STUDY IN FRANCE

FRANCE

Administrative procedures

There is a clear difference between students who come to study in elite schools and those who do their studies at a less famous university. For high school students, it is often the administrations that take care of visas and other papers for the student can come to study in France. For those who are in public universities, it is the responsibility of the student to take care of his residence permit. Long and complicated, the steps are not facilitated by the French administration but it still has some positive points compared to Maghreb administrations. "Everything can be done online. No need to queue for hours, all services of the French administration are on the internet. This is not the case in Tunisia where the administrations are open only from 8am to 11am "exclaims Rostom Gharbi, a student in engineering school in Paris.

Scholarships

In Morocco and Tunisia, students receive scholarships to study abroad. In Algeria, some scholarships exist but very few students have access to them. Another particular example: Karim Berrada is Moroccan and today trades at Credit Suisse in Paris. Some high schools bring students who excel in a field and pay them studies to promote their sector.

Quality of education

Maghreb students judge French schools and universities of high quality compared to what they have in their country. In Algeria and Tunisia, students face strikes and teacher absences following the Arab Spring. Karim Berrada was very satisfied with his French teachers: "The teachers are very competent and of high quality. We do not find it anywhere. Mohammed Andaloussi has a master's degree in engineering from the University of Lorraine in Metz. "I'm happy with my degree, it's an added value for me. I am looking for work in France to have a first experience and find work more easily when I return to Morocco. "

Professional integration

Finding a job is easier for those who graduate from high schools. Employers locate them while they are still in school. For those who graduated from a university, it's less obvious. "The French state imposes requirements when one is foreign. I must obtain a contract up to my level of education. But it's complicated even for a Frenchman to directly have a proposal for an executive position "laments Mohammed Andaloussi.

Student jobs

Occupational integration is also complicated during studies. Some students need a little job to support themselves. But their origin can be an obstacle to hiring. Lina, 24, is Algerian and has applied to more than 53 student jobs. Many employers refuse to take it for administrative reasons. In their eyes, there are too many papers to do. In fact, to obtain a work permit, the employer must complete a paper and file it with the Regional Directorate of Business, Competition, Consumer Affairs, Labor and Employment. A waste of time in the eyes of employers.