Today higher education every student can get to France. And this despite the fact that the cost of training is much less than in other countries.
The most famous universities in France
In total, there are about eighty universities in France.
The most famous of them are listed below:
The most famous educational institution in France is the Sorbonne University in Paris
Is the most famous French educational institution providing free education. Consists of the following autonomous universities: Paris I - Pantheon Sorbonne University, Paris III - New Sorbonne University, Paris IV - Paris Sorbonne University and Paris V - René Descartes University. The educational structure includes specializations in art, literature, languages, humanities.
Pierre and Marie Curie University- the largest scientific and medical complex in France, which is located on the Jussieu campus.
The university has such faculties as: Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Medicine Pierre and Marie Curie, Faculty of Environment, Biodiversity and Earth, as well as institutions such as: Polytechnic Institute at the University , institute for the training of doctors of science, institute of astrophysics in Paris, institute of statistics of the University of Paris, institute named after Henri Poincaré. The university studies such subjects as: chemistry, physics, mathematics, medicine and others.
University of Strasbourg - public institution of higher education in France
It is a French public higher education institution free of charge. The university fully covers such educational areas as:
- direction of arts, languages and humanities;
- direction of law, economics, management, political and social sciences;
- direction of social and natural sciences;
- direction of science of technology;
- direction of medicine.
University Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne (University Paris I) is a French public university, the administrative center of which is located in the Latin Quarter. It consists of the following faculties: geography, international and European law, management and economics of enterprises, fine arts, history, economics, general legal sciences, political sciences, public law, management and government agencies, mathematics and computer science, philosophy, business law, social work and research, art history and archeology.
Henri Poincaré University of Nancy I located in a French town called Nancy. It trains approximately 18,000 students. There are faculties of medicine, dental surgery, science and technology, pharmacy, sports.
University of Orleans is a public higher education institution of the city of Orleans. It is represented by the Faculty of Languages, Humanities and Literature; Faculty of Exact Sciences; Faculty of Law, Management and Economics; Faculty of Sports and Physical Education.
University of Lyon 3 named after Jean Moulin- an educational institution located in the city of Lyon (part of the Lyon Academy). The university has a faculty of law, languages, philosophy, civilizations and philology, as well as a school of management.
University of Limoges was formed in 1968, located in a city called Limoges. It consists of the Faculty of Medicine, Philology and Humanities, Natural and Scientific Sciences, Pharmacy, Law and Economic Sciences.
University of Avignon and Vaucluse is a French higher education institution located in the city of Avignon. Today it includes two institutes (Institute of Technology and Professional Institute) and four faculties (philological and social sciences, exact and natural sciences, applied faculty of sciences and linguistics).
Picardy University (Jules Verne University) - State University of France
Picardy University (Jules Verne University) is a public university in France, which was founded in 1970 on the basis of several educational institutions. Represented by the Faculties of Arts; philology; history and geography; pharmaceuticals; political science and jurisprudence; exact sciences; Economics and management; medicine; philosophy and humanities; languages and foreign cultures; physical culture and sports.
Montpellier University- the oldest university in France, which is located in the city of Montpellier and consists of three independent higher educational institutions (University of Montpellier I, University of Montpellier II, University of Montpellier III). It includes the Faculty of Arts, Philosophy and Literature; Anglo-American Studies, Germanic Studies, Slavic and Oriental Studies, Humanities and Environmental Sciences; mathematical, economic and social sciences; human and social sciences; Romance and Mediterranean languages.
Aix-Marseille University- French university, which was formed in early 2012. It includes:
- Paul Cézanne University;
- University of Provence;
- Mediterranean University.
The educational system of the university consists of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, the Faculty of Economics and Management, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, the Faculty of Sciences and others.
How to enter a university in France?
It is very easy to enter a university in France, as there are no university entrance exams for the first cycle of study.
