Students visas will be processed on priority basis: French ambassador

NEW DELHI: The France Embassy is processing students visas on priority basis to make sure students are not affected after the country sees a surge in visa applications in other categories. More than 4,000 Indian students have chosen France as their destination for higher studies according to post-covid official data.

France saw around 6,000 Indian students in the academic year 2020-21. “We are glad that student visa applications are booming again after the pandemic slowdown, while other categories of visas are seeing longer processing times at the moment, due to a surge in applications, we have done our utmost to ensure student visas are not affected," said the ambassador according to a TOI report.

Also Read | Despite Covid, 36% of students globally chose to study abroad: Survey

The embassy has taken measures including dedicated visa appointment slots reserved for students and processing their application on a priority basis. According to the embassy, student visa turnaround has not seen delays. The ambassador also asks students to reach out to Campus France, a French government agency that counsels international students that seek to pursue higher studies in France for any assistance.

While addressing students of Delhi’s Shri Ram College for Women at the 'Choose France Tour 2022' in October, French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said: “We want 20,000 Indian students in France by 2025. We're starting from something close to 5,000. It is very ambitious but, between India and France, the sky's the limit."

Multiple countries at the moment are trying to garner more Indian students into their universities. Recently, The University of Galway supported by Education in Ireland the appointed their senior regional manager- south Asia, Anju Singh, along with an Indian teams with the aim to expand in India. Over 6,000 students choose to study abroad in Ireland yearly.

Also Read | 83% Indian students believe foreign degrees land them better jobs: Study

A Swedish higher education and research delegation is scheduled to visit Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad for ‘Study in Sweden’ fairs between November 23 to November 25, 2022 to offer various prospects for Indian students to study in Sweden.