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
Success stories
Students who crossed the bridge
“I wasted a year trying alone. After the strategy call I knew exactly which documents I was missing - three months later I had my admission.”Read full story →
“They prepared my visa file so well the interview took ten minutes. They even helped my parents understand the blocked account.”Read full story →
“With the VIP pack I arrived in Finland with my room, bank account and even my airport pickup organised. I just had to study.”Read full story →
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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