This dramatic increase is part of a series of measures announced on Monday by the government.
About 100,000 foreign students residing outside the European Economic Area will no longer be housed in the same company as their peers in France. They will have to pay much higher tuition fees in addition to their rent and the costs of any stay abroad. From the beginning of the 2019 school year, a foreign student will have to multiply his expenses by sixteen. For his year of license, he will pay 2 770 euros instead of 170 euros and for his master, 3 770 euros instead of 243 euros. This dramatic increase is part of a series of measures announced on Monday by the government.
The government explains that it is “a third of the real cost” of a foreign student for public finances. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe also said on Monday that this would be used to fund scholarships and improve reception conditions. And to emphasize that France aims to bring by 2027 to 500 000 the number of foreign students it welcomes each year, against a little over 300 000 currently.
La stratégie #BienvenueEnFrance, c’est :
➜ Augmenter le nombre d’étudiants étrangers accueillis dans nos écoles et nos universités.
➜ Faire financer les bourses des moins fortunés et des plus méritants en faisant payer les étudiants étrangers qui en ont les moyens. pic.twitter.com/slLlmdgZwo— Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) November 19, 2018
As the first non-English speaking host country, France remains the world’s fourth destination for international students, but has lost its third place in recent years to Australia. Despite a recovery since 2016, the number of foreign students fell by 8% between 2010 and 2015 and the government identifies a “risk of dropping out” French, against a background of soaring numbers of international students.
“We can do much better,” said Edouard Philippe presenting the strategy called “Welcome to France” . The visa policy will be “improved” : student files will be prioritized and formalities simplified and accessible online. The number of students having access to courses in English, as well as French as a Foreign Language (FFL) courses, will be doubled. Each foreign student will be designated a referent to accompany him.
A fund with 10 million euros in 2019 is planned, as well as a label for hosting foreign students for higher education institutions. Another fund of 5 and 20 million euros is planned for the development of French campuses abroad.
Unions opposed to this measure
But the main measure, which raises concerns among student unions including Fage and Unef, is the rise in tuition fees for non-European students at the university. They defend the idea of universality of French higher education, accessible to all regardless of nationality.
Ce matin lors des Rencontres Universitaires de la Francophonie @EPhilippePM confirme l’augmentation des frais d’inscriptions pour les étus non ressortissants de l’UE sous couvert de rendre l’ES + attractif. Innaceptable. Le service public doit être le même pour tous ! @La_FAGE pic.twitter.com/suZpbP15i7
— Orlane François (@Orlane_FAGE) November 19, 2018
Selon une dépêche @afpfr qui cite une note interne de @gouvernementFR, celui-ci envisagerait d'augmenter les frais d'inscription pour les étudiant.e.s extracommunautaires. C'est une décision inadmissible et nous demandons au Gouvernement d'y renoncer ! pic.twitter.com/2JlXIZwzXP
— UNEF (@UNEF) November 16, 2018
The government says that 14,000 fee waivers will be created, targeting mainly students from developing countries. In the end, with other exemption agreements, “one in four international students will qualify for an exemption or scholarship,” according to the government.
Edouard Philippe defended a “strong choice”, “which will allow us to better welcome students who choose France” , but “a measured choice” . “We will remain well below the 8,000 to 13,000 euros of our Dutch neighbors and tens of thousands of pounds in Britain, and most European countries, without mentioning of course the situation on the North American continent” , he said.
Paradoxically, the low cost of tuition fees in France also discouraged some candidates, who were worried about the quality of teaching, Matignon said.
