FRANCE - Campus Newz

Top Institutions

Ranked, compared & detailed for every student goal

12 INSTITUTIONS

🏛️

Sorbonne University

#1 Sciences/Med FR

⭐ Top France Sciences Medicine

🧪 Physics & Chemistry 🩺 Medicine 📚 Literature & Languages ⚖️ Law 🧬 Life Sciences 🏺 History

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | B2 French (for French-taught) | Duration: 3 yrs (Licence) / +2 (Master)

📘Tuition / year (non-EU)€2,770–€3,770

🏠Living / year (Paris)€12K–€15K

📚Books & Supplies€500–€800

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs (Licence)€45K–€60K

€28,000€42,000

Top Recruiters

L'OréalSanofiBNP ParibasAXACNRS

✅~85% Employment within 6 months of graduation

📍

Location

Latin Quarter, Paris

🌏

Int'l Students

~20% of cohort

🏨

CROUS Housing

Available · €400–€600/mo

🗼

Nearby

Notre-Dame · Panthéon · Seine

One of the world's oldest universities · Historic Latin Quarter campus · Outstanding for sciences, medicine & humanities

🔬

Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)

#1 France · World Top 30

🏆 Highest Ranked FR Research

🧠 AI & Data Science 🧪 Natural Sciences ⚙️ Engineering 🎭 Arts & Humanities 📈 Economics ⛏️ Mining & Materials

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GPA: Top 5% | Duration: 3–5 years

📘Tuition / year (non-EU)€2,770–€5,000

🏠Living / year (Paris)€12K–€15K

📚Books & Supplies€500–€900

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€46K–€63K

€32,000€55,000

Top Recruiters

CNRSDassault SystèmesGoogleL'Oréal

✅~90% Employment · Strongest research output in France

📍

Location

Multiple Paris campuses

🌏

Int'l Students

~35% of cohort

🏨

Housing

Limited · €450–€700/mo nearby

🏛️

Nearby

Dauphine · ENS · Mines Paris sites

Federation of elite grandes écoles & research institutes (ENS, Dauphine, Mines, Chimie ParisTech) · France's top global ranking

⚖️

Sciences Po Paris

#1 Politics Europe

Politics Int'l Relations

🌍 International Relations 🏛️ Political Science ⚖️ Law 📊 Economics 📰 Journalism 🏙️ Urban Affairs

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GPA: Top 10% | Duration: 3 yrs (Bachelor) / +2 (Master)

📘Tuition / year (income-based)€14K–€18K

🏠Living / year (Paris)€12K–€15K

📚Books & Supplies€500–€900

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€80K–€102K

€35,000€58,000

Top Recruiters

OECDUN AgenciesEYFrench Foreign Ministry

✅~88% Employment · Top pipeline into govt., NGOs & consulting

📍

Location

Saint-Germain, Paris

🌏

Int'l Students

~50% of cohort

🏨

Housing

Limited · €500–€800/mo nearby

🥐

Nearby

Boulevard Saint-Germain · Musée d'Orsay

Most international student body in France · Multi-campus regional network · Premier launchpad for diplomacy & policy careers

💼

HEC Paris

#1 Business Europe

💼 Best for Business MBA

💼 Grande École Programme 📊 MSc Finance 🚀 Entrepreneurship 📈 MBA 🌍 International Business

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 7.0+ | GMAT/GRE required | Duration: 2–3 years

📘Tuition / year€20K–€48K

🏠Living / year€11K–€14K

📚Books & Supplies€700–€1.2K

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 2–3 yrs€65K–€185K

€50,000€85,000

Top Recruiters

McKinseyBCGLVMHGoldman SachsL'Oréal

✅~95% Employment · Highest starting salaries among French schools

📍

Location

Jouy-en-Josas, near Paris

🌏

Int'l Students

~45% of cohort

🏨

On-Campus Housing

Available · €450–€700/mo

🚆

Nearby

RER C to Paris · 35 min to centre

#1 business school in Europe (FT ranking) · Green campus near Versailles · Elite alumni network in finance & luxury

⚙️

Institut Polytechnique de Paris

#1 Engineering FR

🏆 Top Engineering Deep Tech

⚙️ Engineering (X Programme) 🤖 AI & Robotics 💻 Computer Science 🚀 Aerospace 🔋 Energy Systems

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GPA: Top 5% | Duration: 3–4 years

