Top Courses to Study abroad in France
5000+
3,00,000+
International Students study in the U.K. every year
2 Yrs PSWV
Scholarships
Apply For Upcoming Intake
When you think of France, you might picture the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, or the runways of Paris Fashion Week. Beyond its iconic culture, France is also one of Europe’s strongest education destinations. It combines centuries of academic tradition with research at the cutting edge of science, business and technology.
At Eleevate Overseas, students often ask us: What are the best courses to study in France for international students? Whether you want to lead a luxury brand, design the next generation of aircraft, or build AI systems, France has a path for you. With a large and growing range of English-taught programmes, you no longer need to be fluent in French to earn a world-class degree.
Key Facts: Academic Excellence in France
- Global Rankings: France is the 8th best-represented country in the QS World University Rankings 2026 top 100. Université Paris-Saclay ranks 71st and Sorbonne University 72nd. (Source: Campus France)
- Research Power: Université Paris-Saclay ranks 13th in the world in the 2026 Shanghai Ranking, first in France and first in continental Europe. (Source: Université Paris-Saclay)
- Business Leadership: 26 of the 100 business schools in the Financial Times 2025 European ranking are French, including six of the top 10. (Source: Campus France)
- English-Taught Options: More than 1,600 programmes are taught fully or partly in English. (Source: Campus France) Most of them are at master’s level. (Source: Campus France)
Premier Academic Disciplines in France
Here is a closer look at France’s top academic fields, to help you match your passion with the right path.
- Business, Management & Finance
France leads European business education. In the Financial Times 2025 European Business School Ranking, INSEAD was first for the second year running and HEC Paris came second. (Source: Campus France) INSEAD also ranks 4th in the world for Business & Management Studies in the QS 2026 subject rankings. (Source: QS via PR Newswire)
- Why choose this path? English-taught Masters in Management, MSc Finance and MBA programmes lead to global careers. HEC Paris’s MBA rose to 9th worldwide in the FT Global MBA Rankings 2025. (Source: HEC Paris)
- Luxury Brand Management & Fashion
Paris is the home of haute couture and of the world’s largest luxury groups, including LVMH, Kering, Hermès and Chanel. The Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) has been ranked No. 1 worldwide for fashion business programmes and No. 2 for fashion design programmes (graduate level) by The Business of Fashion. (Source: IFM)
- Why choose this path? You learn where the industry actually operates, with access to Paris Fashion Week, luxury houses and internships you can’t get anywhere else.
- Aerospace & Engineering
Toulouse is Europe’s leading city for both aeronautics and space activities. Its aerospace sector employs more than 90,000 people across about 600 organisations. (Source: ISAE-SUPAERO) ISAE-SUPAERO, founded in 1909, was the world’s first dedicated aerospace engineering institute. (Source: Wikipedia)
- Why choose this path? ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC together offer 21 programmes through one application platform. (Source: TSAAE) Many of these programmes are taught entirely in English. (Source: ENAC) Beyond aerospace, engineering Grandes Écoles such as École Polytechnique are strong in energy, automotive and civil engineering.
- Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
France is investing heavily in AI education. The government has funded nine AI research and training clusters with €360 million under its France 2030 plan. President Macron has set a goal of raising the number of people trained in AI each year from 40,000 to 100,000 by 2030. (Source: DataIA)
- Why choose this path? One of these clusters, Hi! PARIS, run by Institut Polytechnique de Paris and HEC Paris, received €70 million to build a world-class AI hub. (Source: IP Paris) Tuition is far lower than in the US, and the curriculum is rigorous.
- Mathematics & Physical Sciences
France has one of the world’s strongest traditions in mathematics. In the 2025 Shanghai subject rankings, Université Paris-Saclay ranked 2nd in the world for Mathematics and 6th for Physics. (Source: ShanghaiRanking) The university counts twelve Fields Medallists, including Hong Wang (July 2026), and alumni who won both the 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Economics. (Source: Université Paris-Saclay)
- Why choose this path? This is an excellent route into quantitative finance, research and PhD programmes.
