Indian students planning to study in France from the 2026–27 academic year will have to prepare for significantly higher tuition costs.
Philippe Baptiste, France’s Higher Education, Research and Space Minister, announced on April 21 that almost all non-EU students enrolling from September 2026 will be charged €2,895 a year for bachelor’s programmes and €3,941 for master’s programmes.
The decision will apply to students from countries outside the European Union, including those from India.
Big shift in France’s fee policy
Until now, French public universities had the option to either charge non-EU students higher fees or continue with the standard low public tuition rates.
Since 2019, many universities had chosen not to impose higher charges. In most cases, non-EU students were paying the same public rates as others. €178 per year for bachelor’s courses and €254 for master’s programmes.
That flexibility is now ending. Under the new policy, universities will no longer be able to independently decide whether to keep lower fees for non-EU students.
For many Indian applicants, the change marks a sharp jump in the cost of studying in France, especially at a time when applications for the 2026–27 intake are already underway.
Current students not affected
The French government has clarified that the fee increase will apply only to students entering from the 2026–27 academic session.
Those who are already studying in the country will not be affected.
Still, the announcement has sparked concern among education observers because it comes in the middle of the application cycle, which could create uncertainty for both students and universities.
Limited exemptions for some students
The government said no more than 10 per cent of non-EU students will be exempted from the revised fee structure.
Most exemptions will be reserved for scholarship holders and students facing personal hardship.
France also plans to direct a large share of grants toward students choosing what it calls priority fields. Around 60 per cent of grants will be reserved for disciplines such as health, digital technology, artificial intelligence, quantum science, biotechnology, environment, energy, space, food, information technology and communications.
Why France is raising fees?
The new tuition policy is part of the French government’s international education strategy, Choose France for Higher Education.
The aim is to attract more international students in sectors where the country expects future skill shortages.
Officials have argued that France’s working-age population is likely to shrink over the coming decades, and international students could help fill future talent gaps.
The government has also said that even with the revised fee structure, non-EU students will still pay less than one-third of the actual cost of their education, with the state continuing to bear the larger share.
What it means for Indian students
For Indian students, one of the fastest-growing international student groups in France the move means budgeting will become a bigger part of the study-abroad decision.
Even after the increase, French public education is still expected to remain cheaper than many traditional destinations such as the United Kingdom, United States, or Australia.
