Public universities can be comparatively affordable, especially outside Paris — but many Licence routes are French-taught. Verify non-EU fee tables.
Good price
Lyon, France
Université Lumière Lyon 2 is a public humanities and social-sciences option with a better living-cost profile than Paris.
Verify non-EU fees and language on univ-lyon2.fr.
Tuition, teaching language, vacancies and deadlines vary by programme and year. Always reconfirm details on the official programme notice before applying.
A student-friendly comparison of annual tuition for international students, with EU vs non-EU public fee differences in mind.
Reference research snapshot. Public university fees differ for EU and non-EU students; Grandes Écoles and private schools set their own rates. Always confirm before payment.
Choose degree level first, then budget tier. Figures are approximate annual university costs — verify on official portals and Campus France guidance where applicable.
Medicine and highly selective programmes can involve extra costs and different admission paths. Compare them separately.
EU/EEA students at public universities often pay national rates (a few hundred euros per year for Licence/Master, excluding CVEC). Non-EU students typically face differentiated public fees (often around a few thousand euros per year for Licence/Master) unless exemptions apply. Selective schools charge more.
Paris is significantly more expensive. Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Rennes, Montpellier and Grenoble usually offer a better overall student budget.
Tiers use approximate annual tuition for non-EU international students at public universities, unless noted as selective/private.
| University | City / region | Annual tuition (approx.) | Application + enrolment / CVEC | Approx. first-year university cost | Simple note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Lille | Lille | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC + process fees — verify | About €2,900+ | Strong regional public option |
| University of Rennes | Rennes | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC — verify | About €2,900+ | Regional public value |
| Nantes Université | Nantes | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC — verify | About €2,900+ | Moderate living costs |
| University | City / region | Annual tuition (approx.) | Application + enrolment / CVEC | Approx. first-year university cost | Simple note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumière University Lyon 2 | Lyon | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC + small process fees — verify | About €2,900+ depending on CVEC/fees | French common at Licence |
| University of Strasbourg | Strasbourg | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC — verify | About €2,900+ | Confirm language per programme |
| University of Montpellier | Montpellier | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC — verify | About €2,900+ | Southern student city |
| University | City / region | Annual tuition (approx.) | Application + enrolment / CVEC | Approx. first-year university cost | Simple note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris public universities (standard tracks) | Paris area | Non-EU public Licence often ~€2,770 | CVEC — verify | Tuition moderate; living costs high | Budget rent carefully |
| Selective schools / English international tracks | Paris & campuses | Often €5,000–€15,000+ (school-specific) | Application fees vary | Programme-specific | Sciences Po and similar — verify official quote |
Health and Grande École tracks can exceed ordinary public Licence/Master bands. Always verify on the official site.
Master's prices vary widely between public universities and Grandes Écoles. Rank them separately.
| University | City / region | Annual tuition (approx.) | Application + enrolment / CVEC | Approx. first-year university cost | Simple note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Lille — selected Master's | Lille | Non-EU public Master often ~€3,770 | CVEC — verify | About €3,900+ | Public Master value |
| Lyon 2 — selected Master's | Lyon | Non-EU public Master often ~€3,770 | CVEC — verify | About €3,900+ | Confirm English vs French |
| University | City / region | Annual tuition (approx.) | Application + enrolment / CVEC | Approx. first-year university cost | Simple note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Strasbourg — selected Master's | Strasbourg | Non-EU public Master often ~€3,770 | CVEC — verify | About €3,900+ | Programme-specific |
| Université Grenoble Alpes — selected Master's | Grenoble | Non-EU public Master often ~€3,770 (some tracks differ) | CVEC — verify | About €3,900+ | Strong STEM English Master options |
| University | City / region | Annual tuition (approx.) | Application + enrolment / CVEC | Approx. first-year university cost | Simple note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sciences Po — Master's | Paris / campuses | Often well above public rates — verify | Application fees apply | Programme-specific | Selective international Master's |
| École Polytechnique — graduate programmes | Palaiseau | Premium / programme-specific | Verify official site | High; scholarship-dependent | Elite selective track |
| Student situation | Best starting options |
|---|---|
| Budget under ~€2,500/year | EU public rates where eligible; otherwise limited — check exemptions. Otherwise target public Licence near the official non-EU band and cheaper cities |
| Budget ~€2,500–€5,000/year | Non-EU public Licence/Master at Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Rennes, Montpellier, Grenoble |
| Budget above ~€5,000/year | Sciences Po, Polytechnique and other selective/English international tracks; Paris living + tuition |
Correct student workflow: choose degree level → choose budget tier → choose subject/language → complete Campus France if required → verify exact fees and deadlines.
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