Study in France from Pakistan: 2026 Guide to Low Public Fees, Campus France, Costs and the Student Visa
Pakistani students can study in France at public universities that charge non-EU students €2,895 a year for a Bachelor's and €3,879 for a Master's in 2026-27. Most applications go through Campus France's Etudes en France platform. From 1 August 2026, the student visa needs proof of €877.50 a month, about PKR 2.8 lakh.
- Funds (from Aug 2026)
- €877.50 / month
- Public Master's fee
- €3,879 / year
- Work allowed
- 964 hrs / year
Why do Pakistani students choose to study in France?
Pakistani students choose to study in France for low public university fees of €2,895 to €3,879 a year, more than 1,500 English-taught programmes, top business schools and the right to work up to 964 hours a year. France also offers a post-study permit for Master's graduates and the Eiffel scholarship.
French higher education has public universities, grandes écoles for engineering and business, and specialised schools for art and design. Business, management, computer science and engineering attract most Pakistani applicants.
French is needed for many local jobs, so students should learn the language from day one. Families comparing budgets should also read the tuition-free route to Germany from Pakistan and the full Europe country comparison.
How much does it cost to study in France from Pakistan?
Studying in France from Pakistan costs about PKR 45 to 50 lakh for the first year at a public university, including the €2,895 or €3,879 fee and living costs. From 1 August 2026, the visa needs proof of €877.50 a month, about €10,530 or PKR 34 lakh for twelve months. Private schools cost much more.
| Item | Amount (EUR) | Approx. in PKR |
|---|---|---|
| Public Bachelor's fee (2026-27) | €2,895 / year | ≈ PKR 9.3 lakh |
| Public Master's fee (2026-27) | €3,879 / year | ≈ PKR 12.4 lakh |
| Private business / engineering school | €8,000 – 20,000 / year | ≈ PKR 26 – 64 lakh |
| Funds to show (from 1 Aug 2026) | €877.50 / month | ≈ PKR 2.8 lakh / month |
| Funds for 12 months | €10,530 | ≈ PKR 34 lakh |
| Rent (CROUS or shared room) | €300 – 700 / month | ≈ PKR 1 – 2.2 lakh / month |
| Flight Pakistan to France | - | ≈ PKR 1.6 – 2.8 lakh |
PKR figures use €1 ≈ PKR 320 (3 Oct 2026). Public fees are set nationally each year, and private fees vary by school.
The funds rule rose from €615 to €877.50 a month for visa applications made from 1 August 2026, according to the Campus France 2026-27 visa guide. Many competitor pages still show €615, so check the France-Visas student page before preparing the bank statement.
What are the entry requirements for Pakistani students in France?
Pakistani students need FSc, ICS or A-Levels for a Bachelor's and usually a 16-year degree for a Master's, plus IELTS for English-taught courses or DELF B2 for French-taught ones. French institutions also ask for HEC-attested documents, a motivation letter and a CV, and each programme sets its own extra rules.
- Master's: a 16-year Bachelor's degree, or a 14-year degree for some business-school programmes.
- Bachelor's: FSc, ICS or A-Levels, with subject rules set by each programme.
- English-taught courses: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL; French-taught courses: DELF B2 or TCF.
- HEC-attested degree and transcripts, and IBCC-attested intermediate certificates.
- A motivation letter, CV and sometimes reference letters.
- A passport valid for the full stay plus three months.
Business schools are often more flexible with 14-year degrees and work experience. Public universities usually expect strong grades and a degree closely matched to the Master's subject.
How do I apply to French universities through Campus France?
Pakistani students apply to most French programmes through Campus France's Etudes en France platform. Students open an online file, upload attested documents, pay the Campus France fee and attend an interview. After accepting an offer, they apply for the long-stay student visa on France-Visas and validate it online after arrival.
- 1Choose programmes. Search English or French-taught courses on the Campus France catalogue and university sites.
- 2Open an Etudes en France file. Create the online account and fill in education, language and course choices.
- 3Upload documents. Add HEC-attested transcripts, degree, IELTS or DELF, passport, CV and motivation letter.
- 4Pay the Campus France fee. Pay the procedure fee in Pakistan to unlock the file for review.
- 5Attend the Campus France interview. Explain the course choice, career plan and funding.
- 6Receive and accept an offer. Accept one offer on the platform before the deadline.
- 7Apply on France-Visas. File the long-stay student visa online and book the appointment in Pakistan.
- 8Validate the VLS-TS after arrival. Validate the visa online within three months of arriving in France.
Some private schools accept direct applications, and the Campus France file is still needed for the visa. Start the file early, because interview slots fill quickly in spring.
Which scholarships can Pakistani students get in France?
