Differentiated tuition fees and exemptions

Differentiated tuition fees and exemptions

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Regulatory changes

Since Decree No. 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 on the arrangements for exemption from tuition fees for international students came into force, students from countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are, with certain exceptions, required to pay differentiated tuition fees.

The exemption schemes applied to date will therefore no longer be automatically renewed under the same conditions.

All non-EU students are now liable to pay differentiated tuition fees unless they qualify for an exemption provided for under the regulations or have been granted an exemption by the institution.

Consequently, having benefited from an exemption in a previous academic year does not automatically entitle a student to an exemption for the following academic year.

For information purposes, the differentiated tuition fees applicable for the 2026–2027 academic year are as follows:

  • Undergraduate programmes (Bachelor’s degree, BUT, State Nursing Diploma, DFGSM, DFGS, DFGSO, DFGSma, etc.): €2,902
  • Postgraduate programmes  (Master’s degree, Midwifery, DFASM, DFASP, DFASO, etc.): €3,950
  • Short postgraduate health programmes: €3,950

For further information on tuition fees, please visit the official website etudiant.gouv.fr. – droits d’inscription dans l’enseignement supérieur.

You are not subject to differentiated tuition fees if you are:

  • A French national;
  • A national of the EU, the EEA, Monaco, Andorra, Quebec or Switzerland;
  • A refugee, a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, or the child of a refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection;
  • A long-term resident in France, or the minor child of a long-term resident;
  • A person who has been a tax resident in France for more than two years (as part of a tax household);
  • A learner enrolled in a continuing education programme (with or without a professional training contract);
  • A learner enrolled in an apprenticeship scheme;
  • A student enrolled in an institutional or university degree programme (Engineering degree, DU / DIU);
  • A PhD student, a student enrolled in a programme leading to accreditation to supervise research, or a student enrolled in postgraduate medical, dental or pharmaceutical programme, with the exception of short-cycle programmes expressly mentioned in the decree of 19 April 2019;
  • A student enrolled in a preparatory class for the grandes écoles (CPGE).

You are subject to differentiated tuition fees if:

You are a non-European international student and do not fall into any of the categories listed above.

This is a partial exemption; students remain liable for national tuition fees.

Regulatory exemptions

  • You are covered by an agreement between France and your country providing for reciprocal exemptions;
  • You are participating in a European or international mobility programme that meets the conditions set out in the regulations.

Exemptions granted by the institution

In accordance with current regulations, the university may grant full or partial exemptions from differentiated tuition fees, subject to the 30% quota set by the regulations for the 2026–2027 academic year.

These exemptions may be granted:

  • To students who apply for them on the basis of their individual circumstances;
  • Within the limits of the regulatory quota applicable to exemptions granted on the basis of individual criteria.

It is therefore possible to apply for an individual exemption. Please see our section on Scholarships, financial support and guidance

Specific case for students already enrolled at the University of Caen Normandy

Non-EU students enrolled at the University of Caen Normandy in 2025–2026 who are already benefiting from an exemption will continue to receive it provided that the following conditions are met (these conditions are cumulative):

  • They continue their studies at the University of Caen Normandy;
  • They remain at the same level of study (Bachelor’s, Master’s or short DES);
  • They continue on the same course.

Students admitted through the ‘Études en France’ procedure

Students admitted under the “Études en France” scheme who were notified before the publication of the decree are entitled to a partial exemption from differentiated tuition fees, in accordance with the provisions applicable to this scheme.

Any non-EU student arriving at the University of Caen Normandy for the first time is subject to differentiated tuition fees unless they fall into one of the exemption categories set out above.

Please note: your enrolment will not be finalised until these fees have been paid.