Study Abroad in France
About France
Study in France consultants near me is about 80% the size of Texas. In the Alps near the Italian and Swiss borders is western Europe’s highest point—Mont Blanc (15,781 ft; 4,810 m). The forest-covered Vosges Mountains are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are along the Spanish border . Except for extreme northern France, the country may be described as four river basins and a plateau. Three of the streams flow west—the Seine into the English Channel, the Loire into the Atlantic, and the Garonne into the Bay of Biscay. The Rhône flows south into the Mediterranean. For about 100 mi (161 km), the Rhine is France’s eastern border. In the Mediterranean, about 115 mi (185 km) east-southeast of Nice, is the island of Corsica (3,367 sq mi; 8,721 sq km).
Archeological excavations indicate that France has been continuously settled since Paleolithic times. The Celts, who were later called Gauls by the Romans, migrated from the Rhine valley into what is now France. In about 600 B.C. , Greeks and Phoenicians established settlements along the Mediterranean, most notably at Marseille. Julius Caesar conquered part of Gaul in 57–52 B.C. , and it remained Roman until Franks invaded in the 5th century A.D.
The French education system-one of the best in the world
France is renowned for having one of the world’s best education systems, which most people attribute to the high standards expected, the rigorous teaching methods and the discipline instilled in the children. For some people hoping to live abroad in the long-term, their children’s ability to integrate successfully into French life and French school life in particular, is one of the deciding factors. The good news is that there are lots of options available so parents can choose the one that they feel will work best for their child. A child that has grown up in another country is likely not only to become bilingual but also have advanced personal skills for his or her age at every stage. It is important to remember these significant long-term advantages whilst coping with the short-term traumas that moving your family abroad will inevitably entail.
Compared to other countries, France has an unusual and complex system of higher education.
In virtually all countries in the world, the pinnacle of the education system, the institutions providing the finest centres of excellence, are universities. Not so in France. While France has close to a hundred universities, most of them able to hold their own as regards teaching and research with middle-of-the-range universities in other parts of Europe, the peak of the education pinnacle in France is represented by the country’s “Grandes Ecoles”, relatively small and highly selective “schools” (in the American sense of the word) which provide a cosseted higher education to the nation’s future elites – tomorrow’s “haut fonctionnaires” (senior civil servants), leaders of industry, top military brass, top politicians, engineers, physicists and others. In spite of the national preocupation with equality and equal opportunities, the top end of the French higher education systems is elitist.
Grandes Ecoles are very well funded, have small classes and top teaching staff; indeed they (and the lycée classes preparing students for their competitive entry exams) syphon off a disproportionate amount of the education budget – to the detriment of France’s universities that are considerably underfunded, compared with international standards. Two of France’s Grandes Ecoles (ENS and Polytechnique), but no universities, are listed in the 2009 THES/QS world’s top 100 universities listing; conversely, French schools of management do well in the 2009 QS listings for Europe, with 4 of the top 20 places, including the No.1 spot (INSEAD).
Nonetheless, despite their limited funding, French universities generally do a remarkably good job; and in terms of productivity (the ratio between investment per student, quality, and the results obtained) they must rank among the most efficient institutions of higher education in any developed country!
Student fees in France
Tuition Fees for International Students in France. Education is government subsidized in France, meaning that tuition fees are comparatively low. On average, a Licence degree from a public university costs around 200 EUR per year for both EU and non-EU students. However, cost fluctuates depending on chosen program.
Entry into higher education:
French universities are open to all “bacheliers”, that is students who have passed their baccalauréat. However, while some types of degree course are open to all comers (notably courses in arts faculties and social sciences), scientific and medical courses are usually only open to students who have passed a scientific baccalauréat.
The baccalauréat is the gold standard, when it comes to getting into university; but getting into a “grande école” is a whole different ball game. Entry into many “grandes écoles” is at “bac+2” level, i.e. the level of the third year of university studies; and to get into a “grande école”, many students actually stay on in Lycée for two whole years after the baccalauréat. In this respect, Lycées are also a part of the French higher education system, thanks to what is known as “les classes préparatoires”.
Admission Procedure:
The admission procedure in France is not very different from the rest of the European countries. The academic year starts at the end of September or the beginning of October. For admissions, the procedures begin in December or January. If you are planning to pursue your education in France, it is understood that you conduct a proper research about the place and it system. This country has educational institutes of two types: the Universities and the ‘Grandes Ecoles’. There are more Grandes Ecoles (translates to “great schools”) in France than the typical universities. These can be public or privately run establishments that take a lesser number of students per year and are more competition oriented. Even though every institution has its own procedure or selection of students, there are similarities among them all. To know more, read the sections below.
