French educational system is highly consolidated, systemized and diversified. It has three different stages:

• Primary Education
• Secondary Education
• Higher Education

More than 140,000 International students are studying in institutes of France every year. Education in France can be affordable due to financial support by state. Study trend in France also growing its popularity among Indian students. Some subject areas like management and engineering sciences taught in English in many institutions so it is not necessary to know French for post-graduate study in France. In France there are two types of different educational institutions like 87 Universities and over 300 Grandes Ecoles (Described as competitive institutions).

Grandes Ecoles have a rigorous selection process and offer different areas of specialization that are directly related to career applicability of students but they take minimum number of students. They are may be public or private institutions.

Application Procedure

The education system in Asia and France are opposite to each other. You will need to apply to university and let them take selection decision on the basis of your previous academic background and experience in course that you are interested to study in. You can get further information about selection process at Alliances Francaises in your city to get help in selection of courses and suitable institution according to your back ground. After getting advice you should directly contact the selected university to get provisional admission form, fill out form completely and send to university along with required attachments. University will take further decision on the basis of your academic backgrounds.

The admission decision is based on the recommendations of education committee and will decide about your level according to your back ground. In case of selection university will send a letter of confirmation to you, which can be used to apply for long stay student resident visa. If you want to get admission in “Grande Ecole” then you have to appear for competitive exam “Concourse”. This exam is held in France and for this exam you can apply and get special three-month competitive exam visa (visa concourse). You can get residence permit after you have clear the exam.

Academic Years

The academic session of France commence in September or October. Some institutions enroll students for spring, summer or winter semesters as well. You can get application form from Alliances Francaises within November 15 and January 15 and send complete application forms along with all necessary attachments to university by 1^st February.

Costs

Tuition Fee at university are nominal and can vary between FF 800 to FF 4500 per annum. At Grandes Ecoles fee ranges from FF25000 to FF100000 per annum. (FF means French franc, French currency).

Living Expenses for accommodation FF 800 to FF 2500 per month and for food it is FF 850 to FF1000 per month from university restaurant. Health care expenses are ranging from FF2500 to FF 5000 per year while miscellaneous expenses like transport and free time activities take FF 500 per month.

These all expenses may have some fluctuations. You can do a part time work for 20 hours a week during study against a permission to do so.

Visa Requirements

To obtained student visa you are required following documents

• A valid Passport
• Registration certificate of institution
• Proof of having sufficient resources to cover all expenses during stay

Education system of France is very centralized and organized as it has three main stages of its education system as:

• Primary Education
• Secondary Education
• Higher Education

France provides its inhabitants both the public and private system of education structure. Overall education system of France is regulated by Ministry of National Education. The education system of France has such infrastructure that it covers the all fields whether it is commercial, medical, science/arts, business and finance or industrial and technical education. Most of the French institutes for higher education are affiliated with American institutes. In the development of French education system, American universities are very important in this regard.

There are a number of American institutes that are providing career education to the French community. On the other hand most of the universities and colleges are members of CIS group of American colleges. The education system of France is influenced by the American educational strategies as they are offering American style degree programs. There is a wide list of American universities in France but some of them are most significant in providing career and degree programs to French community. These important universities include; American university of Paris, Nantes University, university of Picardie, Strasbourg University, University of Caen, University of Savoie and European Institute of Business Administration etc.

As concerned the ranking of these universities, ranking of universities is done on different parameters on regular basis by several organizations. Ranking is done in different ways. It is very difficult to say that how much that particular methods of raking are result oriented. One of the most common methods is preference of student’s community.

We can say that American universities in France have upgraded the standard of French education system. The American institutes are serving the French community in a way that they can also be the part of global development and progress.