In 2023, France continues to draw an exceptional number of over 400,000 students, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year. These figures underscore France’s enduring appeal as a study destination, resilient even amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mobility constraints. The 2023 edition of Campus France Key Figures sheds light on emerging trends in global student mobility, driven by crises and conflicts, compelling students to seek refuge and educational opportunities from regions spanning Ukraine to Iran, Afghanistan to Syria.

France is ranked sixth among host countries for international students (Campus France, 2023)

According to UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics, France ranked sixth in hosting international students. It trailed behind major English-speaking countries like the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, as well as Germany. Following France, China, Japan, and Turkey have been actively implementing strategies to attract talented individuals globally. While the data offers only a partial view, the pandemic’s impact varies across countries: France saw a continued increase in student numbers in 2020, unaffected unlike the United States, Australia, and even destinations like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which are among the top 20 destinations worldwide for international students.

 

In 2020, the European Union retained its position as the foremost host region, surpassing North America, while also being the second-largest region of origin for students, following the Asia-Pacific region.

Furthermore, based on Erasmus+ data from 2021, France ranked as the third most preferred country among participants of the program, trailing behind Spain and Germany but leading Italy and Poland.