Study in France: Opportunities and Challenges for Indian Students

TL;DR

This article explores the growing appeal of France as a study destination for Indian students amidst stricter visa rules in popular countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia. Highlighting France’s commitment to increasing Indian student enrollment, the article examines the opportunities offered by affordable tuition, English-taught programs, and world-class universities. It also addresses the challenges students face, such as visa renewal complications and language barriers. With insights into scholarships, rising international student numbers, and recommendations for improving the student experience, the article offers a comprehensive view of what Indian students can expect when studying in France.

When Indian students go abroad to study, where do they go? 

YUNO LEARNING put together these figures for the number of student visas issued by five countries in 2023. The total number of students studying in these countries is likely to be more than the number of visas issued in a given year since, depending on a country’s laws, a student visa may not come up for renewal annually. 

Many countries refer to higher education as an “export”. When goods or services are exported they bring significant economic benefits to the marketing country. Selling education to foreign students bring in similar benefits. International students pay full fees. This brings in so much profit that institutions are able to subsidize domestic students and fund large, high quality faculties and research facilities. Plus, in meeting their living expenses, foreign students stimulate the local economy and generate employment. Most foreign students are in Masters or PhD programmes which means that their research contributes to technological and scientific advancements that benefit the host country. This benefit becomes even more direct when the students graduate and bring their skills to the host country’s talent pool. Host countries not only welcome Indian students, they actively recruit them through educational consultants and education fairs. 

And yet, in many countries, domestic problems have pushed politics down a populist road. The search for someone to blame for inflation, housing shortage, devalued wages, etc., has often ended at the doorstep of foreign students. Since foreign students don’t vote, they are safe targets. Ruling parties declare a “clamp down”, which invariably means stricter visa rules, increased tuition fees, and reduced post-study work opportunities. Over the past few years, this phenomenon has been seen in the UK, Canada, and Australia. 

For various reasons, these three sellers have pulled back from the international market … but the buyers are still there, they still want to buy and they still have purchasing power. 

Competing sellers are not wasting the opportunity. As the UK, Canada and Australia have made transactions more difficult, other countries have stepped in, pointing to their open doors and attractive terms. Japan’s government has announced that it wants to have 400,000 international students in the country by 2033. Germany, a country with a rapidly aging workforce, has made it easier for young and talented Indians to come both for studies and for work and this is rapidly showing up in increased inflow of students. 

Why is France Attracting Indian Students?

France Steps Into the Gap

France is yet another country that is calling out to Indian students. When French President Emmanuel Macron visited India in January this year, he spoke of France’s plan to attract 20,000 Indian students by 2025 and 30,000 by 2030. The evidence that Macron was not just talking came last month, when the French government-sponsored a “Choose France Tour” that went to five Indian cities. The tour was not just “boots on the ground”, it was a lot of boots and boots filled by high-ranking academics and government officials. Representatives of more than 50 French universities and other higher education institutions comprised the delegation and the tour was led by none other than France’s ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou. 

If France succeeds in recruiting 20,000 students for the coming year, it will be an enormous achievement, in view of the fact that at present the number of Indians studying in France is somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 as per an article on The Pie Network. 

What stands in the way of such an achievement? 

For the biggest barrier, we have to look to history … or rather one of the great “ifs” of history. If Siraj-ud-Daulah had defeated Robert Clive in 1757 and the Count de Lally had defeated Eyre Coote in 1760, then we would all be speaking French and sipping wine at lunch. 

Alas, ifs remain ifs; the past cannot be changed. It is estimated that 129 million people in India speak English, while a mere 6 lakh Indians are learning French. Learning, mind you, not fluently speaking, reading, writing. 

However, the French understand the problem and they are tackling it head on. In all the five cities on the Choose France Tour itinerary, the French ambassador’s speeches as per an article published in the Business Standard, he said, “Knowledge of the French language is not a requirement for choosing France. More than 1,700 degrees in France are fully taught in English. And, for students who want a wider choice of subjects for their higher education, we have created international classes, enabling Indian students to learn the French language while at the same time making progress in their chosen field of study.” 

Courses having English as the medium are offered in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), management, fashion, gastronomy, social sciences, law, art, music, design, and architecture.

The ambassador stressed merit: “Choosing France for higher education means opting for a guarantee of quality and excellence that will strengthen your career. French universities are world-class, with France ranked third globally in the Shanghai Ranking. We also have 76 Nobel laureates and 15 Fields medal winners.”

