Education, Careers & Professional News
French engineering schools spreading their network
Source
THE HINDU
Date
2005-06-21
Information
THE CRAZE for studying engineering in India continues, but not many students are aware that it is cost-effective to study in France and there is a network called n+i (national plus international) which facilitates this. The network consists of over 60 French engineering institutes (Grandes Ecoles Dingénieur) and university engineering programmes.
The networks purposes are to help international students investigate and apply for admission to French engineering programmes; comply with administrative requirements related to visas, insurance, residency, and employment; and make contact with French and international organisations interested in internationally oriented engineers.
The network is managed by Agence EduFrance of the French Ministry of National Education and Foreign Affairs.
The Executive Director of the n+i programme, Jean Pierre Trotignon, told visiting Indian journalists recently that the programme, located in over 40 cities of France, covered all fields of engineering.
English courses
Importantly these programmes are taught in English, in Frances bid to attract more and more international students.
The objective, he mentions, is to train engineers with an international ambition. The n+i programme offers international degrees, placements in companies, dual-degrees etc.
some of the engineering schools in the network include INSA-Toulouse (biotechnology, applied mathematics, telecommunications, computer science); ISA, Lille (food, biotechnology, environment); ESCPE, Lyon (chemistry, electronics, physical engineering), ESTP, Paris (civil engineering); ENSAM, Bordeaux (industrial, materials, mechanical engineering) etc. The n+I programme offers a two-year postgraduate training leading to a Masters degree (diplome dingenieur within the European context) in a Grande Ecole. These 24 months include, if necessary, intensive training in French, the transition semester and a six-month professional project.
The network offers a short programme called experience from January to June wherein students do internships in France or research in an engineering school or firm.
Wallet factor
By means of its education policy, France contributes more than 9,000 Euros per year towards the actual cost of an engineering course. Foreign students who are accepted by one of the schools in the network benefit from this automatic funding.
The cost is reduced to 12,000 Euros for the two-year Masters programme and 9,000 Euros for the one year experience programme including the welcome package, insurance, intensive French course, transition semester and regular study semesters. The living costs (housing and food) work out to about 500 Euros per month.
In addition to personal funding, there are several possible forms of financial aid to cover tuition fees and living costs and they are awarded on the basis of merit.
In 2004, over 85 per cent of students received additional scholarships and more than 20 per cent of students obtained full funding.
Further details may be had Vidya Suresh, EduFrance Desk, Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Millers Tank Bed area, Vasantnagar, Bangalore.