Masters Study in France – 2026

If you’re considering studying for a Masters degree in France, most programmes last two years and typically conclude with the submission of a final dissertation. Masters courses are offered by universities and Grandes Écoles, as well as by a range of specialised schools and institutions. EU/EEA nationals can usually apply directly to universities, while most other international students apply through the Études en France platform, which supports the application process through to the student visa stage.

It may not surprise you to learn that the world's most popular tourist destination is also one of the most popular countries for postgraduate study abroad. In fact, the two compliment each other perfectly!

On this page, I’ve covered everything you need to know about studying in France. I’ll talk about some of the top universities in France, how Masters courses are structured and assessed, how to apply for your dream Masters and how to navigate life once you’re there.

French universities

Depending on what you wish to study, you have the option to choose from a number of different world-renowned institutions. The French higher education system is divided into a few different kinds of institutions:

• Universities – Universities are financed by the French State and confer Masters and PhD degrees.
• Grandes Écoles – The Grandes Écoles are a network of more specialised schools. They can either be publicly or privately funded but are all recognised by the State. However, only a selection of them confer Masters degrees and very rarely do they award PhDs. 
• Schools of Art and Applied Arts – 50 French School of Arts and Applied Sciences provide specialised training in Art and Design.
• Écoles Nationales Supérieures d’Architecture (National Schools of Architecture) – The École Spéciale d’Architecture (Special School of Architecture), the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (National Institute of Applied Sciences) along with 20 other public schools, form the ENSA network.
• Other specialised schools and institutions – France is home to nearly 3,000 higher education institutions that offer specialised courses in fields like Communication, Journalism and Medicine, among others.

Rankings

These are the top five universities in France, according to the Times Higher Education 2026 world rankings:

• Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris
• Institut Polytechnique de Paris
• Université Paris-Saclay
• Sorbonne University
• Université Paris Cité

Masters courses in France

No matter what you wish to study, there is a course at one of the many institutes of higher education for you! Courses usually last two years, typically ending in a final submission. A two-year Masters means that the course is less intensive than some one-year Masters like in the UK.

Specialised Masters degrees

France is known to have a specific focus on more professional courses like those offered by the Grandes Écoles. These courses are similar to a regular Masters in length (four semesters across two years) but place more emphasis on professional training and technical expertise. They are more extensive and provide more training than a regular Masters.

For example, the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is one such specialised degree that France is popular for. It was the first country outside of the US to offer this degree to its students.

Teaching and assessment

There are primarily two modes of teaching during a Masters course in France. The course is usually divided into individual modules or teaching units that are either taught through lectures (cours magistraux) or lab work (travaux pratiques), depending on the nature of the module.

A Masters in France usually ends with the submission of a final dissertation or research paper. Students are also assessed through examinations during the academic year, usually held at the end of each semester.

Grading system in France

In France, you're graded on a scale of 0-20 points. You need more than 10 points out of 20 to pass a module. Your average grade at the end of the academic year must also be above 10 to be able to pass.

The French grading system is considered to be stricter than most others around the world. A 19-18 grade is awarded only in exceptional cases and a 17-16 grade is usually considered excellent. Depending on the difficulty of the module, sometimes a grade lower than 16 is also considered a great academic achievement.

Academic calendar for a Masters in France

Like most countries in mainland Europe, a Masters in France lasts for two years. The academic year usually begins in September or October, ends in May or June and is divided into two semesters. The first ends with a two-week long break at Christmas and the second with a longer, two-month long break in the summer.

There is also a second intake in January. Classes for the spring intake usually begin around early January with applications closing by November the year before your course starts.

Applying for a Masters in France

France universities are free to set their own admission criteria and some tend to be tougher than others. For example, French Grandes Écoles usually have a multiple step process, including interviews and admission tests.

How to apply

Most institutes of higher education in France have similar admission requirements but, how you apply to them differs slightly depending on your nationality.

• If you are a European national, you’ll need to follow the same procedure as a French student. You can apply directly to your institution of choice.
• If you belong to one of the 67 countries that are part of the Études en France, you’ll apply through the Études en France online platform. This platform provides application services right up until the visa application stage. You simply need to get all the required documents together and follow the instructions on the website.
• All other students must get in touch with their higher education institution directly and they’ll let you know about the application procedure applicable to you.

Application deadlines

Applications for Masters courses usually close on 31 January in the year you wish to study. However, this deadline differs depending on the institution.