This kind of tour was the first such high-level event held in India. The main attraction was the fee structure:

Indian students can run as low as €5,000 (approximately Rs 4.5 lakh) at state-funded public universities, And go up to about €30,000 (Rs 27 lakh) at private institutions. More than 500 scholarships are available specifically for Indian students. 

As per statistics from QS, when an Indian student does choose France, he or she is most likely to be attracted to a business degree: 31 percent of Indian students considering France want to study business and management. This is 11 percent higher than the global average. In 2023, private French business schools attracted 11 percent more international students than in the previous year. Since 2020, business schools have increased their share of the total from 10 percent to 15 percent. Private French engineering schools are also bringing in international students — 9 percent more international students last year. 

Challenges Faced by Indian Students

Navigating Visa and Paperwork

This more complete and realistic picture comes from an article published in the First Post on May 15, 2024, Planning to study in France? Year 1 is a breeze, then paperwork takes over, say students. As per the article, problems that arise during the course of study are typically minor. At the end of the first year, the student must get their visas renewed. Unlike other countries, France only provides a student visa for one year irrespective of the duration of the course. A student has to get his/her visa renewed if they want to continue with their course in France. 

Act in time is the key to avoiding a documentation problem. A student should apply early. It also helps if a student has taken the trouble to get to know the international student counsellor at their institution. They should take the counsellor’s assistance. 

After completing their course, if a student wants to remain in France for another year, then they must get a permit. 

The paperwork at this point is the Autorisation Provisioire de Séjour (APS). France provides APS to nationals from 13 nations including India. 

Anybody trying to navigate a foreign country is likely to be exploited and this vulnerability increases manifold if the person is caught in documentation limbo. Some snag in getting the APS, combined with lack of information or misinformation, makes a person a prime target for scamsters. Dishonest landlords and employers are no rarity in India and they are not rare in France either.

Steps to follow:

1. Apply Early for the APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour):

Begin the APS application process well before your student visa expires. Acting promptly minimizes the risk of visa lapses.

2. Receive the Attestation:

After applying, expect to receive an attestation from the Ministry within one to two weeks. This document allows you to legally stay in France until your APS is fully processed.

3. Be Aware of Possible Delays:

Processing times for the APS can vary; some applications are processed quickly, while others may experience delays. Changes such as moving to a new residence can slow down the verification process.

4. Understand the Importance of the Attestation:

With the attestation in hand, you are protected from the potential issues that could arise if the APS takes longer than expected to process. Without either the APS or attestation, you may be more vulnerable to exploitation, harassment, and other risks.

5. Register for a Residence Permit Upon Arrival in France:

According to the French Embassy in India, international students must register and obtain a residence permit within three months of arriving in France. This step is simple and should be completed as early as possible.

6. Avoid Visa Renewal Issues:

Many visa renewal issues arise because students do not complete their initial registration on time. Early registration can help avoid complications later in your stay.

7. Seek Assistance from the Embassy if Needed:

The French Embassy in India offers support to students facing visa renewal or other issues during their stay in France or upon returning to India between academic years. Students are encouraged to contact the embassy for assistance if necessary.

Language Barriers and Adaptation

Earlier in this post, we quoted the French ambassador as saying “Knowledge of the French language is not a requirement…” Do NOT take that seriously. An Indian studying or working in France WILL have to learn French. 

Fortunately, most Indians are born into a multilingual environment. The writer has a personal acquaintance who spoke Punjabi at home, Bengali on the playground, passed school exams in Hindi, English and Sanskrit and is now posted in Cochin as a Navy purchase officer where he negotiates with suppliers in Malayalam. Indians have no psychological resistance to soaking up new languages and if learning French is what opens the doors to a good job, an Indian will be fully functional en français in no time. 

The French Embassy in India agrees: “It is true that knowledge of French is very often an asset when considering a career in France. Students who undertake the Classes Internationales programme will have a significant advantage, as they will become fluent in French.” Students who have gone through the Classes Internationales attest to their benefit, but also add that the classes are advanced, fast paced and demanding. No pain, no gain. 

In conclusion, France is actively encouraging Indian students to pursue their studies in the country, simplifying the process to make it more accessible. Many courses are now offered in English, catering to international students. However, for those aiming to work in France, learning French remains essential. And, naturally, Indian students must adhere to the French visa requirements. Fortunately, studying in France is generally more affordable compared to other destinations. While the opportunity is promising, students should remain realistic about the challenges they may face.