France is stepping up its higher education engagement in India with a large-scale outreach programme aimed at attracting more Indian students to its universities.
The “Choose France Tour” will bring together more than 50 French institutions across engineering, business and public universities, offering students direct access to admission and guidance opportunities. The initiative comes at a time when academic cooperation between India and France is expanding rapidly, particularly in areas such as innovation, artificial intelligence and research. According to Campus France, the number of Indian students in France has been steadily increasing, reflecting stronger academic and institutional ties between the two countries. Campus France, the official French government agency responsible for promoting French higher education abroad and assisting international students with admissions and visas, is coordinating the outreach. It functions under the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education and acts as the first point of contact for students applying to study in France.
Four-City Tour and Growing Academic Collaboration
The “Choose France Tour” will be held across four major Indian cities which are:
- Mumbai on October 11
- Pune on October 13
- New Delhi on October 15
- Bengaluru on October 17
More than 50 French institutions are expected to participate, including leading engineering schools such as CentraleSupélec, Mines Paris-PSL and IMT Atlantique, business schools like ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC, and top public universities such as Université Paris-Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes.
The outreach is being positioned as part of a broader push to strengthen India-France ties in education and innovation. French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou said the initiative reflects a particularly active phase in the bilateral partnership.
He added thatFrench institutions offer strong academic programmes in fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, engineering and management, preparing students for global careers.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France in June, both countries signed 19 agreements linked to innovation ecosystems, adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 and set up a Joint India-France AI Working Group. France has also extended an invitation for its universities to establish campuses in India.
Rising Indian Student Mobility and Future Targets
Indian student numbers in France have shown steady growth, rising from the 13th to the 11th largest source of international students in 2024-25. According to visa and residence permit data, including exchange and short-term programmes, around 12,000 Indian students were studying in France in 2025.
France has set an ambitious target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030. Officials say the goal goes beyond numbers, focusing instead on building long-term academic and professional linkages between the two countries.
As part of the tour, Campus France India will also provide counselling to students and families on courses, scholarships, visa procedures, accommodation and student life in France, making the process more accessible for applicants planning higher education abroad.
