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Study in France
France is probably known best for its high quality living. On an
average, the working hours here are about 35 per week only, making it
one of the most desirable places to live in the world. France also
remains to be one of the founding countries of the European Union and is
an active and strong member of the Schengen Agreement. However, do keep
in mind that most of the courses here are taught in French, France
loves it language and their motto is to focus on the same with passion.
But considering the increase in number of international students coming
here each year, they have made an attempt to include more of English
based courses. This popular educational destination for international
students from Europe and other regions has close to 250000 international
students in the year 2009. That's nearly 12% of all the student body in
France.
You have an option to choose from a variety and range of
courses in France. Be it food or culinary arts or even something more
extensive as doing your master in sociology or studying international
law. There is something here for everyone. The courses include the
standard bachelor's ("Licence"), master's or PhD ("Doctorat") degree.
One also has the option to enroll in a summer study abroad program. On
the whole, the French educational system has been created in a way to
provide students with a wide range of study opportunities. Those who
want the classic and theoretical education option, universities in
France might be the most appropriate type of institution for you. But
there are also lots of opportunities for a vocational approach like the
Grandes Ecoles or University Institutes of Technology.
With
plenty of international students coming to the country, you can enjoy a
cosmopolitan culture here. However, it is best that you try and get some
basic knowledge in the French language before heading here. The same is
suggested because a chunk of the population here converses in French.
Knowing the basics of the language would give you the ease to
communicate. Especially with abundant public transport available here,
it makes sense to make use of the subways and the trams rather than
spending on expensive cabs.
Tuition Fees in France
The
major benefits of studying in France are that you will note relatively
low tuition fees at public universities. Agreed that the overall cost of
living in France, especially in the major cities is quite high but then
education and tuition fees do go low if you are lucky enough to get a
seat for the majority of courses at most public universities in France.
The approximate cost here is about EU€189 (around US$210) for a year for
a bachelor’s degree. Some courses may be more expensive than the others
.So the average tuition fee costs here are about US$1,000 per year for
domestic and international students alike.
Applications and Student Visas
The
application process and visa requirements to study in France are based
on the country you come from. For example, if you are a student coming
from an EU country then, your requirements are different. Even countries
like Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are treated or have
same visa requirements like the EU students.
Applicants from the EU
- You
will not need a student visa. But for those commencing the first year
of a program or hold a French baccalaureate, you must use the online
application system used by French students (APB – admission
post-baccalaureat). For higher studies, one can apply directly to the
institution at which you want to study.
- For students who
have different high-school qualification because of studying in
countries outside the EU, they should get in touch with the institutions
you want to apply to. In such cases, you can be asked to apply directly
to them, rather than through the centralized system.
- Grandes
ecoles and grands establishments have their own application procedures.
It is best to get in touch directly to find out what it is required.
Some preparatory classes may be needed additionally.
- If the course you are taking is in French, then you will need to prove your fluency in French.
There
are options for exam such as the TCF DAP (Test de Connaissance du
Francais, Demande d’Admission Prealable), DALF (diplome approfondi de
langue francaise) or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages). In the same way, you need to prove you can speak English if
that is the language of tuition. The common tests like TOEFL or similar
work. But its best to check what language test scores are accepted or
preferred by your university.
Applicants from outside the EU
- The
application procedure for students coming from other countries, outside
the EU depends on whether or not you are from one of the 31 countries,
including the U.S, in which CampusFrance runs the CEF procedure.
- If
you are not from one of these countries listed in CEF, you will need to
submit a preliminary application at your local French embassy before
applying to one or more French universities. You should ideally get in
touch with your French Consulate or check the specifications with your
local embassy. The application for the visa can be done via agencies or
directly too.
- Once you are accepted by a French
institution, you’ll need to apply for a visa, which also includes a
residence permit, called the VLS-TS. The same stays valid for a year at a
time. For this one has to provide a completed application form,
passport photos, your passport, proof of your previous qualifications, a
police certificate attesting to your lack of a serious criminal record,
proof you can speak French to an appropriate level or even English
(depending on your course).
- Once you arrive in France,
you will need to contact the French Office of Immigration and
Integration (OFFI), who may request that you undertake a medical
examination.
Multiple Programs
Students who are
planning to study multiple courses or complete two consecutive programs
(such as a program in French as a foreign language, followed by an
academic program), then you would need to get admission to both programs
before applying for your visa. Once you have the application letter
from both the universities and institutes, you can then make your visa
application. You would have to go through the same procedure as above
and there is no extra visa free for applying for two courses at the same
time. Nevertheless, you have to keep the embassy informed about the
same and get separate letters and stamps required for proceeding for the
two courses.
Geography
In France, you can do either a
graduates of Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in Geography. With many
successful career options and intensive focus on research, one can work
as cartographers, environmental consultants, town planners or even
landscape architects. There are also masters programs available in the
same, where you can go on to specialize in particular subjects post the
course is done.
On the whole, the course for graduation takes
about 3 years and includes practical experience. The masters degree is
for 2 years and there is an option to follow up with higher courses in
the stream too.
Top universities include-- Sorbonne Paris Cite - Universite Paris Diderot
- Universite Nice Sophia Antipolis
- Universite Lille 1 Sciences et Technologies
Teaching
If
you want to explore your cultural horizons and share your culture and
experiences with both French and international students then there are a
variety of courses available in France. The most popular of them
perhaps is the Teaching Assistant Program in France that offers you with
the opportunity to work in France for 7 months, teaching English to
French students of all ages. There are more than 1,100 American citizens
and permanent residents who come to France and take up teaching in
public schools across all regions of metropolitan France as a
profession. There are job opportunities in the overseas departments of
France too such as Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion.
