المملكة: French Consul of"today": 1,200 Saudi students in higher education in France… and an ambition to increase by thousands

The French Consul in Jeddah, Muhammad Nahad, confirmed this during his interview with "today" The Saudi student enjoys the same educational privileges in France as the French student, most notably studying at the same cost without any discrimination, stressing that this factor is considered one of the most prominent elements of attraction for studying in French universities.

This came during the press conference held on the sidelines of the French higher education in Jeddah, with the participation of more than 15 prestigious French universities, with the aim of introducing Saudi students to the academic opportunities available in France and encouraging them to experience university education there.

He explained "Nahad said that organizing the exhibition comes within the framework of the keenness to strengthen the French academic presence in the Kingdom, pointing out that France includes an elite of the best universities at the European and international levels. He said that among these is Educational institutions A specialized school in business administration that is ranked first in Europe and fourth in the world, along with leading universities in the fields of tourism and hospitality and many other specific specializations.

The French consul pointed out that the low cost of studying in France compared to many developed countries represents an important competitive advantage, stressing that the Saudi student pays the same fees that the French student pays, without any differences or additional burdens, which reflects the principle of justice and equal opportunities in the French educational system.

Nahad touched on the challenge related to the language, explaining that French universities today offer complete study courses in English in a large number of specializations, which makes it easier for Saudi students to enroll. He added that studying in France gives the student an additional advantage in learning the French language, which is spoken by about 750 million people around the world, which opens wide professional and cultural horizons in more than one continent.

He stressed that the experience of studying in France is not limited to the academic aspect only, but extends to include a unique human and cultural experience, as the student lives in the heart of Europe, and interacts with multiple nationalities and cultures, in addition to benefiting from the training opportunities provided by French companies, which receive students for practical training. It gives them distinguished professional experiences.

The French consul in Jeddah revealed that the number of Saudi students who go to study in France annually ranges between 1,000 and 1,200 students, not counting those who travel for the purpose of learning the French language only, indicating that the ambition is not limited to increasing this number by hundreds of students, but rather to reach thousands of Saudi students in the coming years.

Nahed concluded his statement by emphasizing that French universities possess the competence and infrastructure that This enables it to accommodate larger numbers of Saudi students, while providing the highest levels of academic support and educational services, ensuring a successful and integrated study experience.