Upon enrolment:
- persons who have higher education must provide:
- birth certificate;
- higher education diploma;
- diploma supplement with hours and grades.
- persons who are students of a higher education institution must provide:
- secondary education certificate;
- birth certificate;
- an extract from the secondary education certificate;
- certificate of study of the French language;
- a certified copy of the order for admission to the university;
- certified extract from the transcript.
- persons who have secondary education must provide:
- secondary education certificate;
- birth certificate;
- an extract from the secondary education certificate;
- certificate of study of the French language;
- certificate of admission to the university.
Submission of documents can be carried out in two ways: through the online Pastel system or through the French embassy located in your country. The deadline for submission can be found on the website of the educational institution that interested you.
In the event that a country is not included in the list of the Pastel system, all the necessary documents can be submitted directly to the French university. Some educational establishments have their own filing system. To do this, you need to go to the university website and fill out a preliminary registration form. If there is no such questionnaire, then you need to make a request, and within a few days you will be sent it by mail.
Only a certain number of countries can use the Pastel online system. Russia is one of them. The rest of the countries of the former Soviet Union cannot take advantage of this opportunity yet. The system will prompt you for all the actions, starting with the delivery of the language test and ending with the enrollment and obtaining of a visa.
After the selection committee has reviewed the documents and made a positive decision on enrollment, you will receive a notification. Based on this document, you have every right to apply for a long-term student visa at the French embassy. The procedure for obtaining a visa can be found on the official website of the embassy of your country.
Universities in France - VIDEO
The University of Paris Sorbonne (Universite Sorbonne Paris) is a French higher education institution located in the central part of the capital. One of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the middle of the 12th century. After the events of May 1968, it was transformed in 1970 into 13 independent Parisian universities. Its center is the Sorbonne building in the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine.
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The best public paid and free universities in France. Features of admission and training at the university. The higher education system of this European country in 2019.
French universities have a special place among. Most of them boast centuries of history as well as high educational standards. The prestige of the French universities is beyond doubt, since for a long time, along with the Oxford and Bologna universities, they taught only the upper strata of society.
The University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne is one of 13 that arose during the division of the Sorbonne. The university includes 14 faculties, 8 institutes and research centers, as well as the House of Economics.
Over time, the policy of the French Ministry of Education has changed a lot and became more democratic in relation to students. One of its main directions is the desire to make education more accessible and attractive both for residents of the country and for foreign students.
Considering the possibility of admission to universities in France, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the reasons for the popularity of this option. First of all, they should include the financial availability of training. All institutions are funded by the state, which makes education free for both state citizens and foreigners.
To study at a university or higher school, you only need to pay a special registration fee, the amount of which is set by the relevant ministry. For 2019, it is no more than 200 euros per year for undergraduate studies and 270 for magistrates. If the applicant plans to obtain a doctoral degree, the fee will be a little more than 400 euros.
Higher schools significantly outperform universities in terms of contributions. They can reach 1,000 euros annually. However, all of the above rates are valid for courses taught in French. For English-language studies, the amount of the fee can be up to 6 thousand euros per semester.
Watch the video: How to get a scholarship to study in France.
Directions of study
On the territory of France is located great amount universities that teach students in a wide variety of specialties. However, there are a number of areas where local universities have done better than others. These include, first of all:
- mathematics;
- engineering;
- medicine and related sciences.
Holders of diplomas in these and similar disciplines obtained in France significantly increase their chances of finding a job.
In addition, such a diploma opens up incredibly wide opportunities for the student to develop in the scientific environment and build an academic career. 
We should also mention the creative and cultural trends in the educational activities of local universities. Historically, Europe. This led to the creation of a full-fledged and independent network of art schools, training in which allows not only to achieve recognition in the field of cinema, photography and other arts, but also to find people who share the interests and views of the student.
Despite the many advantages and high standards of education, only 11 universities in France are included in the top 250 most top universities... According to experts, this is not due to the quality indicators of training, but to the imperfection of the assessment algorithms used by the British agencies QS and THE.
