Does the new immigration law in France create an atmosphere of instability for foreign students, and why does the Minister of Higher Education oppose the guarantee measure for foreign students? What are the important dates and steps for the registration phase on Parcoursup for the year 2024, according to L’Étudiant? Find the answers to these questions and other student news of the week in edition 04.
Keywords: News, student, press review.
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For students aspiring to make an informed course choice and find suitable guidance, CIDJ.com strongly recommends attending the Student and High School Student Fair in Île-de-France. This event will take place from 2 to 4 February 2024 in Paris, Porte de Versailles, and is exclusively dedicated to education, guidance, and the future of young people. It offers high school and university students a unique opportunity to discover various post-baccalaureate courses and pathways available in higher education. The fair will bring together higher education institutions, universities, grandes écoles, training centres, as well as industry professionals, who will present their programmes, courses, and career opportunities in different fields. The main objective of this event is to assist visitors in planning their future by helping them identify sectors and professions conducive to recruitment opportunities. To this end, CIDJ (Centre d’information et de documentation Jeunesse) will be present to provide guidance and answer participants’ questions. This initiative is carried out in partnership with the Île-de-France Academic Region, the Île-de-France Region, and France Université.
Once the orientation is defined, the next step is to select the appropriate institution, whether one is a student in France or a foreign student looking to pursue studies in France or elsewhere. In this regard, L’Étudiant reminds us that the registration period on Parcoursup for the year 2024 began on 17 January and will end on 14 March. Candidates are required to create an account by providing information such as a valid email address, their INE (Identifiant National Élève) number, and their date of birth. They have the opportunity to make up to 10 choices and 20 sub-choices in various post-baccalaureate courses. It is recommended not to rush to express choices, but it is advised not to wait until the last minute. Candidates can continue to gather information on the courses that interest them, attend open days at institutions, and use the course comparison tool available on Parcoursup. After 14 March, choices must be confirmed by completing the application files before 3 April.
It is no longer just about knowing the opening date of Campus France, but rather about learning about the different schools and the types of courses they offer. Le Parisien presents in detail the different excellence courses accessible at the university within the framework of Parcoursup 2024. A testimony from Kenza, a master’s student at École Polytechnique, highlights the importance of multidisciplinary higher education cycles (CPES) in her journey. CPES offers students the opportunity to take the time to choose their orientation while benefiting from a multidisciplinary education. Accessible via Parcoursup, these courses award a bachelor’s degree level diploma. Double degrees are also mentioned as an alternative for students wishing to delay their specialisation while broadening their master’s prospects. Moreover, these excellence courses only represent a modest cost of 170 euros per year and are accessible to scholarship holders.
Once foreign students have made their choice of school and course, they must face the new immigration law that impacts students in France. However, this new law creates some instability in schools and is contested by the Minister of Higher Education, Sylvie Retailleau, according to the HuffPost. She opposes the guarantee measure imposed on foreign students by this immigration law. The minister has asked President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to reconsider this measure, which she considers a « negative symbol » for the attractiveness of higher education in France. Even if the guarantee amount was modest, the minister highlights the negative impact of the symbol. She warns that France would be the only country to introduce such a system and that a future government could set exorbitant amounts without going through Parliament. President Macron had already expressed his opposition to this measure, emphasising the importance of attracting talent and students from around the world.
Continuing this reflection, L’Étudiant highlights the concerns of foreign students in France following the adoption of the immigration law in December. Students express their concern about the repercussions of this law on their studies and denounce a hostile atmosphere. Several provisions of the law raise concerns, notably the requirement for foreign students to provide a guarantee to obtain their residence permit, the increase in tuition fees for international students who are not EU citizens, and the possibility of having their residence permit revoked in case of absence from classes or exams. Students highlight financial discrimination and claim that selection is now based on money rather than skills. They also fear that these unfavourable measures will discourage foreign students from coming to study in France, leading to a brain drain. Students believe that France needs foreign students for its development and innovation.
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