Overview

Geographical Conditions:

France, officially known as the French Republic, is the largest country located in Western Europe. It is bounded by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in the North, the Pyrenees Mountains, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea in the South, Switzerland and Italy in the East; and by the Atlantic Ocean in the West. France is located in the temperate climate zone. North Western France brings an oceanic climate, while the Central and Eastern France harbor bring a continental climate. The South Eastern region is characterized by the Mediterranean climate whereas the South Western region experiences a mountainous, cold climate.

Political & Legal System:

Paris is the capital and the most populous city of France. France is divided into 18 administrative regions and numerous territories.

13 administrative regions belong to Metropolitan France: Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Bourgogne - Franche-Comté, Corse (Corsica), Centre - Val de Loire, Grand Est, Hauts de France, Paris, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Normandie, Occitanie, Pays de la Loire and Provence - Cote d`Azur. The other five overseas regions which have the same status as the metropolitan regions are: Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte.

The French Republic also includes five overseas collectivities with a semi-autonomous status: Saint-Martin, Wallis and Futuna, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, French Polynesia and Saint-Barthélemy. France also has an autonomous territory: New Caledonia and one overseas territory: the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

The country is known to be democratic republican country which is governed by a President who is elected by universal adult suffrage. The President of France is the head of the state and executive and he holds his term for a period of five years. The President appoints the Prime Minister and the Government. The political system of France consists of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. Executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government. The Government consists of the Prime Minister and ministers. The Prime Minister is responsible to Parliament. Parliament comprises the National Assembly and the Senate. The constitutionality of the statutes is checked by the Constitutional Council.

The independent judiciary is based upon civil law system which evolved from the Napoleonic codes. It is divided into the judicial branch dealing with civil law and criminal law and the administrative branch dealing with appeals against executive decisions; each with their own independent supreme court of appeal: the Court of Cassation for the judicial courts and the Conseil d`Etat for the administrative courts. The French government includes various bodies that check abuses of power and independent agencies.

French law can be divided into two main categories: private law (Droit privé) and public law (droit public). This differs from the traditional common law concepts in which the main distinction is between criminal law and civil law. Private law governs relationships between individuals and it includes:  Civil law, Commercial law and Employment law. Public law defines the structure and the workings of the government as well as relationships between the state and the individual. It includes: Criminal law, Administrative law and the Constitutional law. Together, these two distinctions form the backbone of legal studies in France, such that it has become a classical distinction.

Economic Status:

The economy of France is highly developed and free-market-orientated. France has a diversified economy. The chemical industry is a key sector for France, helping to develop other manufacturing activities and contributing to the GDP of the country. Sophia Antipolis is the major technology hub for the economy of France.  France`s tourism industry is a major component of the economy. Paris is ranked as the most elegant city in the world, which propels the agglomeration of the fashion industry. Paris acts as the center of the fashion industry and holds the name of global fashion capital. Some of the world`s biggest fashion houses have their headquarters in France. The city is home to many prime designers, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Balmain, Louboutin, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent, Roger Vivier, Thierry Mugler, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Lanvin, Chloé, Rochas, and Céline. The country is also known to export the highest percentage of fine wines in the world.

Several French corporations rank amongst the largest in their industries such as AXA in insurance and Air France in air transportation. Luxury and consumer good are particularly relevant, with L`Oreal being the world`s largest cosmetic company while LVMH and Kering are the world`s two largest luxury product companies.  In energy and utilities, GDF-Suez and EDF are amongst the largest energy companies in the world.  Veolia Environment is the world`s largest Environmental Services and Water Management Company; Vinci SA, Bouygues and Eiffage are large construction companies; Michelin ranks in the top 3 tire manufacturers; JCDecaux is the world`s largest outdoor advertising corporation.

Soceity and Culture

Language:

French (Français) is the official language of France according to the second article of the French Constitution. There are regional variations in pronunciation and local words. Several regional languages are also spoken to varying degrees as a secondary language after French, such as German dialects, Celtic languages and other Gallo-Romance languages. French Sign Language is also recognized as a language of France with at least one regional variant in Provence. A large number of immigrant languages are spoken in France, with a handful having a significant number of home speakers.

Cuisine:

The authentic French cuisine holds high esteem throughout the world due to its unique blend of flavors, specialties and styles. French cuisine developed throughout the centuries influenced by the many surrounding cultures of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, in addition to its own food traditions on the long western coastlines of the Atlantic, the Channel and of course inland. A meal often consists of three courses, hors d`œuvre or entrée (introductory course, sometimes soup), plat principal (main course), fromage (cheese course) or dessert, sometimes with a salad offered before the cheese or dessert. In French cuisine, beverages that precede a meal are called apéritifs and can be served with amuse-bouches. Those that end it are called digestifs. The most revered culture of France is its wine. Meals in France are joyous occasions where people enjoy long conversations and a delicious menu. Bread, cheese and wine are a staple in every dish or meal in France. French cuisine is sure to give an authentic and flavorful experience to the people who visit.

