New Delhi: Seven nations in Africa and the Indo-Pacific region - India, Vietnam, China, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Indonesia, have joined France's Classes Internationales project. The development highlights France's long-standing dedication to shared educational opportunities, student mobility, and academic cooperation with partner countries in these regions.

This enhanced regional presence is in line with France's Indo-Pacific agenda, which centres long-term collaboration on intercultural communication, youth involvement, and education.

"Classes Internationales stands as a clear expression of France's commitment to accessible, high-quality higher education and to deep, meaningful cooperation with its partner countries," said H.E. Dr. Thierry Mathou, the French ambassador to India. Its popularity has led to its steady growth to other nations around the Indo-Pacific and Africa. Originally, it was created for Indian students. We reaffirm our commitment to intellectual exchange, fostering young talent, and creating opportunities for students to succeed in French universities and in their worldwide futures through this program.

The curriculum combines intense French language training, cultural familiarisation, and fundamental academic preparation for a year-long immersion academic experience in France. Currently, more than 30 French universities are involved in the program, providing access to more than 200 undergraduate programs in disciplines like engineering, physics, design, the arts, business, and social sciences.

Students with different levels of French proficiency are accepted at Classes Internationales. In order to ensure that they are ready for the academic environment in France, students who need language preparation are assisted by the Alliance Française network to reach the A2 level prior to travel. In addition, a number of cooperating universities provide industry-related academic modules and apprenticeship-based tracks that allow students to experience working environments in addition to their coursework.

The 2026 intake is now accepting applications.Students can use www.classesinternationales.org to research programs and apply, or they can get advice from the Campus France office that is closest to them. Campus France and the French Institute in India jointly oversee the program in India.