Every year thousands of students from India look out for various foreign locales to pursue further education in the hope to acquire quality education in a best institution in the world. France is one such educational destination whose higher educational system is one of the best in the world.
Culturally and academically rich, France is also known for its affordable education for both national and international students. Several scholarships and grants are available for students to ease their financial burden.
Being one of the technologically advanced countries, France offers excellent occupational opportunities to Indian students as well. But, before you decide upon your study-abroad destination, try to focus on some of the important points.
Top colleges/universities to look out for in France
Reputed universities such as Ecole Normale Superieure, Ecole Polytechnique, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Sciences Po Paris and Universite Paris-Sorbonne offer students quality education from a wide range of courses such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Information Technology, Astronomy, Architecture, Economics, Management, Arts, Humanities, Modern Languages, etc.
Scholarship opportunities
In France, education is given the utmost priority. So, the government has made provisions of scholarships, grants and subsidies for students so that their talent and productivity do not go waste due to financial constraints. Under Charpak Scholarship Program, there are scholarships for MasterтАЩs, Research and PhD students. There is also the Eiffel Scholarship Program for students at MasterтАЩs and PhD level. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program is for graduate students. Not only these, but students can also find scholarships for Arts students such as Krishnakriti and Neemrana.
Application procedure
If you are interested in pursuing your choice of course from France, you can apply for the same through an online application system called CEF (Campus France). CEF guides the applicants through their application procedure and also helps them by scheduling their interviews and language tests. Candidates can also apply directly to some universities through their websites. They just have to carefully check the entry requirements and make sure that all required documents are intact while applying.
Employment opportunities
Even when your tuition fee and accommodation cost is taken care of, there are many other miscellaneous expenses that students need to look for like travelling and food. So, most of the students think of working while learning. French law has made provision for foreign students to work for 964 hours during a year. The foreign students are guaranteed a minimum wage as per law. They are also allowed to complete their internship if the course requires.
Cost of living
Though the educational cost in France is reasonable, the cost of living is very high. So, to avoid paying high for accommodation, students must apply for university residences well before the start of academic year as this lodging option is the cheapest for students. If you are unable to get student lodging in university, you can opt for private residences on sharing basis to lower your expenses.
Visa procedure
After receiving the acceptance letter from the university, students need to apply for studentтАЩs visa which includes a residence permit which will be valid for a year and can be renewed later as per requirement. The student will have to provide all the necessary documents and forms as well as proof of sufficient funds to support himself in France. After arriving in France, students will have to contact the French Office of Immigration and Integration for further instructions.