Secondary Education in France

French secondary school draws international students with its mix of academic rigour and affordable cost. State schools teach the national curriculum, with the chance to immerse themselves in a French-speaking environment through intensive language support classes for those who do not speak French well enough. Private boarding schools, such as École des Roches in Normandy, follow both the French national curriculum and the International Baccalaureate programme, accepting students aged 11 to 18 from 40 countries. Seven-day boarding in the senior school here costs €45,540 per year, while short-term French as a foreign language programmes start at €3,950 for two weeks.

Students can choose between an academic track leading to the French baccalaureate and international programmes which open doors to universities in various countries. Admission requires transcripts for the last two years, recommendations, and a motivation letter; language requirements depend on the programme — for the French track, level B1–B2 is required, while for the international track, English is sufficient.

In our catalogue, you can explore the French boarding schools most popular among applicants and parents — those which work with international students.