Thousands come each year to pursue their higher studies in French universities and schools, but in recent years, you have had to pay more to study in France. A sixteen-fold increase in registration fees for a bachelor’s degree, which rises to 2,895 euros compared to 178 euros previously, and even more for a master’s degree, to 3,941 euros compared to 254 euros for European Union nationals. French universities, which are autonomous, have the possibility of applying differentiated registration fees for extra-community foreigners, that is to say those who do not come from a country of the European Union. In fact, those who are most affected are students from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, the most numerous of whom choose France for their university studies.
As part of the “Welcome to France “, an increase in registration fees for certain foreign students is planned. Launched in 2019, this system makes it possible to apply differentiated fees depending on the origin of the students. University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne is one of ten French establishments having decided to implement this measure, a decision taken five months ago and which does not go down well with part of the university community.
The president of the university, Christine Neau-Leduc, explains the reasons for this increase: “ Some of our students will contribute to financing our university next year, more than they are doing this year. For budgetary reasons, we are obliged to increase these rights. These rights are set by a 2019 decree. We do not choose the amount that is applied. It was the government which set the amount. »
At the Sorbonne, not all foreign students are affected by this increase. Those coming from member countries of theEuropean Union as well as around forty others, considered by the UN to be less advanced, are exempt. On the other hand, students from Egypt, Algeria or Moroccolike Rhania, in the second year of a degree in political science, will have to pay these new fees. HAS” If I decide to continue my master’s degree in Paris 1, I will have to pay €4,000 per year. A choice which is called into question all the same. I’m already struggling to feed myself, to house myself “, she confides.
On the university square, Rhania joined a strike movement launched at the call of the student and teaching unions, who are contesting this decision. Victor, history teacher at the Sorbonne, details the strategy adopted by part of the teaching staff: “ We voted at the general assembly to implement grade retention. We correct our copies. The grades are awarded. They exist, but we decide not to transmit them to the administration in order to hinder the proper functioning of the university. »
This mobilization comes as the university is forced by the rectorate to carry out a savings plan of 13 million euros this year. If some universities apply the measure, others, such as the University of Rennes 2, refuse to implement it. Its president, Vincent Gouëset, justifies this position: “ It is not up to international students, particularly the least advantaged among them, African students in particular, to pay or suffer our deficit. In any case, if we applied differentiated fees, the gains obtained would represent a drop in the bucket compared to our deficit. On the other hand, the effect would be dissuasive for many students whose income is limited. »
From the start of the 2026 school year, another measure will increase the situation of non-EU scholarship students: the elimination of personal housing assistance.
