France vs Australia: Which one is better for International Students?
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Australia vs France: Australia is one of the biggest and most popular international student destinations, however, France is known for its business courses and some of the most popular brands. Students confused between Australia and France can make their own decisions based on the details provided for them in this article.
With more than 1,00,000+ Indian students studying in Australia and just 10,003 Indians studying in France in the year 2023, there is no doubt that Australia is the most preferred destination for study. However, there are a couple of parameters where studying in France can prove fruitful for Indian students. Check out in detail about France vs Australia in the following given sections.
Aus vs France Country Highlights
| Parameters |
Australia |
France |
|---|---|---|
| Area |
7,617,932 km sq |
5,47,557 sq km |
| Capital |
Canberra |
Paris |
| Currency |
Australian Dollar (AUD) |
Euros (€) |
| Top Cities for Study |
|
|
| Average Cost of Living |
AUD 29,710 (annual) |
€12,000 in Paris (annual) | €7.200 apart from Paris (annual) |
| Average Cost of Studying (Annual) |
|
|
| Part-time Working Hours |
48 hours a fortnight |
20 hours a week |
| Top 5 Universities |
|
|
| PSW Visa Stay Back Period |
Up to 6 years |
1-2 years |
Top Reasons to Study in France vs Australia
When international students decide to study abroad and get stuck between two options - Aus vs France, they can check out the following top reasons based on the choice of their country selection for admission.
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Top Reasons to Study in France
There are a couple of reasons to consider if aiming to study in France and they are as follows:
- Apart from quality education, France also offers research opportunities at par with other leading countries to students.
- The tuition rates in France are lower than in other leading countries like the US, Canada and UK.
- A wide variety of opportunities are available for international students during and after completing their education.
There are other benefits also to studying in France which have been detailed at - Benefits of Studying in France.
Top Reasons to Study in Australia
A lot of international students hail to study in Australia for their popular universities and courses, apart from this there are other reasons as well to study in Australia and they are as follows:
- There are top-ranking Australian universities which have a good acceptance rate.
- Those who apply to Australian universities can get various opportunities for part-time work while studying.
- Also, the post-study work visa ranges from 4-6 years for those who have completed their education in Australia.
For more details check out in detail about Why Study in Australia? - Top Reasons
Australia vs France: Higher Education System
There is no stark difference between the education system of Australia and the education system of France. The higher education systems of Australia and France are similar, some of the key takeaways are as follows:
- The higher education that is, university/college level education is 3 years long in both Australia and France.
- The postgraduate degrees are two years long in Australia and France.
- While postgraduate research and postgraduate taught are two different terms used in Australia, LMD (license or bachelor’s, master's and doctoral) is another term used in France.
- Three years is the minimum to complete a doctoral degree at both Australian and French universities.
In majority of the cases, the structure of the education system is similar but it may be denoted with different terms.
Top 10 Ranking Universities: Australia vs France
Based on QS World University Rankings 2025, the following universities have been ranked from Australia and France:
| Top 10 Australian Universities |
QS - WUR 2025 |
Top 10 Universities in France |
QS - WUR 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| #13 |
Université PSL |
#24 |
|
| #19 |
Institut Polytechnique de Paris |
#46 |
|
| #18 |
Sorbonne University |
#63 |
|
| #30 |
Université Paris-Saclay |
#73 |
|
| #37 |
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon |
#187 |
|
| #40 |
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne |
#283 |
|
| #77 |
Université Paris Cité |
#301 |
|
| #82 |
Université Grenoble Alpes |
#334 |
|
| #88 |
Sciences Po |
#350 |
|
| RMIT University | #123 |
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA) |
#405 |
Please note: The rankings are dynamic and will vary each year. Thus, for the year 2024, the above-given universities have been ranked by QS. Categorically, we can see that a majority of Australian universities have made it to the top 100 universities globally in comparison to just four French universities. Thus, there is a clear winner here, which is Australia.
