France is a good study abroad destination for international students. It’s a wonderful country and its citizens are open minded, welcoming and appealing. Many people chose to study in France since the public universities there all charge low tuition fees for international students. Yes, tuition fees in French universities are so affordable that a student can pay as low as 200 Euro per year.
In today’s article we shall take a look at some of these low tuition universities in France, cost of living, tuition fees, admission and visa requirements.
Cost of living in France
Cost of living is the amount an individual needs for his/her upkeep in a period of time. In France, a student needs approximately 500 Euro per month to cover expenses like feeding, accommodation, transportation, buying of books etc. Please note that this is just an estimate, cost of living can be lower or higher depending on the spending habit of students.
Read also: Comprehensive Lists Of Low Tuition Universities In Russia
Admission requirements
Before you start your admission to study in France, have it at the back of your mind that most of their programs are taught in French language especially in the public institutions. For undergraduate study, you will be expected to have qualification that allows you apply for study into a higher institution in home country. This could be an O’level result/high school or secondary school diploma showing that you are qualified for university education.
For graduate study, a good Bsc result with transcripts in a related field is usually required. Please note that if you are applying to study in French language, you must present a French language certificate to show your proficiency in the use of the language. Same also applies if you want to study in English language, certificates like Ielts or Toefl can also be used, though some universities usually waive this for applicants whose mother tongue is English or those whose education was conducted in English language. Please contact the University for a Specific Admission Requirements.
Visa requirements to study in France
Once you have received your admission letter, the next to do is to start your visa processing. There are three kinds of student visas available, depending upon the length of studies in France as indicated in the letter of enrollment:-
- A Schengen visa, multiple entries, for a stay up to 3 months: the student should use the short stay visa application form.
- The temporary long stay visa (from 3 to 6 months), multiple entries, is valid for the whole stay. The student does not need a residency card. The student uses the long term visa application form.
- One year-visa (stay over 6 months): the visa is valid 3 months, 1 entry. The student should use the long term visa application form. Within this delay, and after the arrival in France, the students must complete the proper documentation with the French school or university; have to go for a medical check-up to a doctor from the National Immigration Office ( Office des Migrations Internationals). Then they should contact the Police Department (Prefecture de police) in order to obtain the student residency card (carte de sejour) and present there the visa, the original documents previously required for the visa, a birth certificate and the medical results.
Documents needed for a study visa application
- Passport signed and valid for a period of three months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay in France.
- The visa application forms signed and legibly filled out (consult your consulate for the number of copies received, and do note that you cannot make a copy of your application. Each application received must be filled out individually). Indicate your phone numbers and e-mail. Indicate the dates of stay. The form has to be filled with BLACK ink.
- A passport size photograph glued on each form.
- Prepaid self-addressed envelope if you apply by mail. Only Express mail, Priority mail, certified mail (a registered mail) will be accepted, if not the personal appearance will be required. Note that the personal appearance is the basic rule. (Assume you will need to make a personal appearance!)
- “Student” visa fee: payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) (especially for files sent by mail) or money-order made out to “Consulate general of France” or certified checks. Cash is accepted only if you apply in person. Do not assume you can pay by check.
Upon submitting the application candidates are also required to submit a copy of their passport. Original passports would only be required for authentication. The embassy has the reserve right for asking any other authentication. Incomplete applications would not be accepted. Visa processing depends upon the nationality of the candidate. All regulations consular fees or services are subject to change without any prior notice.
Read also: Full List Of Cheap Tuition Universities in Canada For International Students
List of low tuition universities in France
Now, let me bring to you a comprehensive list of low tuition and cheap universities in France for international students. You can contact them and start your admission application.
- Parsons Paris
- Pole Universitaire Europeen
- Université Blaise Pascal (Clermont-Ferrand II)
- Université Bordeaux I
- Université Catholique de l’ Ouest
- Université Catholique de Lille
- Université Catholique de Lyon
- Université Charles-de-Gaulle (Lille III)
- Université Claude Bernard (Lyon I)
- Université d’Aix-Marseille III
- Université d’Angers
- Université d’Artois
- Université d’Auvergne (Clermont-Ferrand I)
- Université d’Avignon
- Université d’Evry Val d’Essonne
- Université d’Orléans
- Université de Bourgogne
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale
- Université de Bretagne Sud
- Université de Caen Basse Normandie
- Université de Cergy-Pontoise
- Université de Corse Pascal Paoli
- Université de Franche-Comté
- Université de Haute-Alsace
- Université de la Mediterranée (Aix-Marseille II)
- Université de la Réunion
- Université de La Rochelle
- Université de Limoges
- Université de Marne la Vallée
- Université de Metz
- Université de Montpellier I
- Université de Montpellier II
- Université de Nantes
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour
- Université de Perpignan
- Université de Picardie Jules-Verne
- Université de Poitiers
- Université de Provence (Aix-Marseille I)
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne
- Université de Rouen – Haute Normandie
- Université de Savoie
- Université Jean Monnet
- Université Jean Moulin (Lyon III)
- Université Joseph Fourier (Grenoble I)
- Université Louis Pasteur (Strasbourg I)
- Université Lumiére (Lyon II)
- Université Michel de Montaigne (Bordeaux III )
- Université Montesquieu (Bordeaux IV)
- Université Nancy II
- Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II)
- Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris I)
- Université Paris Nanterre (Paris X)
- Université Paris Nord (Paris XIII)
- Université Paris Sud (Paris XI)
- Université Paris-Dauphine (Paris IX)
- Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)
- Université Pascal Paoli (Corse)
- Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III)
- Université Paul Valéry (Montpellier III)
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI)
- Université Pierre Mendes-France (Grenoble II)
- Université René Descartes (Paris V)
- Université Rennes I
