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As
many
as 140,000 International students study at institutes in France every
year. Its
also growing in popularity among Indian students. Education in France
can be
affordable as it is subsidised by the State. It is also not necessary
to know
French for post-graduate study in France as subject areas like
Management and
engineering are increasingly being taught in English in more and more
institutes.
There
are
two different type of educational institutes you can choose from.
Universities
and "Grandes Ecoles" ( Described as Competitive Institutes).
There
are
about 87 universities and over 300 Grandes Ecoles in France. A large
number of
students go to universities which offer general courses and
professional
courses. The universities cover all disciplines and trains students for
research.
The Grandes Ecoles take in a lower number of students after a rigorous
selection
process and offer courses that specializes students in areas that have
a direct
career applicability. These can be either Public or private
institutions.
The application Procedure
The education systems in India and France are very different. You will
have to
apply to universities and let them decide on the applicability of your
previous
academic background and experience to the course you are interested to
study in.
It would be useful for you to visit The French Information Resource
Centre at
the Embassy of France in Delhi or at the Alliances
Francaises in your city to get help in selection of
courses and
Institutes suitable for your background.
For admission to a university, after you have been advised by one of
the French
Information Resource Centres, you should directly contact the selected
university to get a provisional admission form, fill out the form and
send the
same alongwith attachments to the university. The university will
decide on the
recognition of your academic background based on the recommendations of
an
education committee and will decide at which level you can qualify to
enter. You
will receive a letter of confirmation from the university, which can be
used to
apply for a long-stay student resident visa.
For admission to a "Grande Ecole", you have to appear for a
competitive exam - "Concours". The exam is held in France for which
you can apply and obtain a special three-month competitive exam visa
(visa
concours). You will be entitled to a residence permit to take the
course you
have been admitted to after you clear the exam.
When to apply?
The academic year in France starts in September or October. Some
institutions
may also enroll students for spring, summer or winter semesters as
well. You can
ask for application forms from the universities or from the French
Embassy in
Delhi between November 15 and January 15. The completed application
forms
alongwith all attachments must reach the university by 1st February.
How much it costs?
Tuition Fee
Tuition fees at universities are very nominal and can vary between FF
800 to FF
4500 per annum. At the Grandes Ecoles the fee ranges between FF 25000
to FF
100000 per annum.
Living Expenses
Accommodation - FF 800 to FF 2500 per month
Food - FF 850 to FF 1000 at university restaurants per month
Health care - FF 2500 to FF 5000 per year
Miscellaneous (transportation and leisure) - FF 500 per month
The above costs are indicative and can vary from person to person and
between
universities.
Part-time work during study
You can work for upto 20 hours a week against a permission to do so.
Visa Requirements
The following documents are required to obtain a student visa.
- A valid passport
- Certificate of registration from a French University/Grandes Ecoles
- Proof of having sufficient resources to cover expenses for one year
of stay.
Please check the exact amount to show from the French Consulate.
Useful contact addresses
Edufrance Desk
French Information Ressource Centre
2, Aurangzeb Road,
New Delhi 110011, India
Tel : (91-11) 23015631 / 23014682
Fax : (91-11) 23793892
Email : [email protected]
Consulate General of France, Mumbai
Datta Prasad Building, 2nd Floor,
10, Nowroji Gamadia Cross Road,
Mumbai - 400 026
Tel : 022-4950918, 4952289, 4938002
Consulate General of France, Pondicherry
Rue de la Marine, Pondicherry - 605001
Tel : 0413-334174, 334058, 335388
Useful websites:
http://www.france-in-india.org
http://www.edufrance.fr
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