Scholarship Award Ceremony and Pre-Departure Session 2016

The Embassy of France in India, through French Institute (Institut français en Inde) and Campus France, is committed to increasing Indian students’ mobility to France. Last year several thousand students left from India to pursue higher education in France.

Every year a Pre-Departure Orientation Session is organized for students pursuing higher education in France in the coming academic year, along with a scholarship award ceremony.

The program of this half-day ceremony covers various aspects relevant to those leaving for France, from administrative procedures to be completed on their arrival in France to teaching methods used in French educational institutions, as well as inter-cultural aspects and other relevant matters such as the French Government Scholarship holders.

The Embassy’s main aim is to give future France alumni the keys to becoming a complete success story in France and everywhere.

The French Scholarship Award Ceremony and Pre-Departure Session for these students will take place in 10 cities across India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

HYDERABAD / Friday 1st July
4.30 pm – 8.00 pm at Alliance Française de Hyderabad

BENGALURU / Monday 4th July
4.30 pm – 8.00pm at Alliance Française de Bangalore

France, which ranks third among the world’s most innovative countries, is also among the top three most popular destinations in the world among international students.

Studying in France is a unique experience. France has centuries’ old universities that offer excellent education in art, innovation, science and technology, and more. France’s higher education and research institutions rank among the world’s best, such as the École Normale Superieure (ENS Paris) École Polytechnique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université Paris-Sorbonne, HEC, INSEAD and many others. This explains why France ranks as one of the world’s most preferred destinations for international students. In 2015, the QS team voted Paris the “best international student city” for the third year in a row.

Students from India and the world over can study in these institutions either in English or French medium. Students opting for programs taught in French at state universities in France get the benefit of tuition-fee waiver like any other French citizen.

Last year, several thousand Indian students opted for higher education in France, a jump of 50% over the past five years, a number that is increasing every year.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France last April, 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 January 2016.

This year, the Embassy has offered nearly 400 scholarships under its flagship “Charpak” programme for students pursuing Master’s degrees, exchange semesters and research internships. French companies, such as MBDA, 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.

Facilitating visas

In in a major development in May 2012, 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 and acquire work experience in France.

Furthermore, the Embassy of France in India decided to facilitate travel to France for all Indian citizens who have studied in France. Since July 2013, all Indian citizens that have graduated from a French higher education institution and are 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 now being processed as a matter of priority. Campus France will establish partnerships with various Indian higher education institutions in order to accelerate exchanges with French institutions and for their alumni.

France Alumni, a network of former foreign students in France

Through its France Alumni events and services, the Embassy ensures that the partnership between India and France continues. For this purpose, it organizes an Enterprises-Alumni job fair, which provides alumni who have studied or worked in France the opportunity to meet potential employers looking for skilled employees for their company. The last such fair was organized in the capital on February 19, 2016, where many companies participated and around 200 jobs were showcased. More than one thousand India-based French companies, such as Cap Gemini, Safran, Saint-Gobain, Renault, Orange, etc., are success stories illustrating this partnership between France and India

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 have studied in French higher education institutes. Every year, 100,000 foreign students graduate from the French education system. France Alumni informs those who have completed their higher education of job opportunities and allows them to stay networked, adding value to their stay in France with 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/

More about Campus France

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 ten Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, 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.