France, often dubbed the art capital of the world, offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Beyond its beautiful sculptures and scenic monuments, France is one of the top cosmopolitan destinations, attracting thousands of students worldwide. Every year, many Bangladeshi students dream of pursuing bachelor's degrees in France due to the high quality of education and manageable expenses. Here’s a detailed guide on subjects, costs, scholarships, and opportunities for studying for a bachelor's in France.

Why Study in France?

There are tons of reasons why students consider studying in France. First and foremost is the high quality of education. For the 2025 QS World University Ranking, 35 French universities made it to the list with 4 of them securing spots in the top 100. Apart from excellence, France has been a destination of higher education in Europe dating back to the Middle Ages. The celebrated Sorbonne University was founded in 1257 making it one of the oldest universities in Europe alongside Oxford and Cambridge University.

Historically, France had a low tuition fee for both EU and non-EU students. However, there has been a recent tuition fee hike in 2019. But it is still much lower compared to other European destinations.

The low crime rate can be another reason to explore France as your study-abroad destination. The criminality index of 5.82 puts France in 9th among 44 European countries and 1st among 11 countries in Western Europe.

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France offers high-quality education in all the leading disciplines including Arts, Humanities, Law, Management, and Engineering. The cultural heritage, global perspective, wide networking opportunities, and a strong economy make France an easy choice for studying abroad.

Some of the popular programs for non-EU students include Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Business Administration, Law, Film Studies, Computer Science, and Social Sciences. 

How Can Non-EU Students Apply for a Bachelor's Degree in France?

The application process for bachelors in France is divided into two options. Students who belong to EU countries are required to apply for bachelors via Parcoursup. It is the national application system for undergraduate programs in France.

Students from non-EU countries like Bangladesh, are required to apply through Etudes en France. The “Study in France” option is part of the Campus France portal which deals with all international admissions from non-EU students. Some universities offer admission directly through their platform.

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Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting admitted to a French university as a non-EU student.

Step 1: Choose a Program and University

The first step is to choose a program and university. Thankfully, Campus France offers a comprehensive list of programs and universities (every university that uses the Campus France admission system).

The first thing to do is to navigate to the Taught in English (https://taughtie.campusfrance.org/tiesearch/#/catalog) section of the Campus France website. From there, students can choose the level of study (L3/Bachelors), and field of study. Now, a prospective student can choose a specific region from the filter menu.

Step 2: Creating an Account in Campus France 

The next step is to open an account on the Campus France portal (https://www.campusfrance.org/en/user/register). This account will be used for all application-related procedures hereon.

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Step 3: Filling Out Application Forms and Documents

The next step is to fill out the application form and provide the necessary information. Here the applicant will be required to provide documents like a high school diploma, transcripts, passport copy, and language proficiency test scores (e.g., DELF/DALF for French or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programs). A prospective student will also need to submit a motivation letter stating why he or she wants to study in France and choose that specific program.

Step 4: Attend Interview

Some students may need to sit for an online interview depending on the university.

Note that the procedure applies to non-EU students belonging to a country where the Etudes en France program is applicable. Unfortunately, Etudes en France isn’t available in Bangladesh.

In that case, students would need to apply through Demande d'Admission Préalable - DAP" (preliminary request for admission) (https://www.campusfrance.org/en/application-non-EU-student-living-outside-EU-without-etudes-en-France-procedure).

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Students would need to fill up the White Folder (https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2022-09/dossier-blanc-24403.pdf) along with other required documents and send it to the Department of Cooperation and Cultural Action at the French Embassy.

The specific steps of application and required documents may differ depending on the applicant's country. So make sure to contact the French Embassy in Bangladesh beforehand. The application deadlines for each year are announced in the Campus France portal.

Tuition and Living Costs (for non-EU students)

The tuition fee for non-EU students has been hiked significantly since September 2019. Before that, the non-EU students also enjoyed a very small tuition fee just like the EU students.

Currently, the yearly tuition fee for a bachelor's program at a public university is 2,770 Euros or about 3,52,849 BDT ( 1 EUR = 127.38 TK).

For private universities, the cost may range between 3,000 to 20,000 Euros or 3,82,147 to 25,47,647 BDT per year depending on the university and programs.

The living cost in France is moderate compared to other West European countries. In cities like Bordeaux, Lyon, and Toulouse, a student can expect to spend around 850 to 1000 euros or 1,08,275 to 1,27,382 BDT per month as living expenses. However, in the capital Paris, the average expense is much higher at around 1,250 to 1,400 Euros or 1,59,227 to 1,78,335 BDT per month.

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Scholarships for Non-EU students

After the 2019 tuition fee hike, the French government and private organizations have also increased the number of scholarships for non-EU students. The number is said to be around three times more than before according to some estimates.

Some of the popular scholarships to study in France include the French Government and Research Institution Scholarship, Regional Authority Scholarships, and The Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarship. However, only the Regional Authority Scholarships cover the L3/Bachelors level.

Students can easily check for scholarships at Annuaire des Programmes de Bourses (https://campusbourses.campusfrance.org/#/catalog) at the Campus France portal. An applicant can easily navigate all the available lists of scholarships based on their types, level of education, field of study, and nationality.

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Student Visa Procedure from Bangladesh

The student visa for Bangladeshi students is issued by the French Embassy in Bangladesh. To apply for a long-stay student visa, an applicant needs to request an appointment at the [email protected] email. The visa section will then issue an appointment date based on availability.

There are two interviews for a long-stay student visa. The first interview will be with the cultural attaché of the embassy who will check the educational background. The second one will be with the visa section.

An applicant from Bangladesh will need to prepare the following documents beforehand.

- Passport

- Visa Application Form

- Photograph (35 mm by 45 mm, white background)

- Cover Letter

- Enrolment Confirmation

- Tuition Fees Payment Receipt

- Academic Documents

- Financial Document

- Medical Report

- Health Insurance

- Birth Certificate

- Police Clearance

- Accommodation Details

The current waiting time for an appointment is around 3 weeks. So, make sure to apply with ample time in hand.

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Post-Degree Work Opportunities for Non-EU Students in France

France offers a comprehensive work opportunity for non-EU students wishing to pursue their careers after graduation. To stay in France after graduation, a non-EU student will need to have a promise of work/work contract to change their status to the work visa category. If you cannot manage a work contract before graduation, you can apply for a temporary resident permit called APS or Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour. This will allow you temporary residence for 1 year in which you can look for a job. Note that APS is not renewable so you will only get 1 year.

There are several ways to find jobs in France. You can look for them in Pôle Emploi (https://candidat.francetravail.fr/offres/emploi) or Association Pour l'Emploi des Cadres (https://www.apec.fr/). You can also visit job fairs and contact recruiters to get a desired job in your specialization.

Final Words

With its stable economy, robust culture, and diversity, France is easily one of the top destinations for higher studies in the world including Bangladesh. While it's very important to learn French to live in France, there are lots of universities that offer programs completely taught in English.

Compared to EU students the entire process and the cost are a bit more complicated and expensive for Bangladeshi and non-EU students. However, the post-degree work opportunities are ample, making France an easy choice to study and settle abroad.

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