University of Bordeaux

The University of Bordeaux is one of France's oldest public research universities, established in 1441, about 583 years ago. It is the third-largest university in terms of student count, with up to 50,000 students. In 2014, it was revolutionized by merging the three universities, Université Bordeaux 1, Université Bordeaux Montesquieu, and Université Bordeaux Segalen, Université Bordeaux Montesquieu, into a single campus. The University of Bordeaux is ranked 401–500 in the world's top universities.

The University of Bordeaux offers 50 fields of research and education at 90 research centers across the campus. The top courses at the University of Bordeaux comprise English-taught master courses for international students. The bachelor's program lasts 3 years, the master's 1-2 years and the PhD lasts 5 years directly after the bachelor's. No application fee at the time of admission is required for most of the programs. The tuition fees are also affordable, ranging from 175 euros for bachelors, 250 euros for masters, and 391 euros for PhD programs. You are required to have a high school certificate for a bachelor's degree and a bachelor's degree for a master's and a PhD.

The University of Bordeaux offers government-funded and merit-based scholarships. Although the IELTS is not mandatory for studying at this university, a minimum of B-2 level English language proficiency is required for English-taught programs. The university's acceptance rate is about 93 percent. The application deadline for 2025 intakes at the University of Bordeaux is January 2025. 

Why Study at the University of Bordeaux  

The University of Bordeaux is one of the largest and oldest universities in Europe to exist and offers the following benefits for students: 

• The university is located in the vibrant student city of Bordeaux, which has several museums, monuments, science workshops, and auditoriums—that's why it welcomes approximately 6,000 international students each year.
• Many English-taught programs are available for international students at the university campus. Most international students target Master's programs that are entirely taught in English.
• It is one of the largest research-conducting institutes in France, with 11 departments, 90 research laboratories, 50 scientific disciplines, and eight doctoral schools.
• Welcome desks are available in the university for complete guidance and support for international students arriving on campus.
• The University of Bordeaux has almost 60 exchange programs with the top countries in the world, including Erasmus Mundus exchange programs. These programs provide international mobility across countries and funding opportunities for students.
• Students can apply for scholarships to study at the University of Bordeaux, such as the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, supported by the Government of France.
• The university is known for its affordable tuition fees and specific policy of fee waivers for low-income-generating countries like Pakistan. The average tuition fee to study at the University of Bordeaux is 250 euros annually.
• The university also offers international students the best future opportunities and career perspectives after their studies. Many internship opportunities and research laboratory jobs are available.
• The university has a dedicated sports department where students can participate in 55 sports and physical refreshment activities.
• Students are allowed to work part-time for 964 hours per year to earn extra money for their expenses. 

Related:
University of Montpellier

Scholarship Types   

The scholarships that the University of Bordeaux offers can be subcategorized into the following types: 

1. Government Scholarships
2. International Mobility Scholarship Program 
3. Need-Based Scholarships
4. Research Scholarships

1. Government Scholarship

The government scholarship available at the University of Bordeaux is the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship for master's and PhD students. It is funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attract future policy and decision-makers worldwide. 

Call Us

Programs Available for the Scholarship

• Master program
• PhD programs 

Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship

• 25 years for a master's degree
• 30 years for the PhD degree
• Enrollment in full-time degree programs at the University of Bordeaux

Duration of the Scholarship

• 6-36 months 

Courses Offered for the Scholarship 

• History
• French language and civilization
• Law
• Political science
• Economics and management
• Biology and health
• Ecological transition
• Mathematics and digital studies
• Engineering sciences

How to Apply for the Scholarship 

• Apply through the University of Bordeaux online portal.
• Submit them to Campus France.
•  The online application will automatically be rejected if directly applied on the Campus France portal.

Deadline to Apply

• January 2025 is the official deadline for this scholarship. The applications are open from October 2024. 

Benefits of the Scholarship 

• 1181 euros for masters
• 1800 euros for PhD students
• Accommodation
• International Transportation
• Health and Medical Insurance 

2. International Mobility Scholarship Program

These are mainly exchange programs for international student mobility funded entirely by scholarships. The international mobility scholarship program at Bordeaux University includes the following aids and grants: 

1. Erasmus+ Study Grants
2. Erasmus+ internships grants
3. International mobility government aid
4. Regional Council aid

1. Erasmus+ Study Grants 

The students are offered a 2–12 month grant to study in another partner European country. The University of Bordeaux covers the expenses and financial aid.

Benefits

• 270-390 euros per month for the year 2024-25 

2. Erasmus+ internship Grants 

It is a scholarship for an internship at a public or private organization in another European country. The internship can last for 2–12 months and cover the expenses covered by Bordeaux University. 

Benefits

• 420-540 euros per month for academic year 2014-24 

3. International Mobility Government Aid

It is a government aid funded by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research for students willing to pursue an exchange program or internship. The university pays the aid for a maximum of nine months. 

Benefits

• 400 euros per month 

4. Regional Council Aid

It is the international mobility program supported and funded by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region grants for students at the University of Bordeaux. The grants are granted based on socioeconomic criteria for both Crous and non-Crous beneficiaries.

• Study mobility can last about eight consecutive weeks, and grants are offered weekly. The grant is 80 euros per week for mobility for non-Crous beneficiaries and 100 euros for mobility for Crous beneficiaries.
• Internship Mobility: It is for two weeks and offers flat weekly grants. Eighty euros per week are awarded for internships for non-cross beneficiaries and 100 euros per week for cross beneficiaries.

