Enrolment of foreign students in higher education institutions and programs

This dataset presents the number of international exchange students and the number of foreign students enrolled in higher education institutions and programs, as recorded in the information systems and surveys of the ministries responsible for National Education, Higher Education, Agriculture, Fisheries, Health, and Sports, broken down by field of study and geographic region.

International exchange students are foreign nationals holding a foreign high school diploma or a French baccalaureate obtained abroad. They represent a population coming to pursue higher education in France after completing their schooling abroad. The number of international exchange students is directly calculated based on data collected for 97% of foreign students enrolled in higher education. For the remaining 3% of students—primarily those enrolled in paramedical and social work programs and in private schools not under contract with the state—the number of international exchange students is estimated.

Together with foreign resident students (students of foreign nationality who obtained their high school diploma in France, not included in this table), they make up the total number of foreign students.