France Plans to Have 20,000 Indian Students by 2025 to Study Abroad in-country
In a grand culmination of the detailed discussions between the Indian and French Foreign Ministers and in continuation of the implementation of the Partnership Agreement on Migration and Mobility (Oct 2021), France announced its plans to attract 20,000 Indian students to its shores by 2025. The news of this great opportunity to study abroad for Indian students was part of the joint statement released by the two countries after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron concluded their discussions on the 4th of May 2022.
Bilateral student mobility is beneficial for both India and France as it will create multiple new opportunities for startups, businesses and innovation between the two countries. It will also help combat irregular migration and is great news to study in France for Indian students, graduates, professionals and skilled workers. Earlier, in April 2022, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had also assured continued support to the Indian students during their study abroad in France. He also appointed 15 Alumni Ambassadors science, across management, art, culinary and social sciences from the esteemed France Alumni network to enhance the mobility of students between the two countries.
France - A Students-Magnet from Decades:
With its rich culture, heritage and welcoming attitude, France has been the academic destination for students from across the globe. Its cities are beautiful melting pots of multiple cultures and offer a rich variety in social life. Universities in France are known for their academic standards, offer attractive tuition rates and organise great events. The range of courses offered is diverse and the research facilities are state-of-the-art. In 2018-19 alone, France hosted 358,000 inbound mobile students. Currently, its ‘Bienvenue en France’ strategy envisions those 500,000 international students will enter its shores by 2027
In multiple ‘Best Student City’ surveys, Paris has consistently ranked at the top. Not surprisingly, 9 out of 10 international students recommend France as the top destination for studies. Add to these the facts that France is an economic superpower and French is the third most used business language in the world, you have all the right reasons to study abroad in France.
Management courses are the most popular in France with specialisations being offered in Project Management, Entrepreneurship, General Management and Strategic Management. However, other lucrative courses include Data Science, Biosciences & Biotechnology, AI & Business Analytics, Banking & Finance and Engineering.
Their top Universities - Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Letters) and Ecole Polytechnique - rank 20th and 15th respectively in global employer reputation. Young talent is immensely valued and the students who manage to get into the country are always celebrated. Though there is intense competition to study in France for Indian students, the highest teaching standards and hands-on practical training make every bit of it worth it.
A Lifetime Opportunity for Indian Students:
France and India have a standing agreement from 2018 to recognise each other’s degrees. There are 570 French companies (including Airbus, Total, Orange, LVMH, L’Oréal, Danone) that have set up shop in India and would be attractive career companies for Indian students. The application process is fairly easy and there are multiple government as well as non-government funded scholarships that are available for study in France for Indian students. Some examples include École Normale Supérieure International Selection, Eiffel Excellence Scholarships, INSEAD Management Scholarships and the Émile Boutmy Scholarships.
France also provides well-paying career opportunities with average salaries scaling nearly 3100 Euros a month. Add to this the social security benefits which are among the top in the European Union! Overall, the international outlook of the French Universities combined with their practical program structure and France’s promising professional prospects are superb benefits that Indian students get when they study abroad in France.
Well Begun Is Half Done:
Deciding to study in France is just the first step. Shortlisting the course and the university, applying for them, completing the paperwork, validating documents, seeking suitable scholarships, planning finances and zeroing in on the accommodation are all important steps that follow.
