France launches major education push in India, eyes 30,000 students by 2030

France's official education promotion agency, Campus France, is conducting an ambitious four-city tour across India this October to showcase over 50 French educational institutions to prospective students. The Choose France Tour will visit Mumbai on October 11, Pune on October 13, New Delhi on October 15 and Bengaluru on October 17, marking a significant expansion of Franco-Indian educational collaboration.

The outreach initiative comes at a pivotal moment for Franco-Indian academic ties. Indian student enrolment in French higher education institutions has grown substantially to 9,100 in the 2024-25 academic year, signalling increased appetite among Indian learners for French educational opportunities. France has set an ambitious target of attracting 30,000 Indian students by 2030, reflecting the strategic importance both nations place on educational exchange.

Campus France, operating under the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education, serves as the official gateway for international students seeking admission to French universities. The agency manages the entire process from university selection to visa applications, serving as a mandatory first step for prospective students. The October tour represents an escalation in these efforts to make French education more accessible to Indian students.

The initiative underscores the two countries' broader commitment to strengthening ties across higher education, research and emerging fields including artificial intelligence and innovation. By bringing French academic institutions directly to major Indian cities, France aims to facilitate direct engagement between educators and prospective students while deepening bilateral cooperation in knowledge creation and technological advancement.