Popular Courses Offered in Australia vs France
Some of the popularly opted courses in France and Australia are as follows:
Popular Course Options in Australia
The top courses offered and pursued in Australia widely by Indian students are as follows:
- BBA in Australia
- MBA in Australia
- BE/B.Tech in Australia
- Healthcare Courses in Australia
- Accountancy in Australia
Popular Course Options in France
Some of the most popular course options available in France for Indian students are as follows:
- BBA
- MBA
- B.Tech
- MIM
- MS
Applicants looking at courses to study in French can do so by learning the French language. For this, applicants must note, that they can study in French but will have to submit French language proficiency like TEF exam scores.
Admission Guidelines to Study in Australia & France
More or less the admission requirements to study in Australia and France are similar but they vary based on their language requirements. Check out the following sections for understanding France vs Australia in terms of their admission requirements.
Admission Requirements for Australia
The admission requirements for Australia include first and foremost, fulfilment of the eligibility criteria. Then based on the level of education the previous qualification will be required, like a bachelor’s degree for master’s admission and class XII scores for bachelor’s admission.
Commonly the following documents will also be required:
- Statement of purpose (SOP)
- Letters of recommendation (LOR)
- Admission essays
- Transcripts
- GRE or GMAT for PG admissions
- IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo scores
Admission Requirements for France
Majorly the admission requirements for studying in France are similar, but the language proficiency tests may vary. In a few cases, TEF may be required if the course offered in France universities is in French language. The rest remains the same for all levels of study for admissions.
Cost of Studying: France vs Australia
The costs for studying in France are lower than those of Australia, including the living costs. The following sections will throw light on cost of studying in Australia and the cost of studying in France across various course types, along with other important details for admission.
Cost of UG Courses in France vs Australia
Check out the cost of pursuing undergrad courses in both France and Australia to draw a comparison along with some more related details in the following section:
| Particulars |
Cost of Undergraduate Courses in France |
Cost of Undergraduate Courses in Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Average Tuition Fee |
BSc: INR 2.48 Lakhs BTech: INR 3.23 Lakhs BBA: INR 2.58 Lakhs |
BSc: INR 15.05 Lakhs BTech: INR 20.74 Lakhs BBA: INR 16.80 Lakhs |
| Average Living Expense |
INR 3.92 Lakhs |
INR 6.37 Lakhs |
| Duration |
3-4 |
3-4 Years |
| Exams Accepted |
TOEFL, TEF |
IELTS, TOEFL |
Cost of PG Courses in Australia vs France
Check out in detail about the cost of studying postgraduate courses in France and Australia along with their one year expenses and corresponding details in the table below:
| Particulars |
Cost of Postgraduate Courses in France |
Postgraduate courses in Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Average Tuition Fee |
INR 3.48 Lakhs |
MA: INR 19.89 Lakhs MS: INR 26.18 Lakhs MBA: INR 90 Lakhs |
| Average Living Expense |
INR 3.92 Lakhs |
INR 6.37 Lakhs |
| Duration |
2 Years |
1-2 Years |
| Exams Accepted |
TOEFL, TEF |
IELTS, TOEFL |
It can be concluded that costs are lower for Indian students for admissions in France in comparison to Australia.
Student Visa to Study in Australia vs France
To study abroad in Australia or France, Indian students will require a study visa. The study visa details for both countries are as follows.
Student Visa in Australia
There are three types of student visas in Australia, the visa is offered to an applicant based on his/her level of study chosen.
- Subclass 500 Visa: AUD 1,600 (for bachelor’s courses applicants)
- Subclass 485 Graduate Visa: AUD 1,945 (for master’s level course applicants)
Study Visa in France
There are three types of student visas in France - one is a short-duration study visa and the other is a long-term study visa which are two in number. The visas depend on the applicant’s study duration and are offered accordingly. Campus France processing fee for France student visa is 206.34 Euros.
Post-Study Work Visa for Australia & France
Post graduating from either France or Australia, there is a provision for a post-study work visa. In this case, Indian students can apply for this PSW visa and stay on in the country to work.
Post-Study Work Visa in Australia
The post study work visa in Australia is available for Indian students for a period of four to six years. The bachelor’s degree-holding applicants can stay for four years, followed by postgrads with master’s degrees for five years and doctoral degree holders can stay up to six years.
