The regulatory framework governing tuition fees for non-European students has recently changed following the introduction of Decree No. 2026-385 on 19 May 2026.
This page outlines the main provisions applicable for the 2026–27 academic year.

The following are not subject to differentiated tuition fees:

Cases provided for under the decree : 

• Students of French nationality;
• Nationals of the EU, the EEA, Monaco, Andorra, Quebec or Switzerland;
• Doctoral students;
• Students enrolled in a programme leading to the right to supervise research;
• Students enrolled in postgraduate programmes in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy (with the exception of short-term programmes expressly mentioned in the order of 19 April 2019);
• Refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and their children;
• Long-term residents in France and their minor children;
• Individuals who have been tax residents in France for more than two years (as part of a tax household);
• Students in preparatory classes for grandes écoles (CPGE).

Special cases

• For the 2026 academic year, non-European students who applied via the Études en France platform and were accepted may enrol with a partial exemption (tuition fees limited to the national tuition rate), which is granted automatically provided they were accepted prior to the decree’s entry into force.
• Non-European students enrolled in a dual-degree programme with a university outside Europe, who pay their tuition fees to the partner university, are not affected by the decree.
  Those enrolled in a dual-degree programme with a university or branch campus outside Europe who pay their tuition fees to the University of Poitiers may enrol with a partial exemption (tuition fees limited to the domestic tuition fee rate), provided that the agreement with the partner university includes a reciprocity clause.
• Non-European students enrolled at the University of Poitiers for the 2025–26 academic year who are repeating a year or continuing their programme of study in the same subject are automatically eligible for a tuition fee exemption limited to the amount of domestic tuition fees.

 

The following are subject to differentiated tuition fees:

• First-year non-European students are not automatically exempt from differentiated tuition fees, except those mentioned in point 1. However, they may request a partial exemption based on their personal circumstances. The university president has sole authority in this matter and may grant exemptions to up to 30% of non-European students enrolled at the University of Poitiers for the 2026–2027 academic year.
• Non-European students enrolled at the University of Poitiers in 2025–26 who change their major and/or level of study are not automatically exempt from differentiated tuition fees. They may request a partial exemption for personal reasons, which the university president may grant up to a limit of 30% of non-European students enrolled at the University of Poitiers for the 2026–27 academic year.

Circumstances requiring an exemption request:

In certain situations, the exemption is not automatic, but may be granted following a review of your application.
Please note that exemptions are granted on a case-by-case basis and are decided by the University President. The number of exemptions is limited to 30% of enrolled non-European students.

Access the exemption request form

For any questions regarding differentiated tuition fees, please email: droits.diff.info@univ-poitiers.fr