A Grande Ecole happens to be a French institution of tertiary education which is separate from the main framework of French public institutions but more often than not- it is connected to it. Grande Ecoles are referred to as elite academic institutions which follow a highly competitive admission criterion. One of the most prominent Grande Ecoles in France is the Ecole Polytechnique. It is important to note that Grande Ecoles is not the same as public universities in France. Grandes Ecoles are relatively smaller and compact in size and admit students with a more strict and selective admission process each year.
French universities normally offer three different types of degrees namely:
Students belonging to European Union or European Economic Area do not require a visa to study in France since France is also a part of the European Union. However, students from other countries require an extended stay visa along with a residency permit. This can be done either by the CEF process or by visiting the nearest French Embassy.
While it’s a task to find an undergraduate program in France which is taught in English, there are over 1400 Higher Education programs taught in English Language. So, it is not mandatory to be fluent in French but it can act as an added advantage. It is important to note that a few public universities in France do require the B2 (intermediate level) of the DELF test or TCF-DAP for International students.
Cost of living in France depends on the location. Here is an estimate of living costs in a few of the French cities.
Paris: The cost normally ranges between 1000-1200 euros per month if you’re living in Paris.
Nice: Costs nearly 800-1000 Euros per month
For the rest of France, it is possible to manage with an amount of nearly 650 euros per month.
Students who belong to European Economic Area and Switzerland are allowed to work alongside their studies in France without any restrictions. For students belonging to other countries, 965 hours of work per year is allowed which is equivalent to nearly 60% of a full working year. It is important to note that an internship completed as a part of the program is not included in this criterion.
France offers a variety of funding opportunities for International students. One of the most popular scholarship opportunities in France is the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program. Under this program, Masters Students receive an allowance of 1181 euros per month for a period of 12-36 months while Ph.D students receive 1140 euros per month for 10 months. EU’s Erasmus Scholarship program is another funding opportunity available for International Students.
An International Masters student gets a period of one year after graduation to work in France without applying for a change in residency status. The concerned student is allowed to work for 60% of the full working year during this period provided that his earnings do not exceed 150% of the existing minimum wage in France. Other International students must apply for a change in residency status in order to be able to work in France after their graduation.
Here is a list of documents required for obtaining French Student Visa:
