France · Study and work abroad

France:
paid internships
built into your degree.

Most French Masters include a mandatory paid internship of four to six months at EUR 600 to 1,500 a month, which pays back a real share of your tuition. After graduation the APS visa gives two years to find a job, then a clear five-year path to permanent residence.

Paid
internships
mandatory
2 yrs
APS visa
after graduation
5 yrs
to PR
(carte de resident)
Shine Abhay Sreedhar, a Cokonet Overseas student, studying in France
Visa approvedStudy in France
6 + 6 monthsStudy + paid internship
Booking September 2026
Direct to our France desk

Skip the form. Talk to a senior who has placed Kerala students in France.

+91 9072 966140
Why France

Four reasons Kerala families pick France.

Low tuition, a paid internship inside the degree, and two years to find work after it.

South Indian intern working in a French company officePaid internship in the degree

EUR 600–1,500 a month

French Masters require a stage of four to six months, and by law anything over two months is paid.

Indian professional walking on a Parisian boulevardAPS post-study visa

Two years, automatic

Two years after graduation to find a job, then a work residence permit and a five-year path to PR.

Historic French public university courtyardPublic university tuition

EUR 2,770 a year

The subsidised Masters rate for non-EU students at public universities. Grandes Ecoles cost more.

International students in a French business school seminarEnglish-taught programmes

1,400+ Masters in English

Strongest in business and engineering. French helps daily life but is not required to study.

The full journey

From Kerala to a French campus, step by step.

Campus France runs the application. Plan backwards from the September intake.

1

Profile review and programme selection

2 to 3 weeks

Public university for low tuition, Grande Ecole for a premium business or engineering brand, or a specialised institute. English-taught or French-taught, where B2 is required for the latter.

2

Campus France application

4 to 6 weeks

Campus France is the centralised platform for Indian students. SOP, transcripts, LORs and English or French proof, submitted to several universities in parallel.

3

Offer and visa application

4 to 8 weeks

Acceptance letter from your chosen institution, then the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) at VFS with financial proof of EUR 615 a month plus accommodation.

4

Pre-departure and arrival

2 to 4 weeks

OFII validation within 90 days of landing to confirm residence, CAF housing allowance application, and CPAM health cover enrolment. We walk you through all three.

5

Internship placement

Mid-programme

Most universities help place students into the mandatory stage. Our alumni network adds leads, especially in Paris and Lyon.

University network

Where our students go.

Public universities for low tuition, Grandes Ecoles and specialised institutes for brand and placement.

Sorbonne and Paris universities campus

Sorbonne and Paris universities

PublicCapital campuses
Universite de Lyon campus

Universite de Lyon

PublicSecond city
Universite de Toulouse campus

Universite de Toulouse

PublicAerospace hub
Grenoble INP campus

Grenoble INP

EngineeringAlpine campus
Universite de Lille campus

Universite de Lille

PublicNorth France
Universite de Bordeaux campus

Universite de Bordeaux

PublicWest coast
Universite Cote d'Azur campus

Universite Cote d'Azur

PublicMediterranean
Universite de Strasbourg campus

Universite de Strasbourg

PublicGerman border

Exact partner list shared on the counsellor call once your profile is reviewed. We shortlist on programme fit, internship placement record and city cost of living rather than rankings alone. Campus imagery is indicative.

How France pays you back

Study for six months. Get paid for the next six.

Abhay's route, start to settled. This is the rule that makes France add up.

Student arriving in France with a suitcase
Step 1 · September

He lands

VLS-TS visa validated with OFII inside 90 days. CAF housing help and CPAM health cover start.

Visa EUR 99
Student graduating from a French Masters
Step 2 · Six months in

He studies

English-taught Masters at a public university, with the subsidised non-EU tuition rate.

EUR 2,770 a year
Student on a paid internship in a French company
Step 3 · The stage

He gets paid

The mandatory internship is paid by law. Most students cover their living costs from it.

EUR 600–1,500 a month
Graduate settled in France with his family
Step 4 · After graduation

He settles

APS gives two years to find a job, then a work residence permit. Five years to PR.

2-year APS

Internship pay, APS eligibility and PR timelines depend on your programme, contract and city. French immigration rules change every year or two, and we confirm the ones that apply to your intake on the first counsellor call.

Total cost

What it actually costs.

Honest 2026 numbers for a public university Masters. Paris runs higher than Lyon, Toulouse or Lille.

Tuition, public university MastersThe subsidised non-EU rate, per year.
EUR 2,770/yr
Tuition, Grande Ecole or privateBusiness and engineering schools, per year.
EUR 10,000–30,000
Living costs, 1 yearParis is high; Lyon, Toulouse and Lille are cheaper.
EUR 9,000–13,000
Student visa and OFII validationVLS-TS plus OFII on arrival.
EUR 99
Health insuranceCPAM cover is automatic for students.
₹7,000–8,000
Total, public university Masters
₹20 to 32L2-year Masters at a public university
The paid internship offsets a real share of this. Four to six months at EUR 600 to 1,500 covers most living costs for that period, and education loans from HDFC Credila, Axis, Avanse and ICICI cover the rest.
Frequently asked

France questions Kerala families ask.

Do I need French to study in France? +
Depends on the program. English-taught Masters: no French required for admission, but you need basic French (A2 or B1) for daily life. French-taught Masters: B2 required, typically DELF or DALF certification. Most Cokonet students choose English-taught.
How much do paid internships actually pay? +
By law, internships above 2 months must pay at least EUR 4.35/hour, which works out to EUR 600 per month minimum. Business and engineering internships at large companies often pay EUR 1,000 to 1,500 per month. Internship pays for living expenses for most students.
Public university vs Grande Ecole? +
Public universities (Sorbonne, etc.) cost EUR 2,770/yr and are research-focused. Grandes Ecoles (HEC, INSEAD, ESSEC, Polytechnique) cost EUR 15-30K/yr but have stronger placement networks. Decision depends on career goal and budget.
What is the path to PR? +
Up to 2-year APS post-study + 4 to 5 years on work residence permit = eligible for Carte de Resident (10-year residence card). After 5 years of legal residence + B1 French, eligible for French citizenship.

Comparing France with other options?

See the full 25-country grid with cost, language, and PR timeline side by side.

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