France remains one of the more affordable options among major study-abroad destinations for Indian students, with public university tuition kept deliberately low by state subsidy. This guide breaks down what a Master’s degree in France actually costs, from tuition and visa fees to rent, food, and transport.
Quick cost overview
| Cost Category | Typical Range (EUR) | Approx. INR (at ~Rs 110/EUR) |
| Tuition (public university, per year) | EUR 3,950 (Master’s, non-EU differentiated rate, 2026/27); private institutions and Grandes Ecoles run EUR 3,000-24,000+ | Roughly Rs 4.3 lakh (public); much higher at private institutions |
| Visa (VLS-TS): application + validation, for Indian applicants | EUR 50 + EUR 50 = EUR 100 | Roughly Rs 11,000 |
| CVEC (mandatory student life contribution, per year) | ~EUR 105 | Roughly Rs 11,500 |
| Rent (per month, outside Paris) | EUR 450-800 | Roughly Rs 49,500-88,000 |
| Food (per month) | EUR 300-500 | Roughly Rs 33,000-55,000 |
| Transport (per month) | EUR 30-50 (student pass) | Roughly Rs 3,300-5,500 |
| Minimum financial resources required for visa (per month, from 1 Aug 2026) | EUR 877.50 | Roughly Rs 96,500 |
These are indicative planning ranges compiled from current university and Campus France sources, not a fixed quote. Exchange rates move, so always convert at the live rate when you actually budget, and confirm current fees directly with your specific university, since programs and cities vary meaningfully.
For a broader cost breakdown, see Cost of Studying in France.
Visa costs: the VLS-TS student visa
Most Indian students need the VLS-TS (long-stay student visa), which also functions as a residence permit for your first year.
| Item | Cost |
| Visa application (via Campus France/consulate), Indian applicants (Etudes en France procedure) | EUR 50, payable after you have your acceptance letter. India is on France’s EEF list, so this reduced rate applies; the standard EUR 99 rate is for non-EEF countries. |
| Validation after arrival in France (online, via the ANEF portal) | EUR 50, must generally be completed within 3 months of arrival |
| Multi-year residence permit renewal (after year 1, in tax stamps) | EUR 75 (EUR 50 tax + EUR 25 stamp duty); a late-filing regularization fee of around EUR 180 can apply if you miss the window |
Holders of a VLS-TS can work up to 964 hours a year (roughly 20 hours a week during term), and can travel visa-free within the Schengen area’s 26 countries. To apply for a French student visa, you generally need to demonstrate minimum financial resources of EUR 877.50 a month, for applications submitted from 1 August 2026 onward (up from an earlier EUR 615 a month), subject to applicable exemptions. To renew your residence permit after the first year, you’ll typically need to show proof of academic progress and continued financial resources at the current threshold, along with proof of accommodation.
Tuition fees: public universities vs private institutions and Grandes Ecoles
France’s public universities charge a registration fee, not full tuition in the way US or UK universities do; the state subsidizes the bulk of the actual cost. Since 2019, non-EU students (including Indians) have generally paid a higher, differentiated rate than EU/EEA students. A significant policy change took effect for the 2026/27 academic year: French universities can now waive this differentiated fee for at most 30% of their enrolled non-EU students (previously, many universities waived it far more broadly at their own discretion), and the differentiated rate itself increased. If you were budgeting around older, lower figures from a previous year’s guide, update your numbers before applying, and check directly with your target university about current waiver availability.
| Level | EU/EEA Student Fee (per year) | Non-EU Student Fee (per year) |
| Bachelor’s (Licence) | ~EUR 178 | ~EUR 2,902 (2026/27) |
| Master’s | ~EUR 255 | ~EUR 3,950 (2026/27) |
| Doctorate (PhD) | ~EUR 380 | ~EUR 380 (no differential for PhD) |
Private universities and Grandes Ecoles (France’s selective, elite higher-education track, covering fields like business and engineering) charge separately, commonly ranging from roughly EUR 3,000 to over EUR 24,000 a year depending on the institution and program; some specialized programs run higher still. Medical and veterinary programs are generally priced separately from this table and can run considerably higher for international students.
On top of tuition, almost every student needs to pay the CVEC (Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus), a mandatory annual fee of roughly EUR 105 that funds student services; this is a real, easy-to-miss line item that isn’t always mentioned alongside headline tuition figures.
Scholarships and fee reductions
Several scholarship routes can meaningfully reduce this cost:
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship: a well-known, competitive government scholarship for Master’s and PhD candidates, historically covering a monthly stipend alongside other benefits; check current amounts and eligibility on the official Campus France site.
- University-specific and program-specific scholarships and fee bursaries, including some that only open up after you arrive on campus, so it’s worth checking with your university’s student affairs office in your first weeks.
- The CampusBourses tool on the official Campus France website lists many available scholarships, including several that are India-specific.
Also read: Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in France
Accommodation, food, and transport
On-campus student housing (CROUS residences) is the most affordable option when available, but spots are limited and competitive, so apply as early as possible. Housing can be fully catered, semi-catered, or self-catered, and off-campus student housing allowance (CAF) can meaningfully reduce your effective rent if you’re eligible.
Paris runs notably higher than the rest of the country for rent; cities like Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, and Montpellier are commonly cited as more affordable while still having strong universities and large student populations. A broad planning figure for combined food, transport, and housing outside student residences is roughly EUR 900-1,200 a month, though this varies significantly by city and lifestyle; Campus France’s own guidance has cited a narrower official range for combined living costs, so treat both as reference points rather than a fixed number.
For transport, a monthly student pass is generally the most economical option for city travel; cycling is also common and affordable for shorter distances in most French university towns.
Choosing the right university and program
Once you have a cost picture, the next step is narrowing down universities and programs that fit your budget and academic goals. France has a strong and growing presence in current global rankings, with multiple French institutions featuring consistently; check the current QS or THE rankings for up-to-date positions, since these shift each year.
Compare universities and build your shortlist: Explore on GradRight
For the full application process, see Study in France: Process, Requirements, Documents, Visa, and for financing options, see Study Loan for France.
Sources and methodology
This guide references the following for context, current as of the last-updated date above:
- Non-EU differentiated tuition fees for 2026/27 (EUR 2,902 Bachelor’s, EUR 3,950 Master’s), confirmed by both Service-Public.gouv.fr (the official French government site) and Campus France’s own tuition-fees page.
- VLS-TS visa fees for Indian applicants (EUR 50 under the Etudes en France procedure, distinct from the EUR 99 non-EEF rate) and the 964-hour annual work limit: multiple 2026-dated sources confirm these figures against France-Visas guidance.
- Minimum financial resources requirement (EUR 877.50/month from 1 August 2026, up from EUR 615/month): confirmed by multiple 2026-dated sources referencing the updated Campus France India guidance.
- EUR to INR exchange rate: live market rates as of early September 2026 clustered around Rs 109-110 per EUR across multiple forex data providers; exchange rates fluctuate daily, so convert at the live rate when you actually budget or remit funds.
Disclaimer: Tuition fees, living costs, visa fees, and exchange rates referenced in this guide are illustrative planning figures that change over time. This article is for general information only and is not financial or immigration advice. Verify current fees directly with your university and current visa rules on France-Visas or the Campus France website before making decisions.
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