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English-Taught Degrees in France: Bachelor's, Master's and 2026/27 Costs

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You can study in France in English, but your options depend on the level. Public universities teach bachelor's degrees almost entirely in French and keep their English-taught offer at master's level, so English-taught bachelor's degrees come mainly from Sciences Po and business schools. A university master's in English costs the same as one in French, $4,490 (€3,950) a year at the 2026/27 differentiated rate, while a Master in Management at a leading business school costs $25,660–33,480 (€22,600–29,485) a year. You do not need French to be admitted, but you will need it to rent a flat, land an internship and find work after graduating.

At a glance English-taught study in France
Bachelor's Sciences Po (Le Havre, Menton, Reims campuses) and business schools; almost none at public universities
Master's many programmes at universities, engineering and business schools
University tuition, 2026/27 $3,300 (€2,902) Licence, $4,490 (€3,950) Master at the differentiated rate
Business school tuition Master in Management at emlyon, ESCP and HEC Paris: $25,660–33,480 (€22,600–29,485) a year, 2027 intake
Language test IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge; some schools accept Duolingo
Where to search Campus France "Taught in English" catalogue with a fully-in-English filter
Who decides admission: the institution; visa: the French consulate
Classical stone façade with a red door, a SciencesPo sign and flags above the entrance
The Sciences Po building on Rue des Saints-Pères in Paris. Photo: Celette / source, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where English-taught programmes are, by level and institution

Level and institution What is taught in English Tuition Keep in mind
Bachelor's at a public university almost nothing: the Licence is taught in French $3,300 (€2,902) a year, 2026/27 French B2 required
Sciences Po undergraduate three campuses with English-taught tracks $16,920 (€14,900) a year for families outside the EEA, 2026/27 three years, equivalent to a Licence
Business school bachelor's (BBA) English tracks at ESSEC and emlyon set by each school four years, school degree recognised by the ministry
University master's many programmes, some admitting only at M2 $4,490 (€3,950) a year, 2026/27 the university may reduce the rate
Business or engineering school master's most programmes varies; $25,660–33,480 (€22,600–29,485) a year at emlyon, ESCP and HEC Paris, 2027 intake check the degree's status

University profiles show English-taught master's degrees clustering in the sciences, computing, economics and management, while humanities programmes, at Sorbonne University for example, are mostly in French.

How to find a programme that is fully in English

Start with the Campus France "Taught in English" catalogue. Its filter separates fully English-taught programmes from those where only part of the teaching is in English. The difference matters: "partly in English" usually means the rest is in French, and the institution will then require proof of French too.

On the programme page, check four things:

  1. The teaching language by semester; some programmes start in English and switch to French.
  2. The entry point: many university programmes in English admit only at M2, the second master's year, which requires a completed first year of a Master or equivalent.
  3. The type of degree: a national university diploma, a business school's grade de master or a school diploma without State status. Our guide to business schools in France explains how to check.
  4. Which English tests are accepted and at what score.

Institution-level detail sits in our profiles of Sciences Po, PSL, Université Paris-Saclay and Sorbonne University.

English-taught bachelor's degrees after secondary school

The choice is narrow, and every option charges tuition.

  • Sciences Po. A three-year undergraduate college on seven campuses. Le Havre teaches its Asia-Pacific minor in English; Menton offers the Mediterranean and Middle East minor in French or English; Reims teaches North America in English and Africa in French and English. The other campuses teach in French, sometimes with an English first semester. Applicants with a foreign school diploma apply on the Sciences Po website rather than Parcoursup. Students whose parents are tax resident outside the EEA pay $16,920 (€14,900) a year when they first enrol in September 2026.
  • ESSEC Global BBA. Four years and 240 ECTS, with English tracks in Cergy, Singapore and Rabat.
  • Emlyon Global BBA. Four years with a choice of French or English track, recognised by the ministry at four-year level.
  • HEC Paris and Bocconi double bachelor's. Requires B2 English plus SAT, ACT or Bocconi's online test. Year one is in Milan and cost $26,120 (€23,000) in 2026/27.

If these are beyond your budget, compare them with a French-taught university Licence after a year of language study; see Bachelor's degrees in France.

English-taught master's: university or school

University master's Business school Master in Management
Tuition $4,490 (€3,950) a year at the 2026/27 differentiated rate; $290 (€255) if waived ESCP $32,700 (€28,800) a year for non-European students; emlyon $25,660 (€22,600) a year; 2027 intake
Applying from Russia Études en France by 30 January 2027, or directly if the programme is not on the platform direct to the school; Études en France afterwards for the visa
Selection application file, sometimes an interview file, management test or the school's own test, English, interview
Work experience depends on the programme internships built into the curriculum

A university master's often combines English teaching with strong research at a public price. A business school costs more but builds internships and careers support into the programme. Levels and degree types are covered in Master's degrees in France.

