Study in France for Indian Students (2026): Fees, Visa, Costs

Fast answer

To study in France with Indian qualifications you go through Campus France India first: you apply on the Études en France platform, pass the Campus France interview and only then book the visa. Three rules changed in 2026: new non-EU students at public universities pay EUR 2,895 a year for a bachelor’s (licence) and EUR 3,941 for a master’s, the visa now asks for EUR 877.50 a month in proof of funds (applications from 1 August 2026), and non-EU students without a French means-tested grant no longer get the APL housing aid since 1 July 2026.

• Comparing countries first? Read study in Europe for Indian students.
• Want a fully funded master’s? Look at Erasmus Mundus: many programmes include a French university.

France is still one of the cheaper options for a full degree in Europe, but most guides you will find online were written before these changes. The figures below are from Campus France India, the French government’s service-public.fr and the April 2026 announcement on fees; living costs are from Odisea’s city guides, verified in 2026.

The order that saves months

What it costs: tuition in 2026

Public universities in France used to charge almost everyone the same low fee, and many universities exempted non-EU students from the higher “differentiated” fees. From the 2026/27 intake that changes for new non-EU students:

Students already enrolled before 2026/27 keep their previous fees, and universities can still exempt a small share of students, mostly scholarship holders. Grandes écoles, business schools and engineering schools set their own fees, often much higher. Always check the fee on the programme page, not on a general ranking site.

Proof of funds for the visa

Campus France India asks applicants to show one year of tuition plus living costs. For living costs the minimum is EUR 877.50 a month from 1 August 2026 (it was EUR 615 before), which is EUR 10,530 for a twelve-month year. The date that counts is when you submit the application, not when you travel.

As with Germany’s blocked account, this is an immigration minimum, not a comfortable budget. In Paris it barely covers a room and food.

Living costs in French cities

The housing aid change matters more than the fees. Since 1 July 2026, students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can no longer receive the APL (aide personnalisée au logement) unless they hold a French means-tested grant (bourse sur critères sociaux). Students with a job or a work-study contract can still be eligible. Older budget guides subtract the APL from rent; do not.

The cheapest rooms are in CROUS university residences: EUR 250–550 a month in Paris, but places are limited and given first to grant holders. Our student residences guide explains how CROUS works, and renting in France covers guarantors, the Visale guarantee and the documents landlords ask for.

Documents you will need

Exact lists depend on the consulate and your programme, but plan for:

• passport valid for the whole stay;
• Campus France clearance and your admission letter;
• school and university certificates with mark sheets;
• proof of funds: tuition plus EUR 877.50 a month (bank statements, a sponsor’s statements and letter, a scholarship or an education loan);
• proof of accommodation for the first period, if the consulate asks for it;
• language certificate if the programme requires one (IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programmes; DELF/DALF or TCF for French-taught ones).

Working and staying after your degree

A student residence permit lets you work part-time, up to 964 hours a year, but the visa expects you to prove your funds without that income. Do not count on a job to pay rent in the first months, especially now that the APL is gone.

After a master’s, Campus France India describes a five-year short-stay Schengen visa for Indian graduates of French institutions, and a residence permit to look for work or start a business. Check the exact conditions with Campus France India before you plan around them: the rules for Indian graduates come from a bilateral agreement and differ from those for other nationalities.

Before you arrive: people, not paperwork

The paperwork is the same for everyone, but the first weeks go better if you already know someone in your city. Odisea’s WhatsApp groups connect students moving to the same city; the groups are in English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is studying in France expensive for Indian students in 2026?

Tuition at public universities is now EUR 2,895 a year for a bachelor’s and EUR 3,941 for a master’s for new non-EU students, still low compared with the UK or Ireland. Rent is the bigger cost: EUR 380–800 a month for a room depending on the city, and non-EU students without a French grant no longer get the APL housing aid.

How much bank balance is required for a French student visa?

Campus France India asks for one year of tuition plus living costs of at least EUR 877.50 a month for applications submitted from 1 August 2026, which is EUR 10,530 for twelve months. Before that date the figure was EUR 615 a month.

Is Campus France mandatory for Indian students?

Yes. India is part of the Études en France procedure, so you apply through the Campus France platform and attend the interview before your visa application is processed.

Can Indian students get the APL in France?

Since 1 July 2026, only if they hold a French means-tested grant (bourse sur critères sociaux) or have a job or a work-study contract. Most Indian students arriving for a full degree will not receive it.

Can I work while studying in France?

Yes, up to 964 hours a year with a student residence permit. That is about 20 hours a week, but income from work does not count towards the proof of funds for the visa.