With 35,700 students enrolled in French higher education in the 2024–2025 academic year, Moroccans remain the largest international student community in France, according to the annex to the 2026 draft budget law dedicated to immigration and integration.
Despite a 3.1% year-on-year decrease, Moroccan students maintain their position as the leading foreign student cohort, ahead of Algerians with 27,700 students and Chinese with 23,200 students, confirming the enduring strength of academic ties between the Kingdom and France. This premier position, however, comes at a time of slowing student mobility from the Maghreb region. The budget document highlights that Moroccan student numbers have recorded their third consecutive annual decline, while enrollment from the Maghreb as a whole appears to have reached a plateau after several previous years of steady growth.
Moroccan students are particularly distinguished by a strong preference for science and technology fields. According to the report, 12% of Moroccan students are enrolled in engineering schools, compared to a much lower average of just 5% for the general international student population. This specific academic focus reflects the strong appeal and prestige of engineering programs for Moroccan students pursuing international educational mobility.
Overall, France hosted a total of 329,100 international students during 2024–2025, representing a 3% increase year-on-year and a 13% expansion over a five-year period. International students now account for 11.6% of the total student population in French higher education, maintaining a particularly dense presence in Master’s and doctoral programs.
The African continent is currently serving as the main driver of this global growth, with students from Africa representing nearly half of all international students in France. Breaking down the regional figures, the number of students from sub-Saharan Africa increased by 8.6% to reach 89,600, while the total number from the Maghreb declined slightly to 77,500. Within this broader context of diversifying international flows—marked specifically by a notable surge in Cameroonian and Indian students—Morocco firmly retains its historical position as the leading country of origin for foreign students in France, sustained by deep bilateral academic relations and a robust student pipeline into advanced scientific fields.
MK/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA