Why study in France?
France offers two very different routes. Public universities charge regulated fees: in 2026–27, non-EU students pay €2,902 a year for a bachelor's and €3,950 for a master's. Business schools and private institutions charge much more, usually about €6,000–18,000 a year or above.
Many master's courses, especially at business and engineering schools, are taught in English. Indian students apply through the Etudes en France process run by Campus France India, which includes an academic interview before the visa appointment.
From 1 August 2026, you must show at least €877.50 a month for living costs. Indian students who complete a master's in France can apply for a one-time, 2-year APS permit to stay and look for work.
- Regulated public-university fees of €2,902 (bachelor's) and €3,950 (master's) a year for non-EU students
- Business schools with English-taught master's and MBAs
- Work up to 964 hours a year while you study
- Indian master's graduates can apply for a one-time, 2-year APS permit
- Indian master's holders who studied in France can apply for a 5-year short-stay visa
- Government scholarships for Indian students, such as Charpak
Popular universities in France
Sorbonne Université
Paris · Exempts eligible non-EU students from higher fees (2026–27)
Université Paris-Saclay
Orsay · English-taught M1 Artificial Intelligence
École Polytechnique
Palaiseau · English-taught Bachelor of Science and MSc&T
ESCP Business School
Paris · Multi-campus bachelor's and Master in Management
INSEAD
Fontainebleau · 10-month MBA, January and August intakes
emlyon business school
Lyon · Master's in finance, data and marketing
EDHEC Business School
Nice · MiM track in Data Science & AI for Business
Grenoble Ecole de Management
Grenoble · MSc Managing with Data and AI
Popular programmes
- Management (MiM)
- Finance
- Data Science & AI
- Business Analytics
- MBA
- Engineering
- Digital Marketing
- Hospitality Management
Courses from our Course Finder
Bachelor in Management (BSc)
ESCP Business School · Paris (with Berlin, London, Madrid and Turin campuses) · Bachelor’s · 3 years
Master in Management (MiM)
ESCP Business School · Paris (with other European ESCP campuses) · Master’s · 2 years
MBA
INSEAD · Fontainebleau · MBA · 10 months
Bachelor of Science
École Polytechnique · Palaiseau · Bachelor’s · 3 years
Data Science and AI for Business X-HEC (DSAIB)
École Polytechnique (joint degree with HEC Paris) · Palaiseau · Master’s · 2 years
Master in Finance
emlyon business school · Lyon · Master’s · 12 or 24 months
Cost of studying: financial breakdown
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition (public) | €2,902 / yrNon-EU rate, 2026–27 |
| Postgraduate tuition (public) | €3,950 / yrNon-EU rate, 2026–27; some universities exempt eligible students |
| Private institutions and business schools | About €6,000–18,000+ / yrVaries by school; MBAs cost more |
| Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC) | €105 / yr2026–27 |
| Living costs / proof of funds | €877.50 / monthMinimum for the student visa from 1 August 2026 (was €615) |
| Student visa fee | €50Reduced rate for countries using Etudes en France; Campus France fee of INR 20,000 from 1 August 2026 |
| Visa validation (stay tax) | €100Paid online when you validate your VLS-TS |
| Health insurance | FreeRegistration with French social security is free and mandatory; a top-up 'mutuelle' is optional |
Typical tuition in rupees: ≈ ₹3–20 lakh per year (European Central Bank and Bank of Russia reference rates, 9 October 2026).
Application checklist
- 1Valid passport
- 2Unconditional admission letter from a French institution
- 3Etudes en France (EEF) application on the Campus France portal, with fee paid
- 4Campus France academic interview (bring original documents)
- 5Proof of funds of at least €877.50 a month (from 1 August 2026)
- 6English test score (IELTS, TOEFL or similar) as required by your course
- 7Degree certificates and mark sheets
- 8France-Visas online form and VFS appointment, booked only after the Campus France email
- 9Apply at least three months before your course starts
- 10Validate your visa online within 3 months of arriving
Student visa: VLS-TS long-stay student visa
Indian students need a long-stay student visa (VLS-TS). Complete the Etudes en France process and Campus France interview first, then apply on France-Visas and at VFS. After arriving, validate the visa online within 3 months; it then serves as your residence permit for the first year.
What you’ll need
- Admission letter from a French institution
- Completed Etudes en France file and Campus France interview
- Proof of at least €877.50 a month for living costs (from 1 August 2026)
- France-Visas online application and VFS appointment
- Visa fee of €50 (reduced student rate)
- Online validation within 3 months of arrival, with a €100 stay tax
Work and employment options
- While you study
- Up to 964 hours a year (60% of the legal work year) with a valid residence permit
- After you graduate
- Indian students who complete at least a master's degree can apply for a one-time, non-renewable APS (temporary residence authorisation), valid for 2 years after their student permit expires. Before switching to a work permit, you can work up to 60% of the normal working week. Indian master's holders who studied in France can also apply for a 5-year short-stay visa.
- A 2-year APS lets Indian master's graduates stay on to look for work
- With a qualifying job offer, graduates can change to a work residence permit
- Business-school careers services and alumni networks help with job searches
- France Travail, the public employment service, helps all job seekers
- French language skills widen your job options
Good to know: From 1 August 2026, the minimum funds for a French student visa rose from €615 to €877.50 a month, and the Campus France fee rose to INR 20,000.
Scholarships to explore
- France Excellence Charpak Master's Scholarship (€860 a month, visa and Campus France fee waivers, social security)
- France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship (nominated by French institutions)
- Tuition-fee waivers granted by some public universities, case by case
- School merit scholarships at business schools
Official sources · checked 10 October 2026
- Campus France: tuition fees in France (opens in a new tab)
- Campus France India: visa procedure (opens in a new tab)
- Campus France India: working in France (opens in a new tab)
- Campus France India: Charpak Master's Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- Campus France: validating your long-stay visa (opens in a new tab)
- France-Visas: student visa (opens in a new tab)
Figures are indicative planning ranges and change often. Always confirm fees, funds and visa rules on the university and official government websites before you apply.