Europe
Study in France: Costs, Visa, Universities and Scholarships for Pakistani Students
A practical guide for Pakistani students on French tuition fees and exemptions, the Campus France Pakistan procedure, Eiffel scholarships, housing aid and the study visa.
Bachelor's · Master's · PhD · 10 min read ·
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France offers something rare in Europe: world-class public universities and grandes écoles where fees are still subsidised by the state, even for students from outside the EU. A growing number of master's programmes are taught fully in English, PhD students pay the same low fee as French students, and graduates can stay for a year to look for work. HEC Pakistan has sent scholars to France for years, and the Campus France office in Pakistan runs a clear, step-by-step process.
There are changes to know about for 2026/27. Fees for non-EU students went up slightly, universities can now exempt fewer foreign students, and housing aid (APL) has been cut for most non-EU students who do not hold a scholarship. This guide explains what that means for your budget.
All money figures use €1 ≈ PKR 310 (October 2026). Rates move, so recalculate before you apply.
| Quick facts | France |
|---|---|
| Language of teaching | French; many master's, some bachelor's and most PhD programmes possible in English |
| Academic year / intake | Main intake September; some January intakes |
| Public university tuition (non-EU, 2026/27) | €2,902 (bachelor's), €3,950 (master's), €398 (PhD) a year |
| Private / business schools | Approx. €8,000 to €30,000 a year (PKR 2.5 to 9.3 million) |
| Monthly living cost | Approx. €680 to €1,350 (PKR 210,800 to 418,500) |
| Part-time work | 964 hours a year (about 20 hours a week) |
| Post-study stay | One-year job search permit (APS / carte de séjour recherche d'emploi) for master's graduates |
Budget options: what you can do on every budget
| Budget | Route | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Fully funded | Eiffel Excellence scholarship; Erasmus Mundus; HEC Pakistan overseas scholarships to France; funded PhD contracts (contrat doctoral) | Eiffel pays €1,200 a month for master's (approx. PKR 372,000) or €2,000 for PhD (approx. PKR 620,000) plus travel and insurance. Erasmus Mundus covers tuition and living. A French contrat doctoral is a paid three-year job. |
| Low fee + exemption or grant | Public university with a fee exemption (partial or full); university or regional grants; PhD at the €398 rate | Some universities exempt international students from the differentiated fee, so you pay the French rate (€178 or €255) plus CVEC (€105). From 2026/27 exemptions are capped at 30% of a university's foreign students, so they are competitive. |
| Self-funded, mid-range | Public university in a regional city (Lille, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Rennes) paying full differentiated fees | Tuition approx. €2,900 to €3,950 plus €680 to €900 a month. Total approx. €11,000 to €15,000 a year (PKR 3.4 to 4.7 million). |
| Self-funded, premium | Business schools, private engineering schools, Paris | Tuition approx. €12,000 to €30,000 and €1,150 to €1,350 a month in Paris. Total approx. €26,000 to €46,000 a year (PKR 8 to 14.3 million). |
University costs
Public universities (2026/27). French and EU students pay €178 a year for a bachelor's (licence) and €255 for a master's. Non-EU students pay differentiated fees:
| Level | Non-EU fee 2026/27 | 2025/26 for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Licence (bachelor's) | €2,902 (approx. PKR 900,000) | €2,895 |
| Master's | €3,950 (approx. PKR 1.22 million) | €3,941 |
| Doctorate (PhD) | €398, same for everyone | about €397 |
Everyone also pays the CVEC student life contribution of €105 a year. Scholarship holders (boursiers) are exempt from tuition and CVEC.
Exemptions. Universities may fully or partly exempt non-EU students from the differentiated fee. Under a decree of 19 May 2026, this is capped at 30% of foreign students in 2026/27, then 25% in 2027/28 and eventually 20%. Students already exempted keep it until the end of their cycle at the same university. Some universities (for example Sorbonne Université, as reported in July 2026) have announced exemption policies, so check each university's page.
Public engineering schools charge approx. €630 a year (higher at the Écoles Centrales, approx. €2,620). Grandes écoles of business are private or semi-private and cost far more.
Application fees are usually low at public universities. Through the Campus France Pakistan procedure you pay one fee (see the visa section).
Living costs
| City | Rent (private studio) | Food | Transport | Total per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | €750 to €950 | €250 | €34 | approx. €1,150 to €1,350 (PKR 356,500 to 418,500) |
| Lyon | €450 to €650 | €200 | €28 | approx. €780 to €980 (PKR 241,800 to 303,800) |
| Toulouse | €420 to €600 | €190 | €25 | approx. €730 to €910 (PKR 226,300 to 282,100) |
| Lille | €380 to €550 | €185 | €22 | approx. €680 to €850 (PKR 210,800 to 263,500) |
A CROUS university residence room is much cheaper (often approx. €250 to €500) but places are limited. Approximate figures without housing aid.
Housing aid (CAF/APL): a big change. Until 2026, most international students received APL housing aid from the CAF, often €150 to €290 a month. From 1 July 2026, non-EU students who are not scholarship holders are no longer eligible for APL, under the 2026 finance law and a decree published in June 2026. Scholarship holders remain eligible, and reports say students with an apprenticeship or a job alongside their studies also remain eligible. If you hold a French government scholarship (such as Eiffel), ask the CAF whether you qualify. Do not count on APL in your budget unless the CAF confirms it.
Scholarships and need-based funding
Eiffel Excellence scholarship (French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs). For master's (up to age 29) and PhD (up to 35, first-year joint supervision). Pays €1,200 a month (master's) or €2,000 (PhD), plus return travel, insurance and help with housing. Tuition is not covered. You cannot apply yourself: the French university applies for you after you are admitted. The call usually opens in the autumn and institutions submit files by early January, with results in late March or April. Ask your target university about its internal deadline as soon as you apply (often November or December).
