French institutes unveil education opportunities

The Embassy of France in India and Campus France India -the French national agency for higher studies in France on Thursday announced the Autumn Admission Tour 2014 in India.

To facilitate students from India to take up higher education in various engineering and management schools in France, an interactive event was held in Bangalore wherein representatives of more than 20 top French B-Schools and engineering schools interacted with prospective students from Karnataka and other neighbouring states.

Speaking on the occasion, Consul General of France in Karnataka Eric Lavertu said Thursday’s session gave students an opportunity to meet and interact with recruitment officers from top French institutions.  During the meet, the French Consulate explained visa application guidelines and students were also informed about different scholarships and support schemes such as housing assistance they may be eligible for in France during their study.

Giving a lowdown on what France has to offer in terms of an education destination for Indian students, officials of the Campus France India said France offers more than 800 masters’ programmes taught in English, in all fields.

Interestingly, Indian students are granted five-year short stay visas to all Indian alumni of French institutes, who hold a master’s or postgraduate degree.

Graduates also have the opportunity to stay on in France for up to a year after completion of their course, to find employment there.

The officials said already more than 700 French companies have set up operations in India and are constantly on the lookout for young talent and Indian students who obtain a postgraduate degree in France can seek assistance in finding the companies most suitable for their qualifications and talent, via the India-France Job Opportunities Board, a network connecting alumni and French companies and their subsidiaries in India.