France is one of Europe’s largest countries. It is bordered by six countries other nations: Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the southeast and Spain to the southwest. The United Kingdom borders France via the English Channel. The country is considered to be the gateway to Europe as there are several large international airports (two of these can be found in Paris), ferry terminals and the French rail service. There are many reasons why so many people enjoy visiting the diverse country, including the natural beauty, the amazing climate, outdoor recreational activities such as golf courses, art museums and galleries and so much more. There are many different activities that outline the history of the country which are enjoyable to visitors, especially considering its turbulent past. People in France are courteous and very formal. People in the country are also known for being chic, taking great pride in their personal appearance and clothing. Some countries view France as an arrogant country because of these characteristics, although those in the country attribute this to simply being fashionable and cautious of the appearance.

There are 22 official regions located in the country of France. Each of these regions are subdivided into departments.

The top tourist attractions in France include:

• Eiffel Tower (Paris)
• Chateau de Versailles (Versailles)
• Mont Saint Michel (Normandy)
• The Cote d’Azure
• The Louvre (Paris)
• Mont Blanc (Western Europe’s largest mountain)

A few other bits of information about France that you might enjoy:

• 85% of all residents of the country are Roman Catholic
• More than 60 million people reside in the country
• French and English are the two most commonly spoken languages in the country
• France uses EUROs. You will need to exchange any money that you choose to bring with you from another country into EUROs before or after you arrive in the country.

While France was once a largely agricultural state, things have changed since World War II and now there are many different industries that France is competent in. Around 35% of all of the land in France is occupied by orchards and vineyards. France leads the way in wine production as well. Forestry and fishing also rank highly as notable industries in the country, although this varies according to the location of France that you are in.  Other notable interests in the country include iron and coal, as well as transportation of equipment and machinery. As you may imagine, tourism accounts for a very large proportion of the economy in France.

Study in France

If you want to study in a country that is diverse and has an excellent academic reputation, France is the country for you. It is one of the most popular study destinations, making it perfect for international students.

There are currently more than 250,000 international students in France. In fact, around 10% of enrolments at French universities are international students, and many of these studies at graduate level (masters and doctoral studies). The country offers an excellent environment for all international students. It has fantastic quality of education, lectures and research opportunities.