The regional council directly pays for the grant. You must have a countersigned mobility letter certificate from the University of Bordeaux. 

Benefits

• 3600 euros for non-Crous beneficiaries for the whole period of study
• 4500  euros for crous beneficiaries for the whole period of study 

Related:
University of Florence

3. Need-based Scholarships

These scholarships are based on the student's social criteria, international mobility, and financial need. 

1. Grants based on social criteria

The French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, and Research offers these scholarships based on social criteria and financial need. 

Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship 

• Age limit: 28 Years
• Admitted to a training course or degree program applicable to the scholarships
• Demonstrate financial need by income tax certificate and household income
• Distance from the place of study is also considered 

The application is submitted using the student social file (DSE) process. 

Call Us

2. CROUS: Two types of Financial Aid

These are the need-based scholarships for the annual aid for the students studying at Bordeaux University.

• Annual aid: For those students who are independent from their families and demonstrate financial need
• One-off financial need: Open to all students 

Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship

• The Non-EU students should be living in France for 1-2 years
• Financial need 

Benefits 

• Tuition fee reduction
• Free Accommodation
• 1 euro meal
• Exemption from CVEC (student life and campus contribution of 103 euros) 

4. International Mobility Research Scholarships

These are PhD mobility scholarships and fellowships awarded by the exchange programs. The funding is supported by the specific exchange program. The following scholarships and fellowships are available at the University of Bordeaux: 

1. Chateaubriand FELLOWSHIPS
2. Hubert Curien PARTNERSHIPS
3. FULBRIGHT Scholarship Program
4. CAMPUS FRANCE EIFFEL SCHOLARSHIPS
5. China Scholarship Council (CSC)

Eligibility Criteria    

• Academic Transcripts or required qualifications for enrolling in the desired program
• Language proficiency of B-2 level minimum
• Proof of identification
• Study visa
• Paperwork and necessary required documentation

Documents Required to Study at Bordeaux University

• Application form
• Complete academic record
• Language certifications
• Passport
• ID card
• Pictures
• Study visa
• Health Insurance
• Civil liability certificate
• Cover letter
• Motivation letter
• Letter of Recommendation
• Provisional budget
• Learning agreement by the university coordinator  

The documents must be translated into French.

Related:
University of Messina

Top Courses Held in English   

Here is a list of courses held completely in English for international students at the University of Bordeaux.

Bachelors courses

The bachelor's courses are completely taught in English and are unavailable to international students. 

Masters Courses

• Business Administration
• Economic Affairs
• Economic Risks and Data Science
• European Business Administration
• International Business Management
• Wine Tourism Innovation
• Analytical Chemistry for Drugs and Natural Products
• Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology (EU2P)
• Advanced Materials Innovative Recycling (AMIR)
• Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics (PCCP)
• Polymer Sciences
• Transfers-Fluids-Materials in Aeronautical and Space Applications (TFM-ASA)
• International Neurosciences
• Marine Environment 2030 - MER2030
• Mechanical Engineering for Industry 4.0
• Euro-Mediterranean Master of Neuroscience (EMN-Online)
• Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory—ALGANT

PhD Courses

• Neuroscience
• Light sciences and technologies
• Digital public health
• Complex digital systems
• Advanced Chemistry
• Cancer biology and cardiac electrophysiology

How to Apply University of Bordeaux        

You can follow the step-by-step process of applying to the University of Bordeaux: 

Find a suitable degree program that interests you and aligns with your academic background.

• Log into the Campus France Pakistan online portal for French universities.
• Create an EEF account (study in France)
• Fill out the form and create an account
•  Activate account
• Upload all the required documents
• Select degree programs (You can choose 7)
• Review your submission
• Pay the fee of 30000 Pkr for registration on the Campus France portal
• Declare your payment
• Email the deposit slip
• Conduct individual interview
• Wait for feedback
• Upon receiving the offer letter, apply for a study visa
• Book an admissions desk appointment and accommodation in France
• Book your flight tickets

Call Us

FAQs        

Q1) How much does Bordeaux University cost for international students?

Answer: Bordeaux University costs an average of 250 euros annually, making it one of the most affordable universities in France and the world. This average cost is for EU citizens and third-world countries with low average incomes, like Pakistan. For different programs, tuition fees range from 175 euros for bachelors, 250 euros for masters, and 391 euros for PhD programs.

Q2) What is the University of Bordeaux ranked in the world?

Answer: It is one of the top-class universities in France, ranked 401-500 according to the Times Higher Education World Ranking, 281 among the best global universities, 465 according to QS World University Rankings, and 252nd according to the CWUR rankings. 

Q3) Does the University of Bordeaux teach in English?

Answer: The University of Bordeaux teaches most programs in French, but it offers some English-taught master courses for international students. Some of the courses that are taught in English are Economics, Management and Business, Health, Oenology, Science and Technology, and Biomedical Sciences. 

Q4) What are the English language requirements for the University of  Bordeaux?

Answer: The minimum English language requirement for the University of Bordeaux is a B-2 English language proficiency. IELTS is optional for taking English-taught courses at the university. You must be able to comprehend and speak English easily. 

Q5) What is the application deadline for the University of  Bordeaux in 2025?

Answer: The admissions deadline to apply for 2025 intakes at the University of Bordeaux is before January 2025. The admission portal is open for all international students wishing to study at this university.