Record Enrolment in Higher Education

France has reached a historic milestone in international education, with 443,500 foreign students enrolled in 2024/25. This represents a 3% rise from the previous year and a 17% increase over five years. International students now account for nearly 15% of all higher education enrolments in the country.

Diverse Student Mobility Patterns

The latest figures show that France benefits from diversified student mobility:

• MENA & Sub-Saharan Africa: Over 50% of all international students

• Europe: 26%

• Asia (especially China): 13%

This spread highlights France’s appeal across multiple regions.

Leading Countries of Origin

The top ten sending countries are: Morocco, Algeria, China, Italy, Senegal, Tunisia, Spain, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Lebanon. Together, they account for over half of foreign enrolments, though no single country exceeds 10%.

• Morocco remains the largest source, despite a 3% decline this year.

• Algeria posted a 1% annual increase and 18% growth over five years.

• China recorded a 3% dip.

• Italy and Spain both saw significant long-term increases, with enrolments rising by over 35% in five years.

India’s Growing Presence

India has emerged as a rapidly growing source market. In 2025, it ranked 11th with 9,100 students, marking a 17% increase in one year. This growth reflects the ambitions of the Franco-Indian roadmap for student mobility.

Institutional Trends

Nearly 63% of international students are enrolled in universities, while other institution types have shown steady growth. Notably, business schools recorded a 52% increase in international enrolments over the past five years, underlining their rising global appeal.

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FAQs

Q1: How many international students are studying in France in 2024/25?
A total of 443,500 international students are enrolled.

Q2: What percentage of French higher education students are from abroad?
Nearly 15% of all students in French higher education are international.

Q3: Which countries send the most students to France?
Morocco, Algeria, China, Italy, Senegal, Tunisia, Spain, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Lebanon.

Q4: Which country has shown the fastest recent growth?
India, with a 17% increase in just one year.

Q5: Which type of institution is most popular among international students?
Universities, with 63% of international enrolments.