Study in France

French higher education comprises public universities, which award the national Master's degree under the LMD (Licence, Master, Doctorat) system, and grandes écoles, which are selective and often private. Public universities enrol the majority of international students and set their own entry level (M1 or M2) for students with a foreign bachelor's degree.

Quality is signalled by the Grade de Master, the Visé status for private schools, and the Bienvenue en France label, which 189 institutions now hold for their international student services.

France has more than 1,600 Masters courses taught in English. For an Indian student, each university decides three things on its own: whether your degree enters at M1 or M2, whether you meet the course requirements, and whether it will waive the fee this year. None of this is in the Campus France catalogue. It is published on each university's own pages, often only weeks before applications open, and your Études en France file allows only seven choices.

MastersHelp finds the courses where your entry level and background match, checks which universities are waiving the fee this year, and picks your seven choices so that your chances and your costs are both in your favour. Each choice gets its own motivation letter, and we prepare you for the Campus France interview using those letters.

Residents of India, and of 74 other countries, apply to French public universities through the Études en France (EEF) platform administered by Campus France, rather than through the national Mon Master platform. The file opens on 1 October for the following September intake and includes the student's profile, academic records, language proof, motivations and up to seven programme choices.

The procedure fee is ₹20,000 (from 1 August 2026), paid directly to Campus France. After the file is validated, Campus France conducts an academic interview, and its assessment is forwarded to the consulate with the visa application. MastersHelp builds the file with the student step by step, prepares the document set and conducts mock interviews.

English-taught Masters generally require IELTS 6.5. French-taught programmes require French at level B2, demonstrated through DELF or TCF. MastersHelp confirms which applies for each shortlisted programme before the file is submitted.

IELTS preparation is included in the service: a 28-day programme of daily live online classes, question sessions with recordings, mock tests and registration guidance. The examination fee (about ₹19,000) is paid to the test provider.

Programme choices are entered in the EEF file between October and December. Universities review files between February and May; the student confirms one admission, and Campus France validates the file for the visa.

The motivation letter is read by the university's admissions committee and by the Campus France manager, whose feedback the consulate sees. MastersHelp prepares a separate letter for each of the seven programmes, written individually and reviewed with the student, and prepares the student for the academic interview on the basis of those letters. We also prepare a European-style CV.

Tuition. The differentiated fee for non-EU Masters students at public universities is €3,950 a year (about ₹4.4 lakh). Universities may exempt non-EU students fully or partly; from 2026/27 a decree caps exemptions at 30% of non-EU enrolment. All students pay the CVEC student life contribution of €105.

Living funds. For the visa, students show €877.50 per month for twelve months (€10,530) plus any tuition balance. A fully loan-funded file is accepted. The funds remain the student's own.

Insurance. Travel medical insurance with €30,000 cover is needed for the visa. After arrival, students register for French student social security (ameli) free of charge.

Typical outlay on arrival: deposit for a place to stay about ₹50,000; flight and initial purchases about ₹1.5 lakh.

After the EEF file is validated, the student completes the France-Visas online form and books a VFS appointment in the relevant consular district. The file includes the EEF validation, admission letter, proof of funds, insurance, proof of a place to stay, and three sets of documents per the consulate checklist. The visa fee is €50 plus the VFS charge (about ₹7,500 in total).

Within three months of arrival the VLS-TS is validated online, which converts it into a residence permit. MastersHelp prepares the file, books the appointment, and conducts a mock interview.

Place to stay. CROUS residences are allocated after admission; MastersHelp also searches through its alumni network and verified providers and assists with the proof of a place to stay required for the visa and the CAF housing-aid application.

Administrative steps. VLS-TS validation, social security registration (ameli), a French bank account and the CVEC payment at enrolment.

Internships. Most Masters include a four to six month stage. MastersHelp gives an initial search with French companies in the student's field, application guidance and CV tailoring.