How many French public university degrees start in September compared with January?
According to Campus France guidelines, September is the primary intake in France and covers over 90% of public university degrees. January is a smaller secondary option focused on specialised business, management and technology programmes, with fewer funding options than the main September cycle.
September is France's main intake and, according to Campus France guidelines, it covers over 90% of public university degrees. January is a targeted secondary option, mainly for specialised business, management and technology programmes.
September vs January at a glance
| Criteria | September intake (Fall) | January intake (Spring) |
|---|---|---|
| Programme availability | Undergraduate, Master and PhD degrees across public and private institutions | Selective, mainly private business schools and specialised tech faculties |
| Scholarships and aid | Eligible for major state funding; for example, Eiffel Excellence Scholarships (Master's and PhD level only, applied for by the institution) | Limited institutional grants and lower availability of public funding |
| Academic and internship timing | Fits the standard French academic calendar and summer internship cycles | Alternate timeline with less applicant competition and quicker reviews |
How to decide
Choose September if you want the widest choice of public programmes and access to state scholarships. Consider January only if your target course, usually in business, management or technology, offers it.
My Advice
If your priority is public university and scholarships, plan for September and start preparing months ahead. If you miss that cycle, check whether your preferred school runs a January start for your course before deciding to wait a year.
France Jan or Sep 2027: Which Intake Can You Still Apply For?
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