CHOOSE FRANCE TOUR 2023: Education fairs across India in October

Students from India looking to study abroad will have an excellent opportunity to explore their options for studying in France during the “Choose France Tour 2023”, a series of education fairs to be held in India from 8^th to 15^th October, 2023.

A French government initiative, the Choose France Tour will present Indian students, especially high-school graduates, with various prospects for pursuing advanced studies in France, and availing of scholarships at top French institutes. Students will have a chance to get first-hand information from representatives of 48 leading universities, Grandes Ecoles, and colleges about the programmes they can attend. These programmes span a wide range of fields, including management, engineering, hospitality, humanities, arts, architecture, and design. The Choose France Tour 2023 will also be an opportunity for Indian and French educators and academicians to explore potential collaboration.

The back-to-back education fairs are being organized by l’Institut Français en Inde (French Institute in India), the educational, cultural, and scientific wing of the Embassy of France in India, in collaboration with Campus France, the French government sector that provides support and counselling to international students seeking to pursue higher studies in the country. Students will be able to receive free counselling sessions from the campus France staff and information regarding scholarships, visa opportunities and student life in France.

The Alliance Française, too, will participate to give crucial information and guidance to young students about the relevance of learning the French language, both in France and India.

Welcoming the upcoming education fairs, Mr Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, said, “Choose France Tour 2023 will bring together the amazing academic talent of Indian students, and France’s world-class institutes of learning. President Macron announced an ambitious goal of welcoming 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030. This decision is testament to our unshakable belief in the transformative influence of education. By opening our academic institutions to Indian minds, we are not only enriching our classrooms with diverse perspectives but also laying the foundation for cultural comprehension and lifelong friendship between our two nations.”

Elaborating on France’s measures to boost student mobility from India, Mr Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Country Director of L’Institut Français en Inde / the French Institute in India, said: “France and India have an agreement for the Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications, which eases admissions in each other’s institutions. In addition to boosting student exchanges, the fairs will help Indian students explore practical ways for seeking job opportunities in France after graduating there.”

France, celebrated as a hub of cultural, academic, and scientific excellence, is unsurprisingly one of the world’s leading destinations for overseas education. The French government has launched a series of strategic initiatives to attract young Indian scholars to France for their higher education. These measures, though not exhaustive, include significant tuition subsidies at public universities, robust support systems such as housing assistance and social benefits, enticing scholarship offers, and an expansive selection of over 1,600 programmes delivered entirely in English. Additionally, international classes will be created within universities in order to admit non-francophone students in standard French bachelor programmes after one year of training. Their commitment to strengthening academic ties is further evident with the establishment of over 600 partnerships between French and Indian institutions. Furthermore, students are supported by favourable employment policies during their studies and upon graduation.

The Choose France Tour presents a unique gateway for aspiring students to delve deep into the world of French education. Amplifying the experience, the Indian alumni who graduated from French institutions will be present to help participants navigate through the nuances of studying abroad. Their first-hand insights and candid reflections on life and education in France will offer attendees a clear and genuine perspective, ensuring they are well-prepared for their academic journey.

Academic pursuits apart, Indian students in France can visit over 40,000 monuments and protected sites, 41 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 8,000 museums, and close to 500 festivals – not to mention enjoy culinary delights and various sporting events.

Participating institutes:

Management and Business: Burgundy School of Business, EM Strasbourg Business School, ESSEC Business School, TBS Education, Grenoble Ecole De Management, EDHEC BUSINESS SCHOOL, ESSCA School of Management, EXCELIA, KEDGE Business School, South Champagne Business School – Y SCHOOLS, ESDES – Business school of University Catholic of Lyon, IESEG School of Management, EM Normandie Business School, ICD Business School, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, Montpellier Business School, NEOMA Business School, ICN Business School, Skema Business School, ESCE, EM Lyon, Audencia Business School

Engineering: IMT ATLANTIQUE, CENTRALE NANTES, JUNIA HEI, ISEN Grande école d’ingénieurs, IPSA – Graduate School of Engineering specialized in Air, Space and Sustainable Mobility, IMT Nord Europe, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA TOULOUSE, ISEP, EURECOM, Centrale Méditerranée, ESTP – École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l’Industrie, CESI Graduate School of Engineering, De Vinci Higher Education, ESIGELEC, ISAE-SUPAERO, École Polytechnique

Public universities : Université de Lille, IAE Aix Marseille, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, Université Grenoble Alpes, Sciences Po

Art and Design : Ecole Conte, Ecole Supérieure de la Production de la Mode et du Luxe – ESPML ; EICAR

Gastronomy and Hospitality: Ecole Ducasse, TFHST

French Language School: Cavilam

Choose France Tour’s partners: Campus France, France Alumni, Alliance Française in India, ICICI Bank