Study in France: A wake up call

French president Emmanuel Macron visited India on January, 2024 for 75^th Republic Day celebration. Apart from all the strategic partnership deals for security and defence, one very important news came along. France showed their genuine interest in creating opportunities for Indian students in all fields. In an official post on X, the president noted, "We are launching new pathways in order to learn French in public schools with the initiative 'French for All, French for a Better Future'. We are delivering the network of Alliances francaises, with new centres to learn French. We are creating international classes which will allow students, who do not necessarily speak French, to join our universities. Last but not least, we will facilitate the visa process for any former Indian students who studies in France. India and France have so much to do together, now and in the future. We will achieve this with you, our young people, in exchange and cooperation, in trust, in friendship." In an interview he also added that France is targeting to welcome over 30,000 students by 2030. This is definitely a good news for Indian students to explore and experience an unforgettable journey of higher education. Here in this article, you can find all the necessary details to embark on this journey.

France is renowned for its quality of education; specially in the fields of science, engineering, business and arts. In the recent QS world ranking and Times Higher Education ranking 16 French universities are among top 500. Paris Sciences et Lettres- PSL, Centrale Nantes, Universite Paris-Saclay are the prominent ones. All the top universities offer a rigorous academic standard, introduces innovative teaching methods and gives a very high interest on intellectual development instead of focusing solely on marks-based system. One of the key aspects is the focus on specialized training. From the master level, in some cases even from bachelor level specialized education is implemented, which in return provides an in-depth knowledge and high skilled outcomes in the field. 

Internships and master’s thesis are integral part of all the courses. One thing is to remind that knowledge of French language is always appreciated but not necessary. English courses are available sufficiently to meet anyone’s requirement. The growing international environment definitely helps to build a broad network for further education or job prospect. Apart from this educational experience, France has many other things to offer. The centuries old cultural heritage, different forms of vibrant art and delicious cuisine no one can finish exploring. Not to mention the famous landmarks and the beaches.

Process is easier than many other countries. Now let’s discuss the admission process. Although different courses have different criteria for admission, they all follow a specific process. In most of the countries, including India has France educational offices called the Campus France. It is present in many Indian cities. Interested students who wants to study in France for more than 90 days (except internship, semester exchange students) have to apply through Campus France online. After verification, an offline interview and document verification is conducted in a nearby Campus France office. After this selected universities can review documents through Campus France web portal. Some universities have their parallel admission procedure through their own website also. Good thing is that many of them doesn’t require any language test like many other European universities. They are mainly based on previous test results, SOP, CV and recommendation letters.

In case of scholarship also they have numerous opportunities. Erasmus+, Eiffel and Charpak (it is only for Indian students) are the most popular because of their high stipend, travel allowance, accommodation guidance and social security. These make the student life easier away from financial burden. Expenses are also less compared to other western countries.

 France is a major player in many industrial sectors. From engineering and technology to fashion brands France is always on the limelight in the global stage. Aerospace and defence manufacturing is a major part of France economy. Well known companies like Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Arianespace, Safran, MBDA, Thales Group are in France and exporting commercial and defence aviation products all over the world. Interestingly India is a very important importer from these companies.

Automotive companies Renault, Peugeot, Citroen have a major distribution line in the world. Luxury goods industry also a highlight because of companies like LVMH, Chanel, L’Oreal and many more. High quality wine, beverages, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, energy sector are also contributing to the economy. Because of this diverse and innovative manufacturing sector most of the science, engineering and business graduates can find a lovely placement opportunity after their studies. France government is also planning to provide five year post study VISA to Indian citizens who studied at least one semester in France. This is an incredible opportunity as not many countries provide such VISA.

In conclusion, studying in France offers a unique and enriching experience for students from around the world. With its high-quality education system, diverse range of programs, and vibrant cultural scene, France provides an ideal environment for academic and personal growth. Whether you are interested in arts, sciences, engineering, or business, France has a program for you. Additionally, the opportunity to learn French and immerse yourself in French culture can greatly enhance your global perspective and open up new opportunities in your future career. Consider France as your next study destination and embark on an unforgettable educational journey in one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in the world.