v256.0 · education · FR · verified 2026-04
France education system
Education in France — public + private K-12, international schools, university system, tuition costs, scholarships, language of instruction, and expat-family pathway.
System overview
Highly centralized · National Education Ministry sets curriculum · Free public K-12 + low-cost university · Selective Grandes Écoles tradition · Académies regional administration
K-12 schools
| Public K-12 | Maternelle (pre-school 3-5) · École Primaire (Grade 1-5) · Collège (middle, 6e-3e) · Lycée (high, 2nde-Terminale) · Baccalauréat ("Bac") university-entry · Free public · Carte Scolaire residence-based |
| Private K-12 | ~17% French children at private · Most Catholic schools under-contract (state-financed, lower fees EUR 500-3K/yr) · Hors-contract Catholic+non-religious EUR 4-15K/yr · Elite private (École Alsacienne, Stanislas) EUR 5-10K |
| International schools | ISL (International School of London Paris) · International School of Paris · American School of Paris · British School of Paris · Marymount International · Lycée International (Saint-Germain) bilingual sections in public schools (state-funded) · French Sections of European Schools |
University system
| University system | ~80 public universities (Université de Paris, Sorbonne, ENS, Sciences Po) · Grandes Écoles separate elite (ENA, Polytechnique, HEC, Mines, Centrale, ENS, ENPC) · Selective Concours entry · 2-3yr prépa preparation common · IUT (vocational) |
| Tuition costs | French+EU: EUR 170-380/yr (admin fee) at public universities · Non-EU: EUR 2,770/yr bachelor / EUR 3,770/yr master (since 2019) · Grandes Écoles: EUR 5-30K+ · HEC Paris EUR 60K+ MBA |
| Scholarships + financial aid | Eiffel Excellence Scholarships (campusfrance) · Charpak (India + Indian-origin) · Erasmus+ EU funding · Crous (state housing+meal subsidies) · French Government scholarships · CIFRE (PhD + industry) |
Language of instruction
French primary · Bilingual sections (English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic) in public · Increasing English-language master's · Grandes Écoles often offering English-track · DELF/DALF requirements
Expat-family pathway
Étudiant Long-Stay Visa · Campus France single-point processing · Proof of funds EUR 7,380/yr · 1-yr residence permit renewable · APS 24-month post-study work · Visa Talent for graduates with master's · PR after 5yr residence
Recent changes (2023-2026)
2024-25: International student fees unchanged · Conditional waiver via Bienvenue en France label · Paris 2024 Olympics legacy · Sciences Po + HEC continued global rise · Université Paris-Saclay merger continuing · French+Italian+Spanish remaining among Europe's lowest tuition
Source: official France Ministry of Education · Last verified 2026-04
See also: France country profile · education atlas