Are you a Francophile? Big fan of cheese? Or perhaps the top expert in your field is based in Brittany? Here at Postgrad.ie, we’ve come up with the top 5 reasons to take the plunge and do your Postgraduate Study In France.
The attractions of studying in France are considerable; there are many programmes taught through English, tuition fees are remarkably cheap, and the culture is student friendly. Plus, it’s also very close to home and thanks to Michael O’Leary, flights home to see you mammy won’t break the bank. So, let’s take a look at five of the main benefits of studying in France:
1. Cost-effective
The average cost of university tuition in France is normally no more than €400 or €500 per year. However some highly-regarded business and management courses can range between €3,000 and €10,000. You could need at least €1,000 per month for living expenses, for cities outside of Paris. There are also societal benefits that the French government offer for students, realising that it’s not a cheap country to live in. Le tarif jeune is a special student discount admission price for museums and public transportation, which adds a lot to student options when it comes to travel and sightseeing.
2. College-Oriented Cities
While Paris may be where most students think of when they consider studying in France, other French cities such as Toulouse, Grenoble, Tours, Lyon and Bordeaux are great places to live, study and work if needed. Tours, for example, is located just two hours from the French capital and is recognised as being one of the best cities in which to learn French due to its accent and classical French dialect. Bordeaux, on the coast towards the South of France is also home to several excellent universities. It boasts excellent weather and, incidentally, a lot of very fine wine!
3. Easy To Apply
Organisations such as Campus France (www.campusfrance.org) exist to help you make your study in France a reality. They are run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Higher Education Research and Innovation. The main mission of the Campus France offices are the promotion of French higher education to foreign students and the institutes where they study. They answer questions about French programs, assist foreign students in their administrative formalities and prepare them for their arrival and integration in France.
The Campus France agency has a network of 255 locations and annexes in 124 countries with almost 500 counsellors around the world. If you’re applying to the universities directly, make sure you check the methods of application they accept and that they accept applications in English and that the course you wish to study is delivered through English, unless you’re capable of doing it in French of course.
4. Loads to see
The famous French joie de vivre is best experienced while living there. Great food, relaxing meals, excellent wine and scenery to match are some of the main reasons that France is at the top of most of the world’s tourist lists year on year. From the majesty and magic of Paris of nearby Versailles, to the rustic beauty of Provence and the coastal charm and class of the Cote d’Azur and the Bay of Biscay, France really has it all.
5. Close to home
90 minutes, or slightly more, will get you from any Irish airport to pretty much anywhere in France. Air France and Aer Lingus have direct flights to all three main Parisian airports, with Aer Lingus also offering direct flights to Lyon, Nice, Nantes, Rennes, Perpignan, Toulouse and more. Ryanair flies to 18 regional and city airports throughout France, such as Tours, Perpignan, Clermont, Brive and many more. Whatever university you choose, you can be sure you won’t be too far from an airport offering you a direct connection home to Ireland.
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