This page compares the education systems of France and South Korea.
Education System Overview
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-private mix; governance is centralized, with national rules for curricula, qualifications and teacher recruitment. Regions, departments and municipalities manage responsibilities such as school buildings, equipment and local services. Most private-school students attend institutions operating under contract with the state. [French Ministry] | Public/private mix; mixed governance combining national policy and standards with decentralized local education administration. The Ministry of Education operates at the national level, while 17 Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education oversee local education. [Korea MOE] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of National Education for primary and secondary education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space for tertiary education and research. Regional education authorities (rectorats) administer national school policy within their respective academies. | Ministry of Education (MOE); 17 Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education; and local Offices of Education. The national ministry sets education policy and curriculum requirements, while regional education offices administer schools, staffing and local education services. [Korea MOE] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 4.5% of GDP in 2023, representing government expenditure on educational institutions from primary through tertiary education under the OECD's initial-funds measure. Private expenditure on the same institutions accounted for another 0.8% of GDP. Under the broader measure covering government education expenditure both inside and outside educational institutions, France spent approximately 4.6% of GDP in 2023. These figures use different expenditure boundaries and are not directly interchangeable. [OECD] | 5.4% (2022, World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series). The OECD's more recent measure of government expenditure on primary through tertiary education, including spending inside and outside educational institutions, was 4.2% of GDP in 2023. The figures use different coverage and should not be treated as directly comparable annual observations. [World Bank] [OECD] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | From age 3 to age 16. A separate training obligation until age 18 applies to young people no longer covered by compulsory instruction. It can be fulfilled through schooling, apprenticeship, vocational training, employment combined with an approved support arrangement, civic service or another recognized pathway. [Éduscol] | Approximately age 6 to age 15, covering six years of elementary school and three years of middle school. Children normally begin elementary school in March of the calendar year following the year they turn six. High school is not compulsory, although free high-school education is provided under national legislation. [Korea MOE] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 13 years of compulsory instruction, normally from ages 3 to 16. The subsequent training obligation extends participation in education, training or an eligible activity until age 18 but does not require every young person to remain in full-time school. | 9 years: 6 years of elementary education plus 3 years of middle school. [Korea MOE] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Compulsory from age 3. Children normally attend three years of école maternelle before entering elementary school at approximately age 6. In 2024, the schooling rate was 98.5% at age 3 and approximately 100% at ages 4 and 5. Earlier admission at age 2 is available in some schools, subject to capacity and local priority arrangements. [French Ministry] | Optional; enrollment among children aged 3–5 reached approximately 96% in 2024, according to the OECD's comparable early childhood education and care measure. Kindergarten generally serves children aged 3–5, while childcare centers also provide early education and care. Government support for free early childhood education and childcare, initially expanded for five-year-olds in July 2025, was extended to children aged 4–5 in 2026. The additional funding reduces eligible parental charges but does not make preschool attendance compulsory. [OECD] [Korea MOE] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 5 + 4 + 3: five years of elementary education (école élémentaire, CP–CM2), four years of lower secondary education (collège, sixième–troisième) and three years of upper secondary education (lycée, seconde–terminale). Pre-primary education normally adds three compulsory years before elementary school. Upper secondary pathways include general, technological and vocational education. [French Ministry] | 6 + 3 + 3: six years of elementary school, three years of middle school and three years of high school. The broader system is commonly described as 6-3-3-4 when the standard four-year university stage is included. [Korea MOE] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approximately 29.3% vocational / 70.7% general and technological among students attending lycée programmes in 2025. The figures reflect 661,600 students in vocational lycée programmes and 1,599,400 in general and technological programmes. They exclude apprentices enrolled through separate apprenticeship arrangements, so the vocational share is not directly equivalent to the OECD's broader upper-secondary vocational classification. [French Ministry] | 14.3% vocational / 85.7% general (2024), using the OECD's upper-secondary enrollment classification. Vocational education is delivered through specialized vocational high schools, Meister high schools and related programs. The general category includes students outside the vocational classification. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | September. In metropolitan France, the 2026/27 school year began on 1 September 2026, except in Corsica, where classes began on 3 September. Some overseas territories follow different dates. [French Ministry] | March. The first semester begins in March. [Korea MOE] |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | July. Summer holidays in metropolitan France begin after classes on 3 July 2027 for the 2026/27 school year. Examination schedules and overseas territorial calendars may differ. [Légifrance] | February, following the second semester and winter vacation period. [Korea MOE] |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | 36 weeks, normally divided into five teaching periods separated by school holidays. Metropolitan France uses three holiday zones, A, B and C, to stagger winter and spring breaks. [Légifrance] | Approximately 38 five-day school weeks, equivalent to the statutory minimum of 190 school days. Actual teaching schedules are arranged by individual schools and include two semesters, summer and winter vacations, and scheduled school activities. [Korean Law] |
| Instruction Days per Year | No single nationwide number of instructional days applies to every school level and timetable. Primary schools generally provide 24 teaching hours per week, commonly distributed over four days or, where authorized, four and a half days. Across 36 weeks, these arrangements correspond to approximately 144 or 162 scheduled teaching days, respectively. Secondary-school timetables follow different weekly arrangements. Public holidays and local calendars can affect the actual number of days attended. [French Ministry] | At least 190 days per school year for elementary, middle and high schools, subject to limited statutory reductions in specified circumstances. [Korean Law] |
Grading System
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | The 0–20 scale is widely used in secondary education, where 10/20 commonly represents a passing average. Competency-based assessment is also used during compulsory schooling, particularly in primary education and collège. National examinations, including the diplôme national du brevet and baccalauréat, have their own assessment and award rules. | Assessment varies by school level. Middle-school achievement commonly uses A–E achievement levels. For students entering high school from 2025, the former nine-grade internal relative-ranking system was replaced by a five-grade system under the 2028 university admissions changes. Achievement levels and relative rankings are distinct measures; the new high-school system continues to report achievement grades as well as relative grades where applicable. [Korea MOE] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly 0–20, with 10/20 generally representing a passing mark, subject to institutional rules for compensation between course units. Higher education follows the Licence–Master–Doctorate (LMD) structure and uses ECTS credits, normally 60 credits per full-time academic year. [Campus France] | Institution-specific; 4.5 and 4.3 GPA scales with letter grades are commonly used. A 4.0 scale is also used at some institutions. Minimum passing grades, GPA conversion rules and treatment of pass/fail courses vary by university. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | French is the principal language of instruction throughout the national school system. Authorized bilingual, European and international sections may teach specified subjects in another language. | Korean is the main language of instruction in the national school system. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | French is the sole nationwide official language. Regional languages may be taught as subjects or through approved bilingual and immersion arrangements, including Breton, Basque, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan and regional Germanic languages such as Alsatian. Other recognized regional languages are offered in their respective territories. These arrangements do not confer nationwide official-language status. | No separate nationwide minority-language instruction system is established for regular public schools. English and other foreign languages are taught as subjects, while authorized foreign and international schools may teach in English, Chinese, Japanese, German and other languages according to their curricula. [ISI] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 86.4% in primary education and 78.8% in secondary education in 2025. Approximately 5,315,600 primary pupils and 4,431,300 secondary pupils attended public institutions. The primary figure includes pre-primary education, while the secondary figure covers collège and lycée. [French Ministry] | Primary: approximately 98% / Secondary: approximately 72% (2024), based on the World Bank/UNESCO UIS ownership classification. The secondary figure combines lower- and upper-secondary education. Public funding also supports many privately operated secondary schools, so institutional ownership does not necessarily indicate whether students pay tuition. [World Bank] [World Bank] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 0 compulsory tuition for public primary and secondary education. Families may incur separate costs for school meals, optional activities, certain supplies or transport, depending on local rules and available financial support. [French Ministry] | KRW 0 standard tuition for public elementary and middle education; nationwide free high-school education was extended to all grades from 2021, covering admission fees, tuition, school operation support fees and textbooks within the statutory scheme. Certain separately regulated schools and additional services may fall outside the standard exemption. [Korea MOE] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes, with