Historical trends        

The number of French students in the U.S. rose steadily in the 1990s until it peaked at 7,401 students in 2001/2002. After a four-year decline, international students from France began to rise again in 2005/2006 and rose by 5.2% in 2007/2008.

Best Products/Services       

Education abroad has increasingly become an important factor for French university graduates seeking to stand out in the employment market, especially with the expansion of the European Union.  English is now effectively the business language of Europe.
Best prospects within this sector include: intensive "American" English language training programs (summer programs for students or adults); programs in business administration; one-year university programs for French high-school graduates (post-baccalaureate) usually between graduation and entry into French university; secondary boarding schools; work/study programs (internships); academic summer camps; and undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Opportunities        

Opportunities exist for U.S. schools wishing to expand their enrollment of French students.  A select number of undergraduate and graduate students prefer to go abroad to expand their university and post-graduate training and experience.  For the academic year 2007-2008, they were 7,050 students from France studying in the USA (up 5.2% from the previous year). France is the eighteenth leading place of origin for international students in the United States.  Opportunities for U.S. schools are expected to continue growing due to the favorable view of the French toward studies in the United States.  American educational institutions should increase their efforts to promote their programs in France. There is an increased competition from other markets - Australia, U.K. South Africa, New Zealand, other EU countries, due to the ease of the application process and the perception of saving money.

Resources         

Official organization: Fulbright Commission, http://www.fulbright-france.org

Trade Events:

SALON DES FORMATIONS
Education: International Studies Fair
INTERNATIONALES
January 10-11, 2009, Paris
http://www.letudiant.fr

PARIS MBA FORUM STUDYRAMA
Education: MBA Programs
http://www.studyrama.com
January 23-24, 2009, Paris

EXPOLANGUES
http://www.letudiant.fr
January 19-20, 2009, Paris

SALON SPECIAL MASTERS 
February 6-7, 2009, Paris
ET 3EMES CYCLES  (L'ETUDIANT) 

SALON DE L'ETUDIANT DE PARIS
Education: Bachelor & Graduate Studies
http://www.letudiant.fr
March 6-8, 2009, Paris

WORLD MBA AND GRAD SCHOOL
Education: MBA Programs

October 2009 (TBD)

U.S. Embassy Commercial Service Trade Specialist: Valerie.Ferriere@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov
Phone: (+33-1) 43 12 70 77

Links to web sites outside the U.S. Government or the use of trade, firm, or corporation names within U.S. Commercial Service web sites are for the convenience of the user. Such links and use do not constitute an express or implied official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Commerce of any private sector web site, or of the products or services of specifically identified companies or of any of the private entities that may have contributed to a U.S. Commercial Service web site.