Student mobility: France consolidates its appeal despite rigorous competition

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6.9 million students on mobility programmes around the world

After the interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global student mobility has regained momentum, rising 7% between 2021 and 2022 alone. [1] In five years, student mobility has increased by 27%, twice as fast as the global student population.

The backdrop to this upturn is a more complex and fragmented academic landscape, in which the major host destinations are adjusting their policies for attracting students, either to draw in new audiences, boost innovation and meet labour needs (UK, Canada and Germany), or to limit or redress the balance of student flows (Australia, the US and the Netherlands). These shifts are occurring in a context of political and geopolitical instability where major reversals are not uncommon, as was seen recently in the cases of Canada and the UK.

[1] International comparative statistics, the latest available, are those published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Competition and reconfiguration among the major host destinations

Our Key Figures report indicates a reshuffle in the rankings of the major traditional host countries (see Appendix 1):

-        The United States, historically the top destination for international mobility, is seeing its attractiveness decline, with a 15% drop in the number of students hosted between 2017 and 2022.

-        Australia, once the world's second-most popular destination, has slipped to fourth place, with zero growth over the reporting period.

-        The United Kingdom (+55%), Canada (+60%) and Germany (+56%) are all gaining in popularity, thanks to targeted policies and attractive residency conditions that help retain international students.

-        France, which now ranks seventh in the world, has seen an increase of 21% in the number of international students hosted over five years, but is growing at a slower rate than the global average, likely as a result of rigorous competition.

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Source : Institut de statistique de l’Unesco et Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, collecte UOE, janvier 2025.

France poised between ambition and competition

Having hosted more than 430,000 international students in the academic year 2023-2024, France is well on its way to achieving its target of 500,000 students by 2027, a goal set as part of the government’s “Bienvenue en France” strategy. The country’s increasing popularity among students from sub-Saharan Africa (+34%) and from Europe (+21%) is an important driver of this momentum.

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Source : Sous-direction des systèmes d'information et études statistiques (SIES) – ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche

While French universities still attract 63% of international students, the country’s business schools (at 15%) and engineering schools (at 8%) are also gaining ground.

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Source : Sous-direction des systèmes d'information et études statistiques (SIES) – ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche

Within French universities, the fundamental sciences remain the most popular disciplines for international students (33%), outperforming the humanities, social sciences and economics.

The body of international students and researchers educated in France is a repository of talent and an important source of influence for our country. Our challenge is to boost competition and to draw in the very best profiles in the world. France must continue to expand the reach of its higher education and research. Donatienne Hissard – Director-General of Campus France

Students from all over the world: A mark of France’s openness

France is distinguished by the geographic diversity of its international students:

• No country of origin accounts for more than 10% of international students in France.
• Instead, international students in France come from the Middle East and North Africa (28%), Europe (25%), sub-Saharan Africa (25%), Asia–Oceania (13%) and the Americas (8%).
• The five most prevalent countries of origin are Morocco, Algeria, China, Italy and Senegal.

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Source : Sous-direction des systèmes d'information et études statistiques (SIES) – ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche

International mobility beneficial for French students too

On a global scale, France is also a key player in outgoing mobility. According to the latest figures (for 2022), approximately 114,000 French students chose to pursue part of their studies abroad in that year, a 20% increase on 2017.

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Source : Institut de statistique de l’Unesco et Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques ( ISU) octobre 2024.

France ranks as the seventh-most prevalent country of origin among students on mobility within a degree programme globally, and the most prevalent for those within the Erasmus+ programme. Hosting international students in France also fosters partnerships and creates new opportunities for French students to study abroad.