Top 10 French Universities: Application Process for 2025 Intakes
The application process is an important part of preparing to study abroad. To study in France, applicants must be ready before applying to any specific university. France offers diverse academic programs that cultivate leadership and technological and innovative approaches to life for overseas students, which will help them in the long run.
In this blog, we have discussed the benefits of studying in France, the top 10 French universities, eligibility, the application process, and more.
- Why Study in France?
- How to Apply for French Universities?
- Document Checklist for Indian Students
- Study Intakes in France
- Study in France: Higher Education Levels
- Study in France: Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students
- Study Visa for France
- Important Documents for Study Visa
- Top 10 Universities in France
- Popular Courses in France
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why Study in France?
France attracts thousands of Indian students every year to pursue higher education in the fields of medicine, business and finance, economics, science, art and culture, etc, due to the following reasons:
World Wide Recognition: France is home to around 10,000 Indian students. It is world-renowned for providing a rich taste of culture, cuisine, art, and history, enhancing their educational experience. France is expected to see the surge in numbers of Indian students to 30,000 by 2030.
Home to Top Universities: France houses popular global universities like Sorbonne University, ESCP, ESSEC, University of Paris, etc., emphasising strong research and innovative practices in academic and career pursuits.
QS World University Rankings 2025: There are around 35 French universities in the QS World University Ranking 2025, which shows the academic reputation and measures the learning and teaching environment.
Employability: French degrees give international French graduates direct access to more than 500 companies worldwide for internships, research and employment opportunities.
Developed Economy: France is the world’s 7th largest economy and has over 30 companies of the world’s 500 most powerful companies. In academics, France has produced over 31 Nobel laureates. The education system in France represents 20% of the total budget investment.
How to Apply for French Universities?
Both private and public universities in France have different application processes. Public universities in France provide admission to Indian students in their bachelor’s and master’s degree courses through Campus France. In the case of private universities, students can apply on the university’s website.
Research and Evaluate
- The application process starts with evaluating the applicant’s field of interest, skills, and subject expertise.
- Through this, students can know which field or subject area they can excel in.
Explore Universities
- Explore French universities that offer the student’s desired course.
- Students should visit their respective websites and review the course details, including curriculum, fee structure, and other benefits like scholarships and the scope of the chosen course.
- They must shortlist the 8-10 universities which are supposed to fulfill their career aspirations.
Application Process (Campus France)
- Visit the Etudes en France website and create an account.
- Check your email for password generation.
- Note down the Campus France registration number.
- Now, visit the official website of Campus France and log in.
- You can also take the help of Campus France to explore the programs available in their catalogue.
- Submit details like personal details, academic details, and motivation for the programs.
- The local advisor of Campus France will review your application and schedule the date for an interview.
- Pay the processing fees of Rs.18,000 online on the website https://payment.ifindia.in/.
Application Process (University Specific)
- Apart from Campus France, applicants can also apply on university websites, depending on the course.
- The application process is almost similar to that of the Campus France. However, the application fee might differ depending on the institute.
- To get you land in your dream French university, AdmitX is here to provide you with consultation regarding the admission process of each institute, and also help you prepare the required documents and apply for the visa.
Interview
- The candidate is required to appear in the academic interview, virtually or physically, depending on the local situation.
- Carry your complete original documents along with one set of photocopies and fee receipts.
- After the interview, the original documents will be returned.
Document Checklist for Indian Students
Documents which are required to submit at the time of Campus France academic interview are:
- Previous Academic Transcripts (Certificates, marksheets, and passing transcripts of Bachelor’s/Senior Secondary School, etc.)
- 2 passport-sized photos
- English language proficiency tests
- TOEFL: Minimum score of 90-100
- IELTS: Minimum band score of 6.5-7.5
- PTE: Minimum score of 60-70
- Duolingo: Minimum score of 80-110
- Standardised tests such as GMAT/GRE, etc.
- French language proficiency certificate like DELF or DALF (if required).
- 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
- 1-2 Statements of Purpose
- CV/Resume
- Work Experience certificates (if applicable)
- Passport
Post-Interview
- After successfully acing the interview, students started to get responses from the universities.
- Go through the university’s online portal and check their calendar for the desired intake.
- The enrollment process in different universities might differ. Go through their websites for further details.
- After the two-stage process, you will receive the acceptance letter from the chosen institute, following which you can proceed with the study visa process.
Study Intakes in France
- The most popular study intake in France is fall intake, which usually commences in September-October every year. In this intake, French universities provide most bachelor’s and master’s programs.
- On the other hand, spring intake is less popular and commences in January every year.
