French University Tuition Fees 2026 — Differentiated Fees and the New Waiver Cap: What Changes
📌 Key facts
- From the September 2026 intake, universities can waive differentiated fees for at most 30% of their enrolled international students — falling to 25% in 2027-28 and 20% thereafter (decree n°2026-385 of 19 May 2026)
- Differentiated fees (2026-27): bachelor about €2,900/year, master about €3,950/year (vs €178/€254 standard) — exact amount per your university
- Not concerned at all: EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, doctoral students, refugees/subsidiary protection, carte de résident holders, family of EU citizens, students with 2+ years of fiscal domicile in France, and more
- Grandfathering: waivers granted before 21 May 2026 continue until the end of the current cycle, at the same university and programme
- Waiver criteria, procedure and deadlines are set by each university — check your international office
French public universities are famous for low tuition, but since 2019 non-EU students have been subject to differentiated tuition fees (droits d'inscription différenciés). Until now, many universities waived them broadly at their own discretion. From September 2026, that discretion is capped. This is why you may have heard "doing another master's just got harder" in student communities. Here is what changes, who is affected, and how to prepare — facts only.
⚠ Disclaimer
This article is general information, not legal advice. Waiver policies differ by university and change often. Always verify on service-public.fr and with your university. Accurate as of July 2026.
📖 What are differentiated tuition fees?
Introduced in 2019 under the "Bienvenue en France" strategy, they are higher registration fees applied to new non-EU students at public institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education. Until now, many universities waived them for most of their students. Decree n°2026-385 now caps how many students each university may exempt.
What changes in September 2026
Decree n°2026-385 of 19 May 2026 (in force since 21 May) limits how many students each university can fully or partially exempt from differentiated fees. It applies from 1 September 2026, i.e. the 2026-27 academic year:
- 2026-27: at most 30% of enrolled international students
- 2027-28: at most 25%
- Thereafter: at most 20%
Compared with past practice — where many universities exempted nearly all their non-EU students — this is a real shift. The strategy of "enrolling in another master's to keep student status" now carries a genuine financial risk.
Differentiated fees — the amounts
| Cycle | Differentiated fee (annual) | Standard fee (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor (licence) | about €2,900 | €178 |
| Master | about €3,950 | €254 |
| Doctorate | Not subject to differentiated fees — standard rate | |
Amounts are adjusted yearly and published figures vary slightly by source (service-public: €2,895/€3,941; some universities for 2026-27: €2,902/€3,950). Check the exact amount in your university's enrolment announcements.
💡 Scope: the scheme mainly concerns public universities under the Ministry of Higher Education. Schools under other ministries (e.g. art schools under the Ministry of Culture) and grandes écoles have their own fee systems.
Who is not concerned at all
Differentiated fees do not apply to every foreigner. If any of the following applies, you are not subject to differentiated fees — and the 30% cap is irrelevant to you (indicative list based on university announcements; details vary):
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (plus Monaco, Andorra, Québec residents)
- Doctoral students
- Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
- Carte de résident holders and their minor children
- Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
- Students with a fiscal domicile in France for at least 2 years (or attached to a French tax household)
- CPGE (preparatory classes), apprenticeship programmes, etc.
✅ The "2 years of fiscal domicile" criterion matters: filing a French tax return every year — even with zero income — can take you out of the differentiated-fee scope. See our income tax declaration guide for foreigners and students.
The waiver cap: 30% → 25% → 20%
If none of the above applies, you are in principle subject to the fees, and your university's ability to waive them is now limited:
- Cap basis: a share of the international students enrolled at the institution (30% in 2026-27 → 25% in 2027-28 → 20% after)
- Criteria (merit, financial situation, strategic fields…) and the application procedure are set by each university — nothing is automatic
- Exception: students covered by certain reciprocal fee-exemption agreements with foreign institutions do not count towards the cap
⚠️ Gaps between universities will widen: with the same profile, outcomes will depend on each institution's waiver policy and remaining quota. Comparing waiver policies at the application stage is now essential.
Already have a waiver? Grandfathering rules
If your waiver was granted before the decree took effect (21 May 2026):
- It is kept until the end of your current degree cycle, provided you continue the corresponding programme at the university that granted it
- However, changing university or starting a new cycle (e.g. bachelor → master, or a new master) may bring you under the new rules
The risk zone: "currently waived + planning further study or a move after September 2026". Check the target institution's policy before any change.
What to check now
- First check whether you are out of scope: 2 years of fiscal domicile (tax filing history), doctorate, carte de résident. One criterion is enough.
- Planning further study or a transfer: email the target university's office for ① waiver policy ② procedure ③ deadlines, and keep the reply.
- Already waived: protected while you continue the same cycle — re-check before any change.
- Budget plan B: allow €2,900–3,950/year in case no waiver is granted.
- Scholarships: exemption rules tied to scholarships (French government, etc.) vary — check case by case.
📋 Your personalised admin checklist
Pick your visa, region and needs — get the exact document list in 60 seconds.
Build my checklist →FAQ
Q1. Will every international student pay ~€2,900 from September 2026?
No. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, doctoral students, refugees/subsidiary protection, carte de résident holders, family of EU citizens, students with 2+ years of fiscal domicile in France… are not subject at all. What changed is the 30% cap on waivers for everyone else.
Q2. Is my current waiver maintained?
Yes, if it was granted before 21 May 2026 and you continue the same programme at the same university — until the end of the cycle. Changing university or cycle may trigger the new rules.
Q3. Does the doctorate get more expensive?
No: doctoral studies are not subject to differentiated fees and stay at the standard rate. Fee-wise, continuing into a PhD is unaffected.
Q4. I was planning another master's to keep my student status…
A new enrolment falls under the new rules: without a waiver, expect about €3,950/year. If your main goal is extending your stay, compare with other routes such as the RECE permit (job search / business creation) — see our student-to-work status change guide.
Summary
- From September 2026: waivers capped at 30% (→ 25% → 20%)
- Differentiated fees: bachelor ~€2,900, master ~€3,950/year
- EU nationals, doctoral students, 2+ years fiscal domicile…: out of scope
- Waivers granted before 21 May 2026: kept within the same cycle
- Every university sets its own policy — check announcements and deadlines
Need the exact document list for your situation? Build your checklist in 60 seconds with Settli.
General information only. Verify your case on service-public.fr and with your university.
Last updated: (decree n°2026-385 reflected)