Our Guides to Masters Study in France – 2025

Thinking of studying a Masters in France? You are not alone. More than 250,000 international students call France their home-away-from-home. France is one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world, with a renowned education system and some top-ranking universities.

Why study a Masters in France?

• Affordability – France is one of the more affordable study options in Europe. With the French government partially covering Masters tuition fee, home and international students pay a fixed amount, no matter their course.
• Specialised programmes to choose from – No matter what you wish to study, there is a course at one of the many institutes of higher education for you!
• Advanced industries and corporations – There are plenty of opportunities to stay and work even after your studies. Home to companies like Renault, Dior and Airbus, France has opportunities for everyone.
• Live à la Française – Good food (primarily wine and cheese!) are an essential part of French culture and as a Masters student you’ll have the chance to experience it all. Not to forget the art and culture you’ll be exposed to on a daily basis. After all, France is not just a country, it’s a lifestyle!
• Travel within Europe – Studying in France also gives you easy access to other European countries when you’re feeling like taking a break from your studies. International students can also travel freely within the Schengen Area on a French student visa.

Specialised Masters degrees in France

A two-year Masters means that the course is less intensive than some one-year Masters like in the UK. However, 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.

Now that you know what a Masters course in France will demand, you can also read our other guides on the top universities in France for a Masters and student life in the country to help you decide if France is the place for you.

Modes of teaching during a Masters in France

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.

Academic calendar for a Masters in France

Like most countries in mainland Europe, a Masters in France lasts for two years. Each academic year 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.

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 consider 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.

Under the ECTS grading system, French grades can be translated to grading scales at other universities and vice versa.

We cover. . .

If you’re interested in studying your Masters in France, we’ve covered everything you need to know in our selection of guides, including applications, visas and funding.

• Applications: How you apply for a Masters in France depends on your nationality. We've covered all the different methods to get your application in and the documents you'll need. You'll also need to give a French language test which we've talked about in detail in our application guide.
• Funding : Even though the French government covers a portion of the tuition fee, even for international students, it's always a good idea to apply for any funding that you may be eligible for. Our guide covers scholarships like the Eiffel Excellence scholarships, AUF Bursaries and the Entente Cordial scholarships, among many others, so you can make the best decision.
• Visas - Find out whether you need to apply for a student visa to study in France and how to apply for one. We also give you a list of documents you'll need to submit with your application and an idea of how much it's going to cost.
• Accommodation : If you're wondering where you'll live while in France, look no further than our guide which covers student halls, hostels, private rentals and living with a host family.
• Working- Thinking of taking up a job while you study? We cover the kinds of jobs you can do, where to find them and, if you're an international student, what permissions you need to have. We also talk about if you can stay and work in the country after you've finished studying as well.