benefits of having a European degree are endless, so much so that even this guide can’t enlist. Having an opportunity to study in France, you must not let it go – it is most probably the best academic and professional decision you can make.
French people are known for being warm and open-hearted. They are very proud of their diverse culture. When you visit France, this is what the people will expect from you –
Since it is not English speaking country, you need to be good learn bits of French. At first, this could be challenging, but most students prefer to learn the language. Here are few challenges you are likely to encounter:
1.5 million Students get their undergrad and a postgraduate degree from France. International students come from all over the world to make up 10% of this big number.
With a wide variety of options of courses universities in France offer, you will find the course you are looking for. France follows the European style of administration in their higher education which is known as the Bologna system. This not only eases the mobility for international students but also makes the degrees valid throughout the EU countries.
The Bologna system France employs a 3-level education system which is similar to the 29 European countries.
The ‘License Professionnelle’ and ‘License’ degrees are undergraduate, accepted as Bachelors throughout the globe.
Master’s and Doctorate (PhD) degrees are recognized as Postgraduate courses.
Choosing a course and University in France:
Lower the ROI ranks better the university. Choosing a university depends on the ROI rank of the university. Other than that, you will have to keep in mind other factors like the course the university offers, living expenses, tuition fees as well as the institution gives out scholarships.
Put on your research hat and take a plunge into the smallest of the aspect of the course and the university. Go through the contents of the course that will be covered during the degree.
Visit the modules that will be covered in each of the courses recognize those that are important to increase your employability. If you fail to comprehend the impact of the modules, you will know that the course is not apt for you and that it can’t hold your interest.
Having said that, if you get into a course which you do not trust and want to change or repeating first, it will prove to be very expensive. We suggest you do your research. It is not very hard; all you need to do is to visit the web pages of the College and read the breakdown of all the modules and what the will be learnings at the end of it.
Tuition fees at public universities:
The fees vary. It depends on your course, the level of your education, the program and also the city you live in. But here is an approximate you can take a look at for a vague understanding –
NoteThe fees will be higher fees for specialization degrees
Also, a menial sum of 90 EUR is compulsory for students as a campus fee.
The living costs solely depends on how to choose to lead your life while in France. But some unavoidable factors greatly affect the average cost of living.
Where you live is a very important financial decision you will make in France, meaning the city you live in. According to research and some students been there 430 EUR per is the minimum you need to survive a month. This is strictly for the time you are in College. The numbers are not cent per cent accurate, just an estimate for students understanding.
None of the estimates includes personal and subjective expenses such as entertainment, clothing, travel and other expenses. However, the student from abroad is allowed to have part-time jobs for up to 20 hours a week. The money you will earn from these jobs might not cover all the expenses, but it will certainly help.
Average budget to live in French cities:
International student approximately spends 200 – 300 EUR/month on accommodation. There are many accommodation options in France which the students choose according to their convenience.
It takes up the first week of the program, and it is compulsory for international students’ orientation. Most colleges give out handbooks to the students, read the one you will get because it has all the information a student might need. You will be introduced to the services, classes, as well as universities.
In Paris, one person spends 250 – 300 EUR/month on groceries. The number is smaller for other provinces. A meal in the most affordable restaurant will cost you 15 EUR. Bistros, crepe stands, and brasseries are amongst the most affordable option in France, and you can find one in almost every corner of the city. Some bistros charge a humble price for filling meals charging just 5 to 8 EUR.
The supermarkets will give you the best price for groceries. Leclerc and Géant Casino are the cheapest supermarkets in France. Inexpensive dinner options will include chain restaurants such as Buffalo Grill, Michi and more.
Of all the options, the cheapest, most affordable place to have food is the university cafeteria. The cost will be as little as 3 EUR.
International student living in France and in for a blast. Having studied all day, there are multiple ways to relax and unwind. There are some amazing restaurants and museums filled with the best Renaissance work. Museums are largely do not cost anything to the students having students ID.
We are all well aware of the rich French culture and its history, and people over there rightfully take pride in it. French tutors are famous for coming up with references from historical instances as well as their culture.
The sports facilities available to students in France is excellent. It requires just a small fee, and you can avail of all the benefits, from track and field to cricket and everything in between like football, rugby, baseball, basketball, and others. Sports are encouraged in the whole of Europe, and France is no different.
Situated in Western Europe, France is a very vibrant country. Including 800 plus English programs, they offer several French programs in business, arts, technology, music, literature and more. To become a part of the excellent education system in France and their culture, students from all over the world flock in.
