France Expands Education Outreach in India, Targets 30,000 Indian Students by 2030

France is expanding its higher education outreach in India through a four-city education tour involving more than 50 French institutions, as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation in higher education, innovation and artificial intelligence.

The initiative comes at a time when the number of Indian students pursuing higher education in France has increased significantly. According to Campus France, Indian enrolment in French higher education reached 9,100 students during the 2024-25 academic year.

The upcoming Choose France Tour is scheduled to take place in Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and Bengaluru in October. The programme is intended to give Indian students and their families greater access to information about French higher education, including courses, scholarships, visas, accommodation and student life.

France has also set an ambitious target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030, reflecting the growing importance of student mobility in the broader India-France relationship.

France Plans Four-City Education Tour in India

The Choose France Tour will be conducted across four major Indian cities in October. The tour will begin in Mumbai on October 11, followed by Pune on October 13, New Delhi on October 15 and Bengaluru on October 17.

More than 50 French higher education institutions are expected to participate in the tour. The participating institutions represent different areas of higher education, including engineering and technology, business education and public universities.

The four-city programme comes as India and France look to deepen their Special Global Strategic Partnership, particularly in areas connected with education, innovation and artificial intelligence.

The outreach is therefore being positioned within a wider effort to strengthen academic and institutional links between the two countries. Student mobility and education have been identified as priority areas of cooperation.

For Indian students interested in studying abroad, the tour will provide access to information directly connected with studying in France. Campus France India will offer counselling to students and families on several aspects of the study-abroad process.

The counselling will cover courses, scholarships, visas, accommodation and student life in France.

Indian Student Enrolment in France Rises

The expansion of France's education outreach comes against the backdrop of increasing Indian participation in French higher education.

Campus France said the number of Indian students in French higher education reached 9,100 during 2024-25. This rise has contributed to India becoming a more significant source of international students for France.

According to Campus France, India moved from being the 13th-largest source of international students in France to the 11th-largest during 2024-25.

Another figure comes from visa and residence-permit data. These figures include exchange students as well as students enrolled in shorter programmes. On that basis, the number of Indian students in France stood at 12,000 in 2025, according to the information provided by Campus France.

The two figures reflect different measures of student presence. The 9,100 figure relates to Indian enrolment in French higher education in 2024-25, while the 12,000 figure comes from visa and residence-permit data that also cover exchange students and students in shorter programmes.

The increase in Indian student participation forms an important backdrop to France's objective of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

France Sets 30,000 Indian Students Target

France has established a target of welcoming 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

The target was highlighted as part of the growing education relationship between India and France. Student mobility has been identified as one of the priority areas in bilateral cooperation, alongside broader collaboration in innovation and artificial intelligence.

French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou described the current period as an exceptionally dynamic year for the India-France partnership and said the Choose France Tour would carry that momentum forward.

The 30,000-student objective is therefore not presented only as a numerical goal. Mathou said the target represents an effort to support the development of future engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs who could contribute to the France-India Special Global Strategic Partnership.

According to Mathou, the Choose France initiative is intended to provide the starting point for that future.

The French ambassador also highlighted the areas of study available at French higher education institutions. He said French institutions offer programmes focused on innovation, artificial intelligence, aerospace and management.

These programmes, according to Mathou, prepare students for career opportunities not only in France but also in the international job market.

Campus France to Guide Indian Students

A central part of the education outreach will be the role of Campus France India.

Campus France is the official French government agency responsible for promoting higher education abroad and supporting international students through university admission and visa application processes.

The agency operates under the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education.

Campus France serves as the mandatory first step for people applying to study in France, according to the information provided in the report.

Through the Choose France Tour, Campus France India will provide counselling to students and their families. The counselling will cover the different stages and practical considerations associated with studying in France.

Students will be able to seek information about available courses and scholarships. Families will also receive guidance related to visas, accommodation and student life in France.

The programme is therefore designed to provide information covering both academic and practical aspects of studying in France.

The presence of more than 50 French institutions is also expected to give students exposure to a broad range of higher education options during the four-city tour.

India-France Education Cooperation Gains Importance

The upcoming tour comes within a broader effort by India and France to strengthen their cooperation in education, innovation and artificial intelligence.

The two countries have identified education and student mobility as priority areas of cooperation. France's objective of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030 is part of this wider approach.

The relationship also received attention during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in June.

During that visit, India and France signed 19 agreements related to their innovation ecosystems. The two countries also adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030.

In addition, India and France established a Joint India-France AI Working Group.

These developments form part of the broader context surrounding the Choose France Tour. The education initiative is taking place at a time when cooperation between the two countries is also expanding in innovation and artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Modi also invited French universities to establish campuses in India.

