Studying at one of France’s established universities is one of the better routes into Europe. With a French student visa you can travel within the Schengen area without a further visa and work part time in France alongside your studies.
If you want to study in the heart of Europe at a long-established, international university with strong teaching, the University of Strasbourg is worth a close look. With its history, its range of subjects, its academic staff and its modern facilities, it takes in thousands of international students every year. This article introduces the University of Strasbourg and then sets out the application steps and the French student visa process.
Why study in France?
Moving to France to study puts you in the middle of Europe. A French student residence permit lets you travel to other Schengen countries without a separate visa and work part time in France during term, up to the legal limit of 60 per cent of full-time hours, around 964 hours a year.
Beyond that, French universities offer moderate tuition at public institutions, high teaching standards, internationally ranked universities, career opportunities after graduation, a route to permanent residence, an active cultural life and a multicultural society.
With that in mind, here is a closer look at the University of Strasbourg and its faculties.
About the University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg, ranked around 420th in the world, is one of the oldest and most respected universities in France. It traces its origins to 1538 and now has more than 50,000 French and international students.
It sits in the city of Strasbourg in the Alsace region and, with a history of more than 480 years, is one of the main centres of higher education and research in Europe.
The University of Strasbourg consistently appears among the top 400 universities in world rankings and is well regarded across Europe in the humanities and the natural sciences. It is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), a small group of leading European research institutions.
University of Strasbourg website: https://en.unistra.fr
Read more: The best subjects to study in France
The University of Strasbourg’s record
Strasbourg is among the most decorated universities in France by number of Nobel laureates. It counts 18 Nobel prizes and 3 Fields Medals in mathematics, which reflects the level of research carried out there. That research standing underpins academic and teaching partnerships with more than 750 universities and institutions worldwide.
Faculties at the University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg has 35 faculties and higher education departments across a wide range of fields, including:
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Law, Political Science and Economics
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Languages
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Business and Management
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Institute of Technology
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Philosophy
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Geography and Urban Planning
Read more: Ten of the best public universities in France
How to apply to the University of Strasbourg
To study at Strasbourg, choose the faculty you want and use the admissions section of that department to find the tuition fees, application windows, entry requirements and related details.
Some programmes require an interview, and some ask for a portfolio and additional academic documents. Take that information from the faculty’s own pages or contact the department directly.
Once you have chosen your programme and department, translate and prepare your documents as the university specifies and apply within the published window. Requirements vary between faculties, but you will generally need the application fee, your most recent qualification with transcripts, a motivation letter, references, a full CV and a language certificate (B2 in French or English).
Note that students who are nationals of, or resident in, a country covered by the Etudes en France procedure must apply through the Campus France system.
How the French student visa works
Once you hold an offer from the University of Strasbourg, you apply for the French student visa (VLS-TS). The core requirement is a formal or conditional offer from the university, so apply for admission and sit any tests or interviews well before the deadline.
For a French student visa you book an appointment at the French consulate that covers your area and then prepare the following:
- The university offer letter
- A completed and signed visa application form
- A valid passport and other identity documents
- Proof of financial means, or a scholarship or funding letter
- Health insurance for the duration of your studies
- A recent biometric photograph with a white background
- The visa fee, EUR 99
Strasbourg compared with other French cities
| Criterion | Strasbourg | Paris | Lyon | Toulouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly living costs | EUR 900-1,200 | EUR 1,300-1,800 | EUR 950-1,300 | EUR 900-1,200 |
| Student hall or flat rent | EUR 400-650 | EUR 700-1,200 | EUR 450-700 | EUR 400-650 |
| Public transport | Tram, bus (no metro) | Metro, RER, tram | Metro, tram, bus | Metro, tram |
| Work opportunities during studies | Good, especially in international and research fields | Plentiful | Good | Moderate |
| Job prospects after graduation | Very varied and dynamic | Varied and plentiful | Good and varied | Moderate |
| Culture and lifestyle | Bilingual city blending German and French culture | France's cultural and economic capital | Modern city with a strong job market | Student city with a young population |
Key points for international students
If you have no funding or scholarship and your priority is lower cost with good teaching, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Montpellier compare well with Paris. If cost matters less and you want the widest range of jobs and international networking, Paris is the stronger option.
Lyon and Strasbourg both strike a reasonable balance between living costs and work opportunities. With its record, its academic staff, its range of subjects, its moderate fees and its location, the University of Strasbourg is a strong option for studying in France.
French student visas with Aval Visa
If you are looking to study in Europe and apply for a French student visa, the University of Strasbourg deserves a place on your list.
As a first step, speak to the student visa advisers at Aval Visa and decide on your options based on your current position. From the first step, securing an offer, through booking the consulate appointment, contacting academic staff and completing the forms, our team works alongside you.
Frequently asked questions
- Which language certificate do I need?
A B2 level in French or English is required for study at Strasbourg. For English, take IELTS or TOEFL; for French, take DELF or TEF. - When do applications to the University of Strasbourg open?
Check the admissions section of the faculty’s website. Some programmes admit each semester, others take international students once a year. - Can I stay and work after graduating?
Yes. With the temporary residence permit for job seeking and business creation (APS), graduates can remain in France to look for work.