Documents needed

Even though French universities are free to set their own criteria, here are some of the things that you might need to make an application to a Masters course in France:

• Academic transcripts – Your university may wish to check the content of your undergraduate degree or seek further ways to distinguish between applicants to courses with limited places. Transcripts should be properly certified by the institution that granted your existing degree.
• Admission tests results – They are more likely for competitive courses. University business schools will often require MBA applicants to submit a score from a standardised admissions test such as the GRE or GMAT.

Interviews

Sometimes, for courses with limited places or a competitive admissions process, you may be asked to give an interview. This is particularly likely for Grandes Écoles, which will shortlist applicants across several stages of their selection process.

Language test requirement

Even though France has a number of international institutes of higher education that offer courses in English, French continues to remain the primary language of instruction.

Institutions offering Masters courses require you to have a certain level of proficiency in either of the two languages, depending on what language your course is taught in.

• If your course is taught in French – You can take the DELF or the DALF French language test. You can read our guide on French language tests for more information.
• If your course is taught in English – There are a number of different internationally accepted English-language tests including the IELTS, PTE and Cambridge tests. Check with your university which ones are acceptable.

Student visas for Masters in France

Once you have enrolled into a French institute of higher education, you need to decide if you need a visa to enter and study in France. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality.

• If you are an EU/EEA national, you do not need a visa to enter and study in France
• If you are a non-EU/EEA national, you need to apply for the VLS-TS long stay student visa and obtain a residence permit

French student visa requirements for non-EU/EEA nationals

If you are an international student planning to study a Masters in France, you need to apply for the VLS-TS long stay student visa. You then need to validate this visa and obtain a residence permit in the first three months of your arrival.

The VLS-TS long stay visa allows you to stay and study in France for four months up to a year. If you’re studying a Masters, which is two years long, you can apply for a multi-annual residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle).

You can apply for this visa one of two ways.

• Via Campus France’s EEF Procedure – If your country has a Campus France office, you can apply for a visa directly on their website. You need to pay a processing fee of €50 with your application.
• Via a French consulate – If your country does not have a Campus France office, you can get in touch with the French consulate or embassy and apply through a process known as the Demande d’Admission Préalable (DAP) with a visa fees of €99.

Documents required

Whichever way you choose to apply, you will need to include certain documents in your application:

• Your passport.
• Proof of university enrolment (at a recognised higher education institution). This should normally include the length of your course (including start and end dates) which will be used to determine the length of your visa.
• Evidence of sufficient financial resources to support yourself in France. The French government recommends that students have access to at least €615 per month (the amount paid to French students by government maintenance grants).
• Proof of valid health insurance.
• An EEF Admission Certificate and number (if you are applying through Campus France's procedure.
• Proof of accommodation in France.

Financial requirements for a French student visa

You must be able to prove that you can support yourself during your time in France. The French government estimates that a student needs €615 per month. You can prove that you have these funds by providing bank statements (from your own account or a parent's) or proof of scholarship, grant or loan.

Validating your student visa

Once a visa has been issued, you are free to enter the country. Once you arrive in France, you need to validate your visa and obtain a residence permit within the first three months.

You can now validate your visa digitally on the official website.

You need the following to validate your visa:

• A working email address
• Information from your visa
• Date of arrival
• Home address
• A bank card to pay the €50 fee

If you do not have a bank card, you can pay by cash at designated terminals and obtain an electronic stamp.

Health insurance

If you’re a European national with a valid EHIC card, you can use this to access healthcare in France in the same way as local French nationals.

Other international students are required to register with the French social security system. Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to claim reimbursement for healthcare costs at the same rates as French citizens.

You may want to take additional health insurance or mutuelle to cover any major emergencies during your stay. You may also be required to show proof of health insurance as part of your visa application.

Living in France

As a Masters student living in France, you'll have plenty of time to explore famous French cities along with their museums, art galleries and historic buildings. You'll find that life in France is not remarkably different to other parts of the western world, just slightly more relaxed, perhaps.

Accommodation

There are three main types of accommodation available to you as a Masters student in France: public student residences (Cités-U), independent other (independent) university residences and privately rented accommodation.

Student living costs in France – official estimates

The French government estimates that international students should have access to around €615 per month to cover maintenance and living costs.

This is the amount suggested as proof of financial resources for visa applications and is based on the support available via French government bursaries. Actual student living costs in France may be higher, depending on your accommodation arrangements and lifestyle (all that cheese and wine won't buy itself, after all).

Working whilst studying

International students are allowed to work in France, provided they are registered with a French university (or other higher education institution). The number of hours you can work is limited, however. Students can work for up to 964 hours a year whilst studying a Masters degree in France. This is equivalent to 60% of a full-time job. This allowance is slightly less for Algerian nationals.

Frequently Asked Questions