Bonjour Europe! 8 great universities that’ll let you study in France in English

If you’ve ever studied abroad and struggled with the official language of the country, you might not be so keen on going through that hurdle again for your master’s degree.

Luckily for you, many countries offer the chance for you to experience their country in all its glory —including the non-English speaking aspect of it — whilst helping you get that postgraduate degree you’re aiming for. For example, you can study in France in English and enjoy your croissant as you prepare for your upcoming Linguistics class.

With a whopping 25.4 million English speakers in the country, France won’t let the language barrier stop you from considering them as a potential study destination.

The country is a dazzling place comprising of arts, fashion, food, history, and more. Here, students can explore world-famous museums and heritage sights, enjoy a range of French cuisine, and have the opportunity to learn the language in an immersive experience like no other.   

Plus, France is an exciting country where many exciting events take place. Whether it is annually hosting the world’s most prestigious fashion events or the much anticipated 2024 Olympics, there’s a piece for everyone to enjoy, including the master’s students seeking an English programme of their liking.

Where to study in France in English 

1. Institut Mines-Télécom Atlantique

Location: Nantes

Fees: 2,650 – 4,150 euros/semester

Founded as a technological university in 2017, Institut Mines-Télécom Atlantique (IMT Atlantique) aims to transform society by combining digital technology, energy, and the environment.

As one of France’s top graduate engineering schools, IMT Atlantique offers eight Master’s of Science programmes taught in English. Full-time students can finish the programme in 18 to 24 months. 

Programmes include: 

• Energy & Environment – Project Management for Environmental & Energy Engineering
• Industrial Engineering – Management & Optimisation of Supply Chains and Transport
• Nuclear Engineering – Nuclear Medical Applications 
• Information & Communication Technology – Data Science 
• Information & Communication Technology – Communication System and Network Engineering 

These programmes are designed specifically for students who are looking to develop a career in an international environment. Students can participate in a six-month paid internship in industry or research. 

2. Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse

Location: Toulouse

Fees: 5,382 – 9,000 euros/year

Founded in 1969, the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (Toulouse INP) is a French university comprising six engineering schools and 17 laboratories. INPT is currently ranked #36 as the Best Global Universities in France by US News & World Report.

The university is recognised for its world-class scientific research and two main research fields: Physical Science and Engineering for Energy, Climate, and Digitalisation and Materials and Life Science and Engineering for Agronomy, Agribusiness, and Environment. 

Toulouse INP offers Master of Science programmes in English for those who want to further their studies in France but do not know the local language. 

The programmes include:

• Agrofood Chain
• BioTechnology for Bio-Based Economy
• Electronic Systems for Embedded and Communicating Applications
• Industrial & Safety Engineering
• Water Engineering & Water Management

For students looking for a research-based education, Toulouse INP is the place to go as it’s associated with the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRA), and other universities in Toulouse, France.

3. Université Paris Cité

Location: Paris

Fees: 7,540 – 9,000 euros/year

A stone’s throw away from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, in the heart of Paris, is Université Paris Cité. With 14 campuses and research facilities around the city, the university is recognised as a prestigious research institution in France. 

Université Paris Cité is one of France’s few universities offering master’s programmes in the humanities and social sciences in English. Students can complete the programme in two years. 

The Humanities and Social Sciences programmes include:

• Comparative Law – Common Law
• Cinema Studies and English Studies
• Linguistics – Computational Linguistics
• Linguistics – Phonetics and Phonology
• Linguistics – Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics

The university also offers a Master of Science in: 

• Biomedical Engineering – Bioengineering and Innovation in Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering – Biomechanics
• Physics
• Digital Sciences
• Earth and Planet Sciences, Environment

Students on campus are spoilt with choices regarding organisations and clubs. Université Paris Cité has over 120 student associations in culture, sports, or citizenship. By being a part of these associations, international students can create new friendships while enriching their experiences at the university.

4. Université De Lorraine

Location: Nancy and Metz

Fees: 8,000 – 9,000 euros/year

Ranked #10 in France, Université De Lorraine has over 51 campus sites spread around the Lorraine region, with the main campuses in Nancy and Metz. 