- Students can opt for spring intake if they have missed deadlines in fall intake or need more preparation time.
| Intakes | Application Cycle | Commencement of Intake |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Intake (Rentrée d'Automne) | September 2024-January 2025 | September 2025 |
| Spring intake (Rentrée d'Hiver) | September-November 2024 | January 2025 |
Study in France: Higher Education Levels
Like every other country, France has also divided its higher education system into three levels, e.g., bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral. The French education system has adopted an LMD or license-master-doctorate, which standardises the education levels and recognises the degrees in the different countries.
| Education Level | Duration | Number of Credits Earned |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s (License L1, L2, L3) | 3 Years | 180 ECTS |
| Master’s (M1, M2) | 1-2 Years | 120 ECTS |
| PhD | 5-8 Years | 180 ECTS |
Study in France: Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students
To study in France, the application process might vary depending on the course, university, type of intake, etc. We can classify the eligibility criteria on a broad level, depending on the level of education that French institutes follow:
For Bachelor’s Degree Courses
For bachelor’s degree courses, both Indian and French educational institutes recognise the academic qualifications of each other’s students. Following are the eligibility criteria for Indian students to get enrolled in an undergraduate course
- A minimum of 70-80% at 10+2 level from a board recognised by the government (CBSE, state boards, ISC, etc.).
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
For Master’s Degree Courses
To study in France, the eligibility criteria for master’s degree programs might vary depending on the university, course, and specialisation. Some common eligibility criteria are below.
A 3-4 years bachelor’s degree from a recognised university is required and must be relevant to the opted program, e.g., science, engineering, business management, finance, law, etc.
- 3-year bachelor’s program with no work experience: 2 year master’s program.
- 4 year bachelor’s program with no work experience: 1 year master’s program.
- 3-year bachelor’s degree program with 1-year of work experience: 1 year master’s program
For PhD Courses
To pursue PhD courses in French universities, Indian students are required to fulfill the following criteria:
- Master’s graduates in an Indian/French institute can choose PhD program relevant to their chosen research field.
- PhD aspirants must have a clear research proposal describing their research activities’ goals.
Study Visa for France
To get a study visa for France, applicants are required to follow these steps after getting an acceptance letter from the university and NOC from Campus France:
Online Visa Process
- After completing the academic application process, start the visa application process at online portal.
- Create a France-Visas account and complete the details.
- Schedule the appointment with VFS France.
- Applicants are required to visit the VFS France center along with their photocopied documents.
Important Documents for Study Visa
- University Acceptance Letter
- Previous Academic Records
- Language Test Certifications (if applicable)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Experience Letter (if applicable)
- Valid Passport
- Cover Letter
- Proof of Funding (EUR 615 or INR 57,365 per month)
- Proof of Accommodation
- Medical Insurance
- Flight Tickets
French Consulate Appointment
- Visit https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/fra/ to fix the interview date.
- Appear in the interview at the consular’s office.
- It would take 7-10 days to receive the study visa.
Visa Processing Fees
Applicants are required to submit a processing fee of EUR 99 or INR 9,235.
Top 10 Universities in France
In France, government provides subsidies to higher education. The French government covers about two-thirds of the tuition fees of non-EU students in public universities in France.
Some top French universities pursuing higher education programs are listed below, with their QS World University Rankings 2025.
| University | QS World University Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
| Université PSL | 24 |
| Institut Polytechnique de Paris | 46 |
| Sorbonne University | 63 |
| Université Paris-Saclay | 73 |
| École Normale Supérieure de Lyon | 187 |
| Ecole des Ponts ParisTech | 205 |
| Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne | 283 |
| Université Paris Cité | 302 |
| Université Grenoble Alpes | 334 |
| Sciences Po | 350 |
Popular Courses in France
Although international students can find various programs in all French universities, including Engineering, Management, Medicine, Law, etc., some universities are known for their expertise in providing knowledge in a specific subject area/field.
For example, INSEAD, EMLyon, Skema, and ESSEC are world-renowned institutes for MBA in France. In contrast, École Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec, INSA Lyon, Sorbonne University, etc., are the top engineering universities in France.
Below are the top 10 courses that Indian students prefer to study in France.
- Master’s of Business Administration
- Film Studies
- Luxury Brand Management
- Engineering
- Fashion Designing
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Hotel Management
- Finance
- Natural Sciences
Conclusion
To sum up, France is the leading study destination in Europe, having modern infrastructure and a top-class education system. To study in France at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, Indian students can use the centralised facility of the Government of France, whereas enrolling in doctorate programs requires the direct involvement of the university individually.
Private institutions in France offer admission on their own at any level. Students must start preparing for admission in any intake at least 1 year before the commencement of the degree program.
FAQs
Can international students work with their studies in France?
Yes, international students can work part-time upto 20 hours per week to reduce their living expenses in France. As of January 1, 2024, minimum wage is €11.65 per hour.
Is the French language necessary to get admission to universities in France?
Most institutes do not require the eligibility of French proficiency to impart admission to a student. However, some universities might prefer proficiency in French for courses delivered in French.
What is the cost of living in France?
Apart from tuition fees, the expenses in France vary according to location and lifestyle. On average, it ranges from EUR 600-800 or INR 55,000-73,000 per month.
Can I study in France free of cost?
Studying in France isn’t free. However, French government provide educational subsidy which reduces the cost of study. Apart from that, scholarship schemes like French Excellence Charpak Scholarship and Eiffel Excellence also help in lowering study costs.
Is it easy to get PR in France?
A student can apply for long-term resident status if they have resided in France for consecutive 5 years. This provides a route to permanent residency.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
