France is one of the cheapest places in Western Europe to earn a degree: public universities charge non-EU students a few thousand euros a year, not tens of thousands, and many programmes are taught entirely in English. The trade-off is process. For students resident in Pakistan, every step runs through Campus France and the Études en France (EEF) platform — there is no way around it, and the window opens only once a year. This guide explains the fees, the EEF procedure, the scholarships and the visa, in the order you will actually meet them.
How much does it cost to study in France?
From the 2026/27 academic year, all non-EU students at French public universities pay differentiated tuition. The official 2026/27 rates published by Campus France are:
| Level | Non-EU tuition per year (2026/27) | EU / exempted rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (Licence) | €2,902 | €178 |
| Master's | €3,950 | €255 |
| Doctorate (PhD) | €398 | €398 (no differentiated fee) |
Some universities grant partial exemptions down to the EU rate, but a decree from May 2026 caps how many non-EU students each institution may exempt — 30% for 2026/27, 25% for 2027/28 and 20% after that. For a 2027 entrant, at least three in four non-EU students pay the full differentiated rate. Plan on the full rate and treat any exemption as a bonus. Private institutions and grandes écoles cost far more — roughly €6,000 to €18,000 or more per year, with top business schools higher still.
Other compulsory costs: the CVEC student-life contribution (about €105 a year, paid before enrolment), the EEF fee in Pakistan (PKR 30,000 for 2026/27), and the long-stay visa fee (€99). For the visa you must show proof of financial resources of €877.50 per month for applications filed from 1 August 2026, plus a €100 tax to validate your visa after arrival. A full two-year master's at a public university therefore costs around €7,900 in tuition — a fraction of the United States, where average out-of-state tuition at public four-year universities is about US$31,880 a year.
The Études en France (EEF) procedure — step by step
Pakistan is one of the countries covered by Études en France, so you must apply through the EEF platform for every level, from first-year bachelor's to master's, all the way to the visa. No visa file moves without an EEF number.
1. Create your EEF account on the Campus France Pakistan platform and complete your profile with your education history, language certificates and documents.
2. Choose your programmes. You may apply to up to 12 programmes through EEF (up to 7 for bachelor's). Use the Campus France catalogue of programmes taught in English first, then check each programme's language, fees and entry rules on the university's own website.
3. Pay the EEF fee. In Pakistan the fee is PKR 30,000 for 2026/27. It is non-refundable, even if your visa is refused.
4. Submit by the deadline. For the 2027/28 intake, the Campus France Pakistan window runs from 1 October to 18 November 2026. DAP registrations open on 1 October 2026, universities answer before 30 April 2027, and you must reply before 31 May 2027. EEF and DAP run on one autumn window a year with no second round: miss it and you wait twelve months.
5. Attend the Campus France academic interview. Expect it in February to March 2027. The interview checks that your study plan is genuine and coherent — the same logic as a visa interview, and good preparation for it.
6. Receive your acceptances, choose one, and apply for the long-stay student visa with your EEF number, acceptance letter and proof of funds.
Scholarships for France
The flagship government award is the France Excellence Eiffel scholarship, for master's and doctoral applicants. For 2026 it pays €1,200 a month at master's level and €2,000–€2,100 a month at doctoral level, plus certain services such as travel and health cover — it does not pay tuition, because public tuition is already low. Applications go through the university, not directly to Campus France, and deadlines are early (usually January). Other options include university-specific merit awards and Erasmus Mundus joint master's programmes, which pay €1,400 a month for 24 months plus full tuition. Charpak scholarships are India-only and do not apply to Pakistani applicants.
Which universities and programmes?
France's public universities include the Sorbonne, Paris-Saclay, PSL and the universities of Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Strasbourg. For English-taught study, the strongest areas are engineering, computer science, data science, business, economics and the natural sciences; humanities and law are usually taught in French. If you want to study in French, you will generally need DELF B2 or DALF C1. A growing number of master's programmes are taught entirely in English and require only IELTS or TOEFL — typically IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80+.
After arrival: work and stay
Students may work up to 964 hours a year (about 20 hours a week) while studying. After a master's degree, graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit to look for work or start a business, and France has set a target of 30,000 Indian students by 2030 — a sign of how actively the country recruits international graduates. For Pakistani students the same post-study route applies; check the current rules with Campus France Pakistan before you rely on them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need French to study in France? Not for English-taught programmes. For French-taught programmes you generally need DELF B2. Even on an English programme, basic French makes daily life and part-time work far easier.
Can I skip the EEF procedure? No. Residents of EEF countries, including Pakistan, must use the platform. Your visa application will not be processed without it.
Is the EEF fee refundable? No. It is non-refundable even if your visa is refused, so apply only when your file is ready.
When should I start for September 2027? Now. The EEF window for Pakistan closes on 18 November 2026, and the whole process — applications, interview, visa — takes five to seven months.
Are there fully funded options? The Eiffel scholarship plus low public tuition comes close, and Erasmus Mundus joint master's are fully funded. Neither is guaranteed; apply to both and to a self-funded plan in parallel.
Related guides on Pakunii
Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · Digital SAT 2027 Guide
Sources and verification: Campus France official 2026/27 rates (non-EU bachelor's €2,902, master's €3,950, PhD €398); proof of funds €877.50/month from 1 August 2026; EEF fee PKR 30,000 in Pakistan (2026/27); Campus France Pakistan window 1 October–18 November 2026; Eiffel €1,200/month master's, €2,000–€2,100/month doctoral (2026). Confirm current figures on campusfrance.org before applying.