Study in France
in year 2005

APPLICATION

Who can apply?
Only students holding a first class bachelor degree in the subjects offered are eligible to apply for this program. Limited number of students from among them will also receive a sponsorship by the French Embassy in Pakistan. A student must be holding a 4 year bachelor degree (Bsc or Bsc Honours) or equivalence / Masters (B.E/ M.Sc/ M.B.B.S) throughout first class.
Getting this degree before May following the selection, in case of last year of studies, is a must for this program.

Applicants must be under the age of 30 (32 for serving candidates) before selection.

Question : Can I send my application by e-mail ?
Answer : NO. Only by postal mail.

Question : I will complete my studies by May following the selection but I may not yet have my degree, can I apply ?
Answer : Yes of course. You will give your transcripts/certificate.

Question : What about girls?
Answer : There is no gender discrimination, the programme is open for boys and girls. The only selection criteria is merit.

AFTER SELECTION

Question : I have just learned about my selection through this web site, what shall I do?

Answer : Fill in the e-acceptance form which will be sent to Higher Education Commission, French Embassy and French Centre. Then get in touch with the French Centre you have chosen to get ready to start the French classes. Keep checking the web site for further instructions

Question : What is SFERE?
Answer : SFERE is a company in charge of the selection, placement and monitoring of all the selected students.

SFERE (Société Française d’exportation des ressources éducatives) is an international consulting, training and technical assistance company for the development of human ressource and educational system. It has been a partner of the French Embassy in Islamabad since 1993.

SFERE will be in charge of your academic placement, they will welcome you at your arrival in France, help you for your administrative documents, for looking for accommodation. They will provide you a permanent assistance and they will inform the French Embassy from time to time about the student progress.

Question : How to contact SFERE ?
Answer : You can contact Mr Pierron program Director SFERE . His Email is : pierron@sfere.fr

Question : Can I join the French classes after they have started ?

Answer : No, the French classes are 3 hours a day and five days a week. So if you join late you won’t be able to catch up with the other students.

Question : I can not join the French classes, what shall I do?

Answer : If you can not join the French classes in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, contact the Cultural Centres, Whatever the way of learning French you choose (prior knowledge, fresh courses) all students must take the 3 mandatory tests.

Question : Having been selected, why am I being asked to seat for GMAT and TOEFL tests?

Answer : It is only requested for the students in Economy, Management, Business, Finance and Marketing. They are requested because a large number of universities ask for those tests. But the courses delivered will be in French ! The results of TOEFL and GMAT do not have any consequence for your maintenance in the program although you have to do it at your best ! And the results should be given to us by the end of March. Provide us with the results of the tests to avoid any problem later.

IELTS will be accepted if you can not pass take TOEFL

Question : I have been accepted provided that I accept a costly master (4 500€), what does that mean ?
Answer : It means that the only specific course available for you is at this cost and we can not guarantee you an admission in a fully state sponsored course.

Question : Is that possible to defer the selection to the following year?

Answer : Yes, it is, but still you will have to send application again next year, making clear that you have been selected previously. You will also have to give a new interview to update your file.

So if you are doing so, inform us as soon as possible.

Question : Can I change my field of studies ? I have been selected for an MS Program can I convert my admission into a PHD program ?
Answer : This is decided by Mr Pierron on a case by case basis. Remember that your selection in the programme is based on your request for a specific field.

BEFORE DEPARTURE

Question : Where and when should I have my transcripts translated ?

Answer : Give your documents to the French Cultural Centers Centers (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi) before the 24th January. To make sure that they will be translated on time. If you give your documents late, you may not be able to get them translated on time.

Question : Which documents should I give for Translation ?
Answer : you have to give to Alliance Française Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, your :

- Last 2 degrees with corresponding transcripts
- F sc or A level diploma
- Birth Certificate

Question : I have received acceptation which documents should I enclose with it?
Answer : while filling your acceptance form you have to attach with it the following documents :

-         Photographs
-         Motivation letter
-         Translated Documents (such as transcripts, degrees, birth certificates)
-         Attendance certificate of French Language Course or copy of any French Diploma you have

Note that if the universities are asking you for stamped envelopes and checks for your admission, you do not need to worry about it, SFERE will do it for you.

Be careful, if only one of these documents is missing, if your acceptance form is not filled correctly and if you do not send your application on time, the universities may reject your files.

And again do not contact the universities yourself, SFERE is doing it for you in a better way.

Question : Can you send me addresses of all French universities?
Answer : No. The addresses of higher institutions in France are recorded in 2 huge and expensive books. These books are of no use for you. It is much better for you to surf on the Web using the different links above and to contact the EduFrance desks.

Question : Can I work if I am a student in France?
Answer : Yes But... it is limited to 20hours per week and most of the time, in the first months, student are too busy with their studies to be able to work or if they work, they may fail in their studies. So you can not go for studies without financial resources allowing you to live decently.

Question : How much does it cost to study in France?
Answer : Details are given on the above web sites. But as a rough idea, every day life (accommodation/food) costs a minimum of 650€ per months (up to 800-900 € if in Paris). Tuition fees are paid by the French government and registration fees are very low (around 300€ per year).

Question : Is Paris the best place to study?
Answer : Paris is the most expensive and stressful city in France. Moreover the education system being coordinated at a national level (Universities are state owned), the level of teaching is guaranteed in any University. In France, the level of a degree is a national level, it is not depending on a specific University. Paris is surely a wonderful place to visit though…

AFTER MY STUDIES IN FRANCE

Question : Can one stay in France after completion of studies, for work?
Answer : It is possible that you stay if you have a job opportunity provided that your employer applies for the visa. Because the visa you will get at your departure will be valid till the completion of your studies only.

Question : I have just learned about my selection through this web site, what shall I do?

Question : What is SFERE? Answer : SFERE is a company in charge of the selection, placement and monitoring of all the selected students.

Question : What is SFERE?
Answer : SFERE is a company in charge of the selection, placement and monitoring of all the selected students.