During the 2022–23 academic year, French higher education institutions welcomed a total of 412,087 international students. The number of international students represents 14% of the overall student population in France. However, the recent data from Campus France indicates a 3% increase in international student enrollment compared to the previous year and a significant 17% increase over the past five years.
By hosting a considerable number of international students in the academic year 2022–23, France maintains its position as the sixth most popular destination for international students globally. France has continued to be an attractive student population for international students. Moreover, if this growth trend continues, France is on track to achieve its goal of attracting half a million international students by 2027.
The majority of international students in France hail from Europe (both EU and non-EU countries), Sub-Saharan Africa, and North Africa. Notably, Morocco, China, and Algeria are the top three countries of origin for these students. The data reveals that in the academic year 2022–23, 45,162 Moroccan students are enrolled in French institutions, while 32,147 are from Algeria, followed by China.
In terms of growth, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India saw the most significant increases in student numbers in 2022–23. For instance, the number of Lebanese students increased by 10% in one year and an impressive 103% over the past five years, bringing their total to 11,527.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted international student numbers in 2020–21, causing stagnation. However, in 2021–22, the number of international students surged to over 400,000 for the first time in the last 15 years, showing a rise of 8 percent. As per the sources, the increase in demand to study in France is directly linked with the wish of European students to study in France.