- Politics, International Relations & Law
Sciences Po ranks 3rd in the world for Politics & International Studies in the QS 2026 subject rankings. (Source: QS via PR Newswire) Paris hosts UNESCO and the OECD, and Strasbourg is home to the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
- Why choose this path? Traditional French law degrees are taught in French. However, English-taught master’s programmes in international relations, public policy, European law and human rights are widely available.
- Culinary Arts, Hospitality & Wine
French cuisine is so influential that UNESCO added the gastronomic meal of the French to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010. (Source: UNESCO)
- Why choose this path? You can train at renowned institutions like Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon. You can also study wine business in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.
- Fine Arts, Design & Architecture
France has more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Source: Wikipedia) It is a natural home for artists, designers and architects.
- Why choose this path? France’s 20 national schools of architecture (ENSA) teach entirely in French and require at least B2 level. (Source: Campus France) English-taught design programmes are mainly offered at private art and design schools.
A Note on Medicine
France offers no English-taught medical degree. Entry is through the French-taught PASS or L.AS first year, which requires C1-level French and is highly selective: only about 30% of students are admitted to the second year of medicine. (Source: Campus France) India’s NMC also requires foreign medical degrees to be taught in English. (Source: NMC)
Quick Reference: Course & Career Matcher
| Top Courses | Best Regions/Cities | Key Career Prospects | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business & Finance | Paris, Lyon, Lille | Consultant, Financial Analyst, Product Manager | Future business leaders and finance professionals |
| Luxury & Fashion | Paris, Lyon | Brand Manager, Merchandiser, Creative Director | Aspiring designers and luxury marketers |
| Aerospace & Engineering | Toulouse, Paris-Saclay, Grenoble | Aerospace Engineer, Systems Engineer, R&D Lead | Innovators in aviation, space and energy |
| Data Science & AI | Paris, Saclay, Grenoble, Nice | AI Engineer, Data Scientist, ML Researcher | Tech enthusiasts targeting high-growth sectors |
| Politics & IR | Paris, Strasbourg | Policy Analyst, Diplomat, NGO Manager | Future policymakers and global leaders |
| Culinary & Hospitality | Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux | Chef, Hotel Manager, Wine Business Manager | Food, wine and hospitality enthusiasts |
The Eleevate Advantage for Your Course Selection
Choosing the right course is just the beginning. The Études en France platform, school-specific admission tests, Campus France interviews and the visa process can feel overwhelming. Let Eleevate Overseas handle the heavy lifting so your application stands out. Our expert counsellors match your career goals with the right French university or Grande École, help you build a standout application, and guide you through to your France student visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which degree courses are best to study in France?
Top choices include Business & Management, Luxury & Fashion, Aerospace Engineering, Data Science & AI, International Relations and Culinary Arts. France is especially strong in business, with six of Europe's top 10 business schools in the FT 2025 ranking. (Source: Campus France)
2. Can I study medicine in France in English?
No. Medicine in France is taught only in French and requires C1-level French. (Source: Campus France).
3. Are there English-taught Master's programmes in France?
Yes. More than 1,600 programmes are taught fully or partly in English, most of them at master's level. (Source: Campus France Taught in English catalogue) Popular fields include Business, Engineering, Data Science and International Relations.
4. Is France a good destination for engineering students?
Absolutely, especially in aerospace. Toulouse is Europe's aerospace capital and hosts Airbus's headquarters, and schools like ISAE-SUPAERO offer English-taught programmes. (Source: ISAE-SUPAERO)
5. Do I need to know French to study top courses in France?
Not for English-taught programmes. Architecture and medicine, however, are taught in French. (Source: Campus France) Learning basic French will also greatly improve your daily life and job prospects.
6. Are public universities in France better than private schools?
Both are excellent. Public universities are far more affordable, at €2,902 a year for a bachelor's and €3,950 for a master's in 2026–27. Fee exemptions for non-EU students are now capped at 30% of those students per university, falling to 20% by 2028. (Sources: Service-Public.fr · French Ministry of Higher Education) Grandes Écoles and private business schools charge higher fees but offer powerful industry networks.
