france

A few words..

France is a country with a rich history and an exceptional civilization. A multicultural country in the heart of Europe, next to Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain. France is the third country in line that hosts foreign students, and deservedly, some of its cities are considered to be among the largest student cities. Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lille, Montpellier … choose a city for your studies according to your preferences. The cost of living in France is comparable to that of other Western European countries and varies from region to region. For example, in Paris, life is more expensive than the province, especially in terms of housing.

It’s a good idea to get as much information as possible about the way of life and the cost of living in France, especially regarding accommodation, since you should know that it is not possible to find low-cost accommodation in Paris. This is why we always recommend to foreign students to study in the province, as is the case with 80% of French students that choose to study in the province.

There are so many options for you to choose from to study across the province, at fully accredited universities and with a high academic level. Nonetheless, the “City of Light”, as it is called in Paris, is only an hour away from Lille or Orleans with the TGV train, 2 hours from Lyon, Nantes, Poitiers, Rennes and Dijon, and 3 hours from Marseilles, Montpellier and Rochelle. You can study according to your preferences in the province, in large or smaller cities, near the sea, the mountain, or the bountiful French countryside.

You will live there in safety and more comfortably in student cities where it will be easier to get to know other students like you that have similar interests.

Why should I choose to study in France?

France has 83 public universities and 500 higher schools spread all over the country. The French magazine L’Étudiant has produced a list of cities that offer the best working and living conditions for students. Culture, housing, entertainment, international exposure, the environment, the study programmes, sports, transportation and opportunities for work, are some of the criteria that were taken into account for the ranking.

In terms of culture, Paris and Lyon come first. In terms of housing, Poitiers and Limoges stand out. From an entertainment point of view, Montpellier and Rennes distinguish. Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Nice are outstanding for the quality of their study programmes. Paris, Nice, Lyon and Strasbourg are the cities with the largest international exposure. In terms of natural environment, LaRochelle and Poitiers are at the top of the ranking.

The analytical ranking can be found here.

life

About 1000 euros is the monthly budget needed to live in France.

As far as accommodation is concerned, different options are available in France, depending on your financial ability and preferences. Worth mentioning is that there is a housing allowance, which not only are French students eligible for, but also foreign students (Cypriots).

Our office undertakes the entire process of the application for all the fields of study (Bachelor’s and Master’s), as well as for the foundation programmes.

the universities

There are two general types of educational institutions in France:

  1. Universities, and
  2. Specialised Schools.

Universities are public institutions and accept students who hold the French Lyceum Leaving Certificate (Baccalauréat) or an equivalent certificate (the Lyceum Leaving Certificate for Cypriots), which allows each student admittance to university studies. Universities provide training in the principal fields, technological fields, or for professional training. They cover all the science disciplines and prepare students for research or their integration into working life.

Specialised Schools are public or private educational institutions that provide specialised vocational training, such as in the fields of Engineering, Business Studies, The Arts, Architecture, and The Legal System, etc.

Higher Schools (Grandes Écoles) are ranked in this category. They are a particularity of French education: they are original educational institutions of great prestige, but admission to them is difficult. The Higher Schools produce high-level engineers and business executives, as well as specialists in the arts, academia and humanities.

how we can help you
  • Find out which accredited universities offer the course you want to study.

  • Let you know what the admission criteria of each University are.

     

  • Submit your applications and all the supporting documents required, in time!

     

  • Tell you in advance if there will be any exams, or portfolio, that may be requested by the universities.

     

  • Inform you thoroughly about the cost of tuition fees, accommodation, food.

     

  • Put you in touch with other Cypriot students who are already studying or will be studying at the same university as you.

  • Suggest what would be best for you at an academic level.

     

  • Suggest various solutions to improve your level of French, before you go to university.

Handling applications

France’s Higher education system dates back to the Middle Ages. Since this time till today, professors and students have contributed significantly to all the sciences.

France has 83 universities and 500 higher schools. In each case, the quality of education is subject to rigorous controls on the part of the State.

The French higher education system is divided into 3 stages of study:

  1. Licence – Undergraduate programmes of study
  2. Master – Postgraduate programmes of study
  3. Doctorat – Doctorate programmes of study

Most of the universities require you to have knowledge of the French language at B2 level. 

 

  • We handle the entire application process.
  • We help you to prepare a well-structured Motivation Letter.
  • We help you to prepare a well-structured Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • We handle all the correspondence and keep track of any developments, and WE communicate with all the universities that we have submitted applications to for you.
  • We help, and arrange the interview with each university (where this is requested).
  • We help you to choose the most suitable university for you as a first choice.
Guidance on Financial matters

The cost of studying at university is particularly low. For an academic year (two semesters, at all levels), registration rarely costs more than 300 euros. At State Engineering Schools, the tuition fees amount to approximately 600 euro for one year. In other educational institutions, especially in Business schools, the cost may be higher, depending on the type of study and the type of the educational institution.

Accommodation
  • Information on accommodation options and what you need to do to secure a place to live near the university.

     

  • Very good planning is required in advance, as the issue of accommodation is difficult in France.

Further assistance
  • Information on how to organise yourself before your trip.

  • Escorting students to university (France), when this has been requested and we are able to organise a group of students.

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