Universities/colleges in France?

Question

I was wondering if there are any good architectural colleges or universities in France, and if it would be harder to go to a University or college there because I go to school in the US. just wondering :)

Answer 1

Well going to a college in France is a little tricky. I am from France and i am thinking about moving back to go to Surbonne in Paris. But like in public high school if you live in a certain high school then you are eligable to go to the colleges that go along with the area. Your best bet would be choose an American college that offers a study abroad program. Bc it really is not possible to go to a school especially a specific type of school unless you have a permanent address there.

good luck!

Answer 2

Can answer 2nd part of your question (sorry bout first, I don't know). I am not familiar with the residency requirement that the other poster mentioned, but this shouldn't pose a big problem since you'd be moving here anyway!

In fact, in some ways it can be *easier* for you to get into a good French university than for a French person, because they accept a number of foreign students and measure them against the other foreign applicants, not French applicants. I have several foreign friends in Paris who've gotten accepted into the best schools, including les Grandes Ecoles (the most prestigious ones), who've told me this. Being an American doesn't exactly help (the U.S. is not underrepresented among foreign students here), but still, I'd think it's better than being French, in terms of your chances of acceptance.

To get accepted into a French university or école privée, you will need to take the TCF exam and pass a given level, which varies from school to school (level is probably lower for math than for French literature! ;)). You don't have to be fluent, generally, a mastery of intermediate level or low-advanced French will be sufficient for most programs. I don't know if you can take the TCF in the U.S., but my friends here took a TCF prep course in Paris before taking the exam itself.

Study abroad is an option, but as French schools are  cheaper than U.S. ones - MUCH cheaper than US private universities and on par or cheaper than US public universities, you will probably be better off, financially speaking, enrolling directly at the French school.