public primary and secondary education provided throughout metropolitan France and the overseas departments and regions. Local education authorities organize school catchment areas, admissions and transport arrangements. The system included approximately 47,000 primary schools, 7,000 collèges and 3,700 lycées across public and private sectors in 2025/26. [French Ministry] | Yes. Public schools operate nationwide under the metropolitan, provincial and local education administration system. School assignment and access arrangements are managed locally, with special provisions for small rural schools and remote communities. [Korea MOE] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Approximately 13.6% in primary education and 21.2% in secondary education in 2025. Most pupils in the private sector attend schools operating sous contrat, where the state funds teacher salaries and schools follow national educational requirements. Independent schools operating hors contrat form a smaller, separately regulated category. [French Ministry] | Primary: approximately 2% / Secondary: approximately 28% (2024), using the World Bank/UNESCO UIS classification. The secondary share covers both middle and high schools. Privately operated schools may receive substantial government funding, particularly under compulsory education and high-school tuition-support arrangements. [World Bank] [World Bank] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide, with particularly high concentrations in Brittany and Pays de la Loire. Private schools under contract account for a much larger share of local primary provision in these western regions than in many eastern and central departments. For example, 34.6% of primary schools in Finistère were privately managed under contract in 2025, compared with a national share of approximately 9.8% of schools. These are shares of institutions rather than student enrollment. [French Ministry] | — |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | No single official national total covers all schools using international curricula, foreign-school systems and international sections in French institutions. Counts vary according to whether bilingual schools, independent international schools, French international sections and European Schools are included. The International Baccalaureate count is reported separately below. | 45 government-listed foreign/international K–12 institutions across three regulatory categories: 38 foreign schools, 3 foreign educational institutions offering elementary or secondary education, and 4 Jeju international schools. The official information system also lists a separate foreign kindergarten. The total does not include all Korean schools offering international curricula or IB programmes. [ISI] |
| Number of IB World Schools | 25 IB World Schools currently offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme in France. The IB country directory lists 8 Primary Years Programme (PYP) providers, 7 Middle Years Programme (MYP) providers, 22 Diploma Programme (DP) providers and 2 Career-related Programme (CP) providers. Schools offering multiple programmes are counted once in the national total. [IB] | 162 IB World Schools currently offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme in the Republic of Korea. The IB country directory lists 87 schools offering the Primary Years Programme, 52 offering the Middle Years Programme and 41 offering the Diploma Programme; some schools offer more than one programme. The count includes authorized Korean public and private schools and is not limited to foreign or international schools. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), French International Baccalaureate (BFI), international sections, Cambridge International programmes, American-style curricula and European Baccalaureate programmes, depending on school authorization. The BFI is a French national qualification incorporating international components and is distinct from the IB Diploma Programme. | International Baccalaureate (IB), American, British, Canadian and other authorized foreign curricula, depending on the school. Some Korean public schools also offer IB programmes alongside national education requirements. [ISI] |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | From the 2026 recruitment session, the main external teacher recruitment competitions opened at bachelor's level (bac+3), followed by two years of paid initial training for successful candidates. Transitional bac+5 competitions remain available through the 2027 recruitment session for eligible candidates following the previous route. Recruitment requirements differ for certain specialized competitions and teaching positions. [French Ministry] | A recognized teacher qualification certificate is required. Standard Grade 2 regular-teacher routes are completed through approved university-level teacher education with prescribed major and teaching coursework; public-school recruitment also follows the applicable appointment process. Teacher qualifications are governed by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and related regulations. [Korean Law] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 21.1 students per elementary class in 2025. Pre-primary classes averaged approximately 21.7 pupils. These figures measure average classroom group size rather than the student-to-teacher ratio. [French Ministry] | 18.6 students (2026), according to the national Basic Education Statistics survey. The average reflects a continued decline in elementary-school enrollment. [KEDI] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | 25.7 students per collège class in 2025. [French Ministry] | 24.5 students (2026). [KEDI] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | 30.2 students in general and technological lycée classes and 18.4 students in vocational lycée classes in 2025. These averages reflect the different organization of upper-secondary pathways. [French Ministry] | 23.1 students (2026), across the reported high-school categories. [KEDI] |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. France has participated in every PISA cycle since the programme began in 2000. