Home to 3,500 public and private institutions graded as universities and Grandes Ecoles, France is one of the most popular study destinations in Europe. With 83 globally renowned universities, France boasts 37 entrants that made it top-ranking universities in the world in 2022 by QS. Additionally, there are various top universities in France like Sorbonne University, PSL University Paris, Ecole Polytechnique, Grenoble Alpes University, Aix-Marseille University, Telecom Paris, and Paris Saclay University that make it to the list of THE World Rankings as well.
France also is recognized for its top business schools like INSEAD, HEC Paris, that is not only famous within Europe but also have made their global standing strong. Adding to this contribution, the top universities in France are often recognized for their MS and Engineering courses as well.
Admission to these top universities in France requires its applicants to send in an online application or apply through Study in France Procedure. International applicants planning to pursue education with these top universities in France must be prepared to present their academic scores, fulfill language proficiency requirements (English and French, based on the course opted), and have competitive scores in tests like GMAT when making admission applications to MBA courses.
Top Universities in France Rankings
When looking for options to pursue your higher education in France one of the criteria to consider while choosing an institution is the global and national rankings of the same. Rankings by agencies like QS and THE are decided with the help of a range of parameters being assessed. Discussed below are some of the top-ranking French universities in and around the globe. The rankings for these universities are mentioned for the year 2021.
| Universities | THE Rankings | QS Rankings |
|---|---|---|
| PSL University Paris | World-46 France-1 | World-52 France-1 |
| Sorbonne University | World-87 France-3 | World-83 France-3 |
| Ecole Polytechnique | World-87 France-2 | World-68 France-2 |
| The University of Paris | World-136 France-4 | World-275 France-8 |
| Paris-Saclay University | World-178 France-5 | World-291 France-10 |
| Télécom Paris | World-201-250 France-6 | World-64 France-4 |
| Aix-Marseille University | World-351-400 France-10 | World-501-510 (2022) |
| Montpellier University | World-301-350 France-9 | World-521-530 (2022) |
| Grenoble Alpes University | World-351-400 France-10 | World-314 (2022) |
| The Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) | World-501-600 France-18 | World-242 France-6 |
Apart from making their recognition as an institution, universities in France are also recognized for courses like MBA, MS, and Engineering. Home to some of the top business schools, the country ensures that no MBA aspirant is disappointed with the diverse pool of courses offered.
Top Universities in France for MBA
With home to one of the most reputed business schools in the world, INSEAD, France makes a great study destination for MBA courses. Listed below are some of the French B-schools with their basic test score requirements:
| Universities / Schools | QS Rankings | Score Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Rennes School of Business | EMBA-48 in Europe, 101 Globally | IELTS- 6.0 TOEFL- 80 |
| Audencia Business School | EMBA-41 in Europe, 99 Globally | GMAT-625 |
| INSEAD France | EMBA-5 in Europe, 7 Globally | TOEFL IBT: 105 IELTS Academic: 7.5 GMAT-670-750 |
| Grenoble Ecole de Management | EMBA-24 in Europe, 51 Globally | IELTS- 6.5 TOEFL IBT- 90, GMAT-550 |
| ESCP Business School of Paris | EMBA-17 in Europe, 38 Globally | IELTS- 7, TOEFL IBT-100, GMAT-710 |
Top Universities in France for Engineering
There are some Polytechnique universities in France, which makes it a perfect study destination for those looking to study engineering programs. Given below is a list of universities ranking for their engineering programs in France along with their fees.
