Foreign students in higher education in France 2023, by degree course

In 2023, Business, Management, Sales, and Accounting were the fields of study with the highest proportion of international students. Foreign students in these degree courses represented more than 20 percent of students, followed by university degrees, 12.9 percent of which were taken by international students. 

Who are the international students in France?

France attracted many international students who were willing to attend some of its business and engineering schools and universities. The majority of them come from outside the European Union (EU). Students from Africa and Asia are the most populous among foreign students in higher education institutions in France. However, France is also part of the Erasmus program, welcoming young people from other European countries. France was for example the second most popular destination among Italian students.

And where do the French studying abroad go?

If France is a host country for international students, it appears the French do study abroad too. In 2018, a majority of French students declared that they were willing to do their studies in a foreign country. The ones who take the plunge mainly choose Europe as their destination. Thus, France was the second most common European Union country of domicile for international students in the United Kingdom