Introduction of differentiated enrolment fees for non-EU students. Comprehensive overview of the measure

Why implement a strategy to attract international students? 

The strategy for attracting international students, named "Welcome to France", launched by the government in November 2018 pursues a dual objective: to welcome more and to welcome better. France has set itself the target of 500,000 international students welcomed by 2027. In order to achieve this, it is vital that the conditions under which these students are welcomed be improved. 

In view of this, the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) is supporting initiatives in institutions committed to the Bienvenue en France certification process, led by Campus France. 

The introduction of differentiated enrolment fees for non-EU students will enable the sustainable financing of measures for the improvement of hospitality measures. It will also enable the financing of scholarships and exemptions aimed at the best students applying to study in France. 

Which students will pay the differentiated enrolment fees? 

Differentiated enrolment fees will affect non-EU students:

1. enrolling for the 1st time for a Bachelor's or Master's degree, or for an engineering programme, for the start of the 2019/2020 academic year ;
    
2. within a higher education institution that falls within the scope of the MESRI ;
    
3. provided that they are not permanently settled in France. 

What will be the amount of the differentiated enrolment fees? 

• 2,770 euros for one year studying within a Bachelor's programme or one year within an integrated (or related) preparatory cycle for an engineering degree. 
   
• 3,770 euros for one year studying within a Master's programme or one year within a engineering programme. 

Who might be eligible for exemption from payment of the differentiated fees?

• Students who have been awarded a French government grant (bourse du gouvernement français, BGF). They will continue paying no enrolment fees ;  
   
• Students receiving an exemption awarded by the embassy of their country of origin according to acacdemic excellence criteria. They will pay the same enrolment fees as French and EU students. 14,000 exemptions will be issued by embassies ;    
   
• Students benefitting from complete or partial exemption granted by their host institution in France. Public institutions falling under the MESRI have the ability to exempt up to 10% of the total intake of students enrolling in their programmes ; 
   
• Students coming to study in France within the scope of an international cooperation agreement or an international exchange programme providing complete or partial exemption from the payment of enrolment fees. 
   

Who is not affected by the differentiated enrolment fees? 

Depending on their nationality

• Students with ties to national students, namely those from the states of the European Union, from the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), from Monaco, Andorra, Switzerland, and residents of Quebec; 

Depending on their status

• International students who hold a long-term residence card or students who have declared their taxable household or have been associated with a taxable household in France for more than 2 years ;
   
• Students with refugee status or recipients of subsidiary protection, or the children of the recipient of such statuses ; 

Depending on the course of study they will pursue in 2019/2020

• International students enrolled within a doctoral programme, students preparing a "HDR"  (authority to supervise research) and students in the 3rd cycle of their medical, dental and pharmaceutical studies, whatever their nationality ; 
   
• International students enrolled in a 'classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles' (preparatory class for "Grandes Ecoles"), whatever their nationality, and with dual enrolment in a university degree course ;

Depending on their situation in 2018/2019

• Students enrolled within a public higher education institution that falls within the scope of the MESRI, at all levels (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) for the 2018/2019 academic year, whatever their nationality ;
   
• Students enrolled in a centre for the study of French as a foreign language (français langue étrangère, FLE) in France prior to the commencement of the 2019/2020 academic year, whatever their nationality.

These students will pay the same enrolment fees aas French students for the duration of their studies within a public higher education institution falling under the MESRI.