A report from « Campus France » highlights that Morocco has risen to the top of the countries with the most students in France this year.
The statistics for the 2022/2023 academic year show that 45,162 Moroccan students are enrolled in higher education institutions in France, representing 11% of all international students. This figure reflects the strong academic and cultural ties between the two nations.
The report also emphasizes that Morocco, Algeria, and China remain the top countries of origin for foreign students in France. In 2022-2023, 21 out of the top 25 groups of foreign students saw an increase, with significant growth in students from Italy, Spain, Lebanon, the Republic of Congo, and India. Notably, the number of Ukrainian students in France doubled in one year (+111%), a direct consequence of the ongoing war.
Campus France specifies that during the 2022-2023 academic year, 412,087 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education, an increase of 3% from the previous year and 17% over the past five years. The 2024 edition of the Key Figures on Student Mobility outlines recent trends in the sector, initially impacted by the contrasting effects of COVID-19, followed by a general recovery, and now entering a more uncertain period.
France continues to attract a large number of international students, with over 412,000 enrolled in 2022/2023, representing a 3% increase in one year and 17% over five years. European, sub-Saharan, and North African students make up the largest contingents, while the number of Asian students remains stable thanks to a rise in Indian enrollments, offsetting the decline in Chinese students. On the global stage, France maintains its 6th place among the countries hosting the most international students.
The report also highlights the growing presence of students from Iran (+35%) and Morocco (+44%) among the top 20 countries of origin. Additionally, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, each representing 8% of the mobile students from the North Africa and Middle East region, show opposite trends with +61% and -45% changes over five years, respectively. Regarding inbound mobility, this region attracted 8% of global mobility in 2021, with Saudi Arabia (63,000 students) and Jordan (41,000 students) leading the host countries.
Moreover, the report notes that in 2021, over 105,000 French students chose to pursue their studies abroad, a 16% increase since 2016, making France the 6th country of origin for international students. The preferred destinations are mainly neighboring or French-speaking countries: Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, and Spain. Additionally, France is the leading country of origin for Erasmus+ participants, with nearly 53,000 departures in 2022, a 36% increase in one year, to destinations such as Spain, Germany, and Italy.
Globally, the latest available comparative data from 2021 show relatively stable student mobility due to the pandemic. The United States, Australia, Canada, China, and Japan recorded a historic drop in the number of students received, according to UNESCO, OECD, and Eurostat data. However, this period did not have the same impact everywhere: the United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey continued to attract a growing number of students in 2021, while France managed to maintain its numbers.
Since 2021, national reports indicate a resurgence in student mobility, marked by a mass return of students to the major host countries. However, recent public policy announcements aimed at limiting student mobility in key countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands could slow this growth in the future.
