Non-EU students: differentiated tuition fees and exemptions for 2026/2027
Decree No. 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 on the arrangements for exempting international students from tuition fees at French public higher education institutions has amended the rules governing tuition fees for non-EU students.
Until the publication of this decree, the University of Brest applied a partial exemption to all non-EU students enrolled at the university. This is no longer possible.
Under these new regulatory provisions, non-EU students may be subject to the differentiated tuition fees provided for under national regulations when they enrol at a public higher education institution. There will be a possibility of exemption for students, depending on their personal circumstances, but this will apply to no more than 30% of those subject to the fees.
The annual tuition fees applicable for 2026/2027 are as follows:
- Enrolment in a Bachelor’s degree, BUT or Professional Bachelor’s degree: €2,902
- Master’s programme enrolment fee: €3,950
As a result of this new arrangement, enrolment fees must be paid upon starting the study programme. Please also note that failure to pay any enrolment fees will result in the student’s year and degree not being validated.
Do the differentiated tuition fees apply to me?
- A student who is a national of one of the Member States of the European Union, another State of the European Economic Area, Monaco, Andorra, Quebec or the Swiss Confederation;
- A doctoral student, a postgraduate student in health sciences, or a student enrolled on a programme leading to the qualification to supervise research (HDR);
- A student enrolled at UBO in the 2025/2026 academic year and progressing to a higher year within the same level of study (undergraduate or postgraduate) at the start of the next academic year;
- First-time non-EU students who have received a letter of admission to the university before 21 May 2026 (via the ‘Études en France’ or ‘e-Candidat’ admission procedures), explicitly stating exemption from tuition fees;
- Holders of a residence card or a residence card marked ‘long-term resident – EU’ and their minor children;
- Holders of a residence permit marked ‘Residence permit for a family member of a citizen of the European Union/EEA/Switzerland’;
- Refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection;
- Persons who have been resident for tax purposes in France for more than two years;
- Students on preparatory classes for the grandes écoles (CPGE);
- Students enrolled on an apprenticeship programme.
Special case of non-EU students already enrolled at the University of Brest (UBO) in the 2025/2026 academic year
- Non-EU students enrolled at UBO in the 2025/2026 academic year who are already exempt from fees will continue to be exempt, provided they meet the following three conditions:
To continue their studies at UBO; - To be enrolled in the 2026/2027 academic year on the same level of study (either undergraduate (Bachelor’s, BUT) or postgraduate (Master’s));
- To continue on the same course or on a course that builds on the previous one.
Under these circumstances, a non-EU student enrolled at UBO in the 2025/2026 academic year who changes academic cycle for the 2026/2027 academic year (e.g. a student enrolled in the third year of a Bachelor’s degree who is admitted to the first year of a Master’s degree at UBO) or who switches to a different course within the same level of study (e.g. a student enrolled on a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Literature switching to a Bachelor’s degree in Law) is subject to differentiated tuition fees.
If you fall into one of these categories, you are therefore not subject to the differentiated fees. You will therefore pay the same enrolment fees as domestic students (unless exempt). The applicable amounts for 2026/2027 are as follows:
• Enrolment in a Bachelor’s degree, BUT or Professional Bachelor’s degree: €178
• Enrolment on a Master’s degree: €255
Non-EU students who do not fall into any of the above categories of exemption; in particular, if you are
- a non-EU student arriving for the first time in the 2026/2027 academic year who received a letter of admission to a UBO course after 21 May 2026;
- Non-EU students previously enrolled at another higher education institution in France (transfer procedure).
If any of these situations apply to you, you are therefore subject to the differentiated fees. The annual tuition fees applicable for 2026/2027 are as follows:
- Enrolment on a Bachelor’s degree, BUT or Professional Bachelor’s degree: €2,902
- Enrolment on a Master’s degree: €3,950
If this applies to me, what exemptions are available?
You may be eligible for an exemption if you are:
- Students receiving a French government scholarship (BGF);
- Students covered by a cooperation agreement between institutions, provided that, on a reciprocal basis, the same treatment is granted to French students on exchange programmes at the partner institution.
Please note that academic admission does not automatically exempt you from paying tuition fees.
The university’s services remain available for any enquiries. Please contact the International Affairs Office at mobilite.internationale@univ-brest.fr
if you have any questions.