More than 300,000 international students have settled in France for the year 2021-2022. A historic record for France since this figure exceeds, for the first time, the bar of 300,000 students in international mobility, according to thestudy published on November 28, 2022 by Campus Francea public body responsible for foreign students attached to the Ministries of Higher Education and Foreign Affairs.
In total, they represent 11% of all higher education students, according to the ministry, especially in business schools (+18%). Gold, if the cultural contribution of international students is regularly mentioned, their economic impact is often ignored. However, they constitute a real economic windfall for France.
Multiple expense items
Housing, food, transport, health insurance… international students pay an average of 867 euros per month, reveals the Campus France study, carried out in partnership with the Kantar Public Institute among 10,000 international students. To these expenses are added to the registration fees in French universities. ” On average, they pay 2,822 euros in tuition fees (CVEC ccontribution to student and campus life, editor’s note) ”, notes Campus France, before adding that in total, no less than 873 million euros in registration fees were generated over the 2021-2022 academic year, all types of establishment combined. .
« Their stay also generates revenue for the French economy in a wide variety of sectors. “Explains the public body responsible for foreign students. Transport expenditure thus represents one of the main economic contributions of international students with 461.2 million euros in one year. In addition, 48% of respondents to the survey admitted to working during their stay, and the contribution in employee social security contributions reached 7,800 euros on average for a single job, and up to 13,300 euros for several jobs per person. Lastly, for the students concerned by the expenses of file, obtaining visas and residence permits, France pockets 34.8 million euros of annual contribution. In total, the more than 300,000 international students in France contribute five billion euros to the French economy per year.
1.35 billion euros net per year for the French economy
Even if they bring in more than they cost, international students are also an important source of public expenditure. To 3.1 billion euros over one year, the ” share of teaching for the higher level » attributable to these students constitutes the main expenditure of the State, without forgetting the social security expenses and housing aid which also represent nearly 500 million euros. ” 18% of respondents declare that they finance their studies thanks to scholarships granted by the governments of their country of origin or by the French government “, indicates the study, or 53 million euros subsidized by the French State.
Thus, Campus France estimates the total cost of foreign students at 3.7 billion euros. By deducting these public expenditures, the net economic impact of this category of students therefore approaches 1.35 billion euros.
However, the Covid-19 health crisis has impacted student mobility. For nearly eight out of ten respondents (78%), the pandemic has had no impact on the length of their stay, but the economic contribution of foreign students in France has been reduced, in particular due to the reduction in visits relatives, according to Campus France. Their economic impact could have been greater without the health crisis, without it being possible to precisely determine the amount of the shortfall, which the study estimates, however, at 235.5 million euros.
“First prescribers in the country”
« Beyond the direct economic impact, welcoming international students has an impact on France’s influence “, underlines the study. Thus, for 88% of respondents, this stay in France has direct positive effects on their desire to work with French companies, a figure up 10% compared to the study carried out in 2014. Moreover, the same number want to return to France for tourism. Coming mainly from Africa, and in particular from North Africa and the Middle East (32%), but also from Europe (20%), Asia (16%) or even the Americas (8%), they are also ” the first prescribers in the country “. In effect, 90% of them would recommend France as a study destination, or to live there (75%).