University Admission

Student living cost in France

According to French law, any foreign student wishing to study in France must be able to prove that they have sufficient resources, estimated at a minimum of €615 à month (€7,318 a year), to support themselves without working. This is, in fact, a bare minimum. The amount of money you are likely to need to live on for a month is closer to €700-850 outside of Paris and €1,100 in Paris, where rent is higher, not to mention the additional expenditure you will require for the first month, making the total for that month more like €1,700.

University tuition fees in France

Public institutions: According to the French Agency for the Promotion of Higher Education (Agence Française pour la Promotion de l’Enseignement Supérieur), Campus France, the following annual tuition fee amounts were set for the 2012-2013 academic year:

• €181 for undergraduate students ;
• €250 for post-graduate students ;
• €380 for PHD students ;
• €596 for students of engineering schools ;

Concerning the tuitions fees, the system for french universities are quite different from most university system in Europe : the government (the tax payers) are paying for the educational training of french and international students.This system permits to keep low tuition fees for universities.
The admissions fees are set by the french gouvernment every academic year. The admissions fees are therefore the same in every universities and for everybody.
Additional fees may be assessed for specific services. The cost of enrolling at Privat institutions of establishment is higher, particularly in the case of business schools, ranging from €3,000 to €10,000. Or even more.

Student benefits in France

Students in France enjoy a variety of preferential rates when it comes to food and accommodation, travel, studying, education and entertainment, including the following:

• university halls of residence and restaurants
• public transport
• libraries
• cinemas and museums

Student Monthly expenditure in France

The CNOUS (‘French National Centre for University and School Affairs’) has estimated the following budget for a single student not living in halls of residence:
rent (including additional charges) €300-400

• food €230
• transport €35
• upkeep €35
• university supplies €50
• culture €45
• leisure €30
• The total per month is estimated at €725-825.

It is also important to remember to take into account the taxe d'habitation (the council tax), which can vary significantly depending on the type of accommodation you choose and the location and is payable at the end of the year.

Expenditure to allow for in the first month

You can expect to spend around €1,700 during your first month living in France, broken down as follows:

• rent €400 (€200 in halls of residence)
• housing bond €400 (1 month's rent)
• annual home insurance €50
• enrolment fees €180-596
• Social Security membership €203
• membership of a health mutual €70-285

In addition to this budget of €1,700 estimated by the CNOUS, you might also be required to

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