| Universities/Schools | QS Rankings 2021 | Annual Fee(in EURO) |
|---|---|---|
| Ecole Polytechnique | #52 | 12,500 |
| Centrale Supelec | #72 | 4,000-12,000 |
| Sorbonne University | #96 | No tuition fee.Only registration fee of 601 euros for one year of an engineering program |
| PSL University | #116 | 335 |
| Grenoble Alpes University | #206 | 243 |
| Telecom Paris | #218 | 4150 |
Top Universities in France for MS
Students planning to get enrolled in an MS degree from French Universities can opt for marketing, management, data science business analytics as there are the top-ranking MS programs in the popular schools and universities:
| Universities | QS Rankings | Top Program |
|---|---|---|
| KEDGE Business School | #23 #40 |
Masters in Marketing Masters in Management |
| Neoma Business School | #62 | Masters in Management |
| IESEG School of Management | #21 #51 #72 |
Masters in Marketing Masters in Business Analytics Masters in Management |
| Audencia Business School | #15 #45 | Masters in Supply Chain Management Masters in Management |
| Montpellier Business School | #42 #77 |
Masters in Marketing Masters in Management |
| ESC Clermont Graduate School of Management | #101 | Masters in Management |
| Normandie Business School | #71 | Masters in Management |
| Toulouse Business school | #29 #51 #51 #80 | Masters in Supply Chain Management Masters in Marketing Masters in Business Analytics Masters in Management |
Top Universities in France by Employability
French institutions produce the most employable graduates and have been ranked in the Global University Employability Ranking. France is ranked second in the world, after only the US and ahead of Germany, and is followed by the UK and China. Below is the employability ranking of popular French universities and the average salary of graduates:
| Universities/ Schools | QS Rankings | Annual Average Salary( in EURO) |
|---|---|---|
| Sorbonne University | 141-150 | 30,000-50,000 |
| Sciences Po | 161-170 | 67,000-1,30,000 |
| Ecole Polytechnique | 18 | 72,000-135,000 |
| PSL University Paris | 71 | - |
| The University of Paris | - | 49,000-2,06,000 |
| Telecom Paris | 301-500 | 59,000-1,18,000 |
| Aix-Marseille University | 301-500 | 40,000 -63,000 |
| Montpellier University | 191-200 | 30,000-73,000 |
| Grenoble Alpes University | 301-500 | 42,000-69,000 |
Top Universities in France Admissions
Every year over 3,00,000 students all over the world take admission in France. The admission process for international and domestic students is different. International students can check the information below to take admission at France Universities:
Application Portal: CEF/ Study in France (Few universities accept online applications through the website as well) and the Intake Season is September and March
Academic Requirements
- Minimum 70% in Grade 12
- Minimum 60% for Foundation and Diploma Program
- French language proficiency- DELF/ DALF/ TCF
- English proficiency- IELTS Academic/ TOEFL iBT/ PTE Academic
- GMAT and GRE(the score varies depending on the university)
Documents Required to Study in Top Universities in France
- Academic Transcripts
- CV
- Copy of Passport
- Passport Size Photograph
- Two References
- Test score reports
- Proof of Finances
- Letter of Recommendation
- Portfolio
- Essay
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Purpose
- Visa
- Insurance
- Certificate of Achievement and award (if applicable)
Cost of Living in France
France is an expensive country to live in. International students must plan their finances well before arriving. However, the cost of living varies depending on the city and the institution of studying. Below is the estimated average monthly cost that a student has to bear while staying:
| Goods and Services | Costs per month (in EURO) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 400-1300 |
| Food | 150-600 |
| Transportation | 50-150 |
| Entertainment | 50-100 |
| Clothes | 80-100 |
| Health Insurance | 20-40 |
Learn the detailed cost of attendance of studying in France, here!
Top Universities in France Scholarships
Indian students can apply for a plethora of scholarships for financial support to study in France. French Government Scholarships, Institutional Scholarships, and Co-financed or Joint Scholarships are available for international students. Candidates with good academics required score on standardized tests, other achievements, necessary documents, essays to state why it is needed will be considered for scholarship awards and financial support.
Few scholarships provided via academic institutions in France to international students:
| Scholarships | University/ School | Eligibility | Amount (in EURO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emile Boutmy Scholarship | Sciences Po | Academic excellence, International students, First time applicant | 3,000- 13,000 |
| IDEX Scholarship | Paris-Saclay University | International students below 30 years, living in France for less than a year enrolled into a non- certification program | 10,000 |
| MBDA Scholarship | Isae Suparo | Academic excellence of Indian students enrolled in MSc in Aerospace engineering program | 8,000 |
| EDHEC Global MBA Scholarship | EDHEC Business School | Academic excellence and Result of interview | 20,900-33,440 |
| Talent Scholarship | Renee School of Business | Academic excellence | 2,000-5,000 |
| Master of Science Excellence Scholarship | SKEMA Business School | Academic excellence, Result of interview, GMAT, GRE, TAGE, MAGE will be assessed | 4,000 |
Apart from these scholarships students with good academic record seeking to get admission for professional or technical programs in France Universities can also go for education loans.
In addition, international students can work 964 hours of part-time work in a year. There are several student jobs available at colleges, such as assisting new students, assisting handicapped students, tutoring, IT support, working in the career centre, and so on.
With a great business school presence and universities making their mark in the world, France has aced as a popular study destination choice in Europe among both international and Indian students. For those seeking European-style education at a cheaper rate that the UK, France is their perfect location to pursue higher education. With multiple top universities in France and their global recognition being boasted across the world, the country has managed to gain a tracking of around 358,000 international student population. The increasing popularity of the location as a study destination is often pointed with the help of universities reputation, where French universities lack no further than top countries like UK, US, etc.
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