📘Tuition / year€15K–€19K

🏠Living / year€10K–€13K

📚Books & Supplies€600–€1K

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3–4 yrs€78K–€132K

€45,000€65,000

Top Recruiters

ThalesDassault AviationSafranAirbus

✅~93% Employment · Strongest pipeline into aerospace & defence tech

📍

Location

Palaiseau, Paris-Saclay

🌏

Int'l Students

~30% of cohort

🏨

On-Campus Housing

Available · €350–€550/mo

🚉

Nearby

Paris-Saclay tech cluster · RER B to Paris

Federation including École Polytechnique (X), Télécom Paris & ENSTA · France's premier engineering brand

🧪

Université Paris-Saclay

Top 15 World (Sciences)

STEM Nobel Research

🧪 Physics & Chemistry 💻 Computer Science 🧬 Biology & Health 📐 Mathematics 🌱 Environmental Science

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.0+ | GPA: Top 15% | Duration: 3 yrs (Licence) / +2 (Master)

📘Tuition / year (non-EU)€2,770–€3,770

🏠Living / year€10K–€13K

📚Books & Supplies€500–€800

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€39K–€54K

€35,000€50,000

Top Recruiters

CEACNRSSchneider ElectricSTMicroelectronics

✅~87% Employment · Among top 15 worldwide for physics & mathematics

📍

Location

Gif-sur-Yvette, near Paris

🌏

Int'l Students

~28% of cohort

🏨

CROUS Housing

Available · €350–€550/mo

🌳

Nearby

Saclay Plateau research cluster

Largest research cluster in France · Affordable public tuition · Home to multiple Nobel & Fields Medal laureates

⚡

CentraleSupélec

Top Grande École

⚙️ Engineering Data Science

⚙️ General Engineering 📊 Data Science & AI 🔋 Energy & Power Systems 🏭 Industrial Systems 💻 Software Engineering

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GPA: Top 10% | Duration: 3 years

📘Tuition / year€15K–€20K

🏠Living / year€10K–€13K

📚Books & Supplies€600–€1K

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€78K–€103K

€42,000€60,000

Top Recruiters

EDFCapgeminiRenaultAirbus

✅~91% Employment · Strong industrial & consulting placement network

📍

Location

Gif-sur-Yvette, Paris-Saclay

🌏

Int'l Students

~30% of cohort

🏨

On-Campus Housing

Available · €350–€550/mo

🔬

Nearby

Paris-Saclay research campus

Merger of Centrale Paris & Supélec · One of France's most prestigious "Centrale" engineering schools · Strong dual-degree options

📈

ESSEC Business School

Top 5 Business FR

💼 Business Entrepreneurship

💼 Grande École Programme 🚀 Entrepreneurship 📊 MSc Finance 📣 Marketing 🌍 Global BBA

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GMAT/GRE or entrance exam | Duration: 3 years

📘Tuition / year€18K–€45K

🏠Living / year€11K–€14K

📚Books & Supplies€600–€1K

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€88K–€181K

€42,000€65,000

Top Recruiters

L'OréalDanoneBNP ParibasAccenture

✅~92% Employment · Renowned entrepreneurship & innovation centre

📍

Location

Cergy, near Paris

🌏

Int'l Students

~40% of cohort

🏨

On-Campus Housing

Available · €400–€650/mo

🚆

Nearby

RER A to central Paris · Singapore campus option

Consistently ranked among Europe's top business schools · Strong global double-degree network · Singapore campus for Asia exposure

🌍

ESCP Business School

World's Oldest Biz School

Business Multi-Campus EU

💼 Master in Management 📊 Finance 📣 Marketing & Digital 🌍 European Business 🚀 Entrepreneurship

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GMAT/GRE or entrance exam | Duration: 3 years

📘Tuition / year€17K–€44K

🏠Living / year€11K–€14K

📚Books & Supplies€600–€1K

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€86K–€175K

€40,000€60,000

Top Recruiters

LVMHDeloitteSociété GénéraleProcter & Gamble

✅~90% Employment · Six-campus model across Europe builds pan-EU networks

📍

Location

Paris (+ 5 EU campuses)

🌏

Int'l Students

~55% of cohort

🏨

Housing

Limited · €500–€800/mo nearby

🌐

Nearby

Campuses in London, Berlin, Madrid, Turin, Warsaw

Founded 1819 — the world's first business school · Rotate across multiple European campuses during your degree

🏔️

Université Grenoble Alpes

Top Science & Eng. FR

⚙️ Engineering Physics

⚙️ Engineering (Grenoble INP) 🧪 Physics & Materials 💻 Computer Science 🔋 Renewable Energy 🧬 Biotechnology