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 495 / 493 / 493. [OECD] | 526 / 514 / 519 [OECD] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 474 / 474 / 487. [OECD] | 527 / 515 / 528 [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 458 / 456 / 483. France performed close to the OECD averages of 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading and 482 in science. The OECD also reported a score of 497 for France in computational problem solving, a separately assessed PISA 2025 domain. [OECD] | 522 / 501 / 526. All three results remained above the corresponding OECD averages of 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading and 482 in science. [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | France's 2025 scores were 16 points lower in mathematics and 18 points lower in reading than in 2022. Science fell by 4 points, a change that was not statistically clear. Compared with 2018, mathematics was 37 points lower, reading 37 points lower and science 10 points lower. The 2025 mathematics and reading results continued the decline recorded across recent PISA cycles. [OECD] | Korea has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and science performance was statistically about the same, while reading declined by 14 points. Mathematics decreased by five points and science by two points, neither representing a statistically clear change. Korea also scored 538 in computational problem solving in PISA 2025, above the OECD average of 500. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 483 points, followed by mathematics at 458 and reading at 456. Science was also the highest-scoring subject relative to France's other two reported averages, although scores across different PISA subjects should not be treated as direct measurements of identical skills. [OECD] | Science — 526 points. Approximately 14.7% of students reached the top two science proficiency levels, compared with an OECD average of 7.2%. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | More than 3,500 public and private higher education institutions, under the broad institutional classification used by Campus France. These include universities, Grandes Écoles, engineering and business schools, art and architecture schools and specialized institutions. France enrolled approximately 3.05 million higher education students in 2025/26. [Campus France] [Higher Education Ministry] | 416 higher education institutions (2026), down from 421 in 2025. The official count includes general universities, universities of education, junior colleges, specialized institutions and graduate-school universities. [KEDI] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 78 universities and communities of institutions in the combined institutional category cited by Campus France. This figure includes university groupings and should not be interpreted as 78 separate research universities. The French university sector also includes experimental public institutions formed through mergers or institutional restructuring, which affect how universities are counted. [Campus France] | 188 general universities in the official 2026 higher-education classification, down from 189 in 2025. The category includes universities with varying teaching and research roles and should not be interpreted as a count restricted to research-intensive universities. [KEDI] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | No directly equivalent national university-of-applied-sciences sector. Professionally oriented higher education is delivered through Instituts universitaires de technologie (IUT), Sections de techniciens supérieurs (STS), engineering schools and other specialized institutions. IUTs generally operate within universities and offer the three-year Bachelor universitaire de technologie (BUT), while STS programmes usually lead to the two-year Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS). | 126 junior colleges (2026), down from 130 in 2025. These institutions generally provide shorter-cycle, employment-oriented higher education programs. Korea also has specialized and industrial universities, but they are classified separately from junior colleges. [KEDI] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities; Grandes Écoles; engineering schools; business and management schools; art and architecture schools; specialized higher education institutions; IUTs and STS programmes. University degrees follow the Licence–Master–Doctorate structure, while other institutions may award nationally recognized or institution-specific qualifications. | General universities, universities of education, junior colleges, graduate-school universities, cyber universities and other specialized higher education institutions. The 2026 statistical classification includes 10 universities of education, 47 institutions in other undergraduate-level categories and 45 separately classified graduate-level institutions. [KEDI] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Approximately 74.2% public / 25.8% private in 2025/26, according to the French higher education ministry's national enrollment statistics. Private-sector enrollment declined by approximately 1.7% from the previous academic year, while total tertiary enrollment increased by 1.1%. The private category includes business schools and other specialized providers as well as private degree-awarding institutions. [Higher Education Ministry] | Public: 20.4% / independent private: approximately 79.6% (2024), based on the OECD's