Top Universities and Colleges in France - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades

Home to almost 200+ top-class universities, France is one of the most popular study-abroad options for overseas students. Currently, more than 400,000 international students are pursuing higher studies in the country. PSL University, Paris-Saclay University, and Sorbonne University are some popular names that attract students from around the world, thanks in large part to their standing among the top 100 universities in the world. Some of the most pursued majors in France include MIM, BBA, MS, MBA and more. 

In order to get into these French universities, all aspiring candidates must appear for at least one of the following English proficiency exam(s): IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo English Test. Several universities in France also require another entrance exam like GMAT/GRE scores. 

Latest Update: 

In a major initiative to strengthen educational ties with India, President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would accept around 30,000 Indian students to its universities by the year 2030. 

Why study in France? 

Apart from being home to several world-class universities, France is also a hub for Business & Management courses and is known worldwide for the same. Prospective students can also choose from a variety of courses such as MIM, MS, MBA, BBA, B.Tech and more. Below are top reasons why France could be a dream destination for students-    

• High Employability - ROI in France is comparatively high compared to some other countries. Some of the top job sectors in France for international students consist of Medicine, Law, IT Professions, Engineering, Teaching and Research. 

• Stay back Opportunities- All international applicants require a long-stay French visa to pursue a degree course in France as a student. Such visas let students stay in the country for 4 - 12 months and can be renewed according to the student’s duration of studies. Usually, the cost of a visa in France sums up to about INR 7 K for Indian students. 

• Work Opportunities- Most French universities allow international students to work on-campus while studying at the university and pick up part-time jobs during their term breaks. France also provides a one-year stay-back permit to all international students as a post-study work permit. However, this cannot be renewed. To be eligible, students must hold a bachelor’s/master’s degree. 

Here’s all you need to know about studying in France.

Top Courses in France 

France is known for its Business & Management centered universities. The most pursued course in this country is MIM. BBA, MS as well as MBA. Mentioned below are some of the popular courses for international students in France- 

Top Courses in France	Count of Universities
MS	136
MBA/PGDM	130
MSc	116
BBA	62
MA	48
BA	19
Others PG	14
B.E. / B.Tech	13
LL.M.	13
B.Sc.	11

Top Universities in France 

There is a high demand for various programs in France due to the country being home to some of the world's top colleges for the course. As per the table listed below, it can be observed that the University PSL, Institute Polytechnic de Paris, Sorbonne University as well as the University Paris-Saclay are some of the top-ranked universities in France and are also part of the top 100 universities in the world. Mentioned below is the ranking of top universities in France by QS World Ranking 2026 along with Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026- 

University Name	QS World Rank 2026	Shiksha Popularity Ranking
University PSL	#28	#1
Sorbonne University	#72	#2
Paris-Saclay University	#70	#3
Paris Cite University	#300	#4
University of Bordeaux	#494	#5
University of Lorraine	#751-760	#6
Aix Marseille University	#428	#7
Ecole Normale Superieure	#205	#8
University of Nantes	#851-900	#9
Polytechnic Institute of Paris	#41	#10

Best Business & Management Universities in France 

As per the QS World University Business & Management rankings, the top universities in France are: 

University Name	QS Subject Rankings 2025
INSEAD	#4
HEC Paris Business School	#13
ESSEC Business School	#39
ESCP Business School - Paris	#54
Emlyon Business School	#76
EDHEC Business School	#125
University PSL	#137
University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne	#145
Grenoble Ecole de Management	#151-200
KDGE Business School	#151-200

Best Engineering Universities in France 

As per the QS World University Engineering & Technology rankings, the top universities in France are: 

University Name	QS Subject Rankings 2025
Institute Polytechnic de Paris	#40
University Paris - Saclay	#40
University PSL	#72
Sorbonne University	#76
University Grenoble Alpes	#149
Grenoble Institute of Technology	#162
IMT Atlantique	#201
Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Lyon	#220
Ecole des Ponts ParisTech	#260
Ecole Centrale de Lyon	#304

