Cost of Studying in France for Indian Students 2025 [Detailed Budget Guide]

Indian students find the cost of studying in France extremely affordable, along with the quality of education in Europe. The country combines low tuition fees at public universities with reasonable living costs. In this blog, we will learn about tuition fees in France, living expenses across cities, and more.

The average tuition fee in France varies from €170 (₹17 K) to €35,700 (₹36 L) per year. Public universities receive government subsidies, which keep their fees low {€170 (₹17 K)} for international students. Private institutions charge a higher cost of education in France {€35,700 (₹36 L)} because they operate independently without state funding.

Tuition Fees at Public Universities in France

Public universities in France, like Université Paris Cité & Sorbonne University, charge tuition fees around €270 (₹27 K) for bachelor's programmes and €343 (₹35 K) for master's degrees. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon offers even lower rates at €184 (₹18 K) for undergraduate studies, making the cost of studying in France quite affordable.

Here is the table with tuition fees at public universities in France:

Tuition Fees at Private Universities in France

HEC Paris charges €18,500 (₹19 K) for bachelor's and €30,000 (₹30 K) for master's programmes. EDHEC Business School's doctorate programme costs €35,700 (₹36 L), which positions it as one of the premium options to study in France.

These private universities in France, in the table, invest heavily in industry connections and specialised training, which explains their higher pricing structure:

Université Paris Cité, Université Paris-Saclay, and Université de Montpellier charge between €170 (₹17.5 K) and €243 (₹25 K) annually. These universities maintain low tuition fees in France because taxpayers subsidise a large portion of educational costs.

Here is an overview of the costs of education in France at these affordable universities:

The average cost of living in France ranges from €885 (₹91 K) to €1,813 (₹1.8 L) per month, depending on the city. Students in Paris spend quite a lot on accommodation, with rents reaching €1,425 (₹1.4 L) for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. 

However, cities like Toulouse and Strasbourg offer cheaper accommodation options, where students pay €585 (₹60 K) and €675 (₹69 K) for similar accommodation.

Accommodation Costs

Students in Toulouse spend the least on housing at €585 (₹60 K) per month for city center apartments. Lyon offers a middle ground at €900 (₹92 K) monthly, while Paris demands €1,425 (₹1.4 L). Students usually choose shared apartments or university residences to reduce costs further. 

Here are the following accommodation costs across major French cities:

Food Costs

Students budget around €230 (₹23 K) to €300 (₹30 K) monthly for groceries and meals. Toulouse offers the most economical food options at €230 (₹23 K), which compares favorably with costs in major Indian cities. 

Here is the table with monthly food expenses in different cities:

Transportation Costs

Students pay between €55 (₹5,665) and €88.80 (₹9,138) for monthly public transport passes. Universities often partner with local transport authorities to provide additional discounts. Students under 24 years can access youth fare cards that reduce costs by 30-50%. 

Here is an overview of transportation costs across cities:

The France student visa requirements include a base fee of €99 (₹10,197) is either paid directly to the French consulate or online portal. Students need to budget for additional mandatory expenses beyond the visa fee. 

Here are the explicit costs involved for a French visa:

• Campus France Processing Fee - ₹18,500: This fee covers the entire Etudes en France procedure, including application review, interview scheduling, and document verification through the Campus France portal.
• VFS Global Service Charge - ₹2,000: VFS handles appointment booking, document collection, and visa application submission to the French consulate on behalf of applicants.
• Health Insurance - €30,000 (₹30 K) minimum coverage: Students must show proof of health insurance valid for the entire stay in France before visa approval.
• OFII Validation Fee - €60 (₹6,180): Students pay this fee after arriving in France to validate their visa with the French Office of Immigration and Integration.
• Biometric Data Collection - Included in visa fee: The visa fee includes fingerprint scanning and photograph capture at the VFS center.

France offers over 500 scholarships to Indian students each year through government and institutional programmes. The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship provides €1,181 (₹1.2 L) monthly for master's students and €1,400 (₹1.4 L) for doctoral candidates. Charpak Scholarship specifically targets Indian students with living allowances up to €700 (₹72 K) per month plus tuition waivers. 

Students can combine these scholarships in France with part-time work permits that allow 964 hours of employment annually. Here is the table with scholarship details:

Students often worry about managing expenses in a new country, but France makes budgeting straightforward with transparent costs. Public universities eliminate the stress of high tuition fees, while cities outside Paris offer comfortable living standards at reasonable prices.

Yocket Premium guides you through each decision point in your France study journey. Our experts help you identify which universities match your budget constraints and which scholarships suit your academic profile.