tertiary institution ownership classification. Publicly funded scholarships and government support may also be available to students at private universities. [OECD] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | More than 1,400 bachelor's and master's programme listings, based on Campus France's published catalogue figures of over 115 undergraduate programmes and more than 1,300 master's programmes taught wholly or partly in English. The broader catalogue contains over 1,600 English-taught offerings, including short and professional courses and summer programmes. Catalogue listings are not necessarily equivalent to unique accredited degrees. [Campus France] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2026, commonly known as the Shanghai Ranking. [Campus France] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 4 in ARWU 2026: Paris-Saclay University (#13), PSL University (#33), Sorbonne University (#55) and Université Paris Cité (#57). [Campus France] | 4 in QS 2027: Seoul National University (#38), Yonsei University (#42), Korea University (#=52) and KAIST (#65). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 17 in ARWU 2026, comprising the four institutions ranked within the top 100 and 13 additional institutions ranked from 101 to 500. [Campus France] | 17 South Korean universities ranked within the global top 500 in QS 2027. These included POSTECH, Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, UNIST and other institutions alongside the four top-100 universities. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 27 in ARWU 2026, including 10 institutions ranked between 501 and 1000. [Campus France] | 31 South Korean universities ranked within the global top 1000 in QS 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Hcéres (High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education) evaluates higher education institutions, programmes and research units. Other bodies have responsibilities for particular qualifications, including the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) for engineering degrees. The national state authorities retain responsibility for authorizing the award of national degrees. [Hcéres] | Korean University Accreditation Institute (KUAI), affiliated with the Korean Council for University Education, is the recognized institutional accreditor for four-year universities. The Korea Accreditation Board for Vocational Higher Education (KAVE) accredits junior colleges, while online universities have separate evaluation arrangements. The Ministry of Education retains responsibility for institutional authorization and recognition of accrediting bodies. [KCUE] [KARIC] |
| International Students (Total) | 443,500 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024/25, under the broad nationality-based measure reported by Campus France. A more recent but narrower measure recorded 352,790 internationally mobile foreign students in 2025/26, defined as students who moved to France specifically for higher education. The two figures are based on different populations and should not be interpreted as a year-on-year enrollment decline. [Campus France] [Interior Ministry] | 307,464 foreign students in higher education (2026), an increase of 21.3% from 2025. The total includes 223,191 degree students and 84,273 non-degree students, including students enrolled in language and other non-degree programs. [KEDI] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | Approximately 15% of tertiary students were foreign nationals in 2024/25, according to Campus France's broad definition. Under the narrower international-mobility measure, foreign students who came to France specifically to study represented 12.3% of higher education enrollment in 2025/26. These indicators should be distinguished when comparing France with other countries. [Campus France] [Interior Ministry] | 10.0% in 2026 (307,464 foreign students among 3,072,261 higher-education students). The numerator includes both degree-seeking and non-degree foreign students, matching the scope of the reported national higher-education statistics. [KEDI] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 178 annually for a bachelor's degree (licence) and EUR 255 for a master's degree in 2026/27, under the standard national public registration fee schedule for eligible French, EU, EEA and Swiss students. The standard doctoral fee is EUR 398. Engineering programmes generally cost EUR 630 at institutions covered by the national engineering fee category, while specified engineering schools charge EUR 2,620. A separate EUR 105 student and campus life contribution (CVEC) normally applies unless the student qualifies for an exemption. [Service Public] | Approximately KRW 4,250,000 average annual undergraduate tuition at national and public four-year universities in 2026. The national average across public and private general universities and universities of education was approximately KRW 7,270,300, while the private-university average was KRW 8,231,500. Fees vary by institution and subject; medicine, engineering and arts programs may have different rates. [Korea MOE] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 2,902 annually for a bachelor's degree and EUR 3,950 for a master's degree in 2026/27 under the differentiated registration fee schedule applicable to many non-EU international students at covered public institutions. Doctoral students are generally subject to the standard EUR 398 registration fee instead. Exemptions, institutional waivers and nationality or residence-based exceptions apply, so not every non-EU student pays the differentiated rate. The CVEC may be payable separately. [Campus France] | No single nationwide international-student tariff. National and public universities set tuition by institution, degree level, department and admission category. The 2026 