Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris as chief guest of France’s National Day on July 14, France has announced new initiatives to roll out the red carpet for Indian students and alumni. The number of Indian students going to France is increasing each year. In the first semester of 2023, offices of Campus France, the organisation in charge of promoting French higher education abroad, processed more than 4000 applications for long study in France. The positive trend is expected to continue with the total number of Indian students and researchers leaving for France expected to be close to 8000 this year, according to official figures. This is a significant increase over 2022, when close to 5500 Indian students went through the Campus France procedure and applied for long study visas for France. Significantly, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced an ambitious target to welcome 30,000 students from India by 2030.
“France ranks second in the Times Higher Education; Global University Employability Ranking. That’s a very strong indicator of the employability of Indian graduates in Europe. Moreover, with 570 French companies employing more than 400000 staff in India, there are rich opportunities for those who decide to come back,” Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain, told the Times of India. “Our teams are working double time to implement the decisions taken by President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in Paris to benefit students. France has always been an inclusive and diverse country, eager to share our rich cultural heritage and world-class education opportunities with Indian students,” Ambassador Lenain said.
The two-year post-study work visa for post-graduates with a French master’s degree enables Indian students to gain valuable work experience, and explore career options in France and is one of the reasons that attract Indians. The post-study work visa is issued for one year, and is renewable by one more year.
Some of the other factors that draw Indian students to France are highly subsidised higher education by the government, which means France offers more competitive tuition fees and living costs and availability of generous scholarships every year specifically designed for Indian students. French academic credentials carry international recognition and 1600+ programmes are taught in English.
A large number of Indian students going to France are choosing to study management and business (close to 75%), according to official estimates. “However, there’s increasing interest in other disciplines, too. An increasing proportion of students are studying engineering (12.5%), as well science and technology, arts, design, sports, hospitality, culinary arts, and fashion, which are available with programmes in French or English,” Ambassador Lenain said. Students’ mobility is highest at the master’s level (85%), followed by the bachelor’s level (13%). France is among the top destinations for Indian students who hold scholarships under the European Union’s Erasmus programme for student exchange. “In Europe, France has received the highest number of Indian Erasmus scholarship holders for three years in a row. We deeply believe that student mobility is one of the most effective ways to strengthen ties between our two countries,” Ambassador Lenain said.
In an effort to woo Indian students, the French government has recently launched a 5-year Schengen circulation visa for Indian alumni. Indian students who hold a master’s degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa. Specialised international classes have also been created to provide comprehensive training in the French language and other academic disciplines, enabling Indian students to adapt seamlessly to the French education system.
