Foreign student fee hikes in France trigger backlash

"The “Choose France for Higher Education” scheme, initially announced last month, aims to remove an opt out system that French universities often used to keep non-EU students' fees the same as their EU counterparts. As a result, the vast majority of non-EU students heading to France for the 2026/27 academic year must pay annual tuition fees of 2,895 ($3,391) for a bachelor's programme and 3,941 for a master's degree. That's a hike of 16 times the previous prices and the move is expected to net universities an extra 250 million a year."

"“The proposal represents an alarming step regarding the commitment to equitable access to higher education. By significantly increasing tuition fees for non-EU students, the French government risks institutionalising a system in which access to education is increasingly determined by nationality and financial capacity,” read a statement from the European Students Union and the Federation of General Student Associations in France."

"“Given the state of our public finances, tuition-free education eliminates the only real option for funding competitive salaries for teaching and research staff. Who is aware that in France, today, young lecturers, having accumulated ten years of higher education plus a few years as a postdoc, are faced with a gross annual salary of 30,000, while the be"

France plans to increase tuition fees paid by international non-EU students through the “Choose France for Higher Education” scheme. The plan removes an opt-out system that kept non-EU fees equal to EU fees at many universities. For the 2026/27 academic year, most non-EU students will pay 2,895 annually for bachelor’s programmes and 3,941 for master’s degrees. The increase is described as 16 times the previous prices and is expected to generate an additional 250 million per year for universities. Student groups warn the change risks tying access to nationality and financial capacity. Economists argue tuition-free education limits funding for competitive salaries for teaching and research staff amid public finance constraints.

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