The 10 steps to study in France for international students

We are going to present to you in this article, the 10 steps to follow to study in France for international students .

Indeed, international students must have an overall idea of ​​the steps to follow to go to university in France.

France is a very popular country for many international students.

It offers many high-level courses with international recognition.

In addition, it offers its residents a culture and a way of life that are highly appreciated around the world.

In addition, France is the third country in the world that welcomes the most international students.

Indeed, there are more than 350,000 international students who represent more than 10% of the total student body, including 25,000 doctoral students.

On the other hand, French public higher education is one of the most financially accessible.

International students can also go to France to study at private universities.

You should also note that international students can study for free in France via French scholarships .

So, discover these steps and go study in France !

The 10 steps to study in France for international students

To go and do your higher education in France in a public or private university, you must have an idea of ​​the procedures to follow and the points to respect.

Indeed, in order to facilitate the study procedure in France, we have tried to group together 10 steps that we consider essential to follow.

Here is the study in France process in 10 steps:

  1. Choose the type of university you want.
  2. Choose the faculty where you wish to study.
  3. Contact the French university or faculty.
  4. Check the admission requirements of the university in France .
  5. Apply for registration or prior admission.
  6. Take tests with French universities.
  7. Respect the dates for registration at universities in France .
  8. Finalize your enrollment in a university in France
  9. Pay the costs of university studies in France .
  10. Submit your visa application.

So, discover more details on these points!

1. Choose the type of university you want

Before leaving to study in France, the first thing you should know is that there are 3 types of French universities, namely:

Each type of these universities has its own specifics that you need to know.

For example, public universities are cheaper than French private universities.

On the other hand, enrollment in French private universities is easier and more accessible.

In the following, you will see for each type of French university:

2. Choose the faculty where you want to study

Choosing the faculty is considered to be the 2ᵉ step to follow.

Indeed, if like many international students, you have chosen to study in France at a public university, then you should know that each university has several faculties.

Depending on the specialty of study, you can find dozens of faculties throughout France that meet your search criteria.

Thus, here are some faculties in the most requested specialties in France, namely:

However, if you have chosen to study in a Grande Ecole in France, you also have the choice between several types.

Here are some of the most requested types of Grandes Ecoles in France:

But of course, you must know that to enter a big school, you must pass the entrance exam.

3. Contact the university or faculty

After choosing the university, faculty or Grande Ecole, you must get in touch with the organizations of your choice.

Indeed, you must contact them to get an idea of ​​the availability of the specialty you have chosen.

Check the conditions and prerequisites to register.

Ask for the costs and fees of the studies that you must pay to register.

Thus, any other information that you consider useful to request!

4. Check the admission requirements of the university

To study in France when you are a international student, there are admission requirements to access French universities .

These admission requirements for public or private universities in France are categorized by level of study, type of university and other criteria.

Here are the main conditions to know:

  • A diploma (BAC, License, Master or doctorate).
  • In addition, they will have to prove a level of understanding of the French language adapted to the training envisaged.

In addition, if you have started your higher education and wish to continue them in France.

Thus, depending on the studies you have already done and/or the diplomas you have already obtained, you can apply for admission to higher education.

Therefore, the establishment in which you wish to study is the only one authorized to validate your previous training.

Moreover, if you choose to study in a Grande Ecole in France, you should note that an entrance examination is required.

You must pass the competition to be eligible for enrollment in a Grande Ecole!

5. Apply for pre-registration or admission

Before doing your higher education at universities in France, you must pre-register or apply for admission.

The preliminary admission request or DAP is also called pre-registration.

This application for registration changes according to the diploma to be obtained and the nationality of the student.

In the public sector and at the undergraduate level, international students must send their applications to French universities via ParcourSup or Pastel, depending on the nationality of the student.

(Deadlines for sending registration requests start from January 2023)

For the rest, international students must directly contact French public universities and private universities.

(Deadlines for sending registration requests start from March 2023)

We invite you to discover more information on university registrations in France:

6. Take tests with French universities.

If you have chosen to study at a university in France, then this procedure concerns you.

Note that universities in France are very selective.

Indeed, to be able to access it, you will probably pass recruitment tests with public or private universities or competitions concerning the French grandes écoles.

7. Respect the registration dates for French universities.

For public universities in France , the deadlines are generally as follows:

  • Start date for sending registration requests: January 2023.
  • End date for sending registration requests: April 2023.
  • And, the date of finalization of registrations: between July and August 2023.

Discover via this link more information on enrollment in a French public university .

For private universities in France , the deadlines are generally as follows:

  • Start date for sending registration requests: March 2023.
  • End date for sending registration requests: August 2023.
  • And, the date of finalization of registrations: between July and August 2023.

Discover via this link more information on enrollment in a French private university .

8. Finalize your registration at a university in France.

Generally, each university and each faculty has its own university registration file documents.

Here are the main documents of a registration file that you must prepare:

  1. A copy of the bachelor’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree and transcripts
  2. A favorable response to the pre-registration request.
  3. Copy of your passport.
  4. ID photo.
  5. A well-detailed CV .
  6. A cover letter .
  7. Proof of payment of registration fees or proof of obtaining a scholarship in France

9. Pay university fees in France

University fees in France vary significantly depending on the nationality of the student.

Whether French student, European student or international student outside Europe, registration fees vary considerably.

In this context, please see:

By the way, you can check out the cheapest private universities in France .

For information, here is an idea of ​​study costs for international students by type of university.

  • For public universities: between €170 and €3,770 depending on the study cycle and nationality
  • For private universities: between €3,000 and €10,000 depending on the university.
  • And, finally, for the Grandes Ecoles: between €6,500 and €18,000 depending on the Grande Ecole.

10. Apply for a Visa for studies in France

To stay as a international student in France, you need a study visa.

Indeed, this visa allows you not only to stay and study in France, but also to be able to move freely in all the countries of the Schengen territory.

To obtain a study visa for France, you must contact the French Embassy in your country for more information on the formalities and the necessary documents.

Conclusion

Thus, to conclude our article on studying in France, we have presented for you 10 steps to follow to study in France for international students.

Indeed, we have tried to clarify the most important points for international students to know before leaving to study in France.

All the points mentioned in this article are very important to know.

You can consider these steps as a Checklist to follow to advance in your admission process and studies in French universities.

We always advise you to contact the universities of your choice for more information on registration and admissions procedures.

So don’t hesitate to follow these steps, and ask the questions that come to mind to the universities of your choice, and good luck with your further studies.

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