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.0+ | GPA: Top 20% | Duration: 3 yrs (Licence) / +2 (Master)

📘Tuition / year (non-EU)€2,770–€4,200

🏠Living / year (Grenoble)€9K–€11K

📚Books & Supplies€500–€800

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€35K–€48K

€33,000€48,000

Top Recruiters

STMicroelectronicsSchneider ElectricAtosCEA-Leti

✅~86% Employment · Major European microelectronics & semiconductor hub

📍

Location

Grenoble, French Alps

🌏

Int'l Students

~22% of cohort

🏨

CROUS Housing

Available · €300–€500/mo

⛷️

Nearby

Alps ski resorts · Tech valley campus

Lower cost of living than Paris · Major European hub for micro/nanoelectronics & renewable energy research · Outdoor lifestyle in the Alps

🩺

Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

Top Medicine & Sciences FR

Medicine Sciences

🩺 Medicine & Pharmacy 🧪 Chemistry & Biology ⚙️ Engineering Sciences 🏃 Sports Science 📐 Mathematics

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.0+ | B2 French (for Medicine) | Duration: 3 yrs (Licence) / +3 (Médecine)

📘Tuition / year (non-EU)€2,770–€3,770

🏠Living / year (Lyon)€9K–€12K

📚Books & Supplies€500–€800

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total 3 yrs€35K–€50K

€32,000€46,000

Top Recruiters

SanofibioMérieuxHospices Civils de LyonVeolia

✅~85% Employment · Strong biotech & healthcare cluster ("Lyonbiopôle")

📍

Location

Lyon, Rhône-Alpes

🌏

Int'l Students

~18% of cohort

🏨

CROUS Housing

Available · €300–€500/mo

🍽️

Nearby

Lyon old town · Gastronomy capital of France

France's 2nd largest student city · Renowned for medicine, pharmacy & biotech · Significantly cheaper living costs than Paris

💹

EDHEC Business School

Top Finance FR

💹 Finance Quant

💹 MSc Finance 📊 Quantitative Finance 💼 Master in Management 🌍 Global MBA 📈 Asset Management

Entry Requirements

IELTS: 6.5+ | GMAT/GRE or entrance exam | Duration: 1–3 years

📘Tuition / year€17K–€42K

🏠Living / year€10K–€14K

📚Books & Supplies€600–€1K

🏥Health Cover (CVEC + mutuelle)€200–€400/yr

🎯Total (1–3 yrs)€28K–€169K

€42,000€62,000

Top Recruiters

BNP ParibasJP MorganAmundiSociété Générale

✅~91% Employment · #1 in Europe for Finance Master's rankings

📍

Location

Lille (+ Nice & Paris campuses)

🌏

Int'l Students

~48% of cohort

🏨

Housing

Limited · €350–€600/mo nearby

🚄

Nearby

1hr to Paris/London/Brussels by train

Top-ranked European finance master's programmes · Multi-campus options in Lille, Nice & Paris · Strong quant & asset management focus

Admission Requirements

What you need to apply as an international student

📋 What Every International Student Needs

Standard requirements across all 12 institutions

🗣️

Language Proficiency

IELTS 6.0–7.0
or TCF/DELF B2 (French-taught)

Duolingo English Test accepted at many schools

📊

Academic Score

Top 5–30%
of your class

Equivalent to ~75–95% in Indian boards

💰

Financial Proof

€615/month (~€7,380/yr)
Min. resources required

Shown via bank statements or sponsor/CAF guarantee

📄

Documents

SOP · LORs
Transcripts · Passport

Campus France "Études en France" application required

🏥

Health Insurance

Auto-enrolled (Sécurité Sociale)
+ ~€200–€400/yr mutuelle

Top-up "mutuelle" recommended for full coverage

Scholarships for International Students

Reduce your cost — many don't require perfect grades

🏆

Monthly Stipend + Benefits

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

French government award for outstanding international Master's (€1,181/mo) and PhD (€1,700/mo) students. Includes travel, housing assistance & health cover.

Govt. FundedMaster/PhD

🎓

Tuition Waiver + Stipend

Charpak Scholarship Programme

For students from select countries (incl. India) pursuing Bachelor's, Master's or internships in France. Covers tuition fees and a monthly living allowance.

Country-SpecificMerit-Based

💡

25–100% Tuition

Grande École Merit Scholarships

HEC, ESSEC, ESCP, EDHEC & CentraleSupélec each offer entrance and need-based scholarships covering part or all tuition for top applicants.