Watch a video about teaching in France.
Classification of universities in France
All higher education institutions existing on the territory of the country are divided into three main categories, depending on the type of organization, profile and other features. Among them are:
- Specialized schools. Training is carried out in the following areas: music, design, photography, painting and other types of arts.
- Universities.
- Higher schools.
Universities and higher schools are fundamentally different in a number of parameters. The majority of applicants fall into the institutions of the first category, while higher schools are extremely selective in relation to people wishing to enroll in them. A similar situation is observed in the quality and quantity of the teaching staff.
The answer to this situation is the measures taken by the government to attract gifted students to universities. They are based on scholarship and other preferential programs, as well as research funding. However, this could not change the situation, which is why higher schools still outperform universities.
Among other things, EUA membership says a lot about the quality of education of a particular university. The institutions that are part of such an association are generally recognized as the best, which significantly increases the value of the diploma and the demand for graduates from employers.
3 main types of French universities
Specificity of higher schools
If you plan to enter the best educational institutions in France, it is advisable to take a closer look at higher schools. Among the most prestigious institutions of this kind, there are 4 schools at once - Paris, Lyon, Kashan, Rennes. At the same time, the most selective schools in relation to applicants are located in Paris and Lyon.
All of them have full autonomy, however, they assume the possibility of taking preparatory courses in one institution and subsequent admission to another. Upon completion of training, all graduates are assigned the status of "normal", which carries not only a respected title, but also a number of responsibilities.
In particular, each of its owners must have worked in the public service for at least 5 years, which in France seems to be the best of all. This requirement does not apply to foreigners, however, if they wish, they can take advantage of this opportunity. 
Ranking of universities in France
Among the most popular universities among foreign applicants, there are both private and public educational institutions in France. in the overwhelming majority of them - free, both for French citizens and for foreigners.
Among them:
- Sorbonne University in Paris.
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.
- University of Nantes.
- Samadev University.
- Cergy-Pontoise University.
- Descartes University.
Each of them has its own, unique history and a set of areas in which students are taught. Since classes are free, the final choice should be made, depending on the interests of the applicant and the specialty that is planned to be acquired.
This educational institution first opened its doors to applicants in 1289 and today it is one of the most prestigious in France. The university owns an urban campus for students, which is especially important for foreign citizens.
The University of Montpellier is popular with students from all over the world for its quality teaching, the prestige of the diplomas received and the free tuition.
Montpellier is one of the five percent of the best universities in the world, and this university is recognized as the leader in the quality of education in the country. To enroll, it is enough to pay the registration fee, as well as present documents confirming the passing of exams.
It belongs to the category of large educational institutions, accommodates more than 24 thousand students, and also has its own library. The main specialties in which students are trained are: medicine, sports, law, business and natural sciences.
It belongs to state educational institutions and ranks 33rd in the national ranking. It belongs to the category of old universities, since 1887 is considered to be the date of its foundation. The main campus of the university is located in Lille, while a number of branches operate in other major cities. 
The process of admission to this institution is similar to the previous option: you will need to provide data on successful passing of exams, as well as pay a registration fee in the amount established by the ministry. This university is medium in size, and about 18 thousand students are educated here every year.
As in many other educational institutions in France, there is an opportunity to study foreign citizens on an equal basis with local residents. There is a large library on the territory of the university, and it itself is one of the most prestigious European educational institutions of the EUA.
University of Nantes
Another popular university can be considered the University of Nantes, which is one of the oldest educational institutions of this category. It was founded back in 1460, and the main building of the complex is located in the city of Nantes. Ranked among the 30 most prestigious universities in France and boasts a spacious dormitory.
Castle on the campus of the University of Nantes
Since the institution actively participates in international student exchange programs, foreign students are not uncommon here. Thanks to the large hostel, they have the opportunity to live near the place of study at affordable prices. As with most universities in France, the academic year consists of two semesters.
