French Embassy launching scholarships for Armenian students

The French Embassy to Armenia will launch scholarship programs for Armenian students beginning April, Ambassador Henri Reynaud said Thursday.

“The only Armenia-based French institution of higher learning is the French University. Their students there are given a French diploma. But no matter what achievements the French University in Armenia may have, we shouldn’t be restricted with that. So we are addressing the students in Armenia and calling on them to visit France to continue their education,” the diplomat told a news conference, adding that his country is the third in the world in terms of the number of its international students.

“Around 3,000 students from different world countries study at the universities of France. Many graduates with a bachelor’s degree now have their jobs on different markets today,” the Mr Reynaud added.

He said French universities offer a high-quality education and the best conditions of studies for an annual tuition fee of just 183 Euros (for bachelor students) or 383 Euros (for those pursuing a doctoral degree).

The ambassador added that 40% of the international students in France continue their education for a doctoral degree.

The diplomat said that the Embassy’s survey has revealed absolutely satisfactory results.

“A third of the respondents said that they have been provided with high-level jobs in Armenia,” he noted.

The diplomat said further that France is the fourth country in the world with the number of its Nobel prize winners and that they very much want Armenian students to be involved in their scientific-research.

Jean-Michel Kasparian, an advisor on culture and cooperation issues, said for his part that though French is the principal learning language at the educational institutions of France, its knowledge is not mandatory at the initial stage of studies.

“I would recommend all those who wish to continue their education in France to take accelerated classes to facilitate the further studies,” he said.

Kasbarian said almost all the applications of Armenian students were satisfied in 2013.

“Eight out of ten received a positive reply. It is just necessary to submit an accurate dossier. France provides a corresponding scholarship. Some doctorate students can be even said to be earning salaries,” he added.

Alice Léna, a cooperation attaché at the Embassy, said their mission is to assist the Armenian students throughout their studies.