9 Cheapest Universities In France For International Students

One of the discouraging factors that hinders students from studying abroad is expensive tuition but on a closer look, you will actually find cheaper options. In this blog post, I have curated a list of the cheapest universities in France for international students to get quality education from some of the world’s best universities without breaking the bank.

France is one of the top destination hubs in Europe. Aside from being a great place to go on vacations, it is also a great study destination as it houses some of the world’s best universities according to US News and QS World University Rankings.

The official language is French and this is also the major language of instruction across higher institutions in the country but there are some academic programs and a few universities whose language of instruction is English. So, you can study an academic program in French or English language provided you are a native speaker of either of the languages but if you aren’t then you will be required to take an English or French language proficiency test and pass the aggregate score.

Studying abroad in France or in any country is a huge advantage and offers many benefits as well as opportunities to students. It offers the opportunity for you to expand your horizons, create new connections, seek greener pastures, gain access to world-class quality academics, and many more.

This is why many students dream to study abroad but lack of finance always tends to be among the major challenges that hinder them from achieving their goals. This blog post seeks to provide a solution to financial challenges that aspiring international students face by sharing concrete information on the cheapest universities in France for international students as well as other helpful tips.

From my research, it turns out that Europe houses most of the cheapest universities in the world whether for citizens or international students. There are also many scholarships in Europe for international students. So, it isn’t very strange that there are quite a number of cheap universities in France for international students.

These cheap universities can help those who dream of studying abroad achieve their dreams and not just that, they also get to study in a country with rich culture, delicious cuisine, world-class fashion sense, and rich history. Additionally, the application process to study in France is not as tough or competitive as you may think, it is actually a walk in the park.

Having said that, let’s dive into the main details.

cheapest universities in France for international students

Cheapest Universities in France For International Students

France consists of three different categories of higher institutions. The public universities, the Grand Ecoles, and the art universities. Many of the cheap universities in France fall under the public universities since they are funded by the government. The Grand Ecoles is a combination of both private and public universities and they are often small in size.

You can study in France, quality world-class academics for that matter, even without a deep pocket. Here are the cheapest universities in France for international students:

  • The University of Lille
  • The University of Strasbourg
  • Nantes University
  • Paris School of Business
  • The University of Montpellier
  • The University of Paris
  • Orleans University
  • The University of Burgundy
  • The University of Angers

1.     The University of Lille

The University of Lille is a public research university in Lille, Hauts-de-France. With a student population of over 74,000, it is one of the largest universities in France and one of the largest in the French-speaking world. The institution houses 15 Schools and Divisions that are spread into 6 major domains which include sports, science and technology, arts, etc.

The institution seeks to attract students from far and wide by offering many academic programs in the English language and making its tuition cheap and affordable. You will find bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs across various disciplines offered by the university. The tuition at the University of Lille starts from 500 Euro per semester.

2.     The University of Strasbourg

Established in 1538, the University of Strasbourg is one of the oldest public research universities in France and currently has more than 52,000 students and 3,300 researchers. With 20% of international students, the university is highly welcoming and opens its doors to students from any background who want to pursue an undergraduate degree program or further their studies through master’s or Ph.D. programs.

Each course has its specific entry requirement, so be sure to check them out before you start your application for admission. The tuition fee does not exceed 600 euros per academic year and is the same for both French and international students.

3.     Nantes University

Nantes University is another public university in Nantes, France with several campuses scattered around the city. The main language of instruction at Nantes University is English language but some programs are fully or partly taught in English, especially for master’s degrees. One of the major reasons for this could be to attract students from other countries.

If you are interested in applying for Nantes University, you must possess documents such as a CV, financial statement, standardized test scores, transcripts of previous schools attended, and a copy of your passport. Nantes University is one of the cheapest universities in France for international students with tuition fees starting at 2,770 Euro per year for a bachelor’s degree and 3,770 Euro per year for a master’s degree.

4.     Paris School of Business

Paris School of Business is globally recognized as one of the best business schools in the world. Even with its world-class reputation, it still offers affordable tuition to international students. Here at PSB, you can pursue quality business and management programs leading to BBA, MBA, MSc, MIM, DBA, and other executive education courses in English and French languages.

The school is open to everyone from all walks of life and professional setting. The acceptance rate is 40%, it is quite selective so, you should have an impressive application if you want to be considered for admission. The tuition at Paris Business School for international students starts from 9,300 Euro per year.

5.     The University of Montpellier

The University of Montpellier is a large university with over 50,000 students enrolled across 17 faculties, schools, and institutes. It is a public research university just like many on this list, so you will find a wide range of research-focused academic programs, especially in sciences and engineering. Faculties within the school include Faculties of; Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Science, Education, Economics, Law and Political Science, STAPS, and Science.

Each faculty has its specific entry requirements, so you have to check in with your host faculty for their requirements. However, there are certain general requirements such as transcripts, student visas, standardized test scores, and personal statements. The tuition varies according to degree programs. The bachelor’s degree is 170 Euro, the master’s program is 243 Euro, the engineering program is 601 Euro, and the Ph.D. program is 380 Euro per year.

6.     The University of Paris

The University of Paris is one of the cheapest universities in France for international students and is globally recognized for its quality education in a wide range of academic disciplines. It is an ancient university tracing its root as far back as 1150 which makes it one of the oldest universities in France, although it stopped operations for some time.

The institution is divided into only three Faculties of; Health, Science, Humanities, and Social Science. There are over 60,00 students enrolled in various academic degree programs, and 18% of the student population is from other countries. International students pay the same fees as French and European students. The fee is 270 euros for a bachelor’s, 343 euros for a master’s, and 480 euros for Ph.D. per year.

7.     Orleans University

Orleans University is divided into 3 divisions of; Law, Economics and Management, Literature, Languages and Human Sciences, and Science and Technology. The main language of instruction here is French, only four master’s degree programs are fully taught in English language.

This university is so cheap that the US News & World Report ranks it among the top 50 national universities whose students graduate with the least average debt. The average tuition for international students is 2,770 Euro per year.

8.     The University of Burgundy

This is a public university located in Dijon, France with more than 30,000 students enrolled across its 10 faculties, 4 engineering schools, 3 institutes of technology, and 2 professional institutes. Through these faculties, schools, and institutes, there are over 400 different degree programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. Out of the total student population, more than 2,300 are international students from countries outside of Europe.

This shows there is a vibrant international student body that can help make you feel at home upon your first arrival. The tuition for international students starts at 4,000 Euro per year but there are other fees that students also have to pay every year.

9.     The University of Angers

The University of Angers is one of the public research universities in France with its main campus in Angers and others in Cholet and Saumur. The school is divided into 8 faculties, schools, and institutes that serve over 25,000 students in a wide range of academic degree programs that lead to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

International students are accepted into the University of Angers to pursue any degree program of their choice as long as they meet the entry requirements. There is also a wide range of English-taught programs. International and domestic students pay the same fees which can range between 170 Euro to 601 Euro per year depending on the degree program.

These cheapest international universities in France for international students are also ranked among the top universities in France, thus, they can be selective and competitive to get into. Ensure you have a strong application to beat the crowd and stand above the competition.

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