The number of students exceeds 31 thousand people, and teachers - 1500. The percentage of foreigners among applicants fluctuates around 8%. The main area of study is natural and applied disciplines, which include:
- medicine;
- mathematics;
- the economy;
- jurisprudence;
- control.
In addition, the higher Polytechnic School is the formal part of the university, which speaks of the first-class quality of education.
More recently, students from the CIS in French universities could be counted on one hand. But the situation has changed a lot lately. For many applicants, studying at a French university is a dream, but a dream that is quite real and achievable. You can get it at the university, at a higher school.
Today France has 85 public universities... Public universities in France are named according to the cities and regions in which they are located, for example: Université de Rouen,. If there is more than one university in the city, then an additional name and number are added to the name, for example:.
There are 13 public universities in Paris and its suburbs alone. It should be noted that you will not find a single university with a name, it simply does not exist since the late sixties - early seventies. Three universities have retained the mention of the Sorbonne in their name: Université Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle and Université Paris 4 Sorbonne. But in spite of everything, these universities are still the symbols of French higher education. It is worth applying here for those wishing to study the humanities: French literature, law, philosophy, but if you decide to connect your life with the exact and natural sciences, then you better choose another university. And future engineers and managers should go to.
Structure universities in France is very similar to the structure of Russian universities. Education here is conducted at faculties called UFR (Unité de Formation et de Recherches), specialties exactly coincide with Russian universities:
philology and languages,
exact sciences and technologies (physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science),
economic and social sciences (economics, management, law),
humanities and social sciences (history, sociology, art, etc.),
sports and physical activity,
medicine,
theology, etc.
There are specialties that are taught in specialized institutes opened at universities as faculties:
v IAE(Instituts d'Administration des Entreprises),
v IUT(Instituts universitaires de technologie),
v IUP(Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés): training of personnel for industry and services (training for two or three years),
at the IUFM (Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maitres): attention - only citizens of the European Union can enter these institutions.
Admission
In order to enter a French university, you do not need to pass entrance exams.
A Frenchman, after graduating from school or lyceum, and having received a French diploma of secondary education, can enter the university without exams. The Russian certificate of secondary education does not give the applicant such a right. Enrollment will be made according to the following criteria:
level of proficiency in French,
correspondence of the chosen specialty in France to the completed training course in Russia and academic performance,
motivations and professional plans for the future,
availability of free places for foreign students.
If you are a senior student at a university in your country or you already have a higher education diploma, then you can continue your studies at a French university at the level of Lisance 3 (L3), Master 1 (M1), Master 2 (M2) or doctoral studies ...
Admission to specialized institutions at universities can be based on the results of entrance exams, for example, Score IAE-Message.
After the reform of the higher education system in 2005-2006. At French universities, students can obtain the following state higher education diplomas:
— Lisance 1, 2 and 3(License 1, 2, 3): three years of study with a diploma after each year of study. Complete course Lisens 3 correspond to the level of a Russian bachelor's degree;
— Master 1(Master 1 (M1), former Maitrise diploma): one year of study after Lisance 3, which corresponds to the Russian specialist diploma;
— Master 2 in scientific research (Master 2 Recherche, former DEA diploma) or Master 2 professional (Master 2 Professionnel, former DESS diploma), which correspond to the Russian master's diploma;
—Doctor of Science Diploma(Doctorat): 3 years of doctoral studies.
In French universities, a diploma is issued after each year of study. For admission to the next course, you will need to apply again to the admissions office. This opportunity allows you to either stay at your university or transfer to another university that is more suited to the student's requirements.
Cost of education
The cost of education in public universities in France is quite acceptable. Students pay only the registration fee. In the 2012/2013 academic year, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research established the amount of registration fees for public universities:
1. Lisance: 181 euros
2. Master 1 and 2: 250 euros
3. Doctorate: 380 euros
To this cost it is worth adding 192 euros - the compulsory social security contribution.