Read more:

Top-ranked universities in France

Top-ranked MBA universities in France

Admission Requirements for International Students in France 

International students interested in admissions to a French University must meet the university specific requirements of that institution & submit some documents as a proof of their academic prowess. Mentioned below are some general admission requirements for international students seeking admission in France: 

• Copy of a valid passport 

• A passport sized photograph  

• Academic transcripts  

• Photocopy of EU Health card 

• Application fee 

• A civil liability certificate  

• A cover letter  

• Valid English or French language test certificates  

• Bank Statement demonstrating enough financial resources to fund your studies & cost of living in France 

Entrance exams accepted by universities in France 

Several universities in France require GMAT/GRE scores as an entry requirement and international students must fulfill this criterion to secure admission. 

Entrance Exams Accepted	Count of Universities
GMAT	21
GRE	18

Here's everything that you need to know about GMAT 2026:

English language requirements by universities in France 

Most of the French universities accept IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo score(s) for their English language requirements. 

English Language Exams Accepted	Count of Universities
IELTS	224
TOEFL	134
Duolingo English Test	27
PTE	21

Cost of Studying in France 

On average, the cost of studying in France is moderately expensive for international students as the tuition fees of the top-ranking universities are on the higher end. However, the majority of France universities have an annual tuition fee between INR 10 L – INR 40 L, which makes them ideal study-abroad options. Some most prestigious university in France have fee above INR 40 L also. 

The annual tuition fee of a many universities in France is less than INR 10 L while few universities in France do not even charge tuition fee, making it a more affordable option for studies abroad. 

First-Year Tuition Fee Range	Count of Universities
Free	2
Up to INR 10 L	86
Up to INR 20 L	138
Up to INR 30 L	146
Up to INR 40 L	147
More than 40 L	11

Living Expenses in France 

On average, the cost of living in any country is inclusive of accommodation facilities, meals, travelling as well as the cost of utilities, and personal expenses. When it comes to France, the cost of living for Indian students is usually around INR 70 K per month. However, the expenses are very subjective, depending on the lifestyle and purchasing power of the student residing and pursuing a degree course in France. 

Scholarships Offered by Universities in France

Opting to study abroad is a major step that students take for their career and managing the expenses including the tuition fee and living costs play a deciding factor in this decision. Here is where scholarships dive in and help students study in their dream college by cutting down a portion of their expenses. A lot of universities in France, such as HEC Paris, Montpellier Business School, Rennes School of Business and more offer scholarships to their international students.

Scholarship Name	Financial Award
K.C. Mahindra Scholarship	INR 10,00,000
Narotam Sekhria’s Scholarships	Varies
Haini Zeini Scholarships	INR 82,460

Are you aware, that you can now study for next to no cost in Europe?

Check out the video below to know more:

Job Opportunities in France 

France offers plenty of well paid job opportunities to international students, across a number of popular industries, from Business Management, Science & Education to Technology, Commerce & Research there's plenty of opportunities out there for students. 

The table below lists some popular best paying jobs in France: 

Job	Average Salary (in EUR)	Average Salary (in INR)
Attorney/Lawyer (Law Firm)	EUR 60,984	INR 65.83 L
Accountant	EUR 35,750	INR 38.59 L
Mechanical Engineering	EUR 43,393	INR 46.84 L
Head Chef	EUR 38,000	INR 41.02 L
Software Engineer	EUR 44,308	INR 47.82 L
Retail Store Manager	EUR 33,129	INR 35.76 L
Research & Development (R&D)	EUR 62,122	INR 67.05 L
Hotel Manager	EUR 44,397	INR 47.92 L
Business Development Manager	EUR 51,251	INR 55.32 L

Source: Payscale 

Conversion rate: 1 EUR = INR 107.95 

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Kanishka Gambhir01-23-2026 16:21