France Forces Non-EU Students Pay €2895 From 2026-27 Now
France Forces Non-EU Students Pay €2,895 Bachelor €3,941 Master From 2026-27
TODAY 14 September 2026 - Paris - French Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste confirms: "Differentiated fees are now the rule, exemption is the exception."
New Mandatory Fees From September 2026
| Level | EU Students Pay | Non-EU Must Pay Now 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | €178/year | €2,895/year (€2,902 official decree) - 16x increase |
| Master | €254/year | €3,941/year (€3,950 official) - 15x increase |
| PhD | €398/year | €398 same - no differentiated fees for doctorate |
Since 2019 universities could waive higher fees - majority charged base rate €178/€254. From 21 April 2026 announcement, universities no longer have choice.
Exemption Limits Tightened
- 2026-27 academic year: max 30% of non-EU students can be exempted per university
- 2027-28: max 25%
- Long-term target: max 20% only - plus scholarship holders and hardship cases only 10% truly exempted
- 60% of scholarships reserved for priority fields: digital, AI, quantum, biotech, health, environment, energy, space, food, IT
- Current students before decree keep exemption until end of cycle if staying same institution same level
- Students who got exemption before 21 May 2026 keep benefit
Impact
France Universités criticises: "In contradiction with humanistic values of hospitality and openness - will deter students." ICEF Monitor: comes middle of application cycle for Sept 2026 intake - confusion for applicants and institutions. University of Bordeaux confirms 2,902€ bachelor 3,950€ master for 2026-27.
Source: Service-Public.fr, ICEF Monitor, Economic Times, Bordeaux University TODAY 14 Sept 2026
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