Maybe it’s the beautiful beaches in the south, or the cafes and charming patisseries in Paris that have set your heart a flutter over France. Maybe you’re in love with the language, the culture, or the people. Whatever the case may be, if you’re thinking of studying in France, there are some important things you should know before taking the plunge.

There are three main types of higher education in France: public universities which are government funded and open to anyone with the right qualifications, Grandes écoles, which are considered more prestigious and will usually require exams for entry, and technical institutes that usually deal with vocational subjects and are particularly good for those considering engineering, or hands-on science degrees. There are a wide variety of programs offered at countless educational Institutions throughout France, meaning that regardless of your needs or educational requirements you will find something that suits you. If you choose to study in French, you will need to sit and pass a Test de Connaissance de Francais (TCF). Now that you know the basics, here’s our list of amazing French universities to check out:

Université de Nantes, Nantes

Photo by Christophe Laigle/Flickr

Photo by Christophe Laigle/Flickr

The University of Nantes is located in Western France on the Loire river. A large school, it has over 42 000 students, of which a little under 10 percent are international students. They have over 1500 researchers and professors, and they offer 295 different diploma programs. Many of these options are taught in English exclusively, or in a mixture of English and French. Some of the English-taught programs include Master’s degrees in multimedia and data management, biology-biochemistry, and a Bachelor’s in British and North American studies.

If you are looking to study in French, even more options are available to you. The university is organized into 4 campuses all of which have energy efficient facilities.  They have a very active theatre on campus that organizes around 70 performances a year, in addition to multiple festivals, such as an International Film Festival held on campus every year. There’s a lot to see and do in Nantes outside of your studies as well, making it a great place to live and study for your degree.

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Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble

Joseph Fourier University is located south-east of France. The university rests in the heart of the Alps, making it a beautiful place to live and to study. With a much smaller student body (consisting of approximately 15, 000 students), Joseph Fourier University offers a mix of science and humanities options with a good assortment of English-taught degrees available.

The university also considers itself to be quite career-oriented with internships and Master’s degree placements available as well as additional help and training that will give you the edge for future polytechnic education, if that’s what you’re interested in.

Some of the programs offered in English include networks and telecommunications, physiology and epigenetics, mathematics, and computer science. Joseph Fourier University is highly ranked and a great place to complete your Bachelor’s degree, so explore it as an option if the programs listed above seem up your alley.

Université Paris Diderot, Paris

With approximately 26 000 students (around 20% of which are international), this university has a wide variety of degree programs and is connected to the Sorbonne Paris Cité group which consists of 4 universities in Paris that subscribe to the highest possible value of education. They provide courses in film studies, genetics, scientific journalism, and psychology among many other disciplines.  The university has a selection of cultural and art workshops every year for both students and staff and are tailored to different artistic abilities.

CinéDiderot is known for its unique film society that shows an eclectic mix of cinema. Paris Diderot also offers a wide variety of sport extracurricular activities, like scuba diving, Kendo, and volleyball. The university proffers courses taught in English, however the school does require you to be fully fluent to succeed in the courses and in academic life. For more information on language requirements for the program you’re interested in, take a look at the university website.

The opportunity to study in France is waiting for you to seize it. Make sure you’re fully prepared before taking the plunge by getting your French up to scratch. It can seem daunting studying in a foreign country and especially in a foreign language, so why not make French feel more like a first language, than a second? Contact us and see what courses we have available near you!