Tourist Attractions:

 France is the most visited destination in the world. Tens of millions of people visit France every year. Tourism alone contributes to 20% of the GDP of France. France being the world’s top tourist destination is the home to beautiful historic landmarks and finest and oldest monuments, paintings, literature works and museums. France is also known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. One of the world’s most renowned and recognizable landmarks, the Eiffel Tower, is located in the city of Paris. Monuments like Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Latin Quarter, Mont Saint Michel, Georges Pompidou Center, etc. are also a part of France’s rich history.

France has 37 World Heritage Sites to boast about. The scenic and natural mountainous landscapes like the Loire Valley, the French Alps and the Pyrenees Mountains are an absolute beauty. Some of the most visited cities in the world are in France which includes Paris, French Riviera, Provence, Corsica, Bordeaux and Nice. People all over the world visit the country owing to its natural beauty, amazing climate, exquisite cuisines and, of course the finest wines.

Lifestyle:

France is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in Europe.  France is a secular country where freedom of thought and of religion is preserved. However, 85% of its residents are Roman Catholic. Minor population of Muslims, Protestants and Jews also reside in France. The people in France behave politely. Speaking loudly or showing any other kind of impolite gestures while talking to someone is discouraged. The people of France are quite discreet and mellow. They greet people in a formal manner and usually speak in a quiet tone. French people are in general very courteous and they are direct too. They are accustomed to speaking their minds and being direct and to the point.

Fashion in France is an important aspect in the spectrum of culture and social life. Paris is center of an important number of fashion shows. At the vast majority of restaurants and bars in the French capital, sticking with business casual attire—anything from a simple dress and blazer or jacket, skirt or slacks, or even nicely ironed, clean-cut jeans and a shirt/top—is fine. Locals often wear casual attire.

Health Care:

The French health care system is recognised as offering one of the best, services of public health care in the world. It is one of universal health care largely financed by government national health insurance.  The health care system in France is made up of a fully-integrated network of public hospitals, private hospitals, doctors and other medical service providers. It is a universal service providing health care for every citizen, irrespective of wealth, age or social status. The French health care system is funded in part by obligatory health contributions levied on all salaries, and paid by employers, employees and the self-employed; in part by central government funding; and in part by users. The French government offers a health care program to all the residents of France, therefore it is obligatory on their part to be covered under such plan.

All international students who will be in France are required to have health insurance, either public or private. Many international students are eligible to take part in their universal health care coverage, on the condition that they should have attained 28 years by October 1st of the current University year, have a home country that is outside of the European Union or Switzerland and enrolled on a degree program for a period of 4 months or longer. If any of these provisions are not met, an international student would be required to obtain private health insurance for themselves at competitive rates as a complementary coverage.

Education in France

France offers the highest educational standards to its students including the students from overseas. French education system enjoys the reputation of being one of the most elite education systems in the world.  Around 300,000 students from different countries flock annually for higher education. France provides absolute security to such students. The education system in France is into three stages viz enseignement primaire (primary education), enseignement secondaire (secondary education) and enseignement supérieur (higher education).

The country has more than 3,500 institutions of higher education. It includes 77 publicly-funded universities, offering degrees in all disciplines and serving as the primary academic research centers. A parallel system of Grandes Ecoles offering  scientific, business, art and other specific programs, which offer 5-year diplomas equivalent to a Masters degree. More than 3,000 specialized schools offering degrees in a wide variety of subjects, including hotel management, culinary arts, tourism and social work.

The French government brought out a vigorous support policy in 1998, which could welcome foreign students into French educational institutions. The policy is governed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education. The policy focuses on four components viz

• The visa policy is modified from time to time to give priority to all overseas students.
• The creation of the Campus France Agency, especially present in education fairs, to promote French higher education in foreign countries. (It is advised that all students interested in studying in France should visit its web site: campusfrance.org/en.)
• Creation of a European University to offer diplomas in the country more reliably.
• A new structured program of French Government grants that makes them more attractive to foreign students and also to make these grants match with the internationalization of the French institutions of higher education.

Reasons to Study in France

• Education in France is internationally acclaimed and promises a stimulating study environment, especially to its international students.
• The country has acquired prominence in the fields of arts, history, science, philosophy, literature, fashion and research.
• It follows a nationally formulated curriculum and traditional learning techniques to maintain discipline and high academic standards.
• Students wishing to study in France find a good number of Institutions to study, besides Institutions offers financial support by way of loans and grants at nominal charges.
• It provides many benefits to its international community of students and is known as one of the best countries for student discounts.
• Each of the universities offers a different area of specialized learning, so students should base their choice on the area of study that interests them.
• French is considered one of the most straightforward languages for English speakers to learn; therefore overseas students will learn French language at the earliest. Most of the schools offer education in English and French.
• International student visa policy has been modified from time to time to encourage them to study.
• The French capital is a global business center and houses many major companies. France is the perfect place to build up the global business network.
• French government scholarships are allocated by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for studies, training courses and language courses in France
• As an international student with a study visa in France, student can take on paid work, in which they take up about 60 percent of full time employment for a year against residency permit.