France is stepping up its efforts to attract students from India, setting a target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030 as enrolment from the country continues to grow. The initiative is part of a broader effort by India and France to strengthen collaboration in education, innovation and artificial intelligence.

Campus France, the French government agency that promotes higher education opportunities overseas and assists international students with admissions and visa procedures, said the number of Indian students enrolled in French higher education reached 9,100 in the 2024-25 academic year.

India also improved its position among France’s leading sources of international students, moving from 13th place to 11th during the year. A wider assessment based on visa and residence-permit figures, which also accounts for exchange students and those enrolled in shorter programmes, estimated that around 12,000 Indian students were in France in 2025.

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India-France education partnership

The goal of bringing 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030 is part of the wider education partnership between the two countries, with student mobility identified as an important area of cooperation.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France in June, India and France signed 19 agreements aimed at strengthening their respective innovation ecosystems. The two sides also adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 and set up a Joint India-France AI Working Group.

Modi also invited French universities to explore establishing campuses in India, signalling a push for greater institutional cooperation between the two countries.

French institutions to participate in Choose France Tour

French universities and higher education institutions are also increasing their direct engagement with Indian students. More than 50 institutions are expected to participate in the Choose France Tour in October.

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The four-city event will be held in Mumbai on October 11, Pune on October 13, New Delhi on October 15 and Bengaluru on October 17.

The participating institutions include engineering and technology schools such as CentraleSupelec, Mines Paris-PSL and IMT Atlantique. Business schools including ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC are also expected to take part, along with public universities such as Université Paris-Saclay and Universite Grenoble Alpes.

Campus France India will provide prospective students with information on academic programmes, scholarships, visa requirements, accommodation and life as a student in France.

Focus on emerging sectors and creative industries

France’s outreach is not limited to conventional higher education programmes. Several initiatives are also being developed around specialised skills and emerging industries.

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One such initiative is Desibel, launched by the Embassy of France in India and the French Institute in India. The programme focuses on training, professional development and international exchange in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and immersive content, collectively known as AVGC-XR.

Desibel provides Indian artists, creators and professionals with opportunities to engage with French mentors, institutions and industry networks. Its activities span capacity-building, publishing, animation and extended-reality projects.

The programme also includes the India Comics Project, through which 24 Indian artists are adapting literary classics into graphic novels.

The AVGC-XR component is being led by the Aniverse & Visual Arts Foundation and includes initiatives such as the AniMela Festival and the International Mifa Campus pitch lab.

In June 2026, five Indian animation projects were presented at the Annecy Festival in France, further highlighting the growing creative and educational exchanges between the two countries.