France is undoubtedly one of the most popular countries for foreign students. The country’s universities were renowned worldwide for their quality, and their education was cheap, so thousands of students from across the globe came each year to study there. That’s about to change, though, as that image may soon be reversed.

From 2026/27, tuition fees for the majority of students from outside the European Union will be much higher in France, with a step-up that has already caused complaints from universities and groups of education providers throughout the country. The French government says that the decision is part of its overall ‘Choose France for Higher Education’ initiative, which seeks to enhance the country’s status in education worldwide. But many say that the policy could have the opposite effect of making France less attractive to talented students who can’t afford the increased price.

What is changing, and what is the nature and extent of the change?

The new policy applies to non-EU students who will be taken on by the public universities of France, and these will ask for the payment of:

€2,895 per year for bachelor’s degrees

Master’s tuition is €3,941 per year

Until now, Universities were free to waive these higher fees, and any prospective student could pay their normal tuition fees, which are lower for both domestic and EU students, at approximately €178 per year for Bachelor’s courses and €254 per year for Master’s courses.

Generally, these exemptions were selected at universities as they felt that international education should be available to all students and not just those with a particular financial background.

The French government, however, wishes to change this: it now wants higher fees to be the rule, not the exception. French Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste made it clear when he said: The old adage ‘differentiated fees are now the rule and exemption the exception’ seems more relevant than ever. It’s a statement that encapsulates a fundamental change in the philosophy of higher education in France.

The government’s contention is that France is still more affordable than other popular study abroad countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, or Australia. The extra income may also be used to enhance students’ services and boost universities, officials state. Meanwhile, France hopes to bring in more foreign students in the following strategic areas:

Digital Technologies

Biotechnology

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Quantum computing

Accommodating 500,000 international students by 2027 is an ambitious target set by the country. To back-up this plan, the government claims scholarships will remain. But only a few students will get the benefits. It is reported that 60% of the scholarships will be allocated to priority fields related to innovation and technology, and a maximum of 10% will be waived for students. In fact, France is gradually moving towards a more focused approach to the internationalization of education- a more focused approach that emphasizes the economic and strategic value. The universities are not happy. French universities have been responding with great reaction to the announcement, through the association France universities. Money is not the only issue; it’s also the question of identity, independence, and the value of education.