France is among the globe’s oldest nations, the product of an alliance of duchies and principalities under a single ruler in the Middle Ages. Today, as in that era, central authority is vested in the state, even though a measure of autonomy has been granted to the country’s régions in recent decades. The French people look to the state as the primary guardian of liberty, and the state in turn provides a generous program of amenities for its citizens, from free education to health care and pension plans. Even so, this centralist tendency is often at odds with another long-standing theme of the French nation: the insistence on the supremacy of the individual. On this matter historian Jules Michelet remarked, “England is an empire, Germany is a nation, a race, France is a person.” Statesman Charles de Gaulle, too, famously complained, “Only peril can bring the French together. One can’t impose unity out of the blue on a country that has 265 kinds of cheese.”
France is the ideal place to study abroad for your degree thanks to its rich culture, gastronomy, architecture, and thriving student life!
Studying in France gives you the opportunity to learn the language and gain cultural perspective.
The experience will give you the upper hand when pursuing an international career and will give your CV a competitive edge.
Studying in another country can enhance the value of your degree as it demonstrates to potential employers that you have stepped out of your comfort zone, and are able to adapt to new environments and cultures.
Campus France highlights the 10 good reasons to study in France, including:
- Attractive tuition rates in France
- Quality higher education adapted to students’ needs
- Outstanding research and development opportunities
- France is a world-class economic power
- France is home to leading international corporations: Airbus, Total, Orange, LVMH, L’Oréal, Danone…
- Young talent is valued in innovation and entrepreneurship sectors
- French lifestyle: Paris is the #1 student city! (QS Best Student Cities, 2014)
- French is the third most common business language
- France is an appealing destination for students worldwide
- 9 out of 10 international students recommend France as a study destination (Baromètre Campus France, 2013)
A few other bits of information about France that you might enjoy:
- 85% of all residents of the country are Roman Catholic
- More than 60 million people reside in the country
- French and English are the two most commonly spoken languages in the country
- France uses EUROs. You will need to exchange any money that you choose to bring with you from another country into EUROs before or after you arrive in the country.