Home›Study Abroad›Study in France for Indian Students 2027
To study in France in 2027, an Indian student must coordinate the exact degree, recognition status, application route, Études en France procedure, institutional admission, tuition policy, financial plan and long-stay student visa. A university offer alone does not complete the process.
France can be attractive because it combines public universities, engineering schools, business schools, grandes écoles and English-taught programmes. It is not automatically low-cost, and a programme marketed as a “master” is not automatically a recognised national master’s degree. Compare France with the wider country decision framework for Indian students before shortlisting.
Core France rule: Verify the exact institution and degree first. Then confirm whether the application is through Études en France, directly to the institution, Parcoursup or another official route. Admission, Campus France processing and the visa remain separate decisions.
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Who Should Seriously Consider France?
Strong fit
- Your selected programme is state-recognised and academically relevant.
- You value engineering, management, data, design, luxury, hospitality, public policy, sciences or research.
- You can manage a multi-stage application and visa process.
- Your budget works without depending on immediate part-time employment.
Proceed carefully
- You are choosing a private school mainly because admission appears easy.
- The programme uses “MSc” or “MBA” branding but its French recognition is unclear.
- You plan to study in English but have no French-learning plan.
- Your funding covers tuition but not Paris or large-city housing.
Reconsider
- An agent refuses to show the legal institution name or degree status.
- The programme promises guaranteed employment or residence.
- You are counting a scholarship application as confirmed funding.
- Your plan depends on earning the full living budget from a student job.
Understand the French Institution Type
| Institution type | Typical focus | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Public university | Academic degrees, research and broad subject coverage | Exact national degree, campus, tuition and exemption policy |
| Engineering school | Engineering education, often selective and professionally structured | Whether the exact diplôme d’ingénieur is authorised by CTI |
| Business or management school | Management, finance, marketing and specialised business education | CEFDG status, grade de licence/master, RNCP level and exact award |
| Grande école | Selective specialist education in engineering, management, public affairs or other fields | Degree-awarding authority and whether the programme itself is recognised |
| Private higher-education provider | Specialised or professionally marketed programmes | State recognition of the institution, degree recognition, contract, fees and refund rules |
A recognised institution can still offer different types of awards. Verify the exact programme rather than relying on the school’s brand. Use the dedicated French university and degree verification guide before paying a deposit.
France’s LMD Degree System
The standard public degree framework follows licence, master and doctorate:
- Licence: normally three years after secondary school, equivalent to 180 ECTS.
- Master: normally two years after a licence, bringing the total to 300 ECTS.
- Doctorate: research degree undertaken after a recognised master-level qualification.
Important labels are not interchangeable. A national master’s degree, a diplôme d’ingénieur carrying the master grade, a CEFDG-recognised business degree, an RNCP-registered professional certification and a school-issued certificate can produce different academic and professional outcomes.
France and India have a mutual recognition agreement covering recognised school, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral qualifications. Professional degrees that confer a right to practise—such as medicine and law—are excluded and require regulator-specific checks.
Application Routes for Indian Students
| Route | Typical use | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Études en France candidature | Applications to programmes available through the EEF catalogue | Submitting incomplete academics, language evidence or motivation sections |
| Direct institution application + EEF pre-consular process | Programmes requiring direct application to the school or university | Assuming direct admission removes the mandatory Campus France step |
| Parcoursup or DAP-related route | Selected first-year undergraduate pathways and applicant situations | Following a postgraduate process for a first-year licence application |
| Institution-specific selective route | Business schools, engineering schools, art, architecture or specialist programmes | Missing tests, portfolio, interview or separate portal requirements |
| Doctoral route | Supervisor, doctoral school, research proposal and funding-led admission | Using a taught-master’s application timeline |
The exact route is controlled by your level, programme and institution. The France university application timeline separates these routes for 2027 planning.
Études en France and Campus France India
India is an Études en France country. For a long-stay student visa, Campus France India states that the EEF procedure is mandatory. The process generally includes:
- Create an Études en France account and keep the Campus France registration number.
- Enter personal details, academic records, language skills, CV and statement of purpose.
- Upload passport, photograph, marksheets, certificates and programme-specific evidence.
- Submit programme choices or record direct admission, depending on the route.
- Correct anomalies identified by Campus France.
- Pay the current EEF processing fee and declare payment.
- Attend an academic interview if required.
- After authorisation to proceed, complete France-Visas and book the VFS appointment.
Campus France India currently states an EEF fee of ₹18,500, effective from 1 October 2024. Recheck before payment. The fee is generally non-refundable if the student abandons the procedure.
Application-control rule: Use your own official accounts, retain every receipt and verify what the institution—not an agent—requires.
English-Taught Does Not Mean French Is Unnecessary
The institution decides the academic language requirement. Confirm:
- Accepted English or French tests and minimum scores.
- Whether section-level scores apply.
- Whether a medium-of-instruction letter is accepted.
- Whether internships, apprenticeships or projects require French.
- Whether the course includes compulsory French modules.
French ability can affect housing, daily administration, internships, apprenticeships and employment. For an English-taught degree, a realistic goal is to begin French before travel and continue during the programme.
