France vs. Australia Comparison for International Students

Confused to choose between France and Australia for studying abroad? It is understandable, as deciding your country to study abroad is a meticulous task. It requires careful evaluation as your choice must satisfy your academic demands, career prospects, and financial affordability. 

France is home to top business schools like HEC Paris, EDHEC, ESSEC, and INSEAD. Australia has global –top universities like the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and Australian National University. France offers you the advantages of being in a European country, while Australia is unique in its location and lifestyle.   

Read on and explore more on France vs. Australia for international students to make your decision.

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France vs. Australia for international students: A glance 

Factors	France	Australia
Average Cost of Study	3,000 – 4,000 USD	43,000 – 55,000 USD
Average Cost of Living	8,600 – 11,000 USD	20,000 – 23,000 USD
Part-time Work Permit	20 hours a week	48 hours a fortnight
Top Cities to Study	Paris Lyon Toulouse Bordeaux Grenoble Strasbourg Montpellier	Melbourne  Sydney  Canberra  Brisbane  Adelaide  Perth  Gold Coast
Post-study Stay Back Duration	Up to 5 years	Up to 6 years

id=”top”Top reasons to study in these countries:

In France

France is home to globally reputed universities and colleges. Every year, the government invests around 20% of the annual budget for education, encouraging international students to pursue excellence in France.  

• More than 1,500 French programs are taught in English 
• 500+ scholarships for international students 
• France has strong bilateral agreements with India 
• Around 570 French companies operate in India. You can explore opportunities in them with a French degree 
• French education system is renowned for research and innovation. 64 Nobel Laureates are from France, of diverse academic backgrounds 
• You will learn French, the official language of 30 countries across continents 
• France is an esteemed choice for entrepreneurship learnings 
• Situated in the heart of Europe, you can travel anywhere in the continent from France 

In Australia

Here are the top reasons why Australia can be your study abroad choice:  

• Australia is home to top ranking universities offering high quality education 
• Australian universities have a good acceptance rate for international students 
• Australian government offers scholarships for international students to encourage the regional universities 
• Every year, the government publishes vacancies in different sectors, letting international students to work in the country 

France vs. Australia: Top Universities  

France and Australia host globally leading universities with proven tracks of excellence. Some of these universities are renowned and have produced notable alumni including Nobel Laureates of diverse fields. No doubt international students stand the best chance to learn and enhance their academic and personal perspectives when they enroll into the top universities in France and Australia. 

Top universities in France 

French universities are among the top in Europe for academic excellence and career prospects. International students form a significant part of the student community in renowned French universities. The following are the top universities in France:   

Top Universities in France	THE Rankings 2024
Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris	40
Université Paris-Saclay (Paris-Saclay University)	58
Institut Polytechnique de Paris (Polytechnic Institute of Paris)	71
Sorbonne University	75
Université Paris Cité (Paris Cité University)	152
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon	251 – 300
Université Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble Alps University)	301 – 350
Montpellier University	301 – 350
Aix-Marseille University	351 – 400
University of Bordeaux	351 – 400

Top universities in Australia 

Australian universities are globally known for academic excellence in diverse fields of study. The research-extensive curriculum and academic environment in Australian universities will transform your learning experience for the best. The table below shows top Australian universities for international students:  

Top Universities in Australia	QS Rankings 2024
The University of Melbourne	14
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)	19
The University of Sydney	19
Australian National University (ANU)	34
Monash University	42
The University of Queensland	43
The University of Western Australia	72
The University of Adelaide	89
University of Technology Sydney	90
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia)	130

Popular courses: France vs. Australia 

Popular Courses in France	Popular Courses in Australia
MBA Engineering Film Studies Luxury Brand Management Hotel Management Fashion Designing Computer Science Data Science Finance Medicine	Accountancy Actuarial Science Agricultural sciences Architecture Biomedical engineering Core engineering Earth sciences Computer science and information technology Psychology Tourism and hospitality management

Admission requirements: France vs. Australia 

Admission requirements for France and Australia remain almost the same, except that French universities may ask for French proficiency proof. The requirements are decided by your course, university and other factors. In general, the following documents are required to study in France or Australia:  

Relevant academic transcripts	Student visa
Passport	Resume
2 – 3 Letters of recommendation	English proficiency proof – IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE
Entrance tests – GMAT or GRE if required	Proof of work experience and extracurricular involvements, if applicable

France vs. Australia: Cost of study  

In France and Australia, the cost of study varies according to your university, course, and city of living. Chances are that the French government sponsors a share of your tuition fees. Typically, the following are the tuition fees required to study various courses in France and Australia: 

Course Level	France	Australia
Undergraduate	2,770 EUR (3,000 USD)	46,500 – 50,000 USD
Postgraduate	3,770 EUR (4,100 USD)	43,000 – 55,000 USD
PhD	380 EUR (411 USD)	45,500 – 51,000 USD

France vs. Australia: Cost of living  

Cost of living can be a challenge in France if you don’t follow proper management of expenses. In general, the expense varies with your city of living and personal spending. There are expensive cities like Paris and affordable cities like Grenoble.  

