9 Public Universities In France For International Students

Looking for a university in France to apply to? We uncovered the list of public universities in France for international students looking where to study in Europe or France in particular. Let’s get started.

France is a beautiful country in Western Europe popular for its medieval cities, fashion houses, monuments like the Eiffel Tower, and for its capital, Paris – the city of love. This makes the country, especially its capital, a popular destination among tourists.

Aside from couples who love to visit France for a romantic getaway, the country is also a popular destination among international students who want to study in Europe. And the reason could be attributed to the fact that the cost of higher education in France is cheap, the qualifications are globally recognized, and there are opportunities for you to live and work in the country after graduation.

We have an article on the cheapest universities in France for international students where prospective students can see the cost of higher education in France for those looking to study abroad.

Popular academic programs that international students prefer to study in France are business, art, fashion, and culinary. And this is because the country is among the best in the world for these programs, especially in fashion and culinary. If you happen to be an aspiring student that wants to pursue one of these programs, we have articles on the top fashion schools in Paris and the best culinary schools in France that can help you easily pick a school that suits your needs.

As you may already know, public universities are usually cheap or free, larger in size, and offer a wide range of academic degrees and the ones in France are no different. The public universities in France for international students have cheap tuition or are even free and offer many English programs compared to their private counterparts.

Let’s go ahead to see the public universities in France for international students and how they operate so that prospective students can easily find one that suits them best.

public universities in France for international students

Public Universities In France For International Students

The following institutions are the public universities in France for international students:

  • Aix-Marseille University
  • Sorbonne University
  • The University of Bordeaux
  • Ecole Polytechnique
  • The University of Paris-Saclay
  • Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) University
  • Sciences Po
  • Paris Dauphine University
  • The University of Rennes 1

1.     Aix-Marseille University

Aix-Marseille University is one of the public higher institutions in France for international students looking to study abroad in Europe. It is a research university and is the oldest in France. Graduates from this university consist of Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winners, heads of state, parliament speakers, and government ministers.

The university offers a wide range of academic programs such as political science, economics, medicine, business, and literature via its 5 divisions of law and political science, economics and management, sciences and technology, and arts, literature, languages, and human sciences. More than 80,000 students are enrolled in these divisions with over 10,000 students from different countries.

2.     Sorbonne University

If Paris is one of your dream cities to live in, then you have a shot at living there and studying at the same time at Sorbonne University which is a public research university. The institution is one of the most prestigious public universities in Europe ranking 35th in the world and 4th in Europe. The university has a large student population of over 55,000 students.

This large school has only three faculties of Humanities, Medicine, and Science and Engineering through which a wide range of academic programs are offered. International students will enjoy this school because it offers a wide range of courses in English, the tuition is cheap, and since it is a prestigious institution the academic quality is top-notch.

3.     The University of Bordeaux

This is one of the public universities in France for international students with over 50,000 student populations out of which 12% are international. Whatever part of the world you are coming from, the University of Bordeaux is ever ready to welcome you into their world as long as you meet all entry requirements.

One of the perks of this university is its multidisciplinary study programs which consist of over 150 bachelor programs, 250 master’s programs, and 55 national diplomas in health. The university is also situated in a unique location at the very heart of Southern Europe which you can explore in your free time.

4.     Ecole Polytechnique

If you are looking for a public university that focuses on science and engineering, then Ecole Polytechnique is where you should consider it. The university has been operating for more than two centuries and offers programs for undergraduates, postgraduates, and doctoral study levels.

However, unlike other public universities on this list, this particular institution has a lower number of students compared to the others. The student number is barely up to 4,000 so, if you want to public school in France with a low student population, you may also see Ecole Polytechnique as a choice.

5.     The University of Paris-Saclay

This is one of the best public universities in France for international students ranked among the top 50 best universities in the world by the Shanghai Ranking and 16th in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. The university houses 5 faculties through which a wide range of academic programs at undergraduate and graduate levels are offered.

Academic programs are offered in English and French languages to accommodate as many international students as possible. The University of Paris-Saclay is equally a good consideration for those who want to explore Paris while studying since the university is very close to Paris.

6.     Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) University

This is a public research university located in the heart of Paris and welcomes thousands of international students and young researchers annually to pursue academic degrees at bachelor, master’s, or Ph.D. levels. As a foreign student, the school has scholarships for you that will help towards the cost of your tuition.

PSL has a department that assists foreign students with all the info they may need to have a good stay in France, at school, and even help set up a job for those who would like to study while working.

7.     Sciences Po

Sciences Po, as it is commonly referred to, is the Paris Institute of Political Studies established in 1872 as a public research university that is still in operation to date. The school is divided into an undergraduate college where bachelor’s degree programs are offered, six professional schools for masters, and a doctoral school.

If you want to pursue a career in the fields of humanities and social sciences, you may want to add Sciences Po to your list because it tops among the finest in the world in this field.

8.     Paris Dauphine University

This is a public research university in Paris, France renowned for its teaching in finance, economics, mathematics, law, computer science, and business. There are over 10,000 students from different parts of the country and in the world enrolled at the university pursuing academic degrees leading to bachelor, master’s, or Ph.D. programs.

9.     The University of Rennes 1

This is a public university in Rennes, France is known for its specialty in science, technology, law, economics, management, and philosophy. More than 26,000 students are enrolled in the University of Rennes 1 from different parts of the country, Europe, and in the world as its doors are wide open to welcome anyone who wants to pursue higher education at the institution.

This concludes the post on the public universities in France for international students who are looking to pursue a bachelor, master’s, or Ph.D. degree program abroad. Take a look at the recommendations below to find more options for where to study abroad.

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