Quick answer: Paris is one of the world’s largest student cities, with more than 600,000 students and dozens of public universities and grandes écoles. Public-university tuition is just €170–€2,770 per year depending on level and nationality. Monthly student budget: €1,200–€1,700.
Top universities in Paris
Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, École Polytechnique, ENS Paris, HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP Business School, Sciences Po, EHESS. Paris ranks among the top three student cities globally for academic reputation.
Tuition and fees
Public universities: €170/year for EU bachelor’s, €2,770/year for non-EU. Master’s: €243/€3,770. Grandes écoles charge €10,000–€20,000 with significant scholarship support (Eiffel, Erasmus+, école-specific).
Cost of living in Paris (2026)
Rent: €700–€1,000 for a chambre in shared housing, €900–€1,400 for a studio. Food: €280–€400. Navigo Imagine R transport pass: about €377/year for students under 26. Total monthly budget: €1,200–€1,700.
Student life
The Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the 11th arrondissement remain student favourites. CROUS housing is heavily subsidised but oversubscribed — apply early. Paris’s free museum days for under-26s and student tarifs make culture genuinely accessible.
FAQ
Do I need French? Most undergraduate programmes require French. Master’s offers many English-taught options at grandes écoles and selected public universities.