French Universities: A 2026 Guide for International Students

How French higher education works

Higher education in France is split into three parallel tracks, each with its own selection logic and price tag.

Public universities

There are around 70 public universities across France, descending from the medieval system reorganised by Napoleon. They are state-funded, with tuition kept very low. Notable institutions in 2026 after the recent mergers:

• Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres) — research powerhouse, includes ENS, Mines, Dauphine, Curie ;
• Sorbonne Université — sciences, medicine, humanities ;
• Université Paris-Saclay — sciences, engineering ;
• Université Paris Cité — created 2022 by merging Paris Descartes, Paris Diderot and IPGP ;
• Université Grenoble Alpes, Université de Lyon, Aix-Marseille Université, Université de Bordeaux, Université de Strasbourg.

The Grandes Écoles

A parallel elite system unique to France. Around 250 Grandes Écoles select students through competitive entrance exams (concours) usually after two years of intensive prep classes (classes préparatoires). They specialise in business, engineering, political science or science.

The most prestigious:

• Sciences Po Paris — politics, IR, economics, law ;
• HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP — business and management ;
• École Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec, Mines ParisTech — engineering ;
• ENS Ulm, ENS Lyon, ENS Paris-Saclay — research and academia ;
• ENA (now part of INSP) — civil service.

Tuition at Grandes Écoles ranges from ~€600 a year at École Polytechnique to ~€20,000 a year at HEC. Some are public-funded with low fees ; others are private business schools with US-style tuition.

Private schools and BTS

A third tier of private schools — including American University of Paris, EMLyon, EDHEC, SKEMA, Audencia, IÉSEG — operate as private colleges with English-taught programmes and tuition between €10,000 and €25,000 per year. The state also runs BTS (vocational 2-year diplomas) and IUT (vocational 3-year diplomas) at very low cost.

How to apply as an international student

The application path depends on your nationality, your level (Bachelor or Master), and whether your country is on the Études en France list.

EU/EEA/Swiss students

EU students apply on equal terms with French students:

• For first-year Bachelor's: through Parcoursup, the central platform — open from January to mid-March each year ;
• For Master's: through monmaster.gouv.fr (the national platform launched in 2023) for most programmes ;
• For PhD: directly with the doctoral school of your choice.

No visa needed. You simply move and register.

Non-EU students (including UK since Brexit)

Non-EU students from one of the 68 countries on the Études en France list (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Morocco and others) must apply through Campus France:

1. Create an account on the Études en France platform of your local Campus France office ;
2. Select up to 7 university programmes per year ;
3. Submit your transcripts, motivation letter and language test results ;
4. Attend an interview at the local Campus France office ;
5. Wait for university decisions, then accept one offer ;
6. Apply for a student long-stay visa (VLS-TS Étudiant) at the French consulate.

Students from countries not on the Études en France list apply directly to the university and follow the standard visa process.

Language requirements

For French-taught programmes, expect a B2 minimum proven by:

• DELF B2 — Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française ;
• TCF — Test de Connaissance du Français ;
• TEF — Test d'Évaluation du Français.

For English-taught programmes (now widespread, particularly at Grandes Écoles and Master's level), expect IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+. Native speakers from English-speaking countries are usually exempt.

After you arrive in France

Non-EU students with a VLS-TS validate their visa online through the ANEF portal (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr) within 3 months of arrival. Pay the €200 OFII fee online, upload your residence proof and visa, and that's it — no in-person medical exam since the dematerialisation in 2019. Older guides still mention OFII visits — those are obsolete.

After validation, your VLS-TS counts as your residence permit for the academic year. To stay beyond, apply for a titre de séjour étudiant renewal through ANEF, also online.

Health insurance

Foreign students enrolled in France for a full academic year register for free with the French social security through the dedicated portal etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr. EU/EEA/Swiss students rely on their EHIC for the duration of their stay. UK students need a GHIC for short stays, or PUMa enrolment for a full year — see our EHIC and GHIC guide.

A separate mutuelle top-up insurance is recommended on top — student-targeted offers from LMDE, Heyme or Smerep cost €15-30/month and cover what the Sécu doesn't.

First-month admin checklist

1. Validate your visa on ANEF and pay €200 OFII fee ;
2. Sign your lease, complete the état des lieux ;
3. Open a French bank account ;
4. Apply for APL housing benefit (see our APL guide) ;
5. Get a French SIM card ;
6. Pay the CVEC and complete university enrolment ;
7. Register with French social security ;
8. Take out a mutuelle if you can afford one.