France has set an ambitious goal of attracting 30,000 Indian students by 2030, according to a report by University World News.
The initiative comes at a time when the number of Indian students going abroad has dipped from its recent peaks.
Nevertheless, France believes it has a strong opportunity to increase its share of India’s international student market by offering affordable education, enhanced career prospects, and closer ties with India in technology and innovation.
According to Campus France, the French government agency dedicated to promoting higher education and supporting international students, approximately 9,100 Indian students enrolled for higher education in France during the 2024 to 2025 academic year.
With this, India has climbed from 13th to 11th place among countries sending international students to France.
France’s education drive is deeply intertwined with its broader partnership with India.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France in June this year, the two nations signed 19 agreements to boost cooperation in innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) and technology.
They also launched the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 and established a joint India-France AI Working Group. Education and student mobility have become integral components of this expansive relationship.
To attract more students, France is expanding its presence in India. More than 50 French universities and higher education institutions will participate in the “Choose France Tour” scheduled for October.
The participating institutions include leading engineering schools such as CentraleSupélec, Mines Paris-PSL, and IMT Atlantique; business schools like ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC; and public universities such as Université Paris-Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes.
Beyond traditional university degrees, France is also promoting education in emerging fields.
Programs like Desibel, which was launched by the French Embassy and the French Institute in India, focus on animation, gaming, visual effects, comics and immersive technology. Indian students and creative professionals are being offered opportunities to collaborate with French institutions, industry experts, and international networks.
These initiatives demonstrate that France is striving to attract talent not only in engineering and science but in the creative industries as well.