France: Council of State approves higher university fees for non-European students

Text by: RFI Follow

The Council of State gave its green light on Wednesday, July 1, to the controversial increase in tuition fees for foreign students decided in November 2018, by rejecting the appeal of several organizations that were opposed to it, including the UNEF.

Publicity

Only a handful of universities have decided to set up from the start of the 2019 academic year the increase in fees for foreigners outside the European Union, which brings to 2,770 euros the registration fees for a license and 3,770 euros for a master's, against 170 respectively euros and 243 euros for young Europeans.

The Council of State examined on June 12 the appeal of several organizations opposed to this increase in registration fees, including UNEF. The highest administrative court announced Wednesday the rejection of their requests.

Last October, the Constitutional Council enshrined the principle of free public higher education. However, there is nothing to prevent " low  " registration fees from  being collected "  taking into account, where appropriate, the financial capacities of the students  ", had decided the Wise Men by ruling on a priority question of constitutionality (QPC ). 

Resistance of universities

The Council of State stressed on Wednesday that "  the modest nature of the registration fees required from users following training in public higher education with a view to obtaining national diplomas must be appreciated, in view of the cost of these training courses  "

So far, most universities have managed to bypass the increase in tuition fees for foreign students by using the possibility of waiving part of their enrollment fees. However, this device cannot be used in a sustainable manner.

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