Why France is an Attractive Choice for Indian Students pursuing Career-ready Education

Maud Le Bars is South Asia Area Manager for Omnes Education, one of the leaders in the Higher Education sector in France. With experience of 20 years across 3 continents, including 12 years in HR at the Food and Agricultural Organization (UN), Procter & Gamble, Adecco and 8 years promoting French or European Universities in South Asia, Maud is a Higher Education Specialist.

France, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, is also a premier destination for international students seeking high-quality education and excellent employability prospects. Over 4.2 lakh international students are choosing France for their studies, including (only) 10,000 from India. The objective of France is to raise it to 5 lakh overall and 30,000 from India by 2030. The country's robust education system, combined with its thriving job market, makes it an attractive option for students worldwide.

France has been home to 20 to 25% of the top 100 Masters in Management and Masters in Finance in the world for the past 15 years according to the Financial Times ranking. It is the second country in the world for the number of Field Medalists (the highest recognition in Mathematics) and ranks in the top 5 of the Shanghai University Ranking. It is now well known that in France, one can study science, engineering, management, arts and creativity, or political sciences and be part of one of the top programmes in the world.

A Myriad of Opportunities for young graduates in Europe

But what does it mean in terms of employability after graduation? First, when Indian students come to France, they access the Schengen zone, a territory bigger than India, with some of the biggest economies in the world. The report on the Future of Work in Europe by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey dated from 2020 showed that due to the aging demographic trajectory of Europe and the many changes in the economy, there would be a shortage of talents in the region by 2030. Also, 25 to 40% of the current working population in Europe would need to be reskilled to meet the needs of this changing economy. That means that young profiles that are trained on the latest technologies and methodologies have a real chance to get employed.

Of course, the European governments are taking action to reduce the risk that the ageing population is putting on the future talent pool, but European countries will still need to hire skills beyond their borders. STEM, Management, Health, Creative Industries, Business but also Education profiles will be the most in demand in the region. Indeed, some of my past Indian students have published articles for their research done during their Master's and are now established professors in various business and engineering schools in France.

Attracting most FDIs

Despite foreign direct investments currently declining in Europe, France seems to resist better than its neighbours. A study released by consultancy EY, before the Choose France summit which took place on May 19 at the Versailles Palace, revealed that in 2024, France has been the European country attracting the most Foreign Investment for the sixth consecutive year, ahead of Germany and the UK.

Paris is already ranked as the fourth biggest and most successful tech ecosystem globally by the Global Tech System Index published by consultancy Dealroom. During the AI Action Summit co-presided by France President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10th February 2025, France, a country with a smaller population than Tamil Nadu, announced €109 billion of investment for the private sector in AI. That also means that France needs to graduate from 40,000 to 1 lakh engineers per year by 2030 to fill the roles created.

Two years post study visa in France for Indian Students

For Indian students, the opportunities are aplenty and more accessible than for many other nationalities. They are among the only five nationalities who receive a two-year post-study stay visa after their Master’s degree in France. That’s particularly useful for students interested in building their own venture. In addition, Indian alumni of French Master’s programmes are eligible for a five-year short-stay multiple entry visa for tourism or business purposes in the Schengen zone, which greatly helps their international ventures.

To access all these opportunities, Indian students have to adapt to a few realities though. Whereas Indian universities place their students, outside of India no one does it in a systematic way. In France, Indian students are in competition with French students who have done up to five internships and are employable from day one. Indian students are very smart, competitive and hardworking, so, as per my experience, as long as they understand the importance of participating in the many career development events organized by their schools, they do find great opportunities.

A Strong Value Proposition & High Employment rates

When comparing costs and outcomes, the value proposition remains strong. Top Indian institutions may cost similarly and offer relatively assured placements, with average starting salaries of INR 23 - 30 lakh. In comparison, France’s Grandes Écoles report a 96% employment rate within six months of graduation, with starting salaries beginning at INR 36 lakh on average.

And while knowledge of French is not required to study in France, it can significantly boost career opportunities. French is spoken as a first or second language in 54 countries and can open additional doors for international roles, particularly in Africa, Europe, and parts of Canada. Acquiring this skill during one’s studies can pay dividends for decades to come. France offers not only a top-tier education but a gateway to European careers and beyond. For Indian students with a global mindset, it is a destination full of opportunity, provided they are ready to embrace the challenge.