France will require most non-EU students to pay higher tuition fees from the 2026-27 academic year, as part of a policy shift aimed at reshaping international student recruitment, according to The PIE News.
Under the new rule, international students from outside the European Union will be charged €2,895 per year for bachelor’s programmes and €3,941 for master’s degrees. The move ends the flexibility universities previously had to waive higher fees and charge reduced rates.
Higher education minister Philippe Baptiste said the change marks a shift in policy. He said, “differentiated fees are now the rule, exemption is the exception”.
Universities warn of impact on access and autonomy
The reform limits fee exemptions to a small share of students, with up to 10% eligible for waivers. The government also plans to direct 60% of scholarships towards priority fields such as digital technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum studies and biotechnology.
The changes are expected to affect students planning to apply for the 2026-27 intake, many of whom may already be in the application process.
The policy has drawn criticism from France Universités, which said the move could affect access and institutional independence, PIE News reported. The organisation said, “At first sight, the proposed measures to generalise the application of differentiated fees appear to be in contradiction with the humanistic values of hospitality and openness that universities extend to students from around the world.”
It added that applying higher fees to most non-EU students “will not limit the deterrence effect” and warned of increased administrative burden due to scholarship processes.