The invitation was linked to the wider objective of strengthening educational cooperation, with student mobility and education identified as key areas.

French Ambassador Highlights Higher Education Opportunities

French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou highlighted the range of programmes available through French higher education institutions.

He said French institutions provide programmes with a focus on areas including innovation, artificial intelligence, aerospace and management.

According to Mathou, these programmes are designed to train students for promising careers in France as well as in the international job market.

His remarks also connected the 30,000-student target with the longer-term relationship between India and France.

Mathou said the target goes beyond simply reaching a particular number of students. In his description, the initiative is intended to contribute to the development of future engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs.

These students, he said, could help advance the France-India Special Global Strategic Partnership.

The Choose France Tour is being presented as an important part of this effort because it will bring French higher education institutions directly to Indian cities.

More Than 50 French Institutions to Participate

The Choose France Tour will feature more than 50 French institutions from different segments of higher education.

Among the participating institutions are engineering and technology schools such as CentraleSupélec, Mines Paris-PSL and IMT Atlantique.

The participating business schools include ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC.

Public universities taking part include Université Paris Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes.

The participation of institutions across engineering, technology, business and public university education gives the tour a broad academic representation.

The institutions will be part of the four-city programme taking place in Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and Bengaluru.

For students considering France as a study destination, the tour is intended to provide direct access to information about the participating institutions and the wider French higher education system.

Campus France India will support students and families by providing counselling during the tour.

Choose France Tour Dates and Locations

The four-city schedule for the Choose France Tour has been announced for October.

The first event will take place in Mumbai on October 11.

The tour will then move to Pune on October 13.

The third stop will be New Delhi on October 15.

The final city on the announced schedule is Bengaluru on October 17.

The sequence places the tour in four major Indian cities, allowing participating French institutions and Campus France India to engage with students and families in different locations.

The programme's focus will be higher education opportunities in France and the practical information required by Indian students considering study there.

Students and families will receive counselling on courses, scholarships, visas, accommodation and student life.

Why the 2030 Target Matters to France

France's decision to target 30,000 Indian students by 2030 comes as the number of Indian students in French higher education continues to grow.

Campus France reported 9,100 Indian students enrolled in French higher education during 2024-25. India also moved from the 13th-largest source of international students in France to the 11th-largest during that academic period.

Visa and residence-permit figures, which cover exchange students and students in shorter programmes as well, placed the number of Indian students in France at 12,000 in 2025.

Against those figures, France's 2030 objective represents a significant expansion of Indian student mobility.

The goal has also been linked by French officials to the development of future professionals in areas such as engineering, research and entrepreneurship.

Mathou said the objective should be viewed as more than a statistic and connected it with the future of the France-India Special Global Strategic Partnership.

The Choose France Tour is one of the initiatives being used to strengthen awareness and access around French higher education in India.

Focus on Innovation and Artificial Intelligence

Innovation and artificial intelligence are central themes in the current India-France education relationship.

The two countries adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in June.

They also established the Joint India-France AI Working Group.

The education outreach is taking place within this broader context of cooperation.

French higher education institutions participating in the tour include institutions specialising in engineering, technology and business. French Ambassador Thierry Mathou specifically highlighted programmes in innovation and artificial intelligence, along with aerospace and management.

The areas highlighted by France reflect the sectors identified in its education outreach and the broader innovation partnership with India.

Student mobility has also been recognised as a priority area, while Prime Minister Modi invited French universities to establish campuses in India.

French Universities Invited to Establish Campuses in India

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to France, French universities were invited to establish campuses in India.

The move forms part of the wider education cooperation between the two countries.

Education and student mobility have been identified as priority areas within the bilateral partnership.

The invitation to French universities to establish campuses in India adds another dimension to the relationship beyond students travelling to France.

At the same time, France's target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030 focuses on increasing student mobility towards French higher education institutions.

Both elements are part of the education cooperation described in connection with the Choose France Tour.

Information on Scholarships, Visas and Accommodation

For Indian students interested in studying abroad, the practical aspects of international education are an important component of the upcoming outreach.

Campus France India will provide counselling covering scholarships, visas and accommodation, in addition to information about courses and student life in France.

The counselling is intended for both students and their families.

By covering these areas, the tour will address academic choices as well as practical issues associated with studying in another country.

Students will be able to receive information about courses available through French institutions participating in the tour.

They will also have access to guidance about scholarships and the visa process.

Accommodation and student life in France are also included among the subjects on which Campus France India will provide counselling.

France Sees India as a Growing Source of International Students

The latest Campus France figures show India's position among the major sources of international students in France strengthening during 2024-25.

