France aims to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030, says deputy envoy Amon

France is prioritising its target of welcoming 30,000 Indian students by 2030 to strengthen educational cooperation and people-to-people ties with India, French Deputy Ambassador Lisa Amon said on Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the New Delhi edition of the Choose France Tour 2026, Amon said the target was a key part of the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership.

Also Read: UK study visa refusals impact university offers for foreign students: Report


“It is definitely a priority for us to welcome Indian students in France. It is indeed a priority since last year there was a declaration that the strategic partnership between India and France was indeed both global and special,” Amon said.

She said the partnership included a dedicated pillar for people-to-people connections, with student mobility forming a core part of the initiative.

Also Read: Harvard Law School bars international students from externship clinics under new US rules

“The idea is that obviously to connect countries, but also to offer opportunities. There's a lot of students in India who show a lot of promise and who are looking for opportunities. And there's a lot of institutions at higher education institutions in France who have for years and decades and centuries proved their worth,” she added.

Amon attributed the rise in Indian student enrolment in France to strong bilateral ties, institutional engagement and greater awareness of educational opportunities. She said initiatives such as the Choose France Tour and support from Campus France allowed students to interact with institutions, clarify doubts and explore academic options.

She said stability and reliability were important factors when students chose a destination for higher education, adding that France offered an environment where they could pursue their studies and plan their careers.

On attracting more French students to Indian universities, Amon said institutions and diplomatic missions in both countries were working to expand academic exchanges. She said India offered French students opportunities to learn languages, gain international exposure and broaden their perspectives.

Campus France Deputy Director-General Béatrice Khaiat said French higher education institutions were working to attract more Indian students through English-taught programmes and post-study opportunities.

“We want to attract more students and also the French higher education institutions are doing everything to get more Indian students to France. For example, in France, there are nearly 2,000 programs taught in English. So you can study in English in France,” Khaiat said.

She said eligible graduates could access arrangements to gain professional experience in France and described the country as welcoming to Indian students.

According to figures cited by Campus France, Indian enrolment in French higher education rose 17% to 9,100 students in 2024-25, making India the 11th-largest source country of international students in France. The number of Indian students has increased 63% since 2018.

The New Delhi edition of the Choose France Tour 2026, held at Le Méridien, brought together representatives from more than 50 French higher education institutions offering courses in management, engineering, design, creative arts, hospitality and gastronomy. Students and families could seek information on admissions, academic programmes, visa procedures, accommodation and student life.

Organised by the Embassy of France in India in collaboration with the French Institute in India and Campus France, the tour will conclude in Bengaluru on October 17 after visits to Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi.