6. French University Student Tuition Fees

Higher education costs are met almost entirely by the Government and tuition fees are very affordable.

The fees are determined by the Government and not the institution itself.

A basic fee for an undergraduate course in 2008/9 is €169 per year; for a masters course €226 per year; for a doctorat it is €342 per year. In addition, you will be expected to pay social security charges of around €200 per year.

There is limited discretion granted to universities to impose specific additional charges for certain services, but they are very subscribed by the Government, despite attempts by a number of universities to find their way around them!

However, you need to enquire about the totality of the charges that may be imposed, not just the basic tuition fee as some of them can be high, and of dubious legal validity.

There are signs that the universities will be given greater discretion to impose their own charges, as the Government struggles to find a way to fund higher education, and the universities seek greater autonomy. Some universities have been granted new powers over their budget, and it is likely this will lead to an increase in fees.

Those who are eligible for a student grant, receive exoneration from the payment of tuition fees.

Fees at the grandes écoles can vary slightly but, in general, they also remain low. Some of the more specialist higher education institutions may well have higher fees.