It should be remembered that for foreign students, accommodation will also be an additional item of expenses. French universities do not have their own hostels.
Higher education in France is not limited to one. The system of lyceums, universities and higher schools in the country is well developed. For Russian applicants, France offers ample training opportunities.
The French Lyceum is a kind of intermediate link between high school and the university, therefore, graduates of the lyceum who have received a bachelor's degree can receive basic higher education on a shortened basis in just two years. However, in order to become a certified lawyer or engineer, you will have to study for another 2-3 years. In fact, despite the apparent confusion of the French education system, the presence of different levels and short and long cycles, it has a lot in common with the Russian one, and the university bachelor's system (in France it is called License) does not differ from those in other European countries.
To enter a French university, you do not need to take entrance exams - you just need to prove your language proficiency (you will need to pass the DELF or DALF certificate exam) and provide all the necessary documents.
Russian applicants can do this through the website of the French agency Campus France, and documents can be sent to several universities at the same time. Chances for 
admission will be higher if you first unlearn a year or two at a Russian university, and only then enter the first course of French. Yes, compared to the Russian education system, you lose a couple of years, but given that in France they graduate from school at the age of 18, higher classmates at a French university will be your peers.
In addition, many universities have preparation programs for international students. Graduates of Russian schools can also enroll in these programs. Priority is given to French, and if you successfully pass the exams, you can be enrolled in the university.
France offers tremendous learning opportunities and is not limited to the famous Sorbonne. By the way, today it is not one university, but several, for example, the Pantheon-Sorbonne, New Sorbonne, Paris-Sorbonne. Do not discount universities in other cities. Unlike the Parisian universities, they have a narrower specialization. If you have chosen natural sciences, you should pay attention to the University of Montpellier, and the University of Strasbourg is suitable for future lawyers.
In addition to public universities, there are higher schools in France... These are paid universities, education in which is considered prestigious, and the quality of education is very high. Getting into higher education is not easy: you have to pass difficult entrance exams and overcome a big competition. Higher education costs from 5 to 25 thousand euros per year. True, you can get a state scholarship, but in this case, after receiving a diploma, you will have to work in the civil service for almost 10 years. Among the most prestigious high schools are the technical schools belonging to ParisTech, the ENS teacher training school in Paris, the veterinary schools in Lyon and Toulouse and the ESCE school of economics in Paris and Lyon.
France, the cradle of revolutions and a recognized trendsetter, has held leading positions in the field of education for centuries. Over 250,000 foreign students come here every year. One of the most advanced and effective, the higher education system in France is not accidentally so popular among applicants from all over the world.
Features of higher education in France
How can higher education in France attract our compatriots? The universities of France, being financed by the state, allow getting education practically free of charge - about 1.5% of the country's GDP is spent annually on the sphere of higher education. As a result, education in state universities costs students, including foreign ones, only 130-700 euros per year. In addition, universities are very loyal to applicants and are ready to accept everyone. The role of entrance exams is played by an interview and (in some universities) a dossier competition.
In total, there are about 90 state universities in the country. Regardless of whether they are located in the capital or the province, French universities provide the same high quality of knowledge. Therefore, you can safely choose any university in any city that seems the most attractive to you.
Despite the fact that higher education in France complies with European standards (LMD), it also has its own national peculiarity: differences in the systems of diplomas, academic degrees, in dividing the educational process into cycles.
The main stages of study at universities are licentiate, master's and doctoral degrees. A licentiate degree - License - students receive after three years of study at the university, a master's degree - Master - after five, and a doctorate - Doctorat (PhD) - can be obtained after studying at the university for eight years. Thanks to the special system of equivalence of French diplomas, students can change training courses, moving to other universities and faculties. It is also considered to be one of the benefits of higher education in France.
