Nursing is a regulated health profession in France. Students who are beginning their nursing careers generally complete a three-year program leading to the State Diploma in Nursing (Diplôme d’État d’infirmier), which confers a bachelor’s degree level qualification. An updated national framework applies to students entering nursing programs from September 2026.
Becoming a nurse requires academic preparation, clinical training, and careful program selection. When comparing options, students should review the curriculum, clinical placements, admissions route, language expectations, and student support available at each institution. The broader guide to the country’s top universities may also be helpful when researching study options.
Students should also consider the learning environment and available facilities. Nursing education combines classroom instruction with practical training, so simulation rooms, clinical placements, equipment, and educational resources are important factors when selecting a program.
The institutions below illustrate different nursing-related pathways in France. They are not directly interchangeable: some support entry-level nursing education, while others offer advanced-practice or public-sector management training for qualified professionals.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in France
1. Institut Caroline Malvesin / IFSI Diaconesses de Reuilly
- Study Program
- Credential Offered: State Diploma in Nursing, bachelor’s degree level (180 ECTS)
Institut Caroline Malvesin / IFSI Diaconesses de Reuilly offers entry-level nursing education in partnership with Université Paris Cité. Its nursing program lasts three years and confers 180 ECTS credits. For students entering from September 2026, the revised curriculum includes 2,310 hours of clinical instruction, 1,890 hours of teaching and educational supervision, and 420 hours of independent study.
Clinical placements represent 66 weeks over the three-year program. The institute also integrates simulation throughout the curriculum, including technical procedures, clinical reasoning, decision-making, communication, and interprofessional scenarios.
This program is suitable for students seeking an entry-level nursing qualification in France. Applicants should review the current admissions route, financing options, and language expectations on the institute’s official page before applying.
2. École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique
- Study Program
- Program Type: Civil-service executive training for directors of care
The École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP) is a French school of public health. However, the linked Hospital Nursing Administration Program is not an entry-level nursing degree. It is a civil-service executive program intended for candidates who have passed specified competitive examinations.
The program prepares directors of care for management and coordination responsibilities within health institutions. These responsibilities include coordinating nursing care, rehabilitation, and medico-technical activities. Students seeking their first professional nursing qualification should instead look for a three-year program leading to the State Diploma in Nursing.
3. Aix – Marseille University
Aix–Marseille University supports entry-level nursing education through nursing training institutes (IFSI) working in partnership with its Faculty of Medical and Paramedical Sciences. The State Diploma in Nursing program is organized over three years, or six semesters, and includes 180 ECTS credits.
The university also offers the State Diploma in Advanced Practice Nursing (Diplôme d’État d’infirmier en pratique avancée, or DE IPA), which confers a master’s degree level qualification and is offered alongside the Master Santé. Aix–Marseille University states that it was one of the first French universities accredited to deliver this diploma in October 2018.
The advanced-practice program lasts two years. The first year covers a common core curriculum, while the second year focuses on the student’s selected area of practice. Advanced-practice nurses have expanded responsibilities and work within an interprofessional health care framework.
4. Paris Cité University
Université Paris Cité supports entry-level nursing education through its university department of nursing sciences and its partner nursing training institutes. Students who complete the initial nursing program receive the State Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor’s degree level qualification.
The university also offers the State Diploma in Advanced Practice Nursing. This two-year, 120-ECTS program confers a master’s degree level qualification. Its available areas of practice include chronic stabilized conditions and primary care, oncology and hemato-oncology, chronic kidney disease and dialysis, psychiatry and mental health, and emergency medicine.
5. Sorbonne University
Sorbonne University supports entry-level nursing education through agreements with nursing training institutes in the Paris region. Students study at an IFSI in partnership with the university and complete a three-year program leading to the State Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor’s degree level qualification with 180 ECTS credits.
Sorbonne University also offers an advanced-practice nursing pathway jointly accredited with Université Paris-Est Créteil. The State Diploma in Advanced Practice Nursing confers a master’s degree level qualification. The curriculum includes a common first year and a second year in which students select a required area of practice.
FAQs: Nursing Studies in France
Can International Students Study Nursing in the English Language in France?
Not really. International applicants should not assume that an entry-level nursing program is available entirely in English. They should confirm the teaching language and clinical-placement language requirements directly with their selected nursing training institute. Some related public-health or advanced-practice programs may include English-language instruction, but these are not substitutes for an entry-level State Diploma in Nursing. Applicants should also review the relevant language requirements for studying in France.
How Long is a Nursing Program in France?
The entry-level State Diploma in Nursing is generally completed in three years. The program is organized over six semesters and validated through 180 ECTS credits. It confers a bachelor’s degree level qualification. Qualified nurses may later pursue graduate-level or specialized pathways, including the State Diploma in Advanced Practice Nursing, which confers a master’s degree level qualification.
When comparing programs in France, students should distinguish between entry-level nursing education, advanced-practice nursing programs, public-health degrees, and civil-service management training. The appropriate option depends on the student’s previous education and career goals.
We hope this article on the best nursing schools in France was helpful. For more information, make sure to also check out the Study in France and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages.