national/public undergraduate average was approximately KRW 4.25 million annually across the institutions covered by the official tuition disclosure, but this is not a separate international-student average. International students should consult the relevant university's current admissions and tuition schedule. [Korea MOE] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | No separate national fee based solely on the teaching language. At public institutions applying the standard national schedule, eligible EU and comparable-status students generally pay EUR 178 for bachelor's or EUR 255 for master's programmes in 2026/27. Non-EU students subject to differentiated registration fees generally pay EUR 2,902 or EUR 3,950, respectively. Private business schools, Grandes Écoles and specialized programmes set separate tuition fees, which may be considerably higher. [Campus France] | Programme-specific; there is no verified national average limited to English-taught degrees. As an institutional example, Yonsei University's English-medium Underwood International College listed KRW 8,202,000 per regular semester for students in its international admissions track in 2026, equivalent to KRW 16,404,000 for two standard semesters. Its first-semester tuition was higher at KRW 8,416,000, and additional fees applied. This example is not representative of every English-taught degree in Korea. [Yonsei University] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | No standardized national monthly rate. French-language courses are priced by provider, intensity, location and duration. As a published example, Alliance Française de Paris lists approximately EUR 730 per month for a 36-hour semi-intensive course and EUR 1,460 per month for a 72-hour intensive course. University-affiliated French as a Foreign Language (FLE) centres may charge by semester instead. These examples are provider prices rather than a national average. [Alliance Française] | Approximately KRW 660,000–744,000 per four weeks, expressed as an equivalent from selected university Korean-language programs charging KRW 1.65 million–1.86 million for a 10-week term. Seoul National University lists KRW 1.65 million for its afternoon course and KRW 1.80 million for its morning course, while Yonsei University lists KRW 1.86 million per term in 2026. Tuition is generally charged by term rather than monthly; application fees, textbooks and accommodation are additional. [SNU] [Yonsei] |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | France operates a centralized education system with national curricula, qualifications and teacher recruitment, while regional and local authorities manage school infrastructure and services. Compulsory instruction runs from age 3 to 16, followed by a separate training obligation until age 18. Primary and secondary education follow a 5+4+3 structure after three years of pre-primary education. In 2025, approximately 86.4% of primary pupils and 78.8% of secondary pupils attended public schools, which provide tuition-free instruction. Vocational lycée programmes accounted for approximately 29.3% of lycée enrollment, excluding separate apprenticeship arrangements. In PISA 2025, France scored 458 in mathematics, 456 in reading and 483 in science; mathematics and reading declined from 2022, while the science change was not statistically clear. Higher education includes more than 3,500 institutions, ranging from universities and Grandes Écoles to engineering, business and specialized schools. The tertiary sector enrolled approximately 3.05 million students in 2025/26, with 25.8% attending private institutions. Campus France recorded 443,500 foreign students in 2024/25, while the narrower internationally mobile student measure reached 352,790 in 2025/26. The IB directory listed 25 IB World Schools. Public university registration fees for eligible domestic and regional students were EUR 178 for bachelor's and EUR 255 for master's programmes in 2026/27, with separate differentiated fees for many non-EU students. Education changes in 2026 included the introduction of bac+3 teacher recruitment, the first early mathematics baccalauréat examination and revised mathematics programmes in seconde and première. | South Korea uses a 6-3-3-4 education structure with national policy led by the Ministry of Education and local administration carried out through 17 Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education and their local offices. Elementary and middle school provide nine years of compulsory education, while free high-school education has applied nationwide across all grades since 2021, subject to the statutory provisions. The school year begins in March, and elementary, middle and high schools normally provide at least 190 school days. Korean is the main language of instruction. The system includes general and vocational high-school pathways, with vocational programmes accounting for 14.3% of upper-secondary enrollment in 2024. In PISA 2025, Korea scored 522 in mathematics, 501 in reading and 526 in science, with reading declining from 2022 while mathematics and science remained statistically stable. Higher education included 416 institutions in 2026, while the number of foreign students reached 307,464, representing 10.0% of higher-education enrollment. The International Baccalaureate directory listed 162 authorized schools. Average annual undergraduate tuition at national and public universities was approximately KRW 4.25 million in 2026. Current education changes include the High School Credit System, the five-grade high-school internal ranking system for cohorts entering from 2025, revised credit-completion rules from 2026 and expanded early childhood funding for four- and five-year-olds. The Ministry is also supporting optional AI-based teaching materials in schools and general AI curricula at selected universities. |