Everything you need to know about Undergrad in FRANCE for Indian Students.

If you are someone struggling with how to do your undergrad in france, then this is probably the only guide you would need. Now let’s get started with the basics.
Take help of the Table of contents to go wherever you want.

0. What are the World Class universities to study in France for Indians?

🎯 Correct Application Flow (for Indian students – non-EU):

1. 🌐 Go to campusfrance.org
   
2. 🌍 Choose your country – “Inde”
   
3. 📝 Click “Études en France” portal
   
   • You’ll be redirected to pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance
     
4. 🧾 Register, upload documents, choose up to 7 programs, pay ₹18,000
   
5. 📞 Attend Campus France interview
   
6. 📨 Get university responses → choose one
   
7. 🇫🇷 Apply for visa on france-visas.gouv.fr
   

✅ No Parcoursup needed unless very specific cases (explained below).

🎯 1. “What are the Main and Complementary admission phases?”

These are key stages on Parcoursup, France’s national undergrad platform for EU and French students—but they indirectly affect international students too.

• Main phase (Admission principale): From June 2 to July 10—French students receive and accept/reject offers.
  
• Complementary phase (Phase complémentaire): From June 11 to September 11—spare seats open up; students (including internationals with visa) can apply to new programs through Parcoursup.

🧩 2. What is Parcoursup, and who uses it?

• Parcoursup is the official portal for French and EU students to apply for Licence (Bachelor) programs .
  
• International (non‑EU) students (like Indians) don’t generally use Parcoursup, except in the complementary phase, where they need a valid France visa to apply.
  
• Indians typically apply using the Études en France / DAP route, bypassing Parcoursup’s main process.
  

💶 3. What are the total costs at top universities?

Here’s a breakdown both in €/year and approximately ₹:

• PSL University
  • Tuition: €243 (public rate)
    
• Institut Polytechnique de Paris
  • English Bachelor: approximately €6,243
    
• Université Paris-Saclay
  • Same as other public unis: €175 for Licence, €250 for Master 

Other Costs:

• CVEC: €105 per year (~₹9k)
  
• Student visa: €50 for Indians & other countries listed in EEF list and €99 for others not listed in the EEF list, VFS fees extra (~₹5–7k)
  
• Blocked account: requires €7,380 (~₹6.6 L) upfront (at €615/month)

🎓 4. Are there financial aids or scholarships?

• Public universities like PSL and Paris‑Saclay charge EU-fees even for internationals—no extra tuition
  
• Scholarships available: Eiffel, Charpak, regional and university-specific grants.
  
• Grandes écoles (like ENS) offer partial/full scholarships and stipends .
  

🏠 5. What are living costs, and is CAF available?

• Living Costs:
  
  • Paris: €1,300–2,200/month (~₹1.2–2 L)
    
  • Cities like Marseille/Lyon: €800–1,400/month (~₹70k–1.2 L)
    
• CAF: Yes! French housing aid reduces rent by ~€100/month—for bachelor students too .
  

🔄 6. After studies, do Indians have to stay 5 years for PR?

• You need 5 years legal residency for citizenship, typically during or after your Master’s.
  

🗣️ 7. What are the language requirements?

• French‑taught Licence/Master: usually DELF B2 / DALF C1.
  
• English programs: IELTS ≥6.5 or TOEFL 90, depending on course universityliving.com.
  

✅ Quick checklist to ensure nothing’s missed:

• Études en France application + Campus France interview
  
• Possibly Parcoursup complementary phase (if visa obtained)
  
• VISA via France‑Visas + VFS, with blocked account + acceptance letter
  
• CVEC payment (€105)
  
• Housing + CAF registration
  
• Health/Ameli registration
  
• Residence permit (OFII validation)
  

🧭 Visual Summary

1. Timeline phases: Parcoursup main/complementary—affects EU, limited for non‑EU.
   
2. Public uni fees: Almost negligible (~₹20–25k).
   
3. Elite private fees: €6k–15k/year (₹5–13 L).
   
4. Living: €800–2,200/mo; CAF helps.
   
5. Other costs: blocked account, visa fees, CVEC.
   
6. Language: B2 for French; IELTS/TOEFL for English tracks.
   
7. Immigration path: 5 years for PR; 

💸 Need-Based Financial Aid in France for Indian Students

France isn’t famous for need-based aid like the U.S., but there are a few ways Indian students can reduce costs significantly:

🇫🇷 1. CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) – Monthly Rent Subsidy

• ✅ Who qualifies? All students with a valid French residence permit (VLS-TS), including bachelor-level students.
  
• 🏠 How much? €100–250/month off your rent
  
• 📄 Docs needed: Rental contract, birth certificate (translated), visa/residence proof, French bank account
  
• 💡 Tip: Apply immediately after arrival. It takes 2–3 months to start getting payments, but you’ll receive retroactive reimbursement.
  

