TASA ASIA | France

A degree from a French university will give an upper hand to the students who wish to pursue an international career. Listed below are a few features of France that make it a sought after study abroad destination.

Quality Education

France has one of the most prestigious education systems in the world. The French universities and the faculty are highly reputed all over Europe. The universities provide outstanding research facilities and development opportunities. French universities provide world-class education.

Variety

The universities in France offer students the chance to attend their institutions, on a full and part-time basis, with many class schedules and courses available. These courses will all vary by the college, as well the times as per the choice of the students. It is easy for students to accommodate timings as per their schedule.

Diversity

French is the official language of France. It is also the third most common business language. It is also a highly recommended study abroad destination. All these factors give way to the diversity students experience while studying in France.

Quality life

France is the number one student city. The quality of life is high and the stay of the students is made memorable due to famous tourist attractions that can be visited in and around France. It is an appealing destination for international students.

Opportunities

France is home to leading international brands like Total, Airbus, L’Oreal, etc which paves the way to innumerable career opportunities to international students.

The education system in France is divided into primary level, elementary or middle school, and high school. Primary level education is compulsory and is from the age of 6 to 16. French higher education institutions offer degrees in Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate levels and undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas over a full range of disciplines.

Higher education in France

France, like the other EU countries, adopts the Bologna system, facilitating international mobility. Many French universities are public institutions, which keeps fees low and education accessible. However, there also exists in France smaller, more specialized private institutions of higher study. These schools are more selective in their admissions process and usually train students in vocational or professional pursuits such as engineering or architecture. France has 77 publicly-funded universities and many private universities offering degrees in a wide variety of subjects.
The top universities of France are Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Ecole Polytechnique, Sorbonne University, CentraleSupelec, Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, Sciences Po Paris and so on. Some of the best colleges in the country are situated in Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in France.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in France.

Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.

Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.

Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain to secure admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

The cost of education in France is much reasonable for the quality that a student gets. The tuition fee for International students varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the suburban part of the city.

Science, Business Management, Art, Information Technology, Economics, Hotel Management, Tourism, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in France.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.

The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.

France

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