Multiple SchoolsAuto-Considered

🔬

Tuition + Monthly Stipend

PSL / Paris-Saclay Doctoral Contracts

For PhD candidates at PSL, Paris-Saclay & affiliated research institutes (CNRS, CEA). Covers full tuition plus a competitive monthly salary.

PhD OnlyResearch-Based

🏅

Up to ~75% Tuition Reduction

Public University Reduced-Fee Status

Many public universities (Sorbonne, Paris-Saclay, Lyon 1, Grenoble Alpes) exempt international students from the higher "differentiated fees," charging the standard EU rate.

Govt. SubsidyUniversity Discretion

🌐

€1K–€10K

Regional Council (Région) Scholarships

Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes & other regions offer one-off grants to international students enrolled in local institutions.

Easier to GetRegion-Specific

VLS-TS Visa Roadmap

Campus France procedure — step-by-step process for international students

Step 01

Campus France Registration

Create an account on the "Études en France" platform, submit your application and receive offers from French institutions.

6–12 months before intake

Step 02

Accept Offer & Apply for Visa

Once you accept your admission, apply for the VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour) at the French consulate in your home country.

After accepting your offer

Step 03

Visa Issued

The VLS-TS acts as both your entry visa and your residence permit for the first year — no separate carte de séjour needed initially.

Avg. 2–4 weeks processing

Step 04

OFII Validation & CVEC

Within 3 months of arrival, validate your visa online with OFII (pay the validation tax) and pay the CVEC (Contribution Vie Étudiante, ~€100) before enrolling.

Within 3 months of arrival

Step 05

Enrol & Settle In ✅

Complete enrolment, open a bank account, register for Sécurité Sociale Étudiante and start classes. Renew your titre de séjour annually for multi-year programmes.

Start of academic term

📋 VLS-TS Visa Checklist

Documents Required

✓ Valid Passport (3+ months beyond stay)

✓ Letter of Acceptance from Institution

✓ Campus France Attestation

✓ Recent Passport-Sized Photos

✓ Academic Transcripts & Diplomas

✓ Language Test Results (IELTS/TCF)

✓ Proof of Financial Resources

✓ Proof of Accommodation in France

💡 Visa & OFII Fees

€50 (Campus France) + ~€99 (visa) + €60 (OFII tax)

Processing: 2–4 weeks on average via consulate

Cost Comparison

All 12 institutions side-by-side

💰

Tuition · Total Cost · Placement at a Glance

InstitutionTuition/yrTotal DegreeAvg Salary

🏛️ Sorbonne University€2.8K–€3.8K€45K–€60K€28K–€42K

🔬 PSL University€2.8K–€5K€46K–€63K€32K–€55K

⚖️ Sciences Po Paris€14K–€18K€80K–€102K€35K–€58K

💼 HEC Paris€20K–€48K€65K–€185K€50K–€85K

⚙️ Institut Polytechnique de Paris€15K–€19K€78K–€132K€45K–€65K

🧪 Université Paris-Saclay€2.8K–€3.8K€39K–€54K€35K–€50K

⚡ CentraleSupélec€15K–€20K€78K–€103K€42K–€60K

📈 ESSEC Business School€18K–€45K€88K–€181K€42K–€65K

🌍 ESCP Business School€17K–€44K€86K–€175K€40K–€60K

🏔️ Université Grenoble Alpes€2.8K–€4.2K€35K–€48K€33K–€48K

🩺 Université Lyon 1€2.8K–€3.8K€35K–€50K€32K–€46K

💹 EDHEC Business School€17K–€42K€28K–€169K€42K–€62K

💰 Overall Range€2.8K–€48K€28K–€185K€28K–€85K

Quick Takeaways

Pick the right institution for your goal

💼

Best for Business

⭐ HEC Paris

ESSEC Business School

ESCP Business School

💰

Most Affordable

⭐ Université Grenoble Alpes

Université Lyon 1

Sorbonne University

⚙️

Best for Engineering

⭐ Institut Polytechnique de Paris

CentraleSupélec

Université Grenoble Alpes

🔬

Best for Research

⭐ Université PSL

Université Paris-Saclay

Sorbonne University

🌍

Best Overall

⭐ Université PSL

#1 Ranked in France

Sciences · Engineering · Research

💹

Best for Finance

⭐ EDHEC Business School

HEC Paris

ESCP Business School

Study inFranceEurope's Academic Heartland

Tuition · Total Cost · Placement at a Glance

Study in
FranceEurope's Academic Heartland