France Targets 30,000 Indian Students by 2030
By Business Desk
France aims to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030 through an extensive educational tour featuring over 50 institutions, strengthening bilateral ties.
France has launched a significant educational outreach initiative in India, embarking on a four-city tour with over 50 French institutions. This effort aims to substantially increase the number of Indian students, targeting 30,000 students by 2030.
Organized by Campus France, the official French government agency for promoting higher education abroad, this ‘Choose France Tour’ is a key component of the broader India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership. The tour will provide comprehensive guidance on courses, scholarships, visas, and student life in France.
The multi-city tour is scheduled for specific dates in October:
- October 11: Mumbai
- October 13: Pune
- October 15: New Delhi
- October 17: Bengaluru
The number of Indian students in French higher education has already seen a notable increase, reaching 9,100 in the 2024-25 academic year. India’s growing importance as a source of international students is evident, moving from the 13th to the 11th largest for France during the same period.
Deepening Bilateral Educational Ties
This initiative strengthens cooperation in higher education, innovation, and artificial intelligence between India and France. It follows significant agreements made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France in June.
During the June visit, 19 agreements were signed, highlighting key areas:
- The India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030
- Establishment of a Joint India-France AI Working Group
French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, emphasized the high quality of French higher education programs. He noted that fields such as innovation, AI, aerospace, and management prepare students for global careers.
Participating institutions in the ‘Choose France Tour’ include leading engineering, technology, and business schools, alongside public universities. These offer diverse programs designed to attract a wide array of Indian talent.
France’s focused strategy aims not just to increase student numbers but to foster deeper academic and technological collaboration. This sustained engagement signals a robust commitment to shared innovation and human capital development between the two nations.