From Bonjour, Bon appetit, to some good old fashioned wine and cheese, who wouldn’t fancy experiencing French life, especially as a student.
France houses some of the world’s top universities, including more than 30 QS ranked universities.
There are more than 3,500 public/private universities and other institutes offering undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and PhD courses.
In the academic year 2020-2021, over 10,000 Indian students moved to France to pursue their passion.
Top Reasons to Study in France
As a student, if you need more logical reasons to study in France other than the iconic Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral or the Disneyland, then here are a few:
- Speaking of the quality of education, France has bagged the 8th best position globally and is the top 5th in Europe.
- Studying in France is comparatively cheaper as compared to many other European countries.
- International students can work part-time in France. Some of the jobs you can take up are – a nanny, an English tutor, tour guide, restaurant executive, retail work etc.
- The minimum hourly wage in France is about € 7.61 (₹621.09). This implies that you can earn up to €7900/year (₹6,44,790) in France by just working part-time.
- International students in France can apply for a one-year work permit, after their education.
- France also offers a post-study visitor visa of 5 years for master’s and PhD students to keep roots with the country.
Tip: Foreign students are also required to clear TOEFL/ IELTS for English language proficiency along with DELF/DALF/TCF/TEF to prove French language ability. Learn more.
Now, if you are all-in to study in France, let’s quickly break down your cost of study in France.
Cost of Studying in France for an International Student
Even with the modest and affordable tuition fees, the expenses of studying abroad are a considerable sum.
To effectively plan your study in France, learn about the costs you will incur if you study in France:
University Fees:
Some of the best courses to study in France are Business studies, Aviation, Philosophy, International Relations, Culinary Studies, Film Studies and Fashion.
The university fees range in France start from as low as € 380 to € 30,350.
Here are some of the best universities in France and their fee structures:
| Universities | Cost (Euro) | Cost (INR) |
| Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) | €380 – €3,770/year | ₹30,788 – ₹3,05,502/year |
| Ecole Polytechnique | €38,000/year | ₹30,79,408/year |
| Sorbonne University | €10,000/year | ₹8,10,470/year |
| Centrale Supelec | €7880 – €18,344/year | ₹6,32,166 – ₹14,86,726/year |
| HEC Paris | €24,850 – €30,350/year | ₹20,14,017 – ₹24,59,776/year |
| Polytechnic Institute of Paris | €16,800/year | ₹13,61,926/year |
| ENS Paris – Saclay University | €793/year | ₹64,284/year |
| Université Grenoble Alpes | €499 – €1422/year | ₹40,425 – ₹1,15,172/year |
| Université de Paris Panthéon- Sorbonne | €3,228 – €4394/year | ₹2,61,438 – ₹3,55,874/year |
| Sciences PO | €13,1900 – €25,000/year | ₹10,68680 – ₹20,25,550/year |
However, to ease your study expenses the French and Indian government offer scholarships.
Scholarships might include covering your cost of education, equipment, the cost of your living in France etc.
SUGGESTED READ: Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad
Student Visa:
Once you’re selected to study abroad, the next expense you will incur is your student visa.
The type of visa you need depends on the duration of your stay in France.
In addition to that, to secure a French student visa you’re required to display a sum of € 615/month as proof of sufficient funds to pursue the course abroad.
This implies that you will need to show €7,380 for a one year course in France.
| Visa | Duration | Cost | Cost (INR) |
| Schengen short-stay student visa | 3months/ non-renewable | Free | Free |
| Temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) | 3-6 months/no residence permit | €50 | ₹4080 |
| Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) | 4 months – 1 year/ eligible for a residence permit. | €99 | ₹8034 |
Apart from the visa, foreign nationals secure medical insurance of € 30,000 to cover health insurance and related services in France.
Flight Fares:
The French universities commence their academic year during September/October and end around May/June.
The cheapest month to fly to France is during February when the flight tickets cost around ₹20,000 – ₹30,000 for a one-way ticket.
The flight fares are most expensive around June/July. On average, flight fares range from ₹40,000 to ₹60,000.
Booking in advance can also help you save on your expenses.
Accommodation:
International students can opt for campus accommodation or choose to rent an apartment. However, renting an apartment is expensive in France for a student.
