Study in France: Student Visa, Campus France & Costs 2026

Why Study in France?

France is the world's top destination for students on a budget who still want elite credentials. Public universities charge non-EU students a flat €2,895/year (Licence) or €3,941/year (Master) — a fraction of UK/US costs — while Grandes Écoles like École Polytechnique and business schools like HEC deliver world-ranked prestige. PhD study costs just €397/year for everyone, and most PhDs come with a salary or Eiffel-style scholarship.

Heads-up: from 1 August 2026 the proof-of-funds requirement rises from €615 to €877.50/month (≈€8,775 for 10 months). And a 2026 decree sharply narrowed fee waivers — most non-EU students now pay the differentiated fees listed above.

The Student Visa (VLS-TS "étudiant") & Campus France

For programmes over 6 months you get a VLS-TS (long-stay visa that acts as your residence permit once validated). For ~73 countries, the Campus France / Études en France (EEF) procedure is mandatory before you can even apply for the visa.

Item	Details (2026)
Campus France procedure	Create EEF account, upload diplomas/language certificates, pay fee (~€190 typical), attend a 15–20 min interview — 3–6 weeks
Visa fee	€50 (EEF countries) to €99 (non-EEF)
VLS-TS validation	OFII tax/stamp ~€75; validate online on ANEF within 3 months of arrival or the visa lapses
CVEC	€103–105/year student life contribution (mandatory)
Financial proof	€877.50/month (from 1 Aug 2026) — e.g. ~€8,775 for 10 months
Processing	Campus France 3–6 weeks + consulate 2–8 weeks; start ~5 months before programme start
Work rights	Up to 964 hrs/year (~20 hrs/week, ~60% full-time) — no separate work permit needed

Big perk: once your VLS-TS is validated it unlocks work, Schengen travel, social security, banking and CAF housing aid (which cuts rents by €100–250/month). Renew it at the prefecture ≥2 months before expiry for a carte de séjour étudiant.

Tuition: Public, Grandes Écoles & Private

Institution type	Non-EU annual tuition (2026–27)
Public Licence (bachelor)	€2,895
Public Master	€3,941
PhD	€397 (all nationalities)
École Polytechnique MSc&T	€15,400–28,950
Business schools (HEC, ESSEC, ESCP)	€17,500–22,900+
Private institutions	€3,000–25,000
Sciences Po	Income-based €0–14,500 (≈30% pay €0)

Before 2026 most non-EU students paid the low domestic rate via waivers (~€243–254 Master). A decree in May 2026 sharply restricted waivers — most now pay the differentiated fees. Exemptions remain for asylum seekers, stateless persons, LDC (44 UN-listed) nationals and double-degree students.

Top Universities in France

Institution	QS '26	Notes
PSL University (Paris)	#24	Multidisciplinary; humanities, sciences, engineering
Institut Polytechnique de Paris	#41–46	Engineering/tech; École Polytechnique flagship
Sorbonne University (Paris)	#63	Humanities, sciences, medicine (French-taught bachelor's)
Université Paris-Saclay	#73	AI, big data, life sciences, economics
ENS de Lyon	#187	Research & academia track
École des Ponts ParisTech	#205	Civil engineering
Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne	#283	Law, economics, politics (French-taught)
HEC Paris	—	FT-ranked top business school; finance/MBA (English)

France's own ranking logic differs from the UK/US: elite research lives in the Grandes Écoles and university clusters, while a huge number of excellent but unranked public universities teach at nearly free prices.

Affordable & Easy-Entry Universities

France's public universities are the cheapest way into Europe: non-EU "differentiated" fees are just €2,902/year (bachelor) or €3,950 (master), and most plain licences are open access — apply via Parcoursup (EU/French-bac holders) or the Campus France "Études en France" procedure and you're in without an entrance exam. Aix-Marseille even auto-exempts 75% of the fee for ~70 nationalities (≈€724/yr).

University	Type	Int'l tuition/yr	Entry bar & why it's easy
Aix-Marseille Université Official site ↗	Public	€2,902 (≈€724 w/ exemption)	Automatic 75% fee exemption for ~70 nationalities; IPEM English bachelor
Université de Nantes Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	Large open-access licence offer, English-taught master's, grants
Université de Strasbourg Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	Huge historic university; plain licences are low-selectivity
Université de Lille Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	3,000+ international students, low living costs, strong English tracks
Université de Bordeaux Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	~15 English-taught international bachelors + open licences
Université de Franche-Comté Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	~20% international students, English EIPHI master's, cheapest city
Université Le Havre Normandie Official site ↗	Public	€2,850	Bilingual English bachelor's tracks, small friendly port-city
Université Lumière Lyon 2 Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	Humanities/social-science giant with large open licences
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	Science licences largely open-access; English-taught master's
Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier Official site ↗	Public	€2,902	Open licence access, English master's, Toulouse is a cheap student city

"Open access" licences admit all qualified applicants; selectivity lives in tagged tracks (BUT, CPGE) and some English programs. Non-EU students with a foreign diploma apply via Campus France, not Parcoursup. Fee exemptions are capped (~30% of a uni's non-EU intake), so confirm yours early.

Degrees, Language & Living Costs

🎓 Licence — 3 years

180 ECTS. Most bachelor's are French-taught — you'll need DELF B2/TCF. France teaches in French unless the program is English-taught (1,000+ master's programs are).

📘 Master — 2 years

120 ECTS (M1+M2), plus some 1-year M2-only programs. English-taught masters typically need IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL 90+.

🔬 Doctorat — 3–4 years

€397/year for everyone, usually salaried or via Eiffel/Excellence-Major scholarships. Strong research culture.

🗓️ Intakes

Main intake September (apply via EEF March–April). Academic year Sept–June; grading 0–20, pass ≥10.

City	Monthly budget	Student housing
Paris	€1,000–1,500	CROUS €300–600; shared flats more
Lyon, Toulouse, Grenoble, Rennes	€800–1,000	Student residences €300–600

CAF housing aid reduces rents €100–250/month — apply immediately on arrival. Health insurance €200–600/yr; CVEC €103–105/yr.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Campus France mandatory?+

For students from ~73 countries, yes — you must complete the Études en France procedure (account, documents, interview) and get Campus France's academic opinion before the consulate will consider your visa. Budget 3–6 weeks for it, and start ~5 months before your course begins (March–April for September entry).

How much money do I need to show for a French student visa?+

From 1 August 2026 the official requirement is €877.50/month (≈47% of SMIC, indexed annually) — about €8,775 for a 10-month academic year. This is up from €615/month. You show bank statements or a sponsorship letter; scholarship holders show their award letter.

Can I work while studying in France?+

Yes — up to 964 hours/year (~60% of full-time, roughly 20 hrs/week) with no separate work permit. Part-time work is meant to be secondary income, and together with CAF housing aid it genuinely reduces the cost burden in a way few countries match.

Do I need to speak French to study in France?+

Not for the 1,000+ English-taught programs (mostly master's and Grandes Écoles) — IELTS 6.5/TOEFL 90 is typical. For French-taught programs you need DELF B2/TCF minimum (C1 for some humanities/law). French is not required for the visa if your program is English-taught, but A2 helps at first multi-year renewal and B2 is now required for citizenship.

Can I stay in France after graduation?+

Yes — graduates can switch to the Talent route (qualified employees earning ≥1.5× SMIC ≈ €39,582/yr get a 4-year card), the EU Blue Card (€59,373/yr 2026 threshold), or set up as a micro-entrepreneur. Time as a student counts toward the 5-year residence requirement at reduced weight. See Immigrate to France.

Study in France: The Complete 2026 Guide