The Embassy of France in India, through French Institute (Institut français en Inde) and Campus France, organizes Pre-Departure sessions – for the Indian students leaving to France to pursue higher education.
France, which ranks third among the world’s most innovative countries, is also among the top three most popular destinations in the world among international students.
Studying in France is a unique experience. France has centuries’ old universities that offer excellent education in art, innovation, science and technology, and more. France’s higher education and research institutions rank among the world’s best, such as the École Normale Superieure (ENS Paris) École Polytechnique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université Paris-Sorbonne, HEC, INSEAD and many others. This explains why France ranks as one of the world’s most preferred destinations for international students.
In 2015, the QS team voted Paris the “best international student city” for the third year in a row.
Students from India and the world over can study in these institutions either in English or French medium. Students opting for programs taught in French at state universities in France get the benefit of tuition-fee waiver like any other French citizen.
Last year, several thousand Indian students opted for higher education in France, a jump of 50% over the past five years, a number that is increasing every year.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France last April, both countries agreed on allowing Indian students to stay in France for two years, one for the period of studies and one after completion of their course for the purpose of acquiring professional experience, with a reciprocal arrangement for French students in India. Prime Minister Modi said on the occasion, “Indian youth, who come to France to study and want to continue here for some time after studies, can do that now.” “This agreement will further bolster the Indo-French relationship in education”, as urged by President François Hollande during his State visit to India in January 2016.
This year, the Embassy has offered nearly 400 scholarships under its flagship “Charpak” programme for students pursuing Master’s degrees, exchange semesters and research internships. French companies, such as MBDA, also offer scholarships to Indian students, including tuition fee waivers and a monthly stipend.
This has also resulted in measures to facilitate the issuance of visas for Indian students and Indian alumni, as well as an increased number of scholarships offered by the Embassy of France and its corporate partners.
