Indian students love France for its ‘art de Vivre’

By 2025, France aims to welcome 20,000 Indian students. Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India talks about the strategies adopted by France to increase the enrolment of Indian students in French institutes.

New Delhi, June 2, 2020

1. There has been an increase in the number of Indian students visiting France to study in French universities. Could you please give us the number of students visiting each year and the growth percentage?

Yes, indeed. The target now is to have 20,000 Indian students choosing France for their higher studies by 2025 – and we are halfway there. The increase is steady at around 30% per year, and we have made great strides, given that this figure was 3000 students in 2014.

2. What could be the possible reasons that Indian students are increasingly inclined towards French education?

Romance, good food! Jokes aside, I think the main reason is that France provides a unique combination of excellent higher education at a reasonable cost and offers a great personal experience in terms of ‘art de vivre’. That’s what, I feel, makes us stand out.

France is a country of research, innovation and quality education. It spends 2.24% of its GDP on research. That’s why we are a country of innovation, boasting 65 Nobel and 15 Fields Medal laureates. The latest Nobel Prize in Economics was shared by a Frenchwoman – Ester Duflo, an Indian – Abhijit Banerjee, and an American – Michael Kramer.

In fact, France is the third most popular destination for international students. Every year, we receive around 350 000 foreign students, and 40% of our PhD scholars are foreigners. Apart from the attractiveness of our academic and scientific system, I think Indians are increasingly aware that language is not a barrier to studying in France. Our institutions offer over 1500 programmes that are taught in English. You can therefore choose to study in English or French, but my advice is: learn French anyway, now or while you’re in France. Why? Because French is the main language in over 40 countries in 5 continents and the official language in 29 countries. It is also a diplomatic language used in all the international organizations.

Moreover, the ties you build with France while studying there, don’t end when you leave. First, there are over 500 French enterprises in India, which employ 3,50,000 Indian nationals. And then, we offer unmatched visa facilities to our alumni

3. The changing visa rules in the US and mounting uncertainty in the UK due to Brexit has led to upheaval among Indian students. Has that increased the number of international students in France and other parts of Europe?

It has, and we are keen to attract the best Indian minds. The more I travel in this country, the more I discover the immense talent living here. It is a rich resource and an opportunity for our country to make them experience France. President Emmanuel Macron’s message to students during his India visit in March 2018 was very clear: France welcomes you. Choose France!

4. Is there any strategy adopted by France to increase the number of Indian students?

The relationship between France and India has never been stronger. It is based on economics (e.g. Airbus recently sold 300 planes to Indigo) and strategic matters of course, but also on the true driver of lasting relations between countries: their people. For the last 20 years, our relationship has been shaped by a strategic partnership, which gives a framework to our collaborations in such areas as trade, defence, civil nuclear energy, space, sustainable development. However, there can be no long-lasting partnership without increased people-to-people contacts. That’s why, PM Modi and President Macron agreed last August on getting more youth and individuals from both countries to meet, exchange views, and work together.

On our side, we have worked hard to make Indian students feel welcome in France. In recent years, we have signed a unique agreement with India, mutually recognizing each other’s national degrees from Class 12 (Baccalaureate). It is the first such agreement of its kind signed by India with another country.

There have been increasing recruitment sessions from French institutions in India, particularly through our biannual education fair, the ‘Choose France Tour’. More and more French institutions are also opening permanent offices here, with some even offering programmes in India. For example, Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) with emlyon business school, Mahindra Ecole Centrale in Chennai, and LISAA School of Design in Bangalore. France is now a known destination for Indian students, which was not the case a few years back. We have also adopted the ‘Welcome to France’ strategy, which confers a special label on institutions that have the most foreign student-friendly policies in France.

Plus, we have a variety of scholarships available for Indian students to pursue higher education in France. The French government spends over 1 million euros (around 10 crores) in financial assistance to Indian students every year through government and co-financed scholarships. Apart from these, other public and private scholarships are available. Any of our 13 Campus France offices spread across India can guide students – from finding their programme of choice, financing their stay, to settling in France.

5. What are the visa rules for deserving students once they successfully clear the course/degree to stay back and work in France?

France wants to build a life-long relationship with Indian students who study in France. Indian students who complete a Master’s or higher degree in France are eligible for an extension of their stay for two years, enabling them to look for a permanent position in line with their studies, and providing them the international exposure they need in their professional life as well. Once back in India, alumni are eligible for a Schengen tourist or business visa with a long period of validity – up to five years. So are their spouses and children, thus making sure that France becomes a family story.

We also have what we call a ‘talent’ passport. It is a 4-year residence permit for highly skilled individuals, innovative start-up entrepreneurs, artists, or investors.

Last modified on 23/06/2020

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