Education — Compulsory Schooling and Very Low Public-University Fees

The big picture in France is free, compulsory public education from age 3 to 16 (compulsory schooling was lowered from 6 to 3 in 2019), followed by public universities (université) with very low — almost symbolic — registration fees. The largest contrasts with Korea are that higher education leans heavily on public support rather than private institutions, and that the student-support package — bourses sur critères sociaux (means-tested grants), CROUS halls of residence, and APL — runs in separate but overlapping layers.

Core schemes:

• Early years and school — usually structured as follows:
  • École maternelle (ages 3–6, compulsory) → École élémentaire (6–11) → Collège (11–15, ending with the brevet) → Lycée (15–18, ending with the baccalauréat).
  • Public-school tuition is free; textbooks, meals, and transport may be subsidised based on household income and local-authority policy.
  • ARS (Allocation de rentrée scolaire), the back-to-school supplies allowance (means-tested), is paid by CAF either automatically or on application.
• Higher education — public-university bachelor's registration is set at a very low symbolic level (around €170 a year at official rates), with similarly defined public fees for master's and doctoral programmes. Grandes écoles, some private institutions, and certain international programmes can charge separate tuition.
• Differentiated fees for non-EU students — frais d'inscription différenciés can apply to new non-EU/EEA international students, charging a higher rate than the standard public fee (not applied uniformly across institutions). Check each institution's exemption and scholarship policy.
• Bourses sur critères sociaux (CROUS grants) — granted in tiers (échelon) based on family income, number of children, and distance from home. Typical packages combine fee exemption with a monthly stipend.
• CROUS halls and student restaurants — public student halls (résidence universitaire) charge below-market rents and usually combine with APL. Student restaurants (RU) operate on subsidised pricing.
• Combining with CAF and APL — students can also apply for APL/ALS. There are interactions with whether parents claim the student as a tax dependent, so simulating in advance is recommended.

Common pitfalls for newcomers and international students:

• EU and non-EU difference — EU/EEA/Swiss students typically pay the same as nationals, while non-EU students may face differentiated fees and have to manage a separate VLS-TS étudiant residence permit.
• Language certification — French-taught degrees usually require DELF/DALF/TCF or similar; English-taught programmes require recognised English-language scores.
• Recognition of foreign qualifications — ENIC-NARIC France issues recognition statements for foreign degrees and diplomas. Korean degrees are often required to be matched to a level in subsequent applications (employment or further study).
• Transferring or changing major — first- and second-year transfers are decided by each institution. Credit recognition and language requirements vary.
• Tax interactions — students can have their own filing obligations, and whether a parent claims the student as a dependent (rattachement) affects household IR and grant calculations.

Official guidance: education.gouv.fr, enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr, campusfrance.org, crous-paris.fr