Study nursing for a bachelor’s degree in France (undergraduate level)
In order to study nursing in France, you must have the basic conditions and requirements for studying. One of the most important requirements for studying in France is to have a language certificate and a 12-year diploma. If you want to study in English, you must have an IELTS 6 and if you want to study nursing in France for a master’s degree you must have an IELTS 6.5. Bachelor of nursing in France is a 4-year course, and applicants can continue their studies at the master’s and PhD courses if they want to. If applicants want to study nursing in France for free, after completing a one-year French language course and reaching to level C1, they can enter the universities of France and study nursing for free in this country. This course includes theoretical, clinical and practical courses. During the course, students will be trained by a professional team of experienced nurses and will have access to a set of simulation exercises during this course. Exercises such as how to put patients to sleep and how to move patients, checking the blood pressure and injections, how to use antiseptic drugs and…. It is also worth mentioning that in the clinical section clinical training is provided to students which includes a variety of equipment. Students will usually learn the following topics in this 4-year course:
- first year
Humanities, Health Sciences, Health Care, Social Sciences, Nursing Techniques
- second year
Topics related to clinical science, environmental health and nursing
- third year
Adult nursing, nursing management and researching, educational module
- forth year
Last clinical trial, defend the bachelor’s thesis, critical care, elderly care
In France, the number of students who can enroll in a nursing education program each year is usually determined by the Ministry of Health. The quota is assessed based on need and is allocated to educational institutions and universities in each region. Therefore, due to the limitations, international students must take an entrance exam, and only those who have succeeded in the entrance exam can enroll in the undergraduate courses.
There are different types of nursing specialties in France, which we will briefly name them here:
Registered nurse (RN)
Cardiac nursing…
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
Clinical Nursing Specialist (CNS)
Critical Care Nursing
Family Nursing Physician (FNP)
Gerontological nursing
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Study nursing for a master’s degree in France (postgraduate level)
It is also possible to study nursing in France at higher levels such as master’s and PhD degrees. After completing the undergraduate course and several years of work experience, nurses can pursue advanced nursing training and specialize in specific fields such as: pediatric nursing, nurse anesthetist, adult nursing, family nursing, gynecological nursing and psychiatric nursing and… By enrolling in a master’s degree, depending on the specialty of the applicant at the university or college of nursing, he/she will become a specialist nurse or an advanced practice nurse, and the duration of this course is usually 2 years. It is worth noting that in order to work in France as any kinds of nurses, you must register with a regional health agency known as the Agence Regional de Santé (ARS). Nursing graduates at this stage have a variety of responsibilities, including providing pre and post-operative care and psychological support to patients and their families. Nurses teach patients self-caring skills and follow the doctor’s advice. They also help patients in various health conditions and make sure that the working environment is safe and healthy.
Study nursing in France for a PhD Degree (doctorate level)
There are no PhD programs in France in order for you to enroll in a specific field. You must have the basic requirements in order to be able to apply for the PhD course: including having a dissertation topic and having a supervisor for your dissertation and of course the doctoral faculty must also accept the applicant. In order to enter the first year of the PhD courses, the applicant must have a master’s degree or an equivalent. Therefore, applicants who want to study in a PhD degree program must pursue their doctoral thesis project from the second year of their master’s degree, which usually begins in January. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (PhD in Nursing Programs) are among the highest level of nursing education and expertise within the nursing profession. Nurses who enroll in doctor of nursing practice programs often choose areas such as nurse training, family nursing. In these programs, students can continue their education in the field of clinical practice and learn the nursing sciences and their current researches for the better recovery of patient and patient care.
Doctor of nursing practice programs (DNP): Both DNP and PhD are academically equal but not of the same degree. DNP is generally a practice-based doctorate while a doctor of philosophy in nursing (PhD) is a research focused degree. As a result, the courses and requirements to get these doctoral degrees can be very different to each other.
