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Cost of a year
What will a year really cost?
From the country guide: tuition, living costs and the visa fee, plus the money you must show. The part you lose if the visa is refused is marked.
In short: a first year in France costs about EUR 11,400 to 23,200: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 10,500 before it is decided.
Last checked: 24 September 2026, against the official sources linked below.
A year in France
| In EUR as published | In EUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one year | EUR 2,902 to 3,950 | EUR 2,900 to 3,950 Public university, international student |
| Living costs, twelve months | EUR 8,400 to 19,200 | EUR 8,400 to 19,200 |
| Visa or permit feeNot refunded if the visa is refused | EUR 99 | EUR 99 |
| First year, all in | EUR 11,400 to 23,250 | |
| Money you must show for the visa | EUR 10,530 | EUR 10,530 Held in your account before you apply; most of it then pays your living costs |
Worth knowing. Fee waivers for non-EU students are now capped at 30% of a university's foreign students, so budget for EUR 2,902 or EUR 3,950 a year.
The full France guide, with every source →
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France: what a year costs next to
Tuition, living costs and the visa fee side by side, in your currency.
Leaves out flights, deposits and insurance unless the guide includes them. Currency: Rates by Exchange Rate API, 13 November 2026.
Questions
How much does it cost to study in France for a year?
a first year in France costs about EUR 11,400 to 23,200: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 10,500 before it is decided.
How much money do I need to show for a student visa in France?
EUR 10,530 a year (about EUR 10,500), from the official source in the France guide.