France is gaining popularity as one of the best places in Europe to pursue higher education. France welcomed nearly 443,500 international students during the 2024-2025 academic year. This is a 3% increase from the previous year. Of the entire student population in higher education, 15% are international students. These numbers indicate that France is gradually becoming a more popular study abroad destination.
The country is home to some of the World’s most Prestigious Universities and Grandes Écoles, as well as Globally Ranked Business Schools whose education quality rivals and often surpasses that of the traditional study destinations. Additionally, it ranks 13th in the Global Innovation Index 2025 and 9th in the Critical and Emerging Technologies Index, exemplifying its leadership and sustained excellence in cutting-edge research and strong industry connections.