What Does Studying in France Cost?
France’s public tuition is subsidised, but non-EU applicants can face differentiated registration fees. The latest centrally published Campus France figures available during this update are for 2025/26:
| Public-institution level | Current published annual reference | 2027 action |
|---|---|---|
| Licence for qualifying non-EU first-time students | €2,895 | Check the 2027 national amount and university exemption policy |
| Master for qualifying non-EU first-time students | €3,941 | Check whether full, partial or no exemption applies |
| Doctorate | €397 | Confirm doctoral-school and funding terms |
| Private institution | Campus France gives a broad €6,000–€18,000 annual range | Use the exact contract and complete programme cost |
Many institutions grant full or partial exemptions, while others charge differentiated fees. The admission letter must be reconciled with the institution’s official fee page. Also budget the CVEC where applicable, housing, food, transport, insurance gaps, visa, EEF fee, VFS charges, flight and deposits.
Use the complete France cost guide for worked city budgets and cash-flow scenarios.
France Student Visa Process
France-Visas states that India is covered by the EEF procedure. For a course exceeding six months, the usual route is a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, subject to post-arrival formalities.
Practical sequence
- Verify the programme and recognition.
- Complete the correct application route.
- Receive an unconditional or otherwise visa-acceptable admission document.
- Complete and validate the EEF file.
- Attend the Campus France academic interview if required.
- Complete the France-Visas application.
- Book VFS only after the required Campus France notification.
- Attend in person for biometrics and document submission.
- After arrival, validate the VLS-TS online within three months.
- Apply for renewal between four and two months before expiry where applicable.
France-Visas currently lists a €50 indicative visa fee for countries using the EEF procedure, compared with €99 for other countries. VFS and optional service charges are separate. Campus France India recommends beginning the visa process at least three months before the intake once the unconditional acceptance is available.
Work Rights During Study
A non-European student holding a valid student VLS-TS or residence card may currently work up to 964 hours per year, equivalent to 60% of the annual legal working time. Ordinary employed activity does not require a separate work authorisation, although the employer has notification obligations.
Financial warning: The 964-hour permission is a legal ceiling, not an income guarantee. French language, location, timetable and employer demand affect access to work.
Apprenticeship and professionalisation contracts have additional rules. Some master-level or recognised programme situations can remove the usual one-year-in-France condition for an apprenticeship, but the exact course and contract must be checked.
After Graduation: Indian Student Extension
Campus France India states that Indian students can extend their stay after completing eligible studies for up to 24 months: an initial 12-month period renewable once for another 12 months under the India–France bilateral arrangement.
Do not treat this as automatic permanent residence or guaranteed employment. Eligibility depends on the completed qualification and current residence rules. The graduate must still secure an appropriate job, business or later residence status under the applicable conditions.
France 2027 Planning Timeline
| Planning window | Main action |
|---|---|
| 15–18 months before intake | Choose degree level, verify recognition systems and begin language preparation. |
| 12–15 months before | Build the programme list, identify EEF/direct/Parcoursup route and request records. |
| 9–12 months before | Complete tests, motivation documents, references, portfolio or course-specific evidence. |
| 6–9 months before | Submit early scholarship and institutional applications; complete EEF steps. |
| 3–6 months before | Compare offers, confirm fees and exemptions, complete EEF interview and funding plan. |
| At least 3 months before intake where possible | Complete France-Visas and VFS steps after the required admission and Campus France clearance. |
Build a Factual Academic Profile
French institutions may compare your degree, subjects, internships, projects and career logic. Keep one accurate master profile before adapting it to each programme.
Final France Decision Checklist
Official Sources Used
| Official source | Used to verify |
|---|---|
| Campus France India application procedure | EEF stages, academic interview, France-Visas and VFS sequence |
| Campus France India visa procedure | Mandatory EEF route, three-month planning and VLS-TS validation |
| France-Visas student page | India EEF status, visa type and indicative visa fee |
| Campus France tuition fees | 2025/26 public and private tuition references |
| Service-Public student work rules | 964-hour annual work limit and employer formalities |
| Campus France India post-study page | 24-month Indian graduate extension and alumni route |
| India–France qualification recognition | Comparable academic qualifications and exclusions |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Campus France mandatory for Indian students?
For a long-stay student visa, Campus France India states that the Études en France procedure is mandatory. The application route may still be through EEF or directly to the institution before the pre-consular process.
How much is the Campus France India fee?
The current published EEF fee is ₹18,500. Recheck the official payment page before paying because fees can change.
Can Indian students work while studying in France?
Yes. Eligible non-European students can currently work up to 964 hours per year with a valid student VLS-TS or residence card.
How long can Indian graduates stay after study?
Campus France India currently describes a 24-month extension route for Indian graduates: 12 months renewable once for another 12 months, subject to the applicable qualification and residence rules.
Are public universities in France free?
No. Public education is heavily subsidised, but non-EU students can face differentiated fees. Institutions may grant full or partial exemptions, so verify the exact programme and offer.
Is an English-taught French degree enough for employment?
The degree may be taught in English, but French proficiency can materially affect internships, apprenticeships, administration and employment.