Study in France 2027: The International Student Guide
Affordable tuition, world-renowned universities, and an unmatched cultural experience. Everything you need to know about studying in France, with the latest 2026–27 fees and rules.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Why study in France?
France combines affordable tuition, world-renowned universities and an unmatched cultural experience. More than 400,000 international students study there, and public universities charge a fraction of what similar degrees cost in the UK or the US, because the state funds most of the real cost of teaching.
This guide covers the practical side of moving to France as a student: which city to pick, what a month really costs, how to find housing, and what everyday student life looks like. If you are applying for funding, read it alongside our Campus France scholarship guide (Eiffel and French government scholarships) and our Erasmus Mundus guide.
Explore the France guide
Compare Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Bordeaux, and more.
Budget calculator and cost breakdowns for French cities.
CROUS residences, private rentals, CAF housing aid, and tips.
Culture, part-time work, student discounts, and everyday life in France.
Key figures for 2026–27
These are the latest official amounts, for the 2026–27 academic year. The 2027–28 figures are usually published over the summer before the rentrée, so recheck them before you budget for a September 2027 start.
| What | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, public university (EU rate) | Licence €178 · Master €255 · Doctorate €398 | Per year; reduced rates exist |
| Tuition, non-EU students | Bachelor’s €2,902 · Master’s €3,950 | Differentiated fees; PhD stays at €398 |
| Public engineering schools | €630 | Per year (normal rate); €2,620 at the Écoles Centrales and Mines Nancy |
| CVEC (student life contribution) | €105 | Paid before enrolment; CROUS grant and French government scholarship holders exempt |
| Proof of funds for a student visa | €877.50 a month | Award letter counts for government scholars |
| Student visa (VLS-TS) application fee | €50 or €99 | €50 via Études en France, €99 elsewhere, plus visa-centre charges |
| VLS-TS validation tax (OFII) | €100 | Pay online within 3 months of arrival |
| Health insurance registration | Free | etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr |
| Student work allowance | 964 hours a year | 60% of a full-time year |
| Minimum wage (SMIC) | €12.31 gross an hour | Since 1 June 2026 |
| CROUS university restaurant meal | €1 | All students, since 4 May 2026 |
Sources: Campus France (tuition), Service-Public.fr (fees, verified 20 August 2026), Service-Public.fr (visa, updated 1 August 2026), cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr, etudiant.gouv.fr.
Since 1 July 2026, non-EU students on a student permit can only get APL housing aid if they hold a means-tested social grant (CROUS or regional), have a job, or are on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract. Most non-EU students should budget without CAF. Details on our Accommodation page.
What a month costs
Paris is in a league of its own: plan on roughly €1,200–€1,800 a month there. Regional cities such as Toulouse, Montpellier or Lille cost noticeably less, mostly because rent is lower. Our budget calculator breaks it down by city and lifestyle, and Accommodation covers rents, deposits and scams.
Related scholarships
French government scholarships and programmes for international students.
EU-funded joint master’s programmes with full scholarships across Europe.
Already applying? See the Eiffel Scholarship page and the French student visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
For 2026–27 the standard annual fees are €178 for a licence (bachelor’s), €255 for a master’s and €398 for a doctorate. Most students from outside the EU pay differentiated fees of €2,902 (bachelor’s) or €3,950 (master’s); doctoral fees are the same for everyone. Some categories of international students, and French government scholarship holders, are exempt.
Service-Public.fr lists a minimum of €877.50 a month for the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS). French government scholarship holders prove their resources with their award letter.
The Contribution Vie Étudiante et de Campus is €105 for 2026–27. You pay it online before enrolling and show the certificate to your institution. Holders of a means-tested CROUS grant or a French government scholarship, refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and asylum seekers are exempt, but must still get an exemption certificate.
Yes. With a student visa or residence card you can work up to 964 hours a year (60% of a full-time year) without a separate work permit; your employer must declare you to the préfecture at least two working days before you start. Algerian students need a work authorisation and are limited to 50% of annual working time.
Registering with French social security is free and done online at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr. It reimburses part of your medical costs (about €19 of a €30 GP visit); a complementary mutuelle is optional but recommended.
Only in specific cases since 1 July 2026: a means-tested social grant, a job, or an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract. EU, EEA and Swiss students are not affected.