How much does a student need to study in France or is education in France free just like most European countries? As a student wishing to study and live in France, these are the type of questions you need to find answers to help you better prepare yourself. After reading this article, you will have better information on just how much you need to comfortably study in France.
How much does a student need to study in France
Is Education in France Free?
The short answer is yes, but only if you are a citizen or a permanent resident of an EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland. The EEA covers the countries of the European Union (EU) such as Iceland, the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Norway, and so on. For international students from other countries, you’d have to pay the full tuition and cost of living to study in France.
Although education is free for EU/EEA students they still have to pay a small amount to either the student union or your department for other costs. So, what is the cost of studying and living in France as a student?
Cost for Tuition Fees by Education Levels
For non-EU students, tuition is a must pay and below is the cost of tuition for the different degree levels in France for public universities in France.
2,770 euros per year for Bachelor’s (Licence) programmes
For Bachelor’s programmes, the average tuition fees are around 170 EUR per year.
Engineering degrees have higher tuition fees of around 620 EUR per academic year.
The average tuition fees for Medicine studies can reach up to 450 EUR per year.
3,770 euros per year for Master’s programmes, the average tuition fees to do a Master’s degree are around 260 EUR/per year
380 euros per year for Doctorate (PhD) programmes – the same amount as for Europeans.
There is still a small amount of 91 euros all students will have to contribute to campus and student life.
When you compare this amount to what students pay to study in other European countries, you will discover that it is way cheaper to study and live in France. For citizens and permanent residents in European countries, you pay a small fee which is listed below.
- 170 euros per year for Bachelor’s (Licence) programmes,
- 243 euros per year for Master’s programmes,
- 601 euros per year in Engineering courses at certain institutions,
- 380 euros per year for Doctorate (PhD) programmes.
The amounts and figures listed in this post are just the average sums students pay from a sample of schools in France. To get a precise and accurate amount and figures you will pay as tuition, you’d need to visit the website of the university you intend to apply.
Read Also: Fully-Funded Scholarships in the UK
Amount Paid by Students in Private and other Universities in France
Grandes Ecoles – international students must have to pay a bit more in France’s highly selective grandes écoles and grands établissements (great schools and establishments), which set their own fees (about 500-600 EUR per year, in most cases the fees can move up to 10,000 EUR per year).
Private universities –Tuition fees start at 1,500 EUR and can go over 20,000 EUR per year.
Business schools: in business schools, students pay a bit more and the amount can range between 5,000 and 30,000 EUR a year.
If you are looking the Universities with cheaper tuition fees in France, here is a list of some of the affordable universities in France.
University of Orleans – tuition fees: 170 – 601 EUR/year
University of Strasbourg – tuition fees: 184 – 610 EUR/year
Grenoble INP Institute of Engineering Univ. Grenoble Alpes – tuition fees: 122 – 470 EUR/year
The University of Burgundy – tuition fees: 170 – 601 EUR/year
What is the Cost of Living in France?
The cost of living generally covers the cost of accommodation, transport, clothing, feeding, and other extras.
Transportation costs are usually between 30 – 75 EUR Per Month
Health insurance costs 20 – 50 EUR/month
Food costs in France will be on average about 250 – 300 EUR/month on groceries in Paris or less in the provinces. The cost of eating in a restaurant is between 10 and 15 EUR
Student accommodation costs:
Student halls of residence on average, 200 EUR/month
Rent/share an apartment on average, 400 and 700 EUR/month (800 EUR/month in Paris).