HEC Pakistan overseas scholarships. HEC has run scholarship schemes that include French universities. Campus France Pakistan exempts HEC and French government scholarship holders from its procedure fee.
Erasmus Mundus joint master's. Many include French universities. Deadlines usually fall between October and January.
Contrat doctoral. Most French PhDs in science and engineering are funded through a three-year doctoral contract with a monthly salary. Look on university doctoral school websites and on the ABG job board.
University and regional grants. Many universities and some regions (Île-de-France, Occitanie and others) offer international mobility or excellence grants. The CROUS social-criteria grant (bourse sur critères sociaux) is mainly for French and long-term residents, so most new Pakistani students do not qualify.
Browse current options at /scholarships?country=France.
Student visa: steps, documents and fees
Step 1: Campus France Pakistan (Études en France, EeF). Almost all Pakistani students must go through the EeF platform before applying for a visa.
- Candidature campaign: apply to public universities through EeF (usually for bachelor's and many master's programmes).
- PreConsular campaign: if you already have an admission letter (for example from a grande école or a private school). For the autumn 2026 intake, the deadline was 30 August 2026; for spring intakes it is around 30 December.
- Fee: PKR 30,000, paid by bank transfer to Alliance Française Karachi when Campus France asks for it, non-refundable. HEC, French government and Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders are exempt.
- Academic interview at the nearest Alliance Française (Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi), booked through EeF.
- Check that your institution is listed in the WHED database, since HEC recognises degrees from institutions listed there.
Step 2: France-Visas and AEG. Fill in the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) form on france-visas.gouv.fr, then book an appointment through AEG with your EeF certificate and Campus France receipt. Your interview and submission take place for the French Consulate in Islamabad.
Documents (Campus France Pakistan list; AEG's list is final): passport valid at least 15 months from the start of the programme, three photos, France-Visas form, acceptance letter, six months of bank statements or sponsor affidavit with the sponsor's statements, accommodation proof if available, CV and cover letter, transcripts and degrees (HEC/IBCC attested; see the HEC guide), NADRA Family Registration Certificate, and OFII form.
Proof of funds: France-Visas sets a minimum of €615 a month (approx. PKR 190,650). Campus France Pakistan currently advises showing €877.50 a month (approx. PKR 272,000), about €10,530 a year. Aim for the higher figure.
Visa fee: approx. €50 for a long-stay student visa, plus AEG service charges. Confirm current amounts with AEG.
Health insurance: once enrolled, you register for free with French social security (Assurance Maladie). Many students also buy a top-up mutuelle.
Processing time: about 2 weeks to 2 months after the interview. After arriving, validate your VLS-TS online within three months.
Working while studying and after graduating
Students can work 964 hours a year (about 20 hours a week). The minimum wage (SMIC) is approx. €11 to €12 an hour gross. Jobs in tutoring, hospitality, retail and research assistance are common; French helps a lot.
After a master's (or equivalent, such as an engineering degree or a CGE-accredited MSc), you can apply at the prefecture for a one-year job search or business creation permit (APS / carte de séjour recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise). You can work under student limits until you sign a contract, then switch to a work permit (salarié or talent passport). Bachelor's (licence) graduates do not usually qualify, except for professional licences.
Month-by-month timeline (for September 2027 intake)
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Oct to Nov 2026 | Shortlist programmes, take IELTS or TCF/DELF, start HEC/IBCC attestation |
| Nov 2026 to Jan 2027 | Apply to French universities and Erasmus Mundus; ask about Eiffel nomination |
| Jan to Mar 2027 | Candidature campaign on Études en France (check the EeF calendar) |
| Mar to May 2027 | Campus France interview; Eiffel results (around April) |
| May to Jul 2027 | Admission decisions, pay EeF fee, prepare bank statements |
| Jul to Aug 2027 | AEG visa appointment and decision |
| Sep 2027 | Travel, validate VLS-TS, register with Assurance Maladie |
Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make
- Assuming you will receive CAF housing aid. Since July 2026, most non-EU students without a scholarship do not.
- Applying for Eiffel directly. Only the French institution can submit your file.
- Missing EeF deadlines for the application, payment or final choice. Your file is closed.
- Choosing an unrecognised private school. Check WHED and HEC recognition before paying.
- Showing only the €615 minimum. Campus France Pakistan advises €877.50 a month.
- Ignoring French. Even in English programmes, basic French helps with jobs and housing.
More help: document checklist, English test guide, visa and pre-departure checklist, avoiding scholarship scams, master's motivation letter sample.
Official links
- Campus France Pakistan: https://www.pakistan.campusfrance.org/
- PreConsular procedure and EeF fee: https://www.pakistan.campusfrance.org/node/171
- Long-stay student visa from Pakistan: https://pakistan.campusfrance.org/node/166
- Post-study job search permit (APS): https://www.pakistan.campusfrance.org/node/91
- France-Visas: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
- Registration fees 2026/27 (Service-Public): https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A17481
- Differentiated fees and exemption cap: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18927
- Housing aid for international students (Ministry of Higher Education): https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/aides-au-logement-pour-les-etudiants-internationaux-le-gouvernement-adapte-les-criteres-d-100242
- Eiffel scholarship (Campus France): https://www.campusfrance.org/en/eiffel-scholarship-program-of-excellence
- CAF: https://www.caf.fr/
- Erasmus Mundus catalogue: https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en
Figures checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before applying.
Scholarships in France
France
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (via Campus France)
Master's | PhD | Fully funded