Rising enrolment numbers, strategic government initiatives, and expanding English-taught programs are positioning France as a rising competitor to traditional ‘Big 4’ study destinations.
Higher Education in France
France’s higher education sector continues to expand, with more than 2.9 million students enrolled in 2023/24. Since 1980, student numbers have more than doubled, underpinned by an extensive network of over 3,500 public and private institutions. This ecosystem includes 72 universities, 227 engineering schools, 220 business and management schools, and dozens of specialist art and architecture schools.
International students
France has firmly established itself as a major destination for international students and is now the 7th most popular study destination worldwide. In 2023/24, there were 430,466 international students enrolled in French higher education – a year-on-year increase of 4.5% and a five-year increase of 21%. This trajectory reflects both the country’s global appeal and deliberate efforts to internationalise higher education.
The largest source countries are Morocco, Algeria, China, Italy, and Senegal. According to Campus France, there have been some slight shifts in mobility patterns, with numbers from Morocco decreasing by 4% while numbers from Algeria increased by 7%. Regional growth patterns highlight France’s growing appeal to students in Sub-Saharan Africa (an increase of 9% in 2023/24), while student flows from China and India are recovering strongly post-pandemic.
Strategic government initiatives
The French government’s Bienvenue en France strategy sets an ambitious target of hosting 500,000 international students by 2027, reflecting the importance placed on higher education as both a cultural export and a source of soft power.
France has made attracting Indian students a particular strategic priority, setting a target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030. Although this objective is ambitious, progress has already been made, with around 10,000 Indian students choosing France as their study destination last year. This focus on market diversification reduces reliance on any single region and creates more stable growth patterns.
Demand trends
Patterns in online engagement confirm this momentum. For example, StudyPortals data highlights growing student interest in studying in France, particularly among U.S. students who are increasingly considering continental Europe alongside traditional English-speaking destinations. A key driver is the rapid expansion of English-taught programmes – now numbering more than 1,200 across disciplines – which reduces language barriers and enhances France’s competitive edge. The cost of tuition in France is also significantly cheaper than traditional ‘Big 4’ destinations, with international students paying €2,895 per year at the undergraduate level and €3,941 per year at postgraduate level.
Rising Global Profile
France’s academic institutions continue to gain international recognition. The latest Shanghai ranking highlights the excellence of French higher education establishments, with four universities in the top 100, with one in the world’s Top 20, and eight institutions in the Top 200.
Outlook
With student numbers climbing and international interest diversifying across source markets, France’s trajectory toward its 2027 target of 500,000 international students appears achievable. The combination of strong institutions, affordable study options, strategic government support, and expanding English-language offerings creates a strong value proposition for international students. However, the supply of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) still lags far behind demand. This supply-demand imbalance presents both a challenge for continued growth and a compelling opportunity for investors and developers in the student accommodation sector.
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GSL will host an Investor Summit – an exclusive gathering designed for distinguished global PBSA investors, developers, and operators in Paris, France, on 24 September 2025. Visit our event page for further details and to apply for a place.
