With the COVID-19 pandemic in remission, French universities prepare to resume classes. The next academic semester starts in September 2020. Admissions are currently open for international students from elsewhere in Europe and also from outside the EU. According to the BBC, France is home to more than 330,000 foreign students. Here is a summary of what international students aspiring for France can expect.
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Choose France
Getting a university qualification in France offers many advantages. The country has one of the best and most accessible higher education systems in the world. French universities and research institutions are recognized worldwide. In 2019 more than 30 French universities ranked among the global top 500. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), some of the best institutions in France include the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and Strasbourg. Schools such as HEC Paris rank among the best European universities. France has produced 65 Nobel laureates and 12 Fields Medalists. The public body called ‘Campus France’ reports that the French government devotes 20% of its annual budget to education. This massive investment provides the impetus for academic excellence, as well as outstanding work at France’s world class research facilities. No wonder the country attracts 250,000 international students each year.
Options
The President of the Conference of University Presidents in France recently stated that international students are welcome to study in all French universities. The next academic session starts in September. Owing to social distancing requirements the format of classes will change. With the start of the fall semester French universities will conduct classes in-person and remotely. International students can now take better advantage of distance learning courses. One option is to pursue purely online degree courses. The other is to enroll in one of many hybrid courses. The latter combine remote and in-person classes. For most courses both options are offered in French and English. The available streams include engineering, administration, management, law, town planning, and many more. It may also be possible to enroll in a distance learning course and later switch to the hybrid version. Tuition fees in France are some of the lowest in Europe.
Applications
The application process depends on a student’s nationality. European students follow much the same process as French students. International students from outside the EU must submit a prior admission request (DAP) when applying for first year undergraduate courses. Students applying for second and subsequent years and for higher level courses can contact the relevant institutions directly. The application process is entirely online and easily understood. Doctoral level students follow a different admission process. They must directly connect with doctoral schools that offer the specific research topics which the aspirants want to pursue.
Online And In-Person Studies
Foreign students in France can face challenges related to the costs of living. The expenses of living in any of France’s major cities can be significant. The important cost heads are accommodation, commute, insurance, and food.
In-person courses were the most common form of learning in France before COVID-19. Online classes rapidly gained popularity since February. In France the tuition fees for online and in-person courses are the same. International students enrolled in pure online courses must still pay the tuition fees. However they can save on the costs of living in France. Foreign students can also save on expenses such as health insurance and student’s union fees. Online courses offer more flexibility for both students and institutions. Scholars can choose their own study hours and have much more independence in their routines. With online classes universities can reach larger numbers of students and offer a wider choice of courses. Campus France points out that international students have the option to study online during the first semester. For the second and subsequent semesters they can attend in-person classes in France. Many international students find jobs in France after getting their degrees. They get their student visas converted to work visas and continue to live in France. Many of them regularly send remittances to their families back home via the Ria Money Transfer App.
COVID-19 Research
Some of the best French universities are conducting extensive research on COVID-19 itself. In April, scientists at the Pierre and Marie Curie University studied the effects of tobacco smoking in symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Parisian Hospitals also participated in the research, which provided some useful insights. Researchers at the Pasteur Institute collaborated with scientists at the Strasbourg University Hospital. They researched the production of protective antibodies in the presence of mild COVID-19 infections. In May they found that some antibodies can neutralize mild COVID-19 infections. Higher education in France is an opportunity for students to participate in leading edge technologies, and be a part of the state of the art of tomorrow.
About The Author:
Hemant G is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency. When he’s not writing, he loves to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.