India moved from the 13th position to the 11th position among sources of international students in France during the academic period.

The number of Indian students enrolled in French higher education reached 9,100 in 2024-25, according to Campus France.

Visa and residence-permit data placed the broader number of Indian students in France at 12,000 in 2025, with those figures also including exchange students and students enrolled in shorter programmes.

These figures provide the background to the expansion of France's education outreach in India.

The four-city Choose France Tour will bring more than 50 French institutions to Indian students and families in October.

The programme will take place in Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and Bengaluru.

Engineering, Technology and Business Schools Join Tour

The institutions participating in the Choose France Tour span multiple areas of higher education.

Engineering and technology schools named among the participants include CentraleSupélec, Mines Paris-PSL and IMT Atlantique.

Business education will be represented by institutions including ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC.

Public universities participating in the programme include Université Paris Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes.

The participation of these institutions means that students attending the tour will have access to information from a range of French higher education providers.

The academic areas represented in the participating institutions also correspond with areas highlighted by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou, including innovation, artificial intelligence, aerospace and management.

The tour therefore brings together information about different types of French higher education institutions under the Choose France initiative.

India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership

The education outreach is also connected to the broader India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership.

According to the report, India and France are seeking to deepen cooperation in higher education, innovation and artificial intelligence.

The four-city tour assumes significance in this context because education and student mobility have been identified as priority areas of cooperation.

The relationship also includes developments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to France.

During the visit, India and France signed 19 agreements related to their innovation ecosystems.

They adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 and created a Joint India-France AI Working Group.

These developments provide the broader setting for the latest education outreach initiative.

France's plan to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030 is part of the same expanding education and student mobility relationship.

Choose France Initiative to Support Future Student Mobility

The Choose France Tour is intended to strengthen connections between Indian students and French higher education institutions.

The programme will travel to four Indian cities in October, with more than 50 French institutions participating.

Campus France India will be present to provide counselling to students and families.

The counselling will include information on academic programmes, scholarships, visa procedures, accommodation and student life in France.

The tour comes after the number of Indian students in French higher education increased to 9,100 in 2024-25.

India's position as a source of international students in France also improved during the same academic period, moving from 13th to 11th place, according to Campus France.

Visa and residence-permit data put the number of Indian students in France at 12,000 in 2025, although this figure includes exchange students and students enrolled in shorter programmes.

France's 30,000-student target for 2030 is being pursued against this background.

Education Outreach Linked to Career Opportunities

French Ambassador Thierry Mathou highlighted the career-oriented nature of French higher education programmes.

He said French institutions offer programmes in areas including innovation, artificial intelligence, aerospace and management.

According to Mathou, these programmes train students for careers in France and in the international job market.

His comments also connected education with the longer-term India-France partnership.

The 30,000-student target, he said, represents an effort to foster future engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs who can contribute to the France-India Special Global Strategic Partnership.

The Choose France Tour is described as the place where this future begins.

The emphasis on career-oriented programmes and international opportunities forms part of France's outreach to Indian students.

Four Indian Cities to Host the Tour

The decision to conduct the Choose France Tour across four cities will bring the participating institutions and Campus France India directly to students in India.

Mumbai will host the tour on October 11.

Pune will follow on October 13.

New Delhi will host the event on October 15.

Bengaluru will be the final stop on October 17.

The schedule has been announced as part of France's expanded education outreach.

Students and families participating in the tour will be able to seek guidance on the different aspects of studying in France.

The participating institutions will include engineering and technology schools, business schools and public universities.

More than 50 French institutions are expected to be represented across the tour.

Growing Role of Campus France India

Campus France has a central role in France's international higher education outreach.

It is the official French government agency promoting higher education abroad and guiding international students through university admission and visa application processes.

The agency operates under the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education.

For students applying to study in France, Campus France serves as the mandatory first step, according to the information provided in the report.

In India, Campus France will use the Choose France Tour to provide counselling to students and their families.

The guidance will cover courses, scholarships, visas, accommodation and student life.

This means the outreach is designed not only to introduce French universities and institutions but also to provide information about the practical process of studying in France.

India’s Position Improves Among International Student Sources

Campus France data show that India became a more prominent source of international students in France in 2024-25.

India moved up from 13th to 11th place among the sources of international students in France.

The number of Indian students in French higher education reached 9,100 in the 2024-25 academic year.

Separately, visa and residence-permit data put the Indian student population in France at 12,000 in 2025. Those figures include exchange students and students taking shorter programmes.

The distinction between the two figures is important because they are based on different data categories.

The higher figure from visa and residence-permit data includes categories beyond students enrolled in French higher education programmes.

