Bienvenue en France : numerous grants and exemptions for students. Full evaluation| Campus France

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The government's plan to attract international students has set out a range of situations where students won't have to pay specific enrolment fees.

The government's plan to attract international students launched in November 2018 is based on three pillars:

Improvement of the reception conditions for international students. The French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation has announced a budget of 10 million euros which will be allocated to support initiatives in institutions committed to the Bienvenue en France certification process, led by Campus France.
Strengthening of the international presence of French higher education.An initial investment of 5 million euros has been allocated by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for 2019, to raise international awareness of the advantages of studying in French universities.
The introduction of specific enrolment fees for non-EU students, supported by an impactful policy of exemptions and grants entrusted to embassies and to institutions.The implementation of specific enrolment fees will finance projects and initiatives designed to improve reception conditions for international students.

Many students will not be affected by the payment of specific enrolment fees at the start of the 2019 academic year. Let's take stock!

Many students will continue to pay enrolment fees similar to those for the year 2018/2019

Students with the nationality of countries in the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland;
Students with the nationality of a country that has signed an agreement with France providing for the payment of enrolment fees under the same conditions as French students. This is the case with Andorra and Canada (for students resident in Quebec);
Non-EU students...

...already registered in a public higher education establishment in 2018/2019, at all levels (Bachelor's's, Master's, Doctorate);
...who are due to arrive in 2019/2020 and will be starting a Doctorate;
...registered in 2018/2019 on a preparatory course before starting a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate (like a French as a foreign language course) and who will begin their studies in 2019/2020;
...who live in France with resident status or with a carte de séjour (residence permit) stating "vie privée et familiale" (private and family life);
...who have refugee status or who benefit from subsidiary protection.

Many students will pay no enrolment fees, whether specific or not

Students who come to study in France as part of a partnership agreement between universities that provides for total exemption from enrolment fees (like the Erasmus+ exchange programme in particular);
Students who have been awarded a French government grant (BGF) ;
Students who have been awarded a grant from their host establishment, providing for total exemption from enrolment fees.

The best student candidates for studies in France will also benefit from exemption in 2019

The government's plan to attract international students gives embassies and institutions the opportunity to exempt a very high additional number of non-EU students from payment of specific enrolment fees:

14,000 exemptions will be granted by embassies;
Institutions may exempt up to 10% of the total number of students who will enrol at the start of the 2019 academic year.

The exemptions granted by embassies and institutions may be partial or total.

The pre-enrolment processes will be linked to the procedures for awarding these additional exemptions, so that students can finalise their enrolment choices knowing which exemptions they can benefiit from.