France unquestionably plays a pivotal role in the educational landscape of Europe. This country is known for its comprehensive public education system and it boasts several prestigious and top-ranked institutes, which not only host domestic students but also a large number of international students. According to some experts, French education is based on egalitarian principles. Therefore, studying in France is considered a key to success for students.
Here, we will provide a statistical overview of France in Europe’s educational landscape by talking about various aspects.
Some Top Universities in the Renowned Cities in France
French cities boast a plethora of universities with academic excellence. Bordeaux is one of the renowned French cities, where we find the University of Bordeaux, which has campuses in Bordeaux, Talence, Pessac, Périgueux, Gradignan, and Dax. The University of Bordeaux, Talence has been ranked #535 out of 1500 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
Another popular city, where many international students come is Lyon. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon is the top university in Lyon, which has been ranked #187 among 1500 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2025. In the same rankings, another Lyon university, i.e., Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA) has also been ranked and it has got 405th place.
In the capital city Paris, prominent universities ranked in the aforementioned QS rankings 2025 are Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Université Paris Cité, whose ranks are #205, #283, and #302 respectively.
France’s Rank in the World for Education
Different agencies and researchers provide different rankings to France and other countries. A popular online platform, educations.com ranks France 5th after Germany, USA, UK, and Australia.
Cost of Education in France
There are different tuition fees in public and private universities in France. Besides, the student’s nationality is also a deciding factor for the fees. Here is the concise information about the tuition fees in France.
Public Universities
Tuition fees are significantly subsidized by the French government in public universities. In these universities, both EU and non-EU students are charged between €170 and €650 per year, which depends upon the discipline and the level of studies such as bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD. For studying PhD in France, international students are required to pay between €243 and €30,000 per year.
There are some differences for those who enroll in non-French universities in France. They waive off the tuition fee and instead of that, they ask students to pay only the registration fee.
If you are a non-EEA student, you are required to pay €2,770 for an undergraduate course and €3,770 for a master’s degree.
Private Universities
Private universities or privately funded institutes charge higher tuition fees compared to public universities. There are differences in specific amounts, and you may be required to pay from €1,500 to €20,000 per academic year.
Student Housing in France
After enrolling in France, international students need accommodation as their major priority. There are some excellent student housing properties, private rental apartments, and homestays available for overseas students. If you need student housing in Lyon, you find the best private rental apartments and homestays. In private rental apartments, you find facilities like televisions, internet, study desks and chairs, heating facilities, and more. Some popular private apartments in Lyon are Rue de Champagneux – 1501832, Route de Genas – 1501801, Avenue Jean Mermoz – 1502747, Rue Feuillat – 1501804, and more.
Similarly, if you are interested in acquiring student housing in Bordeaux, you find private rental apartments such as Rue Lafontaine, 33800; 75 Cours de Luze Bordeaux 33300 FR; 46 Rue Bonnefin, 33100; 41 Rue Commandant Charcot, 33000; and more. In these apartments also, you find facilities like the internet, cooktop, fridge, heating, garden, washing machine, and more. Homestays are also available in Bordeaux.
In Paris, the capital city, some excellent student housing properties are available, which are specially designed for students. The names of some popular properties are “Villejuif”, “Noisy Le Grand”, “Massy Palaiseau”, “Paris Gentilly”, etc. Such properties are available in many other French cities also. In these properties, you find various basic as well as high-end features.
The popular features of student housing properties include study desks with chairs, internet connections with Wi-Fi signals, study rooms, gyms, yoga and dance studios, music rooms, cinemas, smart TVs, meeting rooms, kitchen appliances, security features, and more. Paris and other big French cities also comprise private rental apartments and homestays.
Homestays are the arrangements in which students stay with families in their houses in France. Since students closely observe the daily activities of families, they get excellent chances to immerse themselves in French culture.
You can visit some online portals to find lists of student housing properties, private rental apartments, and homestays for students in France. Universityliving.com is a perfect example among such portals.
