France · Île-de-France
Study in Paris: universities, costs and careers for international students
Paris is the obvious first choice and, for many students, the right one: more world-ranked universities than any other French city, the largest job market in the country and a huge, established community of students from Francophone Africa. It is also France’s most expensive city, so going in with clear numbers matters. Here is what to weigh.
Universities in Paris
2 universities
Why Paris
Before the detail, the snapshot - what you actually get by studying in the capital.
- A cluster of top institutions: Université Paris-Saclay (No. 1 in France and No. 1 in the world for mathematics), Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, PSL and Sciences Po
- The economic centre of France: headquarters of most large French companies and the La Défense business district
- Station F, the world’s largest start-up campus, plus deep finance, consulting, luxury and tech sectors
- An established African diaspora and student associations from Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco and beyond
Universities & popular bachelor’s
Look past the overall ranking to the subject strength and the language of instruction - that is what decides your fit.
- Université Paris-Saclay: a global top-15 university, outstanding for mathematics, physics, computer science and economics
- Sorbonne Université & Université Paris Cité: large public universities strong in sciences, medicine, humanities and law - most bachelor’s (licence) taught in French
- Sciences Po: an English-taught Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences (politics, economics, history), around a third international - prestigious but higher tuition
- Curriculum: French public bachelor’s run three years (licence); look for the growing number of English-taught tracks if your French is not yet B2
Career prospects & ROI
Paris offers the widest range of internships and graduate jobs in France - the return on investment is strong if you use the city.
- Industry connections: HQs of CAC 40 companies, global banks, consultancies and the luxury sector recruit interns and graduates locally
- Internships (stages) are built into most degrees and are the main bridge into a first job - start looking in your first year
- Post-study work: master’s graduates can get a 12-month job-search residence permit (APS), extendable while you look for a qualifying job - most bachelor students continue into a master’s here
- A French degree plus working French is recognised across the EU and the Francophone world
Cost of living in Paris
Estimates for the 2026 academic yearA student in Paris should budget around 1.298 € a month. The heaviest line by far is rent: a room in a shared flat goes for about 750 €, and most land between 600 € and 950 €.
- Room in a shared flat usually 600 € – 950 €
- 750 €
- Food and groceries
- 280 €
- Student travel pass
- 38 €
- Health insurance
- 25 €
- Phone, internet, electricity
- 65 €
- Books, sport, going out
- 140 €
- Monthly total
- 1.298 €
Ranked 8 of 8 on cost among the cities we cover in France, cheapest first.
Cheapest on our list: Grenoble, at about 902 € a month. →What things cost here, against the EU
Across the whole shopping basket France sits at 107.9, where the EU average is 100 (2024).
EU average = 100
Consumer prices rose 0.9% over 2025.
Where these numbers come from
The monthly budget is our own estimate, compiled from what student unions, universities and national student services publish. Use it to plan with — it is not a quote.
The price levels, inflation and rent figures are published statistics: Eurostat purchasing power parities and, for German states, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
Success stories
Students who crossed the bridge
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What it costs
Tuition is low; the rent is the real budget line. Plan honestly for the most expensive city in France.
- Public tuition: roughly €2,900/year for a non-EU bachelor (some universities reduce this) - far below the UK or US
- Living costs: budget €1,200–€1,800/month in Paris, driven almost entirely by rent - a CROUS student room is by far the cheapest option
- Proof of funds for the visa: about €615/month, shown as a bank statement or sponsor declaration - no blocked account is required in France
- Part-time work: international students may work up to 964 hours a year (around 20 hours a week); housing aid (CAF/APL) is open to international students too
Life, safety & culture
A global megacity with everything on your doorstep - and the street-smarts any big city asks of you.
- Daily language is French - even in English-taught programmes you will need French to live, work part-time and build a network; aim for B1–B2
- Excellent metro and rail; you can reach most of Europe by train from Paris
- Safety: France has good public healthcare (students register for free) and Paris is broadly safe, but watch for pickpocketing on transport and in tourist areas
- Culture: enormous student population and one of the largest African communities in Europe - you will not be alone
How to apply & the bureaucracy
For most students the route runs through Campus France in your country - start early, because the steps are sequential.
- Use the “Études en France” platform via Campus France for public universities; Sciences Po and most grandes écoles have their own application
- First-year bachelor applicants usually need the DAP procedure and a French language test (TCF/TEF) - for French-taught programmes, plan for DELF/DALF B2
- English-taught programmes accept IELTS/TOEFL instead - confirm the exact score on the programme page
- After admission, book your visa appointment immediately; allow 4–12 weeks for the student visa
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