France increases tuition fees for int’l students by 1,527% for 2026/27 academic year

… fees of €178 for bachelors degrees was increased to €2,895, while €254 for masters was increased to €3,941

…exemptions will cover those on scholarships, facing financial hardship, and students studying in priority fields.

France has announced a significant increase in its university fees by 1,527 percent for non-EU/ international students for bachelor’s programmes, and 1,452 percent for masters programmes, marking a shift in its long-standing approach to affordable higher education.

Under the new policy, fees will rise to €2,895 ($3,391) per year for bachelor’s degrees from of €178 and €3,941 ($4,617) for master’s degrees from €254. This represents a sharp increase from the previous base rates, which have been in place since 2019 across French public universities.

The change was confirmed by Philippe Baptiste, French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, and will take effect from April 21. It will apply to almost all non-EU students enrolling for the 2026/27 academic year.

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However, a limited number of exemptions will remain. These are expected to cover no more than 10 percent of students, primarily those on scholarships or facing financial hardship. In addition, around 60 percent of available grants will be directed towards priority fields, including health, digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum science, biotechnology, environmental studies, energy, space, food systems, information technology, and communications.

France, Germany and several other European countries are known to offer low tuition fees (around €170–€3,941 per year) for EU and non-EU students, at public universities that offer fee exemptions or charge standard national rates. Many universities, such as the University of Strasbourg, the University of Orléans, and the Université de Lille, offer low-cost programs.

The revised tuition framework is now part of a broader international education strategy titled “Choose France for Higher Education”. The initiative aims to attract more students into sectors where the country faces skills shortages. With France’s working-age population projected to decline in the coming decades, policymakers are increasingly looking to international students to support innovation and economic competitiveness.

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Notably, the increase will not affect current non-EU students already enrolled. Nonetheless, its introduction midway through the application cycle for the September 2026 intake has raised concerns among prospective applicants.

Previously, universities had been encouraged, but not required to charge higher fees for non-EU students. Many institutions chose not to do so, citing a commitment to equal access to education regardless of nationality. Under the new policy, however, universities will no longer have discretion over whether to apply differentiated fees.

The government argues that the higher fees will enhance the global positioning of French higher education. It also maintains that international students will still pay less than one-third of the actual cost of their education, with the remainder subsidised by the state. As such, France is expected to remain more affordable than many other leading study destinations.

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In countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, international tuition fees typically start at around $15,000 per year and often exceed $20,000, particularly for specialised STEM courses or highly selective institutions.

By contrast, Germany continues to offer a low-cost model. Most public universities charge no differentiated tuition fees, requiring non-EU students to pay only between €100 and €400 per semester in administrative charges. Although private universities in Germany charge higher fees, they account for just 14 percent of total enrolment.

As a result, France’s new pricing structure may strengthen Germany’s competitive position, particularly in price-sensitive markets such as Africa and South Asia.

Recent data underscores the close competition between the two countries. In the 2025/26 academic year, Germany hosted approximately 420,000 international students, reflecting a 4 percent year-on-year increase. France, meanwhile, recorded 443,500 international students in 2024/25, up 3 percent.

While France remains a leading destination for African students, Germany is steadily gaining ground, with African students now accounting for around a quarter of its international cohort.