France has announced a major increase in tuition fees for most non-European Union students beginning from the 2026–27 academic year, signalling a significant shift in the country’s international higher education policy.
Under the new framework, non-EU students will pay €2,895 annually for bachelor’s degree programmes and €3,941 for master’s degrees. The policy also ends the broad flexibility previously enjoyed by universities to waive or reduce fees for international students, replacing it with a stricter national system.
French Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste described the reform as a deliberate policy direction, declaring that “differentiated fees are now the rule, exemption is the exception.”
According to the new guidelines, universities will only be allowed to grant fee exemptions to a maximum of 10 per cent of international students.
The French government also revealed plans to concentrate about 60 per cent of scholarships in strategic disciplines such as artificial intelligence, quantum science, digital technology and biotechnology, reflecting its push to prioritise fields linked to future economic growth and innovation.
However, the decision has sparked criticism within France’s higher education sector. France Universités, a body representing universities, warned that the new measures could undermine the country’s long-standing reputation for openness and accessibility to international students.
The organisation argued that the policy appears inconsistent with France’s tradition of welcoming students from across the world and cautioned that higher fees may discourage international enrolment rather than strengthen the sector.
It also raised concerns about the administrative burden universities may face in managing expanded scholarship systems under the revised framework.
The changes are expected to impact thousands of prospective international students preparing for admission into French institutions for the 2026–27 academic session, including applicants already undergoing admission processes.
The policy marks a broader move by France toward tighter financial regulation of international education while maintaining targeted support for students in high-priority academic and technological fields.