France Aims to Attract Half a Million International Students by 2027

France aims to welcome half a million international students by 2027 and strengthen its position among study-abroad destinations, a strategy launched back in 2019.

According to a report by Campus France, the French agency for higher education promotion, a total of 402,883 international students pursue studies in France. This represents an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the 2021/22 academic year and 17 percent over five years.

If France achieves this target, it would become among the top host countries in the world for international students, Erudera.com reports.

“This strategy will enable France, the 6th host country in the world, to strengthen its position as a host country for international students and scientists, who represent an essential contribution to the international opening of the university system and the vitality of French research,” Campus France notes.

As part of this strategy, the country also aims to facilitate the application process for international students, particularly through dematerialization.

This year, Campus France announced it will launch a new global communication campaign to promote France as a top study destination in Europe.

The majority of international students in France come from Morocco. Other top four countries of origin of international students are Algeria, China, Italy, and Senegal.

Student enrollment by country for the academic year 2021/22 was:

• Morocco - 46,371 students
• Algeria - 31,032 students
• China - 27,479 students
• Italy - 19,185 students
• Senegal - 15,264 students
• Tunisia - 13,661 students
• Spain - 11,256 students

International students contribute a significant amount to the French economy, a total of 5 billion annually. Last year, a survey conducted by Campus France found that 90 percent of international students recommend French institutions to pursue education.

France is among the few countries that offers international students health insurance and social benefits. Under the new immigration law, the amount of tuition fees at public universities for international students remains the same. Non-EU students must pay €2,770 annually for a Bachelor’s degree, €3,770 for a Master’s degree, and €380 for a PhD.

International students applying for student visas in France must have €615 at their disposal, or €7,380 per year, to ensure that they can cover their expenses while staying in the country, unless they receive a grant that covers educational expenses.

In 2021, France ranked second in popularity within the Erasmus+ program for student and staff mobility, behind Germany but ahead of Italy and Poland.

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