New Delhi, 3rd July 2015
The Embassy of France, through Campus France, invests considerable effort in enhancing student mobility towards France. This year, over 300 students from Delhi-NCR are leaving for higher education in France for the academic year 2015-2016.
The French Scholarship Award Ceremony and Pre-Departure Session for these students were inaugurated by H.E. Mr François Richier, Ambassador of France to India on Friday, 3rd July 2015 at the Embassy of France.
On the agenda, there was: announcement of the French Embassy in India scholarship holders, practical advice about daily life in France, information on consular procedures, and awareness on learning French. These meetings were both interactive and instructive.
The French higher education system, long recognised for its quality, is among the top three most popular destinations in the world among international students. With its famous “Grandes Ecoles” and reputed universities, its renowned management and business schools, France is at the educational heart of Europe. In 2014, the QS team voted Paris the “best international student city” for the second year in a row.
Last year, over 3000 Indian students opted for higher education in France, a jump of 50% over the past five years. The vast majority of these students attend the over 800 courses taught in English in France, a number that is increasing every year.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, both countries agreed on allowing Indian students to stay in France for two years, one for the period of studies and one after completion of their course for the purpose of acquiring professional experience, with a reciprocal arrangement for French students in India. Prime Minister Modi said on the occasion, "Indian youth, who come to France to study and want to continue here for some time after studies, can do that now." This agreement will further bolster the Indo-French relationship in education, as urged by President François Hollande during his State visit to India in February 2013.
This year, the Embassy has offered more than 300 scholarships under its flagship “Charpak” programme for Master’s degrees, exchange semesters and research internships. French companies, such as Roquette, MBDA and Thalès, also offer scholarships to Indian students, including tuition fee waivers and a monthly stipend.
This has also resulted in measures to facilitate the issuance of visas for Indian students and Indian alumni, as well as an increased number of scholarships offered by the Embassy of France and its corporate partners.
- In May 2012, in a major development, French authorities decided to ease considerably the conditions for obtaining a work visa after studies completed in France. This allowed a large number of students graduating from French business and engineering schools to extend their stay for acquiring work experience in France.
- Furthermore, Ambassador François Richier decided to facilitate travel to France for all Indian citizens who have studied in France. Since July 2013, all Indian citizens who have graduated from a French higher education institution subsequently applying for a tourist or business visa for a trip to France, are being granted a visa with a long validity period – up to five years if the studies in France were at the Master’s level or higher.
- In parallel, the Embassy of France in India has simplified visa procedures for Indian students wishing to study in France. Special attention is given to students living far from any French Consulate or “Campus France” office (governmental agency promoting French higher education) to simplify and expedite the visa procedure. Also, visa applications by Indian faculties and officials are being processed as a matter of priority. Campus France will establish partnerships with various Indian higher education institutions in order to accelerate the procedures for exchanges with French institutions and for their alumni.
France Alumni was created at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development by Campus France to be an efficient digital multilingual platform to unite, inform and guide foreign students who studied in French higher education institutes. Every year, 100,000 foreign students graduate in the French education system. France Alumni informs those who have completed their higher education of job opportunities and allows them to stay networked, thus valorising their stay in France in a professional context.
In order to offer the right information at the right time, resources related to education courses in France, sections dedicated to major French companies, job offers and themed newsletters are updated on a regular basis.
The website also informs them about French business, economic and cultural life in its magazine section, as well as the most interesting events for alumni.
France Alumni is a dedicated platform for former foreign students who wish to enhance their experience by registering in a wide French network.
http://www.francealumni.fr/en/
Campus France is the governmental agency promoting French higher education, functioning under the aegis of the Embassy of France in India. It currently has offices in nine Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.
Any Indian student can schedule a meeting with a Campus France counsellor, who provides all documentation and advice on studies in France. The Campus France counsellor also contacts the French institutions the student is interested in, to offer their application, unless the student is already in contact with them. Campus France organizes direct meetings between French academies and Indian students in various Indian cities on a biannual basis.