On fee waivers: from 2026/27, universities grant them on request according to income, and no more than 30% of students on the differentiated rate may receive one, a cap that later falls to 20%. Some universities go their own way: Université Paris Cité kept the national rate for non-EU students in 2026/27. Budget at $4,490 (€3,950) until the university sends its decision.

Which English tests you need, and where Russian residents can take them

English-taught programmes usually ask for IELTS, TOEFL iBT or a Cambridge exam, and business schools often accept TOEIC as well. ESCP requires at least IELTS 6.5; emlyon recommends C1 and accepts results up to two years old. NEOMA accepts the Duolingo English Test for its English track.

Applicants in Russia should plan a trip. Campus France Russia reports that IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge exams are not currently held in Russia, so candidates sit them in neighbouring countries. Before booking travel, check whether your programme accepts a more accessible alternative.

Applying from Russia

  • University master's. Russian residents apply through Études en France. For 2027/28, files are accepted from 1 October 2026 to 30 January 2027, the fee is due by 21 February, the interview by 1 March and answers arrive by 30 April. Programmes not connected to the platform receive documents directly, but the online file is still required.
  • Business schools and Sciences Po. Apply on the school's website by its calendar, then complete Études en France as a self-enrolled candidate for the visa.
  • Translations. For fully English-taught programmes, Campus France Russia accepts notarised translations into English instead of French, certified in Russia or France.

All steps, fees and visa rules for Russian residents are in studying in France for Russian citizens.

What a year in an English-taught programme costs

Item Amount Year
University bachelor's (taught in French) $3,300 (€2,902) 2026/27
University master's $4,490 (€3,950) 2026/27
Sciences Po bachelor's, families outside the EEA $16,920 (€14,900) 2026/27
Sciences Po master's, families outside the EEA $23,440 (€20,640) 2026/27
Business school Master in Management $25,660–33,480 (€22,600–29,485) in year one 2027 intake
CVEC contribution $120 (€105) 2026/27
Funds for the visa $1,000 (€877.50) per month as a minimum in force since 2026

Housing and living costs come on top: Paris is expensive, regional cities noticeably cheaper. See the cost of studying in France.

Do you need French if you study in English?

Not for your classes, but yes for daily life. Renting, banking, the prefecture and medical appointments all happen in French, and most internships and employers expect at least confident conversational French from an international hire.

French also shapes your options after graduation. During studies, paid work is capped at 964 hours a year. The one-year job-search permit follows a Master, a Mastère Spécialisé, an MSc carrying the CGE label or a licence professionnelle, and moving to work status requires a job matching your degree, which is much harder to find without French.

If you want to improve your French before a degree, note that Campus France Russia requires at least A2, proven by DELF or TCF, for a long-stay visa for language courses. The French exams are compared in DELF, DALF and TCF explained.

Common mistakes

  • Looking for an English-taught bachelor's at a public university, when most such programmes are at Sciences Po and business schools.
  • Confusing "fully" and "partly" English-taught and discovering a French B2 requirement after applying.
  • Applying to an M2 programme without a completed first master's year.
  • Not checking whether the programme awards a national diploma, the grade de master or only a school diploma.
  • Leaving the IELTS or TOEFL trip until late, although the tests cannot be taken in Russia.
  • Skipping French altogether and ending the programme without internship offers.

How StudyU helps

A shortlist of English-taught programmes that fit your profile and budget, with the teaching language and degree status checked, an exam plan that allows for travel, and preparation of the Études en France file and visa documents are provided under an agreement with StudyU; admission rests with the institution, waivers with the university and the visa with the French consulate.

For every route into French higher education, see the France country page.

FAQ

Hardly. An English-taught university master's costs $4,490 (€3,950) a year at the 2026/27 differentiated rate for non-EU nationals, or $290 (€255) if the university waives it. Waivers are granted on request based on income and their number is capped. French government scholarship holders are fully exempt from tuition.

Almost none: public universities teach the Licence in French and require B2. English-taught bachelor's degrees come from Sciences Po, on its Le Havre, Menton and Reims campuses, and from business schools such as ESSEC and emlyon with their BBA programmes. All of them charge tuition.

The number changes every year, so the Campus France "Taught in English" catalogue is the most reliable tool, with filters by level, field and share of English. Most programmes are at master's level. At bachelor's level the choice is essentially Sciences Po and business schools.

Usually B2 to C1. ESCP requires at least IELTS 6.5, emlyon recommends C1, and the HEC–Bocconi double bachelor's asks for B2. Each programme sets its own tests and scores. Russian residents must take IELTS or TOEFL abroad, since Campus France Russia reports the tests are not currently held in Russia.

Yes, for residents of Russia and the other countries where the procedure applies. University master's applications go through the platform; if you apply directly to a business school or Sciences Po, you complete the procedure after admission, because the consulate will not process the visa without it. Documents for fully English programmes can be translated into English.

Yes, if the programme is at master's level: a Master, an MSc with the CGE label or a Mastère Spécialisé qualifies for the one-year job-search permit. After that you need a job related to your degree. French employers nearly always expect French, so learn it alongside your programme.

Sources

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