FR · Last reviewed July 2026

Study in France

Grande école prestige, English-taught masters, and post-study APS.

Best for

Business, luxury management, engineering, hospitality careers

Intakes

September primary · January for select programs

Popular courses

Business & MIM, Engineering, Luxury Management

Post-study

APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — up to 2 years

Overview

Why Indian students choose France

France offers globally ranked business schools (grande écoles), strong engineering institutions and generous post-study rights for eligible graduates.

Prestigious business schools with global recognition
Master's programs increasingly taught in English
APS provides a clear post-study path for eligible graduates
Affordable tuition at public universities

How it works

Education system

Universities, grande écoles, and specialised schools. LMD system (Licence, Master, Doctorat).

Licence — 3 years

Master — 2 years

Doctorat — 3+ years

MSc/MIM at grande écoles — 1–2 years

What you need

Admission requirements

·Bachelor's or equivalent
·Motivation letter
·CV
·References

English requirements

IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL for English-taught programs.

Standardised tests

GMAT/GRE for grande école business programs.

Timeline

Application process

1Apply via Campus France (mandatory for Indian students)
2Complete pre-consular procedure and interview
3Receive admission and pay deposit
4Apply for long-stay student visa (VLS-TS)

Required documents

· Passport
· Admission letter
· Campus France NOC
· Financial evidence
· English/French test

Cost planning

Tuition, living and scholarships

Public university tuition EUR 2,700–3,800/year (non-EU). Grande écoles EUR 12,000–25,000/year. Living EUR 800–1,200/month (Paris higher).

Scholarships & funding

Eiffel Excellence Scholarships, Charpak Scholarship for Indian students, French Embassy scholarships.

Compliance first

Student visa & work rights

Visa overview

Long-stay student visa VLS-TS, validated as a residence permit after arrival through OFII.

Work during study

Up to 964 hours per year (approx. 60% of full time). No separate work permit required.

Post-study work

Eligible master's-level graduates may apply for the APS to seek qualified employment or start a business. Duration and eligibility set by French authorities.

Compliance responsibilities

· Register with OFII after arrival
· Renew residence permit on time
· Do not exceed work hours

Visa information is general guidance, last reviewed July 2026. Rules can change without notice. Visa approval is solely determined by the relevant government authority. Always confirm on the official source before applying.

Campus France India France Visas

Where students commonly explore

University examples

Universities students commonly explore in France. Entry criteria and deadlines vary by course — always confirm directly on the university admissions page.

Paris-Saclay University

Paris-Saclay · Public research

Sciences · Engineering · AI

Sorbonne University

Paris · Public research

Humanities · Sciences · Medicine

Sciences Po

Paris · Public research

Public Affairs · International Relations · Journalism

École Polytechnique

Palaiseau · Grande école

Engineering · AI · Data Science