Australian government informs that international students need around 30,000 – 35,000 AUD (19,700 – 23,000 USD) to live a moderate life in Australia. However, the cost of living may be higher, depending on various factors such as your city of living, personal expenses, accommodation type, and so on. Estimate your expenses on the cost-of-living calculator by the Australian government for clarity.  

See the table below for the average cost of living in France vs. Australia for international students: 

Country	Average Cost of Living for International Students
France	8,600 – 11,000 USD
Australia	20,000 – 23,000 USD

Student visa application for France vs. Australia  

A student visa is crucial for France and Australia for international students. Depending on your course duration, you can stay till a particular period in these countries with a valid student visa. Once you complete your studies, you can change the category and apply for a post-study work visa to remain in France or Australia and explore job opportunities.  

Features	France	Australia
Visa Validity	4 months – 1 year (depending on course duration, can be renewed online)	5 years
Application Fee	99 EUR (107 USD)	710 AUD (467 USD)
Processing Time	15 days	4 weeks

France vs. Australia: Average salary for jobs 

France is the world’s 7^th largest economy. The country hosts 31 out of the most powerful 500 companies in the world. The country is one of the top supporters of innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe.  

• Top companies for recruitment in France include Air France, Airbus, Volkswagen, Renault, Thales, L’Oréal, and BNP Paribas among others. 

Australia boasts a steady economy congenial for business and industrial growth. It houses top companies in the world, including Fortune 500 companies. Once you graduate, you can get a Post-Study Visa Permit and explore job opportunities.  

• Top companies for recruitment in Australia include Telstra, Coles, Fortescue, Macquarie Group, Atlassian, Amazon, IBM, Alphabet, BHP, Deloitte, and Allianz. 

Job Areas	Average Salary in France	Average Salary in Australia
IT and Technology	38,000 – 58,000 USD	46,000 – 66,000 USD
Healthcare	84,500 – 238,000 USD	48,000 – 74,000 USD
Engineering	43,000 – 57,000 USD	53,000 – 66,000 USD
Finance and Banking	54,000 – 85,000 USD	46,000 – 79,000 USD
Hospitality and Tourism	78,000 – 91,000 USD	58,000 – 72,000 USD
Marketing and Sales	54,000 – 76,000 USD	36,000 – 66,000 USD

France vs. Australia: Culture, climate, and crime rate 

Culture 

France shows you the European way of living. French people are known for their love of celebrating life with romance, luxury, musicals, and food varieties. Paris is the world’s fashion capital also known for congresses. For international students, it can be a great choice for European tourism as the location of France is in the heart of Europe. France and its territories have three seas and three oceans, 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites and five mountainous European regions.  

Australia offers you all the luxuries of an urban life. Adventures, cafe, golf, water sports, and what not – Australian life is something that satisfies most international students. The people are welcoming, and you can see students from 192 countries studying in Australia. Being an English-speaking country with a significant Indian diaspora population and a tropical climate, Australia won’t be a big cultural shock compared to France.  

Climate 

French climate is continental, characterized by warm summers and snowfall. In Eastern regions, the climate exhibits a continental nature of warm summers featuring occasional thunderstorms, while winters tend to be cold. Temperatures may dip below freezing, and mountainous areas often experience frequent snowfall. In the South, the climate takes on a Mediterranean character, where summers are hot, and winters are typically mild and dry.  

Australian climate is tropical and continental, somewhat like the Indian climate. Indian students have a less challenge in adapting with Australia’s climate. Australia has a tropical climate of summers and rainfalls. Due to the geographical vastness, you can see diverse sorts of weather variations, such as rainfalls, droughts, summers, winds, and snowy conditions.   

Crime rate 

France is considered a safe choice for Indian students. India and France have strong ties regarding the international student safety. France reports a lower crime rate and proper execution of laws. 

Both the Australian government and universities prioritize the comfort and safety of international students. Australia has a lower crime rate and strict laws regarding public safety. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics,77% of women and 93% of men who used public transport alone after dark felt safe. 

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