Eligibility Criteria For Admissions In France Universities
Application Requirements
• Personal Statement: This document must be framed crisply with details such as: reasons for taking up the desired course, why that particular university was chosen and other interests in the same field.
• Application Form: Here, submission of personal details, academic history and past working experience, if any, must be stated.
• Essay: Some universities might ask you to provide an essay or two with respect to the course that you intend to pursue.
• Transcripts: All certificates of former studies should be made available with the application form. In case of an online application, these documents must be scanned. For international students, it is sometimes compulsory to translate these transcripts into French.
• ETS and GRE score reports.
• ToEFL or IELTS score reports.
• Credentials: Passport, visa, recent photographs and birth certificate.
• Recommendation: Most universities require atleast two letters of recommendation or reference from previous universities.
• Entrance Tests: Some universities have an entrance test that needs to be cleared before enrolling.
• Interview: once the application has been accepted and the entrance exam is out of the way, there is an interview. This is the final step. After this, the university will inform applicants who have made it through.
Eligibility
For higher education in France, a student must completed atleast a higher secondary education. Following this, they are eligible to do a diploma (1 or 2 years) or a bachelor’s degree (3 or 4 years). If you already possess either of these undergraduate degrees then you can apply for a master’s degree of 1 or 2 years. Eligibility can also depend upon GPA and IELTS scores.
Guidelines For Foreign Students For Admissions In France Institutes
• `Interedwise Education´ is organizations which help students in finding and applying for colleges and universities abroad.
• Another good way to find credible information is through the French Embassy present in the home country.
• There are French institutions that teach courses in French. These institutes will also have information regarding universities in France and the kind of placement there.
• The best method to apply to a college is to approach nearest office of ´Interedwise´ to look through the website for particular institution. Most universities reply within a day. There is also a phone number provided for further clarifications.
The information above is given to equip you with French universities so that you can get a head-start on the admission process!
Visa Requirements:
International students who are not from Europe (that is, students who are not nationals of the countries of the European Economic Region plus Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, and Vatican City) must obtain a long-term visa marked “student” in order to study in France for longer than 3 months.
International students of all nationalities enjoy the right of multiple entries into France. Once granted, their visa is automatically renewed for the duration of their studies in France.
A special visa exists for prospective students. The so-called étudiant-concours visa is granted for stays of no more than 90 days for the purpose of taking an entrance examination or visiting institutions of higher education. Prospective students who pass their examination receive a full student visa without returning to their country of origin. The prospective student visa also may be granted to students whose admission to a higher education institution is contingent upon their completion of ashort course of remedial or refresher work.
To obtain a visa, visit the French consulate in your place of residence or the visa office of the French embassy.
Two points to remember
1. Under no circumstances may a tourist visa be converted into a student visa. This is true throughout the European Union.
2. International students of all nationalities intending to stay in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student identification card.
What documentation do I need to get a visa?
A Passport-
The passport must be valid for the entire period of validity of the visa.
Proof of enrollment-
The following documents will be accepted as proof:
1. An offer of preliminary admission
2. A statement of pre-registration in a public or private institution of higher education. The document must specify the level of study and the student’s subject. If the institution is private, the statement must indicate the number of course hours and state that registration fees have been been paid in full.
Proof of financial resources
Each French embassy sets the level of financial resources to be demonstrated by prospective students from that country. The amount is on the order of 3,000 francs for each month to be spent in France.
1. Students receiving scholarship grants must produce a statement indicating the amount and duration of their grant on the letterhead of the granting organization.
2. If the required resources are guaranteed by an individual residing in France the student must produce a signed statement of financial responsibility, a photocopy of the national identity card of the guarantor, and proof of the guarantor’s own financial resources (such as the guarantor’s three most recent pay stubs and most recent tax return).
3. If the resources come from abroad, the student must demonstrate that a bank account has been opened into which the necessary funds will be deposited and produce a promise of payment, translated into French and bearing the authenticated signature of the individual responsible for making the payments, or a statement of payment of funds from the authorities of the student’s country of origin.
Proof of insurance coverage
Proof of insurance must be provided by students over 28 who are nationals of a country that does not have a reciprocity agreement with France or who are enrolled in an institution that is not recognized by the French government to participate in the student health insurance plan.
Parental authorization
Minors (individuals under 18 years of age) must furnish proof of consent by the person or persons having parental authority.
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