France is considered as one of the ideal places to study abroad due to its rich culture, prestigious educational institutions, and a thriving lifestyle. Apart from these, some of the benefits of studying in France are listed below:

• France has the fifth largest economy in the world with its service sector predominately contributing to over 70% of GDP
• It is home to some famous Nobel laureates - like Marie Curie and Alfred Kastler and hence provides outstanding research and development opportunities.
• French institutions offer a huge number of scholarships to international students.
• A student can also learn french which is the official language of more than 30 countries across 5 continents.
• An international student can work part-time up to 20 hours a week and therefore can experience the work culture in France. Excelling in French will also give them an edge and thereby students can blend in better with the work culture and the people
• France is the first non-English speaking  country welcoming internationals with more than 6,000 programs fully in English
• Excellence in higher education offered by the various French universities and Grandes Ecoles is highly recognized around the globe.
• France has the world's fifth-largest economy and some of the powerful companies are headquartered in France including Airbus, Total, Orange, Sanofi, LVMH, L’Oréal, and Danone.
• France encourages young talent especially in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation so that they can apply the essential skills and knowledge learned at the french institutions.
• France is also an appealing study destination to international students who want to build their long term skill set especially in arts and crafts such as jewelry, fashion, crystal glassmaking, and architecture.
• The cost of living is affordable but greatly varies amongst various regions. For example, if a student is staying in Paris, the cost of living may be slightly higher than the other regions of France  Overall, one would need roughly 650 to 850 euros per month to cover the living expenses in France. However, living expenses may vary to an extent depending on the city you are in for your studies.
• International students often visit places relevant to the courses of study such as art galleries and museums, religious centres or historical sites, scientific companies.
• France has a shortage of skilled professionals in certain sectors, which include engineering, information technology, health care, and teaching. Therefore, students can land up with endless career opportunities in the above-said sectors.

Moving to a completely new country can be quite stressful at times, however, France is known to be one of the safest metropolitan located in the heart of western Europe with a fairly low crime rate. The universities and business schools in France have also laid down certain guidelines to ensure the health and safety of international students.Besides,France is diverse and one of the most visited countries in the world. It is home to some of the famous UNESCO world heritage sites like the Château de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles. Eiffel Tower is also one of the most visited places in France. Besides, France is also a popular study destination because of its prestigious higher education system which is globally recognized. It is also one of the powerful global leaders in research and innovation. Management , engineering, and design courses are some of the popular programs amongst international students, and each year more than two lakh students visit France for their higher studies. Additionally, France has the fifth largest economy in the world with its service sector predominately contributing to over 70% of GDP towards the country’s economy. Apart from it, tourism, agriculture, technology, and transport are also a few of the key contributors to its economy. France is also listed as one of the most visited countries in the world.

France mostly enjoys a temperate climate but there you can find significant changes in the weather with the seasons. Winters, especially between October and December are cold with temperatures dropping to negative in the mountains. However, the weather is pleasant in the spring from March to May. It may be really hot during the summer, from June to September, especially in the South, but the temperature rarely rises above 35 degrees Celsius.

Apart from studies, international students can indulge themselves in the endless opportunities that France has to offer in art, culture, food, mesmerizing city skylines, etc. Additionally, career opportunities post studies in France are also promising basically in the IT, banking, tourism, design sectors. Space Research and Development is also another emerging sector in France.

Studying in English or French

France is considered one of the ideal study abroad destinations among international students, known for its rich culture, quality higher education, and thriving student life. French is the official language of France and a very widely recognized language which is spoken in more than 30 countries. Besides, France is home to some of the top-notch globally renowned universities such as the University of Paris, University of Bordeaux, the University of Strasbourg to name a few as well as some of the famous business schools such as SKEMA, INSEAD, HEC Paris etc. Since there are so many international students attending colleges and universities from different multicultural backgrounds in France, international students can easily find courses offered in both languages. Overall, the country offers more than 1400 higher education programs that are taught in English, and therefore learning French is not mandatory. However, if you intend to stay back and work in some of the reputed companies in France, then it is recommended that you should learn the language as it will help you to blend in with the French culture. Furthermore, France encourages young talent especially in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation which makes it even more crucial to learn the official language as the young entrepreneurs need to build a rapport with the native people.

France is also an emerging destination in terms of job opportunities. The universities and business schools in France not only ensure the health and safety of the students but also help them in getting paid or unpaid internships and make sure that the students get all-round development throughout their term. Additionally, universities and institutions have dedicated career centers that assist international students in getting internships as well as jobs. So, international students can work part-time up to 20 hours per week while studying in the institutions and thereby can experience the french work culture.

Several industries including energy, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, technology, and transport are the major contributors to its economy. The famous utility company Electricite de France (EDF), is well known across the globe. France is also expanding its avenues in the field of renewable energy. Another crucial economic pillar of France is technology. It is listed among the most technologically advanced countries in the world, and its ideal research and innovative environment have led to the growth of some of the largest technology companies across continents. France is indeed recognized as one of the leading global business centers and thereby home to some of the famous multinational companies including Airbus, Total, Orange, Sanofi, LVMH, L’Oréal, and Danone, Renault to name a few. French-based companies like Publicis are one of the well-known names in the advertising industry.

Moreover, students can also learn French as it is not only the official language of France but also one of the most widely spoken languages in the world after English  and Spanish . Learning French will not only give them an edge but also they are expected to blend better in the French culture. France also encourages young talent especially in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation. Besides, to land up with suitable job opportunities, the student must build their profile and prepare their CV that meets the French expectations. France has a shortage of skilled professionals in certain fields like engineering, information technology, health care, and teaching. International students from the EU may stay and look for jobs as long as they like, post completion of their studies. However, the same is not true for the non-EU students as they can only stay in the country if they have a work contract from an employer who is willing to pay at least one and a half times the minimum wage. As soon as the non-EU students have a job, he/she can apply for a work visa, and therefore the student visa will be changed to the work visa. Overall during their stay in the country, they can experience the rich history of France in various aspects of culture, including philosophy, cuisine, music, art, film, fashion, literature, and sport.

Student Visa Management Process in France

If an international student is an EU national, or national from the EEA, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, they do not require a French student visa to enter the country. However if the students belong to any other part of the world - mostly non-EU nationals - they need to apply for a French student visa. Student visa application process can take place either through the French consulate or Campus France. The student visa application usually starts as soon as the students receive an unconditional offer letter from a French university or institution of their choice. A student needs to book an appointment with Campus France at least 90 days before going to France to submit the following documents.

• An unconditional offer letter for an accredited program at a French institution.
• Proof of sufficient funds for meeting the living expenses of the country. The student can show a bank statement or a notice of funding from a loan, scholarship, or grant.
• Proof of medical insurance
• Proof of accommodation: you need to provide proof of accommodation even if you are staying with your family or relatives or student housing arranged by the university.
• Proof of language proficiency: If you are going for a program taught in English, then IELTS, TOEFL test scores need to be submitted along with other documents
• Passport size photograph

Once the visa application is filed, it usually takes 15 days to 1 month to receive the student visa for France.