Depending on the degree of duration, the entire educational process can be divided into two directions: "short" (les formations courtes) and "long" (les formations longes) cycles.
"Short" cycle in French universities
This cycle, designed for two years, allows, without delaying the learning process, to quickly start an independent professional activity. Those who entered the "short cycle", universities in France provide the opportunity to receive specialized education in the field of economics, communications, services, electronics, etc.
Upon completion of the "short cycle", graduates receive a diploma of technology (DUT) or a diploma of higher technical education (DEUST). After that, training can be continued to acquire an additional specialty, or a transition to a "long cycle" is possible. After that, the holders of the diplomas are issued a professional license (License professionnelle) or a national specialized technological diploma (DNTS).
Long Cycle at French Universities
"Long cycle" is a study at the University of France in several consecutive cycles, each of which ends with the receipt of a separate state diploma. There are three of them.
The first cycle, a two-year cycle, ends with a Degree of General University Education - DEUG. As a rule, the majority then continue their studies, since at this stage they pass only the basic program.
During the second cycle, the knowledge acquired over the previous two years is improved, and a year later the student has a license diploma, and a year later - a Master 1 (former MST) specialist diploma.
Training in the third cycle - another 1-2 years - is postgraduate education, an analogue of our graduate school, which includes improving knowledge in the specialty and scientific work. Based on the results of this stage, a master's degree in advanced study of research work is issued - Master 2 Recherche (former DEA), or a diploma of higher specialized education Master 2 Professionnel (former DESS).
The next three to four years will take doctoral studies. In the course of it, students prepare for writing a dissertation and obtaining a doctorate.
For citizens of other countries wishing to obtain a doctorate, the doors of French universities are wide open: here among the doctoral students every fourth is a foreign citizen.
Grandes écoles - high schools
In addition to universities, the higher education system in France includes higher schools, some of which are private. It is from these walls that most of the top management for the largest enterprises in France comes out. Among the most prestigious are the École Centrale, opened in 1829, the Higher School of Commerce (HEC), founded in 1881, or the National School of Administration (ENA), which was established in 1945. schools are generally limited. You can enter there only after passing competitive exams. In turn, preparation for them takes place at specialized courses for 2 years or at our own preparatory department. You can also enter them after the second year of the university. After that, training in higher schools lasts 3 years.
Higher education in France in English
Despite the fact that English is of international importance, French educational institutions, like the entire nation as a whole, are distinguished by a great love for their native language. Nominally, the country has over 600 programs for English language however, this is only an apparent variety. Mainly we are talking about programs in higher schools. Indeed, in English you can get higher education in France in such disciplines as management, economics, hotel and restaurant business, law, as well as a number of technical sciences. If we talk about bachelor's programs and programs in state universities of the country, the choice will not be at all great.
Higher education in France for Russians
The good news for Russian applicants planning to get higher education in France is that the school certificate of the Russian Federation is recognized as a sufficient basis for submitting documents. In the French education system, it corresponds to a bachelor's degree (Le Baccalauréat Français). Of course, it's worth taking care of a good GPA.
The second prerequisite is the availability of a certificate confirming knowledge of the French language at a level that will allow you to listen to lectures, study scientific work and pass university exams without any problems. French universities accept the results of the DALF language exam or the TCF French language test.
The conditions for admission to private universities, higher schools and medical faculties of universities have their own characteristics (special pre-university training is required), so it is easiest for a Russian applicant to start from the first cycle of the university.
Tuition fees at universities in France
As mentioned above, the cost of training in public French universities very modest and for all students - both foreigners and residents of the country, it is less than 1000 euros per year. In higher schools and private universities in the country, you should count on the amount from 6,000 to 12,000 euros.
The cost of living in the country varies greatly depending on the city. Thus, a student in Paris will spend 1000-1500 Euro per month on modest housing, food and basic expenses. In the provinces, 800 Euros may be enough.