The costs of living and studying nursing in France
The cost of studying nursing for a bachelor’s degree in France varies from university to university. An international student on average will need at least € 700 a month to provide his/her living expenses in France. Which includes accommodation, food, transportation, health insurance, books and…. Of course, if you are living in cities like Paris, Nice, Bordeaux or Lyon, the cost of living will be higher. For example, for a single person, the average monthly expenses are $ 1,182.08 (€ 965.49) (excluding rent). Tuition fees for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) (studying in English) ranges from $ 40,000 to $ 100,000 in private institutions and large universities and lasts for 4 years. As mentioned earlier, if international students learn French, they can study nursing in France for free at public universities. Of course, scholarships will also be offered to international students if they have a strong CV and high academic performance. The costs of studying nursing for a master’s degree in France is presented in the table below for you dear ones:
| The average cost (EUR) | The university |
| 14،483،719 | University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne |
| 17،767،818 | Paris 12 Val de Marne University |
| 41،682،796 | Université de Haute-Alsace |
| 185،256،872 | IDELCA Business School |
| 19،620،386 | University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| 42،103،834 | Université Sorbonne Paris Nord |
| 25،051،781 | University of Poitiers |
| 103،280،706 | Centre de formation et de recherche en pédagogie des sciences de la santé |
Checking the working conditions of students in France
Every student has the right to work and is allowed to work 964 hours during a year and earn money. International students may also work at the university or institution where they study. These employment contracts are usually for 12 months and start from September 1 and end in August 31. In order to help students to succeed and find a job after graduation, their jobs in universities fits their programs and classes. Therefore, students who work at French universities may work more than 670 hours from September 1 to June 30 and more than 300 hours from January 1 to August 31. Of course, in order to complete some student documents, they have to undertake internship courses. This rule applies to all students whether French students or international students. The institution and the student must sign a contract for the internship. If the internship lasts more than two months, the student must be paid 577.50 euros.
Introducing the top nursing universities in France
In this section, we take a look at the top universities for nursing education in France, here are these universities:
| The name of university | Description |
| Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University (UVSQ) | The university was founded in 1991 and offers undergraduate and graduate courses (bachelor’s and master’s degree) and offers a variety of disciplines including: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, psychotherapy, occupational therapy and…. |
| IFSI Diaconesses Reuilly | This university is located in France. In order to enter this university, you must successfully pass the IFSI Diaconesses de Reuilly entrance exam to be able to start your studies. |
| Institut de Formation Interh Hospitalier Théodore Simon(IFTS) | The best university for international students is Institut de Formation Interh Hospitalier Théodore Simon(IFTS) |
| Aix-Marseille University | It is one of the largest French speaking universities in the world. This institution is generally a research institute. It has 121 research structures that work with some of the most important national research organizations. |
Working conditions after studying nursing in France
About the job market of nurses in France, it can be said that usually nurses who are registered (RN) can work in hospitals or medical clinics. They also can work in organizations and various outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centers. In fact, the main goal and job of nurses is to promote health. To become an RN in France, you must have an associate degree in nursing known as ADN or a BSN degree and get a work permit from your nursing board to be allowed to work. Nurses may also be asked to go to the patient’s home to take care of them; therefore, they have to participate in various classes, workshops and conferences to improve their scientific skills and level. In order to be allowed to prescribe medicine/drugs, in some French states nurses must take a prescription test to be allowed to prescribe medicine/drugs. Nurses must also have some skills such as using medical equipment, working in a team environment, and interpersonal communication skills to work in their desired profession. They are usually required to renew their nursing licenses. Graduates who have obtained their degree from France can stay in France for 1 to 2 years after graduation and can convert their student visa into a work visa if an employment contract is concluded. The unemployment rate in France was 9% in 2020, which was higher than last year.
The amount of salaries and income of nurses in France
One of the most important things that students and applicants in this field should pay attention to, in addition to the situation of the labor market of nurses, is the amount of nurses’ salaries in France. The average annual income of nurses in France is 33,800 euros. The average salary of nurses in France ranges from 19,000 euros (minimum salary) to 54,600 euros (maximum salary). This average salary includes housing, transportation and other benefits. Of course, nurses’ salaries vary based on their level of education, work experience and gender.
The level of experience is the most important factor in determining the amount of salaries and income of nurses in France. Naturally, the more years of work experience you have, the higher your salary will be. A nurse with less than two years of work experience earns around € 21,900 a year. While someone with two to five years of work experience is expected to earn 26,900 euros a year. Which is 23% more than someone with less than two years of work experience. Someone with five to ten years of work experience earns 38,100 euros per year which shows he/she earns 42% more than an individual with two to five years of work experience.
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