You can also choose to live with a host family to experience the typical ‘à la française’ lifestyle. In any case, you will incur:
| Type | Cost | Cost |
| University residence halls | €200 – €400/month | ₹16,244 – ₹32,488/month |
| Private student residences | € 500+ | ₹40,484+ |
| Apartments | € 400 – € 800/month | ₹32,488 – ₹64,910/month |
| Living with a french family | € 200 – € 800/ month | ₹16,244 – ₹64,910/month |
Help Tip: CROUS can help you find affordable accommodation
Transportation:
Commuting in France for students too is affordable.
With a number of student discounts and affordable inter-city commute options, your transportation costs don’t sting you in the pocket.
Here are a few basic prices to help you plan your budget and expenses.
| Type of transport | Student rate | Cost in INR |
| Transit in Paris | €342/year | ₹27,757 |
| Transit outside Paris | €250-€300/year | ₹20,299-₹24,358 |
| Self-serve bicycle | €19-€29/year | ₹1,542-₹2,355 |
| SNCFdiscount card | €50/year | ₹4,059 |
It is generally a wise option for international students to opt for available France student transport discounts.
Food Cost:
One of the biggest expenses you incur while studying abroad is the cost you spend on your food.
Cooking your own meal helps cut down on your expenses in France.
But, students can generally expect to spend about €300 – €500/month in France on food, depending upon the city they live in and the regularity with which they visit restaurants.
To give you a brief idea, here’s a list you can refer to
| Food | Cost | Cost |
| Baguette | €1 | ₹81 |
| croissant | €1.10 | ₹89 |
| 1kg of pasta | €1.50 | ₹121 |
| 1L of milk | €1.20 | ₹97 |
| 6 eggs | €1.50 | ₹121 |
| Coffee | €2 | ₹162 |
| University meals | €3.25 | ₹263.53 |
| Fast Food | €7 | ₹567 |
| Restaurant meals | €10 – €20 | ₹810 – ₹1621 |
| Sandwich and drinks | €5 – €8 | ₹405 – ₹648 |
Other Additional Expenses:
The last regular expense you will incur during your study period will be any additional cost of stationery, internet, memberships etc.
You can set aside €500/month for the same.
France most certainly is a charming country.
But, despite its affordability, the sum of money might not be easily accessible to many.
Thus, to ease this for students, you have a number of banks who can help you with a student loan. We’ve gathered the list here for you:
Best Bank Loans for Indian Students to Study in France
To study in France, you can apply for secured loans with collateral such as fixed deposits with low-interest rates.
Or you can opt to take an unsecured loan that is an education loan without collateral for France at a comparatively higher interest rate.
The eligibility criteria for applying to any of these education loans to study abroad are:
- You need to be a resident of India.
- Should be between 18 to 35 years at the time of loan application.
- Have confirmed admission to a recognized institution in France.
- A co-applicant who can either be a parent or guardian is required.
- Co-applicants should have a stable income source.
Listed below are some of the Indian bank education loan for abroad studies:
| Bank | Sector | Processing Fee | Maximum Loan Amount | Interest Rate | Period of Loan |
| Axis Bank | Private | At the discretion of the bank | Upto ₹40 Lakhs | Starting at 11.25%pa | Course length + 12 years moratorium period |
| Bank of Baroda | Public | ₹10,000+gst | ₹ 80 Lakhs | 8.25% for boys, 7.75% for girls | 15 Years |
| Canara Bank | Public | Nil | ₹40 lakhs | 6.90% to 8.80% p.a. | 15 Years |
| Federal Bank | Private | Nil | ₹2O Lakhs | Up to 10.05% pa | Course period and 5-7 Years |
| HDFC BANK | Private | ₹1000 OR 1% of loan | ₹30 Lakhs | 9.55% pa | 15 Years Including moratorium |
| SBI | Public | ₹10,000 | ₹1.5 Crore | 8.65% pa | 15 Years |
| Punjab National Bank | Public | 1% of the loan amount, subject to a minimum amount of ₹10,000 | As per requirement as repayment capacity | RLR+BSP+2.00% onwards | 15 Years |
| IDBI Bank | Private | Upto ₹2O Lakhs (requires no collateral for up to 4 Lakhs) | 6.75%- 8.65% | 15 Years |
By securing any of these education loans to study abroad, you will be one step closer to achieving your dreams.
In addition to that, securing an education loan to study abroad via FundRight will help you bag the best deal to study abroad.
FundRight assists you with the best bank for education loan for abroad studies.
Studying in France will exceed your expectations by giving you an enriching adventure with its diversity and multicultural experiences.
Thus, keep in mind to plan your finances well prior to studying in France.