🧾 2. CVEC Refund (Social Fees)

• All students must pay €105/year (CVEC) before registering at a university.
  
• However, if you prove low financial means, you may request partial reimbursement (on case-by-case basis).
  

🏫 3. University-Specific Need-Based Waivers

Some grandes écoles and public universities offer tuition fee waivers or campus housing discounts for:

• Indian nationals
  
• Students from lower-income backgrounds
  
• Scholarship holders (like Charpak or Eiffel)
  

Check:

• PSL: Partial fee remission (case-by-case)
  
• Institut Polytechnique de Paris: Scholarships based on merit + income
  
• Sciences Po: Offers means-tested tuition scaling
  

🎓 4. Charpak & Eiffel Scholarships – May Not Be Purely Need-Based but Help

• Charpak (for Indian students bachelors included ):
  
  • Monthly stipend (~€700)
    
  • Tuition fee waiver at public unis
    
  • Health insurance + visa fee waiver

Health insurance plans for international students sort of.

• Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (for Masters & PhD only):
  
  • ~€1,200/month stipend
    
  • Only available for Master’s — but useful if you plan to pursue higher education after undergrad
    

🗓️ TIMELINES FOR STUDYING IN FRANCE AFTER CLASS 12

Let’s break this into two routes:

• One for students currently in Class 12 (2025–26 batch)
  
• One for students who just got their Class 12 results in June 2025
  

📅 A) You’re in Class 12 now (2025–26 batch)

📅 B) You just got your Class 12 marksheet (June 2025)

⚠️ You’ve missed the main DAP (Bachelor) deadline (Dec 2024), but here are your options:

🧠 Smart backup plan: Start French language classes now + do MOOCs or volunteering to show continuity.

🧾 Cost Summary (Bachelor-level)

📚 1. What are the types of undergraduate programs in France?

There are mainly three types of bachelor-level programs in France:

✅ 1. Licence (L1-L3)

• Traditional university bachelor’s degree
  
• Duration: 3 years (L1, L2, L3 = Year 1, 2, 3)
  
• Offered by public universities
  
• More academic/theoretical (e.g., Economics, Physics, Sociology)
  
• Most relevant for Indian 12th graders!
  

✅ 2. BUT (Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie)

• Formerly called DUT; reformed into 3-year degrees
  
• Offered by IUTs (University Institutes of Technology)
  
• Very hands-on, technical, job-ready (e.g., Packaging Tech, Instrumentation, IT)
  
• Ideal for those who prefer practical + industry-focused learning
  

✅ 3. BTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur)

• 2-year diploma, not a full bachelor’s degree
  
• More vocational – focuses on job-market entry right after
  
• After BTS, students may later join L3 (third year of Licence) for top-up
  
• Not very common for international students unless you speak good French
  

🟨 Summary:

💸 2. Total Cost of Studying in France for 1 Year (as an Indian Bachelor student)

➡️ Total First-Year Cost (with CAF & public tuition):
~₹8.5–10 L for Paris; lower in other cities like Lille, Marseille

See this pdf about all the fees and things.

📅 3. Who is the timeline meant for: 12th-passed or current students?

The DAP & Parcoursup schedule you shared applies to:

🎓 Current Class 12 students
i.e., those who will complete school in March–May 2025 and plan to start in France in Sept 2025

🔍 Breakdown:

🔵 DAP (Études en France – for non-EU like India)

✅ This is your route. Even if you’re in Class 12 now, you can apply using predicted marks.

🟠 Parcoursup (for EU/France + some special visa holders)

You don’t need this unless:

• You already have a student visa
  
• Or want to apply to programs not listed on Études en France
  

💰 4. What’s the application fee for Études en France?

• Campus France charges a flat fee of ₹18,500 (subject to revision)
  
• You can apply to up to 7 programs using this one-time fee
  
• No per-university charge — the fee covers full platform + interview + visa NOC
  

🧠 TL;DR Quick Recap

• 3 programs: Licence (3 yrs), BUT (3 yrs, tech), BTS (2 yrs, vocational)
  
• Cost for 1st year: ₹8.5–10 L in public; higher for private
  
• 12th students (2025 batch): Apply via DAP → Oct–Dec 2024
  
• Études fee: One-time ₹18,000 for up to 7 choices
  
• Language: IELTS/TOEFL or DELF B2 depending on program

❓ So then, what is Parcoursup and when does it apply?

Parcoursup is:

• The national application portal for French/EU students
  
• Also used by international students already living in France, or those with:
  
  • French Baccalauréat
    
  • Certain long-stay visas
    
  • EU citizenship
    

💬 “Is Parcoursup related to French language proficiency?”

Yes, indirectly.

• Most programs on Parcoursup are taught in French
  
• So students applying via Parcoursup are expected to have B2 level French
  
• That’s why non-French speaking international students (like Indians) generally apply via Études en France, which includes many English-taught programs too

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