France is a place of longing for many young people. Students have the opportunity to spend part of their studies in the city of love. French streets often exude a very special charm.
Tartes Tatin, Macarons and Mille feuilles – if you have ever been to a pattisserie in France, you will not be able to appreciate a German pastry shop anymore. Besides the treats, though, you'll experience many other benefits as a student in France: The weather is better, the fees for studying are lower, there is no NC, there is a wide field of study options and you will learn a language used worldwide. The quality of the universities in France can be compared to German universities. In France there are also problems with overcrowded lecture halls, but studying is quite inexpensive. In addition to universities and grandes ecoles, there are also many universities that specialize in a single subject. Mostly engineering or management fields.
The French higher education system
As in the Federal Republic of Germany, studying in France is divided into three stages. The three-year Licence, which can be equated with a Bachelor's degree, the two-year Master's degree and the three-year Doctorate degree. However, there is no NC. The higher education system in France is very confusing, as there are a number of different types of universities and specialties. Particularly well-known are however the classical Unis and the Grande Ecole. But there are also science schools, colleges for engineering and specialized colleges for tourism, communications, health and art.
The university resembles the German in its basic structure. There are usually three specialties:
Droit, sciences politiques und economie et administration: Here you will learn law, politics, economics and the basics of administrative science.
Lettres, Arts et sciences humaines: Here, social sciences and humanities are brought closer to you.
Sciences et technologies: Here one will specialize in the subjects of computer science, natural and engineering sciences, human and dental medicine and pharmacy.
Grande ecole
The first such schools were created after the French Revolution. The goal was to train highly qualified administrators and engineers. To the end of the 19. At the beginning of the twentieth century, business schools were added to educate the country's management elite. There are exceedingly many types of Grande Ecole, however, not all of them can be assigned a specific category. However, the most common types are the following:
- ecoles Normales Superieures
- ecole des Etudes Commerciales
- Instituts d'etudes Politiques
- Grandes ecoles Militaires
Most Grandes Ecoles are in the hands of the French government. A number of business schools are privately run, however. Grandes Ecoles tuition rates can vary significantly. At state schools, about 800 to 5.000 euros per year, but this is different for private universities, where costs can reach 15,000 euros per month.000 Euro per year. However, there are also some universities that call themselves Grande Ecole, but do not award a state-recognized degree.
Financial statements in France are not quite congruent with those in Germany. In the Master usually in the same subject both Master Professional and Master Research are offered. In the first year you will study together and then decide which one to choose. The Master Professionelle is much more practical. A university degree from France is fully recognized in Germany. Logical exceptions, however, are law, as this study refers to a very specific legal tradition.
Study in Germany and France at the same time, is it possible?
There are German-French universities. This is not a physically existing university, but rather an association of more than 150 member universities from France and Germany. Most French-German degree programs are organized and planned by the DFH.
Application for bi-national studies
Those interested in such a program must apply to a German partner university as normal. The eligibility requirements can be different. It is not uncommon to have to write extensive applications and pass eligibility tests. Many German universities require the language level B1, which is, however, feasible.
Host Study
There are two ways to organize a guest study: Either as an Erasmus exchange or as a self-organized stay abroad. If you want to go to France as an Erasmus student, you have to apply through your own university. So you should find out for yourself at your university what all is necessary. However, a direct application is also possible.
Master
As in Germany, it is often necessary to submit an application portfolio in order to apply for a master's degree. On top of that, a letter of motivation must be prepared. Some universities also conduct job interviews. Often, however, people simply apply with their grades and proof of language ability. In France, however, specialization follows after one year, so you have to choose between the practically oriented master's and the theoretical one. For the theoretical part one has to apply separately at the university.
Living and studying in France
As in Germany, the option is student dormitories, an apartment of one's own, or a shared apartment. The student residences are very cheap, so you will pay about 150 euros a month. Some French residence halls, however, like to interfere in residents' private lives, even banning visitors from age 22.30 h. WGs are not very common in France, but it should be possible to find a suitable WG if needed. There are also many websites that specialize in exactly these things. Rent levels in beautiful France are comparable to those in Germany, except for Paris. Within the beltway, not even a very small apartment can be obtained in Paris for less than 500 euros. For 500 euros you will get an imposition rather than an apartment. One should therefore rather stick to the provinces.
How can I finance my studies in France??
If you live in the center of Paris, you will have at least 1.000 Euro per month to be able to survive. If you study in a province, you will face the same costs as in Germany. The financial requirement will be perhaps 700 euros per month. Any student can apply for housing assistance in France and receive one-third of the rent as a result. For about 200 euros a year, you can get student insurance that covers liability and health in France. There are many options for funding, but the most important is BAfoG.