When
doing the 3 year graduate or bachelors program, one can gain valuable
teaching experience, improve language skills, and experience French
culture too. Alongside, it is also possible to first finish your
education and specialize in a subject of your choice and then sign up
for the teaching program. This way you can pursue your favorite subject
and also teach at a higher level to the students.
Sociology
Sociology
is extensively focused on human society by analyzing and investigating
it using several methods of empirical research. France has been known
best for its diverse courses in sociology and the theoretical approach
to this stream of humanities. With a rich culture and diverse historical
background, one can do a graduates program in the stream and then move
on to the masters too. Aspects of sociology taught here include social
stratification, social class, culture, social mobility, law and
religion. One can further take up additional subjects along with their
major like anthropology, social psychology, or philosophy.
Top universities include-- Sorbonne Paris Cite - Universite Paris Diderot
- Universite Paris Dauphine
- B.Sc. Sciences sanitaires et sociales
- Sorbonne Paris Cite - Universite Paris Descartes
- Universite Paris 13
Science and Technology
With
advancement in technology, France too like other countries, matches
steps with the latest educational and reform methods. The benefit here
is that you can pick from a range of vocational courses in the science
stream too, especially when it comes to biotechnology or engineering.
The idea of offering diverse and varied courses is to create a balance
of manpower along with having students with strong theoretical knowledge
of these subjects. Foreign students may have to take some entrance
examination tests for the same. With state of the art laboratories and
contemporary learning methods, science is emerging as very popular
subjects for students here.
Top institutes and universities include-- Ecole Polytechnique (ParisTech)
- Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC
- Universite Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)
- Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris (ENS Paris)
- Sorbonne Paris Cite - Universite Paris Descartes
- Aix Marseille University
- Universite de Bordeaux
- Universite Montpellier II Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc
Linguistics
If
you want to pursue a career in linguistics, then there is nothing
better than learning French in France. The vast scope of linguistics
degrees here means that you will learn about language through a wide
range of diverse disciplines. On the whole this will help you in
specializing and making an attempt to understand how language works. The
focus here would not be on just the modern French but also to analyze
differences and relations over the years. Linguistics is often
accompanied with social sciences.
Top universities include-- CLLE-ERSS – Universite de Toulouse - Le Mirail
- Laboratoire Cognition Langues Langage Ergonomie
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Laboratoire de Linguistique Formelle
- ENS-LSH
- ENS-LSH and University of Mannheim Cotutelle Program
- Ecole Normale Superieure
- Cogmaster (Master in cognitive science)
- Lingmaster
- Grenoble Institute of Technology (Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble)
- Mathematics-Computer Science (Mathematiques-Informatique)
- Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales
Fashion
There
is perhaps no subject as satiating as learning fashion in France, which
is known for its beautiful, and stimulating environment. Being the
fashion capital of the world, students gain hands-on knowledge of all
aspects of the fashion industry — design, marketing, manufacturing,
merchandising and retailing. The degree course for fashion designing and
related streams includes both theoretical and practical knowledge along
with seminars being conducted and most classes are taught in English.
Students are accepted from all across the world but you will have to
provide you worth for getting into the top institutes. Ideally, one has
to send a portfolio and also take a drawing and written test here for
getting admission.
One can study Fashion design, Fabric and
color, Fashion illustration, Fashion promotion, Marketing, Retailing and
Merchandising programs to its students. Here you will learn about a
combination of French fashion heritage with the latest technological
changes and developments. On the whole, innovative teaching methods
backed with practical workshops, personal researches, experimentation,
peer to peer presentations, etc. students are known to explore their
creative and pragmatic, curious and analytical, imaginative mind for
learning fashion.
Top universities include-- Paris Fashion Institute
- Fashion School Of Luxury And Design
- Ecole De La Chambre Syndicale
- Esmod
Law
International
law is the primary focus of France and foreign students are eligible to
study law here. There is a special examination needed to pass the Bar
here and your course would include Private international law, public
international law and supranational law. Once you finish your basic
degree you can move on to specialisation. With an International Law
degree students are prepared for careers in government, international
relations, international business, and more. The faculty of law at a
French university is referred to as Faculte de droit or Universite de
droit (University of Law). France has law schools affiliated with
various existing French law faculty, called Ecole de droit, College de
droit or Academie de droit. Both the state government and private
universities manage the exclusive institutions too.
Top universities include-- Sorbonne Paris Cite - Universite Paris Descartes
- M.Sc. Droit International et Europeen Public et Prive (Professionnel) - M2
- Sorbonne University
Food and Culinary Arts
Some
of the best chefs from across the world come from France and students
flock here to study culinary arts. You can take up a range of degrees in
the food department that give you a comprehensive view of the culinary
field. It can be baking, pastry, cooking, etc. All in all the concept is
to provide the students with an international view of the food safety
regulations and standards, along with learning the basics of the food
industry.
Through these degrees one can set up or work with
systems like HACCP, BRC,IFS, SQF, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, ISO 14001 and
ISO 9001. They can audit about food and even cook. Professionals of the
sector provide a practical view of food industry management via lectures
and seminars. Overall sense of food management is taught. Along with
this, students can pursue short term baking and cooking courses to enter
the chef line too.
Top universities include-- ISA
- Audencia Nantes
- Institut European d’Histoire et des Cultures de l’Alimentation, Universite de Tours (France)
- Universite Francois Rabelais
- Le Cordon Bleu
For latest admission guidelines see
www.franceeducation.info