For students looking for a mixture of modern yet historical cities to live and study in, Université De Lorrain, Nancy is the place to go. Just a 12-minute walk from the Place Stanislas, a UNESCO-listed site, the main Nancy campus offers 13 master’s programmes in English. Students can complete the programmes in two years. 

The programmes are science-focused: 

• Georesources Engineering (Erasmus Mundus)
• Pervasive Computing and Communications for Sustainable Development (Erasmus Mundus) 
• Biology and Ecology for Forest Agronomy and Environment
• Molecular Chemistry and Physiochemistry
• Dependent Software Systems

What is Erasmus Mundus? It is a prestigious international master’s programme designed and delivered by a group of higher education institutions. Students can study at universities in different locations, including Finland, Spain, Sweden, Germany, or Belgium, further enriching their university experience. 

5. École Polytechnique

Location: Palaiseau

Fees: 10,000 – 13,500 euros/year

École Polytechnique, also known as I’X, is France’s leading institute, combining world-class research, academics, and innovation in science and technology. It is no question why it is ranked #61 in the QS World University Rankings. 

École Polytechnique offers 10 Master of Science and Technology programmes in English that students can complete in two years. 

The programmes include: 

• Artificial Intelligence & Advancing Visual Computing
• Cybersecurity
• Internet of Things: Innovation and Management
• Economics for Smart Cities and Climate Policy
• Data Science For Business 
• Data and Economics for Public Policy
• Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Management 
• Energy Environment: Science Technology and Management

Students studying at École Polytechnique will have the chance to collaborate with prominent industrial representatives and university partners. They will also be able to participate in field trips, conferences, and four to six-month work placements at companies in France and abroad.

6. Sorbonne University

Location: Paris

Fees: 10,800 – 14,500 euros/year

Having been around since the 13th century, Sorbonne University is currently listed as #59 in the QS World University Rankings, Sorbonne University has been offering a multidisciplinary, research-intensive, and world-class education since 2018. 

 The university is home to its Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Humanities, Health Sciences, and Science and Engineering. Although there is a wide range of programmes and faculties, the Faculty of Science and Engineering is the only one offering master’s programmes taught entirely in English. 

Students can choose from nine master’s programmes in the faculty, including: 

• Physics
• Computational Mechanics
• Digital International Programme
• Bioinformatics and Modeling
• Quantum Information

Those afraid of settling into a new environment, especially in a country whose first language isn’t English, need not worry when attending Sorbonne. The university offers a buddy programme that provides international students with a “buddy” to assist with administrative procedures, give one-on-one tours of the campus and the city, and answer any questions about housing, employment, language, culture, and social life.

7. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Location: Paris

Fees: 19,000 – 19,660 euros/year

Paris Institute of Political Studies, or Sciences Po, is a private and public research university in central Paris.

Sciences Po offers an extensive number of master’s programmes that are taught in English. The university also offers dual master’s programmes with universities worldwide, such as the UK, the US, Germany, and China. 

Programmes offered include: 

• International Security
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Action
• Journalism and International Affairs
• Finance and Strategy
• Communication, Media, and Creative Industries 

Sciences Po also offers one-year master’s programmes for those looking for an accelerated way to advance their careers. The programmes are advanced global studies, corporate strategy, and LLM in transitional arbitration and dispute settlement. Students will learn from the best academics and professionals and can build an international network with reputed practitioners. 

8. Paris Sciences et Lettres University

Location: Paris

Fees: 100,000 – 119,000 euros/semester

Paris Sciences et Lettres University (Université PSL) is a public research university established in central Paris in 2010. Although it was formally created as a university in 2019, it is ranked #24 in the QS World University Rankings. 

Université PSL is known for its knowledge in the Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Engineering, and the Arts. The university offers master’s programmes in English, and students can complete them in two years.

Students can choose from 14 Master’s of Science and Engineering tracks, including: 

• Integrative Chemistry and Innovation
• BioMedical Engineering, Nuclear Energy
• Cognitive Science
• Computer Science
• Physics

In addition to five Master’s of Social Sciences, Economics, and Management tracks: 

• Analysis and Policy in Economics
• Applied Economics
• Quantitative Economics
• Fashion and Materials
• Finance

Here, students will have access to 140 laboratories and be part of a large international community as 20% of students here come from abroad, allowing you the opportunity to expand you network of professionals and personal connections.