Together, the figures show the increasing presence of Indian students in France and provide the background to France's objective of reaching 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

Broader India-France Innovation Cooperation

The education initiative is taking place alongside broader cooperation between India and France in innovation and artificial intelligence.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in June, the two countries signed 19 agreements related to their innovation ecosystems.

They also adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030.

Another outcome was the establishment of the Joint India-France AI Working Group.

These initiatives demonstrate the wider areas of cooperation being pursued by the two countries.

Education and student mobility have been identified as priority areas within this relationship.

France's education outreach in India is therefore linked to a broader bilateral framework that includes innovation and artificial intelligence.

French Higher Education Institutions Highlighted

Several prominent French institutions are included among the participants in the Choose France Tour.

The engineering and technology institutions named are CentraleSupélec, Mines Paris-PSL and IMT Atlantique.

The business schools include ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC.

The public universities listed are Université Paris Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes.

These institutions represent the different categories of higher education that will be part of the outreach programme.

The participating institutions also align with the academic fields highlighted by the French ambassador, including innovation, artificial intelligence, aerospace and management.

Students will have the opportunity to receive information about the institutions as part of the tour's four-city programme.

France’s Education Outreach Expands as Student Numbers Rise

France is increasing its education outreach in India while Indian participation in French higher education is growing.

The number of Indian students in French higher education reached 9,100 in 2024-25, according to Campus France.

India also improved its position among the sources of international students in France, moving from 13th to 11th.

Visa and residence-permit data for 2025 placed the number of Indian students in France at 12,000, including exchange students and those enrolled in shorter programmes.

At the same time, France has announced a target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

The Choose France Tour is one of the initiatives supporting this broader objective.

The tour will bring more than 50 French institutions to four Indian cities in October.

Campus France India will provide counselling to students and families during the programme.

What Indian Students Can Expect From the Tour

Indian students and their families attending the Choose France Tour will be able to receive information on several areas relevant to studying in France.

Campus France India will provide counselling on courses, helping students understand academic options.

Information on scholarships will also be available.

Students and families will receive guidance on visas, an important part of the process of studying abroad.

The programme will also cover accommodation and student life in France.

The counselling is intended to help students and families understand the different aspects of pursuing education in France.

More than 50 French institutions will participate, including engineering and technology schools, business schools and public universities.

The tour will be held in Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and Bengaluru on the announced October dates.

France-India Partnership and Future Students

The expansion of French education outreach is closely connected with the continuing development of the India-France partnership.

The two countries are working to deepen cooperation in higher education, innovation and artificial intelligence.

Education and student mobility have been identified as priority areas.

France's target of 30,000 Indian students by 2030 reflects the importance being placed on student mobility.

The latest figures show that Indian participation in French higher education has already increased.

Campus France reported 9,100 Indian students in French higher education during 2024-25.

India also rose from 13th to 11th among the sources of international students in France during that academic period.

Visa and residence-permit figures for 2025 recorded 12,000 Indian students, with exchange students and students in shorter programmes included in that figure.

The Choose France Tour will seek to build on this growing connection by bringing French institutions and information directly to Indian students.

Conclusion

France is expanding its higher education outreach in India through the Choose France Tour, a four-city programme featuring more than 50 French institutions.

The tour will be held in Mumbai on October 11, Pune on October 13, New Delhi on October 15 and Bengaluru on October 17.

Campus France India will provide counselling to students and families on courses, scholarships, visas, accommodation and student life in France.

The initiative comes as Indian enrolment in French higher education continues to grow. Campus France reported that the number of Indian students in French higher education reached 9,100 in 2024-25, while India moved from the 13th to the 11th-largest source of international students in France during the same period.

Visa and residence-permit data, which also include exchange students and students enrolled in shorter programmes, put the number of Indian students in France at 12,000 in 2025.

France has set a target of hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

The education initiative is taking place alongside broader India-France cooperation. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in June, the two countries signed 19 agreements connected with their innovation ecosystems, adopted the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 and established a Joint India-France AI Working Group.

Modi also invited French universities to establish campuses in India, while education and student mobility were identified as priority areas of cooperation.

French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou highlighted programmes in innovation, artificial intelligence, aerospace and management and said these programmes prepare students for career opportunities in France as well as the international job market.

The participating institutions include engineering and technology schools such as CentraleSupélec, Mines Paris-PSL and IMT Atlantique, business schools including ESSEC, ESCP and EDHEC, and public universities such as Université Paris Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes.

With its four-city outreach and the participation of more than 50 French institutions, the Choose France Tour is intended to strengthen information and access for Indian students considering higher education in France.

The programme also forms part of the wider effort by India and France to deepen their Special Global Strategic Partnership in higher education, innovation and artificial intelligence.