'From 300,000 Won to 4.9 Million Won'... Prestigious French University to Raise International Student Tuition 16-Fold

Paris 1 University Approves Tuition Hike Amid Financial Woes
Excludes EU, Refugee, and Least Developed Country Students
Criticism Over "Discriminatory" Fees Based on Nationality

Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University, one of France's top prestigious universities, has decided to increase tuition fees for international students from outside the European Union (EU) by nearly 16 times starting from the 2026 academic year.

Paris 1 Panth?on-Sorbonne University. Yonhap News Agency

On December 2 (local time), French public broadcaster RFI reported that the university's board approved the tuition hike proposal for international students by a vote of 18 in favor, 15 against, and 3 abstentions the previous day. As a result, from the 2026 academic year, the annual undergraduate tuition for international students will rise sharply from the current 178 euros (about 300,000 won) to 2,895 euros (about 4.9 million won), and master's tuition will increase from 254 euros (about 430,000 won) to 3,941 euros (about 6.7 million won).

This measure will apply to all international students except those from EU member states, students with refugee status, and students from the 44 countries designated as least developed by the United Nations.

France's public higher education institutions have been known for their low tuition fees, with the government covering most of the costs, resulting in annual tuition at national universities being around 300,000 to 500,000 won. This made France a popular destination for so-called "cost-effective study abroad." However, with the introduction of a separate high tuition system for international students, the financial burden on foreign students will increase significantly. For Korean students in particular, the burden is expected to grow further as the won-euro exchange rate has recently exceeded 1,700 won.

The university cited financial difficulties as the reason for this decision. They explained that the measure was "adopted out of necessity due to budgetary pressures," as the state has failed to provide adequate support, leading to financial hardship.

Since 2019, the French government has allowed public universities to charge differentiated tuition, but many universities, including Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, had not adopted this policy, considering it discriminatory. However, as government education budgets have been reduced and inflation has risen, RFI reported that a significant number of universities are now facing financial difficulties.

Marie-Emmanuelle Pommerolle, a professor of political science at Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University, told RFI in an interview, "Universities are in crisis," adding, "Our university has cut 90% of its investment in acquiring materials, and we no longer purchase books." However, she argued that charging higher tuition to students from outside the EU is not a solution, stating, "Discrimination based on country of origin is unacceptable, especially since these students will be provided with the same educational environment as those who paid only a few dozen euros in tuition."

Professor Pommerolle, along with about 100 faculty members and students, sent an open letter to the university president protesting the decision. They criticized the measure, saying it would further destabilize international students already facing economic and administrative hardships, leading to "catastrophic consequences." They also expressed concern that France's universities would become less attractive, prompting students to choose other countries for their studies.

The university stated, "We hope to be able to reverse this decision as soon as our financial situation stabilizes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.