Post Study Work Visa in France
The post study work visa in France is applicable only for master’s level applicants and not for bachelor’s degree holding applicants. The master’s degree holders can stay for up to 24 months or 2 years.
Popular Job Sectors in France vs Australia
Any international student would choose to study in a foreign country based on its future prospects for a job. Check out the popular job sectors to aim for after graduation from French and Australian universities based on the country.
Popular Job Sectors in Australia
Some of the most popular job sectors in Australia are:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Architecture
- Information Technology and Telecommunications
Popular Job Sectors in France
The most popular job sectors in France are as follows for Indian students:
- Agriculture
- Tourism
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Transport and Technology
Scholarships Offered in Australia vs France
There are various types of scholarships available for Indian students to study in Australia and France. These scholarships are merit and need-based offered either externally or by the university. Following is a list of scholarships offered by universities in Australia and France to international students:
There are a few more scholarships in France and a few more scholarships in Australia are also available for Indian applicants.
While Australia ranks among the top countries like UK, US and Canada for international students to study abroad, France is equally a good option. France is a smaller European country but is at par for its Fashion and Business communities with other top countries. Based on the popular choice of courses, applicants should be now able to make a choice between Australia and France for higher education.
Q: Is it worth studying at Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia?
Q: Why Indian students choose to study at ESSEC Business School - France?
Indian students choose to study at ESSEC Business School in France because:
- Academic excellence: ESSEC Business School is a top-ranked institution in France and is known for its high-quality education. The school has been ranked among the top schools in France and is recognised globally for its academic programs.
- International exposure: The school has a strong international network and welcomes over 200 graduate exchange students each year from top business schools and universities around the world.
- Career opportunities: ESSEC Business School has a strong connection with top companies, such as L'Oréal, Danone, and Procter & Gamble.
Q: Is it hard to get into Newcastle University Australia?
The University of Newcastle is amog the universities that does not publish official data on the acceptance rate. However, as per some unofficial sources, the University of Newcastle Australia acceptance rate is 80%. This makes Newcastle University Australia moderately selective in admissions. Please note that the data on acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
Q: What is the cost of a student visa for France?
International students going to France to pursue higher education are required to apply for a student visa before arriving in France. International students enrolled in bachelor/master courses are required to apply for a “Long Stay National Visa”. The cost of processing the ‘Long Stay National Visa’ for study purposes is EUR 99/INR 8,923. This application fee is needed to be paid at the nearest BNP Paribas Branch.
*EUR/INR = 90.13
Q: What is the acceptance rate for UWA Australia?
The University of Western Australia acceptance rate is around 38% for international students. The moderatly high acceptance rate makes the admission competitve for applicants. They must meet the academic and English language proficiency requirements to get into the university. The general requirement needed at the time of UWA admissions is a high school degree for bachelor's courses and a bachelor's degree for master's courses.
Q: What are the documents required to apply to ESIGELEC France?
To apply to ESIGELEC France, the applicants need the following documents:
- ID proof (National id or passport)
- All academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose highlighting the professional and academic goals
- 1 Letter of Recommendation
- English language test score
Q: Will my campus life be better at Istituto Marangoni - France than staying off-campus?
Attending Istituto Marangoni in France can provide a better campus life experience compared to staying off-campus for several reasons:
Istituto Marangoni has partnered with housing organizations and carriers to provide an extensive variety of quick and lengthy-time period accommodation alternatives for students, making it simpler to discover appropriate housing close to the campus.
This can help students feel greater included into the faculty community and feature better get entry to campus assets and activities.
The college also presents guide offerings to assist international students settling in, together with help with health insurance, arrival-making plans, and integration into the area people.
Q: What is Notre Dame university Australia known for?
The University of Notre Dame Australia is one of the finest institutions of higher education in Australia. The university offers highly-ranked and top-rated programs at undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university is known for its programs in areas such as: Arts & Sciece, Business, Education, Health Sciences, Medicine and Law etc.
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