The education system in France

Indian students studying in France through the lens of data:

6,000 Indian students are currently studying in France.
The French government announced they want to have 20,000 Indian students in France by 2025.

Indian students can get a 100% scholarship to fund both their tuition fees and living costs.

Alright, you got it. France is a great country to study in. However, now you might have questions.

What’s the France education system for international students? What are the things you need to keep in mind? What are the costs of studying in France?

Don’t worry, this article will offer all the answers. In the next seven minutes, learn all about the education system in France. The complete guide will discuss:

How many stages there are in the education system in France
The top universities in France
Other key factors you should consider to study in France

However, even after reading this article, you might still be confused. You might still feel overwhelmed. You might still have questions about the France education system for international students.

That’s when you need additional help.

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More on SlectRight later. Back to discussing all about the education system in France for now.

The education system in France – a complete guide

The stages of the education system in France

Primary education

The enrollment age for primary education starts from three years. Furthermore, children must enroll in educational institutions when they become 6 years of age.

Children must study between the ages of 6 and 11 for primary education. Two types of schools handle primary education in France; public or state schools run by the government and private or independent schools run by private organisations.

Most of the schools are run by the government. However, the quality of education is better in private schools.

Primary education includes subjects such as:

French language and literature
Science and technology
Mathematics
History
Geography
Philosophy (Optional)

Secondary education

Secondary education comes with 7 years of study. The education system gets divided into two stages:

College

Students study in colleges for up to 4 years. Once the college education is complete, they receive brevet des colleges and go on to study Lycee.

Furthermore, the age group of students studying in colleges is 11 to 15 years.

Lycee

Students study in lycee for up to 3 years in general and up to 5 years in special cases.

Furthermore, students must pass an exam equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma to avail of baccalaureat qualification and get admission into Lycee.

Students in lycee have more freedom than students in college. The reason behind this is students can choose what subjects they wish to take each year and what they want to study.

Higher education

Once students have passed the above-mentioned stages, they enter the higher education stage. The stage is divided into two categories:

Academic diploma

The academic diploma in the France education system for international students is divided into three categories:

Universities: They offer three degrees – Master, Doctorate, and License. The degrees are referred to as cycles. Students must have a baccalaureate or an equivalent to be eligible.
Specialised schools: These schools offer Masters and License degrees. Their main aim is to develop the student’s skills towards their career.
Grandes Ecoles: Functions similar to a university. They are considered elite higher education institutions. Students must pursue a specialised 3-year course study after which they graduate with a Master’s degree. Students must have a baccalaureate and complete two years of preparatory courses in the chosen program.

Vocational diploma

The vocational diploma offers BTS (Brevet de technician Superieur) and DUT (diplome Universitaire de Technologie). It’s a two-year diploma. However, students get an additional study year after which they become licensed professionals.

High schools offer the BTS while universities offer the DUT.

Here’s the France education system in a nutshell:

The most popular universities in France

Universite PSL: QS World University Ranking 2022 44
Institut Polytechnique de Paris: QS World University Ranking 2022 49
Sorbonne University: QS World University Ranking 2022 72
Universite Paris- Saclay: QS World University Ranking 2022 86
Ecole Normale Superieure De Lyon: QS World University Ranking 2022 130
Ecole Des Ponts ParisTech: QS World University Ranking 2022 245
Sciences Po: QS World University Ranking 2022 261
Universite De Paris: QS World University Ranking 2022 261
Universite Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne: QS World University Ranking 2022 290
Universite Grenoble Alpes: QS World University Ranking 2022 314

Other key factors

Can you work while studying in France?

The France education system for international students allows Students can work up to 964 hours each year.

Furthermore, the French government has a law around minimum wages that makes sure students receive fair remuneration while working part-time as well.

How safe is France for students?

The Global Peace Index ranked France as the 66th safest country with low crime rates. Thus, the country is safe for students.

Furthermore, most universities in France offer free internet to students to assist them in their studies and so they can stay in touch with their family and friends.

Furthermore, French universities encourage students to participate in seminars, conferences, social events, athletics, and competitions.

What’s the rule to get a student visa to study in France?

If the course duration is less than 90 days, students should apply for a Short Stay visa. However, if the course duration is longer than 90 days, students should apply for a Long Stay visa.

Furthermore, if the student is planning to extend their stay in France, the best route would be to apply for a residence permit two months before their student visa expires.

FAQ

How many stages does the education system in France have?

The education system in France comes with three stages:

Primary education
Secondary education
Higher education

Most elementary schools, public schools, and universities in France are public institutions with highly centralised administrations.

The schools have a standardised curriculum for a given grade.

How much do I need to pay to study in France as an international student?

Expect to pay up to €30,000 a year in tuition fees. Furthermore, expect to pay up to €21,600 a year for living costs.

What is France known for in education?

Check out 5 things the education system in France is known for:

The country has a 99% literacy rate.
The University of Paris is one of the oldest universities in the world and was founded in 1215.
The education system in France has a grading system where the students are graded from 0 to 20. Scoring 20 is nearly impossible.
The education system in France comes with longer school days than the UK and the U.S.
The teachers are strict and want each student to score as high as possible. Furthermore, physical activity isn’t encouraged.

Is the France education system for international students strict?

The France education system for international students – or all students, for that matter – is known to be strict:

Students get enrolled in multiple programs
Students must endure the pressure of the grading system
Students must make do with a lack of physical activity

You have to be at the top of your game to perform well in the education system in France.

What are the school systems in the education system in France?

The education system in France comes with an inflexible approach to education.

The system offers the teachers absolute authority along with rote learning to the norm and tough grading. Furthermore, the education system in France demands high academic standards in reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The bottom line; the French don’t expect children to waste time on anything other than studies when in school.

Now you know all the necessary information about the education system in France. However, you might still not be satisfied. You might still have queries. You might still be confused about the France education system for international students.

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The education system in France

However, even after reading all the information on the education system in France, you might still be confused. You might still have questions about the France education system for international students.

The only source of information you’ll have to clarify further queries are your relatives who passed out 20 years ago and random blogs written by someone who has read 5 other similar blogs on the topic.

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