Public International Sections in France (2025): British, American, German… Admissions, Curriculum, and Costs

International sections are bilingual tracks integrated inside French public schools (from primary to high school). Students follow the standard French curriculum, with:

• enhanced teaching hours in the target language (literature, history, geography),
• native or near-native teachers,
• and, at the end of the track, a certified bilingual level, often via the OIB (International Option of the French Baccalaureate).

These sections exist in many languages: British English, American English, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and others.

The densest networks are in the academies of Paris, Versailles, Lyon, Grenoble, Toulouse, Nice, and Strasbourg. Medium-sized cities like Annecy, Nantes, and Bordeaux have also opened new sections for 2024–2025.

Flagship schools include:

• Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye,
• Collège and Lycée International de Valbonne near Nice,
• International School of Lyon (integrated international section),
• International sections in Sèvres (Hauts-de-Seine).

Tip: visit your local academy’s official website and look for the “enseignement international” section for the latest list of schools and colleges offering international sections.

Admission almost always combines an application file with a language test. Details differ by level:

Typical 2025 calendar:

• February–April: submit applications to the academy or school,
• May–June: tests and interviews,
• June–July: final decisions and enrolment before summer holidays.

Tuition itself is free, as these are public schools. In practice, families mainly pay for:

• specific textbooks for the international section,
• extra school trips and language exchanges,
• sometimes a parent association or foundation contribution.

Plan roughly €100–300 per year depending on level and school.

In comparison, private bilingual or international schools often charge €4,000–15,000 per year. For many expat families, a public international section is therefore the best value-for-money option.

Main benefits:

• strong bilingual skills (oral and written) in both languages,
• continuity within the French national curriculum (useful if paths change later),
• highly international student communities,
• preparation for the OIB or a European Baccalaureate valued by foreign universities.

Challenges to expect:

• competitive entry with limited seats, especially in English sections,
• demanding academic pace with more reading and written homework,
• culturally mixed classes, which can be intense at first for new arrivals.

A parent in Lyon put it this way: “Our kids learned to write in two languages and to debate in English and French by age 12. It is demanding, but remarkable.” If you want to compare these public sections with private and hybrid options (IB, British, American, bilingual schools), see our pillar guide: International Schools in France: 2025 Pillar Guide.

If your child does not get a place in an international section, the bilingual project does not have to end. You can consider:

• European schools (for example in Strasbourg, Lille, La Défense) with language-based sections,
• private bilingual or international schools (IB, British, American) such as École Jeannine Manuel, International School of Lyon, or Marymount International School Paris,
• bilingual CNED programmes for highly mobile families or while waiting for a seat.

You can also combine a standard French collège or lycée with reinforced exposure through language courses, cultural associations, and international exams such as Cambridge English or Goethe-Institut. To plan school budget, commute, and after-school activities around these options, use our first-year roadmap: Mastering Your First Year Abroad: Budget, Bureaucracy & Belonging. And if you need housing near a particular section or international school, our guide to local support can help: Finding English-Speaking Real-Estate Agents in France.

Public international sections offer a rare mix: deep integration into the French system while preserving a child’s original language and culture. In 2025, they remain one of the best options for expat families planning to stay in France long term—provided you anticipate applications and prepare language tests carefully.