Tuition fees: which situation applies to you?

In accordance with French regulations (Decree No. 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 concerning exemptions from tuition fees for international students), Nantes Université will apply differentiated tuition fees to non-EU international students starting from the 2026–2027 academic year.

The tuition fees applicable to an initial degree programme depend on your nationality, your programme of study, and your administrative status. Depending on your situation, you may be subject either to national tuition fees or to differentiated tuition fees. You may also be eligible for reduced tuition fees or an exemption.
 



Case 1 : You are not subject to differentiated tuition fees: you pay national tuition fees

If you belong to one of the categories below, you are not subject to differentiated tuition fees. You pay the same national tuition fees as French students.

  • French citizens.
  • Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.
  • Citizens of Monaco, Andorra, or Quebec.
  • Holders of a residence permit stating “family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.”
  • Long-term residents in France (holding a resident card), as well as their minor children.
  • Persons included in the tax household of an individual who has been a tax resident in France for at least two years.
     

  • Refugees (officially recognised refugee status) and their children.
  • Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and their children. 

  • PhD students. 
  • Students authorised to supervise research (Habilitation to Direct Research – HDR).
  • Students enrolled in the third cycle of health studies (except for the short programmes specified in the decree of 19 April 2019).
  • Students enrolled in preparatory classes for the French Grandes Écoles (CPGE) while simultaneously registered at a university.
  • Students enrolled in an engineering degree or in the preparatory cycle of the “Parcours des écoles d’ingénieur Polytech” programme.



Case 2 : You are a non-EU student subject to differentiated tuition fees: you pay differentiated tuition fees

As a general rule, all non-EU students are required to pay differentiated tuition fees. However, transitional measures provided for in the ministerial decree allow certain students to pay the national tuition fees (without the additional differentiated fee).

You will continue to pay the national tuition rate if you fall into one of the following situations when re-enrolling at Nantes Université: 

  • You are a Nantes Université student who was already granted a tuition fee exemption for the 2025–2026 academic year;
  • You are a Nantes Université student continuing your Bachelor’s (Licence – L) or Master’s (M) degree programme at Nantes Université (re-enrolment);
  • You are a Nantes Université student changing degree level, moving from a Bachelor’s degree (Licence) to a Master’s degree (applicable only to the 2026–2027 academic year, by decision of the President of Nantes Université);
  • You have been admitted to Nantes Université and your tuition fee exemption was notified before the decree was published (only if your admission letter specifies the amount of tuition fees for the 2026–2027 academic year). In this case, you will pay the national tuition rate until you complete your programme within the same degree level and at the same institution. This measure applies, for example, to students admitted for the 2026–2027 academic year to Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes through Études en France.
Students admitted after the publication of the decree are not eligible for this transitional measure. For example, the transitional measure does not apply to students admitted for the 2026–2027 academic year through Parcoursup or MonMaster, unless they were already enrolled at Nantes Université the previous academic year.

Attention : If you transfer to another institution or university, or if you change your programme of study within Nantes Université, you will automatically lose the benefit of this transitional measure.



Case 3 : You pay reduced tuition fees 

You may benefit from a reduced tuition fee for your initial degree programme:

  • If you are enrolled in several programmes at Nantes Université, the reduced fee applies to your secondary programme. The full fee applies to your main programme.
  • If you take a one-year academic break ("Césure"), you must enrol at Nantes Université and pay the reduced fee. You may re-enrol the following year in the programme for which you were admitted. This measure does not apply if you take a one-semester academic break.
  • If you are enrolled under an agreement between French higher education institutions that provides for a partial tuition fee exemption.



Case 4 : You are exempt from tuition fees

Several tuition fee exemption measures may apply. 

You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are: 

  • A "Pupille de la Nation, Pupille de l’État or Pupille de la République".
  • A French Government Scholarship (BGF) student.
  • A French CROUS scholarship or other social criteria scholarship student.
  • A beneficiary of the French Annual Specific Allowance.
  • A PhD student with "Agent Temporaire Vacataire (ATV)" status who teaches more than 50 hours during the academic year.
  • A PhD student enrolled at another institution to prepare their thesis under a joint doctoral supervision agreement ("Cotutelle") with Nantes Université.
  • An apprentice with a work-study contract ("Alternance) or currently seeking such a contract.
  • A student enrolled under an agreement between French higher education institutions providing for a full tuition fee exemption.
  • A student enrolled under a reciprocal cooperation agreement between institutions.
  • A student enrolled in European and international mobility programmes provided for by applicable regulations. 

After completing your administrative enrolment, you may submit an individual tuition fees exemption request. Your personal situation (financial resources, vulnerable circumstances, etc.) will be carefully assessed by Nantes Université. 

Following the assessment of your application, you will be notified of a reasoned decision: 

  1. Full exemption (excluding the 23€ administrative processing fee).
  2. Partial exemption (1/3 or 2/3 of the tuition fees or national tuition fees for the non-EU with differentiated tuition fees) 
  3. Exempt refused (the full applicable tuition fees apply). 
If you are granted a full or partial exemption, the university will reimburse any tuition fees that were paid but are no longer due. If an amount remains payable by you, you must settle your outstanding balance as soon as possible.

Important note : Individual exemptions are subject to a strict legal quota imposed on universities. The maximum rate of individual exemptions for the 2026–2027 academic year is 30 %. 


Any questions ? 

If you have any questions about your tuition fees, please do not hesitate to contact:


Droits universitaires

Pour les étudiants français et européens : En 2026-2027, le montant des droits fixé par le Ministère s'élève à 178 € pour une inscription en licence, à 255 € pour une inscription en master, 398 € pour une inscription en doctorat et 630 € pour une inscription en formation d'un diplôme d'ingénieur.

Pour les étudiants extracommunautaires : En 2026-2027, le montant des droits fixé par le Ministère s'élève à 2 902 € pour une inscription en licence, à 3 950 € pour une inscription en master, 398 € pour une inscription en doctorat et 630 € pour une inscription en formation d'un diplôme d'ingénieur. En fonction du statut de l'étudiant, des exonérations partielles ou totales sont possibles. Pour plus d'informations sur les droits différenciés, consultez la FAQ.

Pour plus d'informations sur les modalités de règlement de vos droits universitaires, consultez cette page.

Droits conventionnels

Dans le cadre d’une formation continue ou d’une formation en partenariat sans réciprocité, les droits d’inscription relèvent de la convention signée avec Nantes Université. Aucune exonération ne peut s’appliquer.

Droits pour les transferts entrants

Les étudiants rejoignant Nantes Université en cours d'année universitaire doivent au préalable demander un transfert sortant auprès de leur université d'origine.
  • Lorsque le transfert intervient avant le milieu du premier semestre, l'intégralité des droits de scolarité est reversée à Nantes Université par l'université d'origine.
  • Lorsque le transfert intervient à compter de la fin du premier semestre, seule la moitié des droits de scolarité est reversée à Nantes Université par l'université d'origine.
Les étudiants ayant bénéficié d'une exonération accordée par mesures transitoires ou par décision de la présidence de leur université d'origine sont redevables, à leur arrivée à Nantes Université, des droits de scolarité applicables à leur situation.

Droits pour les auditeurs libres

A Nantes Université, les auditeurs libres doivent s'acquitter de droits spécifiques qui s'élèvent à 152€ pour l'année universitaire 2026-2027.
Updated on 08 September 2026.