Student Assistance – France

Tuition expenses in France – complete information available

There has been a slight change. From the advent of autumn 2019, foreign students are required to pay a little more tuition fees than before, to the French universities, compared to the minimal fee of 200 euros per year, previously, but this comes with a benefit. There would be a variety of triple government sponsorship options for international students.

There is an option to study without much fees in France, provided you are a citizen or permanent resident of a country of the EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland. The EEA constitutes of all

The countries affiliated to the EU (European Union) , including Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

On the contrary, if you are not a citizen of the above mentioned countries, or if you are not a PR of France, you will have to pay you will have to bear higher tuition expenses, to both public and private institutes.

The tuition fees for students hailing from Africa or Asia, will be Considerably more than that of French students. Campus France, The authorized agency or the French government agency, will offer you substantial details.

What will be the expenses to study in France?

Tuition fees at public universities are allotted by the French government and are similar throughout the country.

Bachelor’s (License) programs – 170 euros per year.
Master’s programs – 243 euros per year.
Engineering courses – 601 euros per year (approximately).
Doctorate (PhD) programs – 380 euros per year,

Now however, charges will increase for foreign students, pursuing bachelor and masters courses.

Revised tuition fees for foreign students from September 2019, are as follows –

Bachelor’s (License) programs – 2,770 euros per year
Master’s programs – 3,770 euros per year

Doctorate (PhD) programs – 380 euros per year – (the same Is applicable for Europeans).

Please note – The above mentioned fees apply only to public universities; the fees

for tuition at private universities may be more, ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 euros per year.

Scholarships are available for international students –

The French government have confirmed the availability of scholarships alongside the revised tuition expenses. The official Campus Bourses tool will give you a broad perspective of grants scholarships to study in France.

When do I require to pay the tuition fee as a student in France?

Normally, you have to clear the whole year’s tuition fee at the starting of the academic year, that starts in September.

Do I need to pay for a French student visa?

In case you are a student from outside the EU, you might require the VLS-TS visa (“étudiant”). The visa permits you to work up to 964 hours per year (20hours per week), travel freely in the countries of the Schengen, apart from enjoying a great living and studying in France as well.

The cost for application for VLS-TS visa, is 99 euros, the cost for which you can pay once your application is confirmed, but you will need the visa before travelling to France for your studies.

The moment you reach France, you need to validate the visa within 3 months, for which an additional 60 euros needs to be cleared.

What are the basic expenses per month to live comfortably in France?

A student’s life in France need not be high. For example, in cities like,Toulouse, Bordeaux or Lyon, you can very well survive with 850 to 1,000 euros per month, includes your accommodation and in some smaller towns the cost is even lesser, with the exception Paris, where expenses would vary from 1,250 to 1,400.

What are the final dates for application to the universities?

This varies from university to university, who have their own application deadlines that is between February and April for degrees starting in the autumn season of the same year. However, after the changes in situations, things will be different, starting from 2019. The universities will guide you with accurate details.

France Student Visa Guide

There are different types of student visas for France. They are as follows –

Visa de court séjour pour etudes (‘Schengen’ short-stay student visa)

You can come to France and study up to three months on this visa, without the requirement for an alternative residence visa. This is best for those who are applying on a particular language program or short-term based programs.

Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes (duration will be a longer-stay visa).This visa allows you to study in France for a time span of upto 6 months, is non renewable and would not require a P.R.

Visa de long séjour etudes (A visa that allows you to stay for a longer period). In case you are looking for a long – stay, that is more than 6 months, you are required to apply for this particular visa. This type of visa lasts for the duration of your course in France, for three years for bachelors, two for masters and four years for a Ph.D. A Long-stay equates a residence permits and are called VLT-TS.

Handing in the application of the visa and of passports can be done only by the applicant itself or through Embassy of France, New Delhi. French Student Visa comprises of two main steps of application – 1) Campus France

2) The embassy.

The details of required documents may not be the same for both of them. You would be required to submit originals at Campus France, whereas only photocopies are substantial at the embassy/ consulate/ Visa Application, respectively.

Expense towards a Visa

The Visa expense for a long duration – National Visa for Studies would be €50 for students applying for bachelors/ masters courses respectively.

A two course application and exchange students, the cost remains similar.

Please note – The respective amounts are required to be paid at the nearest “BNP Paribas Branch”. Youcan search the website for its location, where you would need to carry your #39;re IN Number. The payment could be done in cash and in favour of “Institut Francais EN INDE”, the official account No being, 0906506003400137. Kindly call and sort out your queries before reaching the branch.

An additional Visa Processing charge of €50 which amounts to current INR 4076 along with

the VFS Service Fees and handling charges which comes up to a total of INR 1467 (inclusive of all taxes).

