France Aims to Host 30,000 Indian Students by 2030: French Ambassador Discusses Educational Partnership

In an exclusive interview, the Ambassador of France to India, Mr Thierry Mathou, outlines the goal of hosting 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030, as part of the ongoing strategic partnership between the two nations. He shares insights on initiatives like the Choose France Tour, scholarships, and favourable visa policies to encourage quality education and cultural exchange.

Q: France is hosting the Choose France Tour. What is the objective behind hosting this event?

French Ambassador: This tour is exceptional. Actually, this year, it will be held in five cities: Chandigarh, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. So far, I've been informed that more than 11,000 students and parents have registered. We have 57 universities and academics from various sectors, including business schools, engineering, and hospitality. It was highlighted by President Macron during his State visit to India earlier this year that the development of people-to-people ties is a key priority. At the core of the strategic partnership between France and India, we have set the objective to welcome at least 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030.

Our top priority, however, is not just quantity but quality. We don't aim to compete with other countries; quality is truly at the core of our objective. This means we are targeting the best students in India. We offer different levels of education and training, and most importantly, we want to integrate this strategy within our strategic partnership. Our aim is for these students to be true ambassadors of the strategic partnership between France and India.

For instance, unlike some other countries, we do not seek to   facilitate brain drain. The idea is to train these students in France, provide them with the best education, and then have them return to India, where they can become partners in our strategic initiatives. French companies invest significantly in India, and France is one of the leading foreign investors here. We are deeply involved in the Make in India project, with over 700 French companies operating in India, creating more than 500,000 jobs. This means there are ample opportunities for Indian students who study in France to return to India and contribute to this partnership. This is the logic behind our strategy.

Q: How many Indian students currently travel to France?

French Ambassador: Currently, we are at the 9000 mark, but our goal is to reach 30,000 by 2030.

Q: Which are the most popular programs for Indian students?

French Ambassador: So far, the most popular programmes are business courses, as French business schools are among the best globally. We are pleased with this, but we also want to attract Indian students to other sectors, such as engineering and hospitality. Two main reasons have limited the number of students: firstly, the Indian diaspora in France is relatively small compared to other countries. Indian students often prefer to study where they have friends and relatives, but this diaspora is growing, which is a positive development. Secondly, the French language can be seen as a barrier.

I don't see this as a problem, but it requires adaptation. Since last year, we've introduced classes internationales specifically for Indian students. They can spend one year in France learning French while starting their chosen curriculum. We also have specific French programmes available through our Alliance Française network. The goal is for students to become proficient in French within a year, allowing them to pursue other courses more comfortably. This programme is specially designed for Indian students.

Q: Can you tell me about some scholarships that the French government offers to Indian or international students?

French Ambassador: We offer numerous scholarships, including the Charpak scholarship programs, to support students at bachelors and master’s levels, including exchange students. We also have the very successful Raman Charpak scholarship program through CEFIPRA, an Indo-French governmental organization, specifically meant to support PhD students.  I also want to emphasize that companies such as Dassault, Legrand and other industry giants, as well as Indian companies like the Dalmia Group,  are increasingly partnering with us to provide scholarships for Indian students through CSR funds donated to the  Franco-Indian Education Trust.

Q: Are you working on the visa policy to make it easier for students to apply for a student visa?

French Ambassador: Definitely. In fact, it's already happening. Indian students in France can obtain a two-year post-study visa at the end of their upon completing their Master's degree, which allows them to work or even start a business. We also offer a five-year Schengen visa called "alumni visa", which gives Indian citizens who earned a master's degree from any recognised university in the world, after spending at least one semester in France as a student, the flexibility to travel back and forth.

We have different types of visas, including talent visas for students who wish to stay in France and create something there. However, our main objective is not to facilitate brain drain from India to France. Our priority, considering India’s goal to become the third-largest economy globally and our strong strategic partnership, is to incorporate these students into this strategic collaboration. Our message is clear: students should go to France to study, integrate into the culture, and then return as ambassadors of this partnership. There are concrete benefits, with numerous French companies providing job opportunities across various sectors, allowing students to meaningfully engage in the growing relationship between France and India.