Pakistani students in France can receive the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, which a French university nominates, university fee waivers on the non-EU fee, Erasmus Mundus joint degrees with French partners and HEC overseas scholarships for France. Most funding needs strong grades and an early application, usually before January.
| Scholarship | What it covers | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Excellence Scholarship | Monthly allowance, travel, insurance | Nominated by the French university |
| University fee waivers | Part or all of the non-EU fee | Asked for during or after admission |
| Erasmus Mundus joint degrees | Tuition, travel, monthly allowance | Many include a French university |
| HEC overseas scholarships (France) | Tuition and living costs | Through HEC calls and service bond |
Eiffel applications go through the university, not the student directly. Joint Master's options are covered in the Erasmus Mundus scholarship page.
How do Pakistani students get a France student visa?
Pakistani students get a France long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) by applying on France-Visas after completing Etudes en France and accepting an offer. The file needs the admission letter, passport, proof of €877.50 a month, accommodation proof and insurance. After arrival, the student validates the VLS-TS online within three months.
The visa appointment is booked in Pakistan after the online form is filed. Original documents and attested copies should be carried to the appointment.
The validated VLS-TS works as a residence permit for the first year. Students then renew it in France if the course continues.
When are the France university intakes and deadlines?
France's main intake starts in September, and the Etudes en France window usually runs from October to January. Interviews and offers follow from February to May, and Pakistani students apply for the visa between May and July. Some private schools also offer a January intake with rolling deadlines.
| Stage | Typical timing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Etudes en France opens | October | For the September intake |
| Main application window | October – January | Business schools run rolling rounds |
| Interviews and offers | February – May | Accept one offer |
| Visa application | May – July | Funds rule €877.50 / month |
| Classes start | September | Some January intakes at private schools |
IELTS and HEC attestation should be finished by October. Starting early also leaves time to apply for an Eiffel nomination.
Can Pakistani students work and stay in France after study?
Yes. The French student visa allows work of up to 964 hours a year, about 60% of full-time hours, at the national minimum wage. Master's graduates can then apply for a temporary residence permit to look for work or start a business, and a matching job allows a switch to a work permit.
Many part-time jobs need basic French, especially in shops and restaurants. Campus jobs and internships linked to the degree are easier to find with English alone.
Permanent residence usually comes after five years of legal stay. Study years may count partly, so check current rules before planning.
Which mistakes delay Pakistani students applying to France?
The mistakes that most often delay Pakistani students applying to France are using the old €615 funds figure, ignoring cheaper public universities, generic motivation letters, missing the Campus France interview, forgetting to validate the VLS-TS after arrival and relying on English alone for part-time work.
- Using the old €615 monthly figure instead of €877.50 for applications from 1 August 2026.
- Applying only to costly private schools without checking €2,895 or €3,879 public options.
- Writing a generic motivation letter for every programme.
- Missing the Campus France interview slot or arriving without original documents.
- Forgetting to validate the VLS-TS online after arrival.
- Assuming English alone will be enough to find part-time work.
A free France profile check with our study abroad consultants reviews your degree, IELTS and funding plan before you open the Etudes en France file.
Study in France from Pakistan, frequently asked questions
Is study in France cheap for Pakistani students?
Yes, compared with the UK or USA. French public universities charge non-EU students €2,895 a year for a Bachelor's and €3,879 for a Master's in 2026-27, about PKR 9 to 12 lakh. Many universities waive part of these fees, while private business and engineering schools can charge €8,000 to €20,000 a year.
How much bank balance is needed for a France student visa?
From 1 August 2026, France asks student visa applicants to show €877.50 for each month of stay, up from €615. A twelve-month stay therefore needs about €10,530, roughly PKR 34 lakh. Proof can be a bank statement, a sponsor guarantee or a scholarship letter.
Is French language required to study in France?
No, if the programme is taught in English. France offers more than 1,500 English-taught programmes, mainly at Master's level, and these need IELTS or TOEFL instead. French-taught degrees usually need DELF B2 or TCF. Basic French still helps with daily life and part-time work.
What is Campus France Etudes en France?
Etudes en France is the official online procedure that Pakistani students use to apply to many French programmes and prepare the student visa. Students create a file, upload documents, pay the Campus France fee and attend an interview. After an offer, the file links to the France-Visas application.
Can I work while studying in France?
Yes. A French student visa (VLS-TS) allows work of up to 964 hours a year, which is about 60% of full-time hours. The national minimum wage applies. Students should not count on work income at first, because the €877.50 monthly funds must be shown before the visa.
Is France better than Germany for Pakistani students?
Germany is cheaper, because most German public universities charge no tuition. France has more English-taught Master's programmes and fewer language hurdles for business and management. Both countries need large proof of funds, so the choice usually depends on the subject and the language plan.
Can I stay in France after study?
Yes. Master's graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit to look for work or create a business in France. A job offer linked to the degree then allows a switch to a work permit. Permanent residence usually comes after five years of legal stay.