Major push for Indian students: France to welcome 30,000 Indian students by 2030

Good news for Indian students: In a major push to Indian students, France announced new initiatives to bolster academic excellence, cultural understanding, and long-lasting friendship between the two nations.

This comes in the wake when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France as Chief Guest on country's Bastille Day on July 14, where India and France, both raised people-to-people ties as one of the three pillars of strategic partnership, an official release of French Embassy said.

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France to welcome Indian 30,000 students by 2030

 President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s goal to welcome 30,000 students from India by 2030. This goal reflects France's view that enlarging its Indian student population will promote academic achievement, cross-cultural understanding, and enduring friendship between our two countries.

The establishment of "International Classes" in France will enable Indian students to flourish in their studies and easily transition to the French educational system. These specialised programmes will offer thorough training in the French language and other academic areas. This choice demonstrates France's dedication to facilitating the lives of Indian students as much as feasible. 

Five-year Schengen circulation visa for Indians

A five-year Schengen circulation visa for Indian alumni was also announced during PM Modi's visit to France in July.

In a belief that when an Indian student spends even just a semester in France, it creates a connection that ought to be fostered and cherished, France announced that Indian students who hold a Master’s degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa. 

 This is a special provision for Indian alumni to enable them to keep close links with France and their French counterparts.

Choose France Tour 2023

In another major push for Indian students, the French Institute in India and the Embassy of France are excited to announce the Choose France Tour 2023.

It will be organised by the French Government and Campus France. Organized by the the education fair, it will be held in four major Indian cities, Chennai (October 8), Calcutta (October 11), Delhi (October 13), and Mumbai (October 15). 

It will give Indian students and their parents a fantastic opportunity to speak with representatives of the more than 40 French higher education institutions that will be present at the market and learn about a variety of study alternatives, the press release of French Embassy in India read.

There are numerous strong reasons for Indian students to select France as their study abroad country, including a plethora of academic disciplines and programmes. Moreover, for those passionate about the culinary arts or hospitality management, France presents an exceptional opportunity to master gastronomic excellence and the art of hospitality. Without mentioning social sciences, art and design, among many others.

India-France meeting 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in July in France agreed that the relationship between India and France has been resilient in the darkest storms and bold and ambitious in riding the high tides of opportunities. 

The two leaders noted that the diplomatic and political engagements between India and France are among their "closest and most trusted." PM Modi and French President Macron called the defence and security partnership between the two nations "strong."

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Macron and PM Modi noted that the deepening ties in education, science and technology, culture, burgeoning youth exchanges, and growing Diaspora are bringing the relationship closer to the people and sowing the seeds of future partnerships.