Of all the countries that see the large number of international students, QS named Paris the most student-friendly city in the entire world. Though Paris is amazing, there is certainly more to France. We have compiled a list based on factors like affordability, employment opportunities, and the number of schools, student mix and more. Here are the top 10 (in no particular order) –
Out of 100 top universities in the world, three of them are in France. All of the top universities are located near Paris, but many cities have certain friendly advantages that can’t be offered in Paris, like – closeness to industrial sectors, affordable rent and so on. Here are few universities that will elevate your professional career.
Working part-time with the full-time course:
Students who come to France from abroad for long courses are qualified to get a part-time job. French Law allows students to work for 962 hours per year. Under the French Law, known as SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance – the minimum wage), the students are eligible for minimum wage.
The minimum wage is 9.76 Euros an hour, out of which you get €7.61/hour after deducting the taxes. You can 78 Euros net if you work 10 hours a week for minimum wage.
International students have the opportunity to get a place within the campus itself. Generally, in in-campus placements, contracts last a year at most, the duration being September 1st to August 31st. These are types of jobs you can get in the placement – tutorials, receiving students before the academic year starts, sports activities, cultural activities, assisting especially abled students and more.
As part of certain courses, it is mandatory for the students to get an internship. But the internship has to be contractual. The minimum amount paid to the student for this internship is 50 EUR per month.
Create a list of universities you want to get admission to. Base your research on tuition fee, course, city’s cost of living, availability of scholarship, employment opportunity and so on.
Essay: You will need to submit different essays as the university demands. It is a part of the admission process.The topics try to evaluate the students based on strength, weakness, experience, skill, career aspirations, and most important – the reason for picking the particular school.
LOR: LOR is written by your manager, employer, teacher, or professor. The purpose of the letter is to let the College know the qualities of the students from an authentic source.
SOP: It should be the right balance that reflects how is your personality very objectively. SOP is how to introduce yourself to the admission office of the university. Make sure that it is written in the first person and mentions all the right reasons that why you want to apply for that College. The SOP should also mention why you right fit for them and why you should be accepted to the College. Keep the SOP casual, but at the same time, do not make it look like you are boasting or you do not care enough.
Top 10 Universities in France
Top 10 Scholarships in France
GMAT- This test evaluates English, reason skills, and also math. These are the exams taken by the MBA aspirant or the students who want to study management or business courses in France.
GRE- This test is taken by the students who want to pursue MS or MA. In recent times, business schools have started to accept the score of this test.
SAT- This tests the literacy as well as general writing skill of the students. Problem-solving skills are also a significant part of the test. SAT is taken by the school students who want to go abroad to do their undergrad.
The university you will be applying to will mention which exam results will apply to the course of your choice. But if they give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you.
You can get admission is not one but multiple universities depending on your eligibility. Once you get admission, you can go back to your research, equate the pros and cons and make a final call. Make sure you put ROI into consideration because, as we discussed above, it plays a major role in defining the quality of the university.
Note: Additional documents may be required.
Once you get a letter of acceptance, you can apply for the visa. This is all you need to apply for a student visa to study in France.
Following documents may be regarding the proof of academic or financial status. It is followed by the personal interview in which the interviewer might also ask for few documents. The documents include:
Following documents are required for the visa application: (along with a visa application fee of 50 EUR in Indian currency)
Pre-departure list
Make sure you have copies of the following documents –
Do anything but do not lock yourself in the room; it will only make things worse. It hits the hardest in the first couple of weeks. You need to be patient for two weeks or so. You are likely to miss your home, like all students who come from a different country. If the feeling does not go away in two weeks, you could ask for a counsellor for homesickness. The feeling will sink in, you will soak the environment, and soon you will start enjoying the new place. They feel more homesick after the call ends than before starting it. Try and limit the call to once a week. The expert on this matter says that long phone calls make it harder for the students.
Take your time, is what we suggest, absorb everything going on around you. The first few days are the busiest for every international student. Make sure to take the time out of your busy schedule and learn about the university. Get to learn about the campus, make friends, and attend classes –
Going abroad to study is a dream of every Indian student. But only a few fortunate students who have the gift of intelligence and grit to work hard make it to foreign universities. Despite having both of these two qualities, some students fail to fulfil their dream. One of the biggest reasons is the complicated process of shortlisting the university, filling in the important details, submitting the right documents, doing the paperwork, writing essays and SOPs, and many other formalities.
That’s where OneWindows come in. We have seen thousands of students to their dream universities. You could be the next.
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