The President of the Republic explains the strategy of attractiveness of international students in the context of the great debate

Asked by the President of the University of Evry about the ongoing reform of tuition fees at the university, the President of the Republic responded by placing it in the overall context of the attractiveness of France as a educational and academic destination.

He recalled the balance on which the introduction of differentiated registration fees for non-EU students is based:
 

1.  To give universities the possibility of collecting registration fees from non-EU students, while confining them to a level much lower than other major host countries for international students;
    
2. Accompany the most deserving students, with Campus France, by giving them scholarships to guarantee their access to French higher education.

The President of the Republic recalled his commitment to the universalist vocation of French universities, which can not be thought of at the expense of the quality of hospitality and academic excellence.

Faced with other countries that charge tuition fees much higher than those of French institutions, the President of the Republic considered that it will be fundamental:

• to use "proportionately and measuredly" the budgets allocated to improve the conditions of study and reception of international students;
• to ensure that the most deserving students can be accompanied by Campus France with a scholarship;
• to develop partnerships to open university and undergraduate programs in the countries of origin.  

The attractiveness strategy for international students was launched on 19 November 2019 by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at the opening of the Rencontres Campus France. It is based on six major measures:

1. Simplify and harmonize the visa policy;
2. Double teaching in English and French as a foreign language (FLE) courses;
3. Create a label "Welcome to France" guaranteeing the quality of the reception of international students in French institutions;
4. Introduce differentiated registration fees while guaranteeing a tripling of the exemption scholarships for international students;
5. Develop the presence of French institutions abroad;
6. Launch a global communication campaign.