PS – Visa fee for applicants towards the France Visa Application Centre in New Delhi and Kolkata (only), is to be paid through a Bank Draft, whereas Visa fee for applicants applying Centre in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Pondicherry is to be paid strictly by cash only. There is an option to courier directly, at Rs 300 per application, that is inclusive of service tax.

Please Note – Before making the payment, kindly consult with the embassy or consulate, since exchange rates keep fluctuating.

Documents

It is mandatory to submit two sets of application (photocopies), consisting the following –

Long stay application form for the duration of more than 90 days.
A copy of Passport.
A Hard copy of your Campus France ID number.
Letter of registration from the academic Institution
Cover letter with detailing of the study project as well as a CV / Resume
Proof of Finances – tuition fees and a minimum of 615 Euros/month, towards the entire academic period
Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France
Two passport size photographs.
Copy of your round-trip airline ticket (if you are studying for six months or less), or a one-way ticket if you are studying in France for a period, greater than six months)
An OFII form (Office Francais de Immigration et de Integration)
Proof of residency in France such as a lease, electricity bill, title of property etc. for a minimum of three months or a hotel reservation
Copies of the degree and academic diplomas, certificates

Now, when you attend your interview, you would be required to carry all

your documents in original plus a copy of all the documents.

The application process –

There are several steps to applying for a visa. First, you need to appear for an interview with Cosmos Consultancy, after which, you need to submit your documents with VFS.

Fill the Academic records, Language skills, and CV+SOP sections.
Upload documents, photograph, and academic records. Ensure that all fields in the Validation tab state “Completed”.
Send your documents to the assigned Cosmos Consultancy office to get your file reviewed, and to request for an appointment.
You will have to appear in person for the academic interview with the Cosmos Consultancy advisor. You must also carry all the mandatory documents as well as one set of photocopies along with the original Campus France fee payment receipt.
Once your Interview is completed, you will receive certificate completed document, at the end of the interview.
After the academic interview, you are required to schedule an appointment with VFS- France, in order to submit your relevant documents like, photocopies, receipts, and passport.

Note: The Embassy of France, New Delhi has implemented has made a new rule in arrangements for the collection of the processed passport from visa application centers. From the 8th of December, 2014, it is not any more possible for third parties to collect the documents on behalf of the applicant, apart from the following exceptions –

Immediate family members (Parent, Child or sibling)
One member of a group collecting for the entire group
A person collecting on behalf of Govt. officials only if they are authorized on the Govt. letterhead or department.
A representative of a company – Authorization letter on the letterhead of the company and the official ID card of the representative authority is mandatory.

Dependents

Spouses and children may be permitted to reside in France during your course study, but is based on certain criterion, that are –

There should be enough funds and comfortable living space. The France embassy decides on individual cases, where certain amount of levee consideration may be given to your case if you can convince the authorities.

If you were accepted by a French University for a Bachelor's degree(which is called a "Licence"), your spouse would not be granted a visa to accompany you or be allowed to work in France unless he / she is a European citizen.

However, the situation may be different for Research or doctorate students. They might be allowed to take their spouse or kids, but this depends on various terms and conditions.

Additional Information

The French law permits students to do 964 hours of part-time work, annually.

International students also hold criterion for student jobs at universities. Students are hired to help incoming students, special – students, tutoring, IT support, related towards working in the career center etc.

Student who are in employment, are supposed to follow a work schedule that does not disrupt their programs.

The terms and conditions of employment are strictly applicable to the requirements of each student 's program in order to prove both ,academic success as well as showing work experience.

Work visa

Students that have achieved at least a master’s degree or its equivalent, are free to apply for a one-time temporary residency non-renewable and the authorization of which is known as APS (authorization Provisoire deséjour), valid for a period of 1 year. Students who earn a job related to their academic program may enter full-time employment by requesting a change of status (from student to employee) in their respective applications.

VFS Visa Application Centers

New Delhi

2/50 E Shantipath – Chanakyapuri, Delhi 110021

Tel: (11) 43 19 61 00 Fax: (11) 43 19 61 19

Mumbai

Wockhardt Towers, East Wing, 5th Floor

Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400 051

Tel: (022)66 69 40 00, Fax: (022)66 69 40 66

Puducherry

2, rue de la Marin, Pondicherry 605 001

Tel: (0413)223 10 0, Fax: (0413)223 10 01

Bangalore

21, Palace Road – Vasanthnagar, Bangalore 560 052

Tel: (080)22 14 12 00

Kolkata

21 C Raja Santosh Road – Alipore, Kolkata 700 027

Tel: (33)40 16 32 0, Fax: (33)40 16 32 01