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Studying in France: the key things to know

Europe / Guides

France is a popular option for students wishing to study abroad, particularly if they enjoy the study of French at school.

However, it is important to understand that to study the subject ‘French’ at a French university would require a high level of fluency, as this would be a subject comparable to studying ‘English’ at a UK university: there would be no language acquisition included in the course. Given this, there are actually relatively limited options.

One which not many students seem aware of is the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP), details of which are here: https://ulip.london.ac.uk/degree-programmes/undergraduate-programmes Students can study for a University of London degree, while studying in Paris.

More broadly, however, students have options to other subjects (such as Business) taught through the medium of English, at a university that is in France or a French-speaking country. This provides them with the safety-net of an English-speaking university but with all the opportunities to reach fluency in French through immersion in the culture.

In this, it is important that students understand the difference between public and private universities in Europe. I give a brief overview of the differences here: https://www.hawkinsglobaleducation.com/blog2/2019/3/9/european-universities-public-vs-private

For public universities in France, students need to search via Campus France (https://www.campusfrance.org/en) and then apply via Parcoursup (https://www.parcoursup.fr/).

However, many find that the private options would suit them best. France has a wide range of business schools offering courses in English, among them are INSEAD, INSEEC, KEDGE, ESSEC, IESEG, the Toulouse Business School and EDHEC.

Besides this, Sciences Po may be the best option to consider, not only for their joint degrees (which include options in other countries beyond the UK) but also for their bachelor degree, details here: https://www.sciencespo.fr/en/education/undergraduate-studies

So a wide-range of options in France but, perhaps, not as many as offered in other countries.

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