Pandemic bounceback brings record French overseas student growth

A post-pandemic resurgence has seen French universities post their biggest yearly increase in international students for more than 15 years, with applications pointing to continued growth next year.

The number of overseas students in France rose 8 per cent between the 2020-21 to 2021-22 academic years, with the total just crossing the symbolic threshold of 400,000.

The biggest annual increase was in students coming from the US, which rose 50 per cent. There was also double-digit growth from Spain, Germany and Italy, which respectively sent 25 per cent, 17 per cent and 16 per cent more students than the previous academic year.

Strong growth has continued in student numbers from Lebanon, with a 30 per cent upswing compared with last year, and the intake almost doubling between 2016-21.

While Europe and North America saw the strongest regional growth – 13 per cent and 15 per cent apiece – the bulk of international students in France continue to come from francophone Africa.

With just over 46,000, Morocco still tops the table of student source nations, followed by Algeria, with just over 31,000. But the growth in student numbers from both countries is slower, at 3 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

Growth looks likely to continue into the 2022-23 academic year, with 140,000 applications made so far through the central “Studying in France” portal, a record 18 per cent rise compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2018-19.

Although the number of Chinese students fell 2 per cent between 2020-21 to 2021-22, they remain the third largest cohort in France, at about 27,000.

Campus France, a government agency promoting international higher education, blamed decreases in the number of students coming from China, Vietnam and Australia on Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The agency said that while growth was up across the higher education sector, the biggest increases were seen in business schools, where the number of international students rose 18 per cent.

France has been experimenting with its course offerings in a bid to attract more international students. Some institutions have taken advantage of changed regulations allowing higher fees or talked up links to luxury brands in a bid to woo those from China, for example.

But growth in international students could add to pressure on a sector already coping with a demographic squeeze from rising domestic enrolments and retirements.

ben.upton@timeshighereducation.com