The French government has introduced a fee framework for national universities, defining the fees per year for local and international students*.

Level	International	Local/ EU
Licence (Bachelors)	2770 € (R44 475)	170 € (R2 738)
Masters	3770 € (R60 530)	243 € (R3 914)
PhD	380 € (R6 100)	380 €

Rand equivalence calculated in February 2020.

 

Whilst there is a big difference, the international fees are still incredibly low and are comparable with the fees at top universities in South Africa.

For Doctoral students, the fees are the same for both local/ EU and international students.

Note: Some universities don’t follow the tuition fee framework set out by the French Government and instead charge local/ EU fees, even for international students.

For a full list of public higher education institutions that deliver degrees under the authority of the State and charge differentiated tuition fees for non-EU students, click here.
 

For more information about tuition fees in France, visit the CampusFrance website.

 

* This framework is only applicable to public universities in France.

It is not uncommon for fees at private universities to be up to 31000€ (or more) per year for international students.

 

Cost of living in France: 800-1200€ per month

A budget of 800€ (R13 600) per month is usually more than enough for students.

The costs in Paris are typically much higher than anywhere else (it is the most expensive city in France), so a budget of up to 1200€ is generally recommended. However, it is not uncommon for students to live on 800€ in Paris and on less when located in other cities in France.

 

Medical insurance / social security

Everyone in France has social security which costs 215€ per year. This covers medical expenses. It is possible to get private medical insurance in addition to your social security but it really is not necessary.

 

Accommodation

Government housing for students (CROUS) does exist from about 200€ p/m, but it’s very limited.

Most students stay in communes or in studio-apartments which will cost on average between 400-600€ p/m.

Students also receive housing assistance from the government (CAF), based on their current level of income and their income in the past two years.

 

Transport

Paris transport pass, full tariff for adults: 73€ per month. Student passes in Paris are 38€ per month.
Again, Paris is the most expensive city so try finding the student prices in your chosen city.

Students and people claiming government assistance (CAF) get significant discounts. Every city also has its own transport “company” and so they charge different rates. It is best to do an internet search for the provider in your city to get a more accurate idea of the cost.

Bicycles: again, the cost to rent a city bicycle is different in every city. City bicycles in Paris (VeloLib) are 10€ per month.

 

Food

Home cooking: Students generally spend between 150-250€ on groceries per month, which translates to 1,60 – 2,65€ per meal.

University restaurant: 3,50-5€ / meal

Restaurant: 15€ / meal

 

Calculated in February 2020.