Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne at a glance
- City
- Saint-Étienne
- Type
- Public university
Key takeaways
- For 2026/27, Jean Monnet University's board (8 September 2025) grants an automatic partial exemption to international students in national master's degrees.
- That partial exemption does not apply to bachelor's (licence/BUT) or engineering newcomers, who pay €2,902 and €3,950 a year in 2026/27.
- Our fact pack lists 13 English-taught master's, including 5 Erasmus Mundus programs in photonics, imaging, vaccinology and digital creativity.
- The MLDM (AI) master closed non-EU applications on 1 May 2026 for the 2026 intake; its 2027-2029 call is not open yet.
- Saint-Étienne is a regional city, so rents are lower than in Paris.
On this page
Jean Monnet University in Saint-Étienne is one of the few French public universities that automatically reduces fees for non-EU master's students in 2026/27. You do not have to file a hardship request: the board decided on 8 September 2025 to grant an automatic partial exemption to international students enrolled in a national master's degree.
Add a strong niche in optics, photonics, imaging and AI, five Erasmus Mundus programs and a city with regional rents, and Saint-Étienne becomes a smart choice for science and engineering students on a budget.
Why Jean Monnet University is good value
- Automatic exemption for master's: the university's fee page confirms the 8 September 2025 board decision for 2026/27, so master's students do not need to apply for it.
- Research niche: the university is strong in optics and photonics through the Hubert Curien laboratory, as well as imaging and artificial intelligence.
- Network: it belongs to the Université de Lyon group and the Transform4Europe alliance.
- Lower living costs: Campus France gives an average CROUS residence rent of about €350 a month in the regions, versus about €450 in Paris.
Tuition and fees for non-EU students (2026/27)
| Level | What you pay | Note |
|---|---|---|
| National master's (M1/M2) | Automatic partial exemption | Board decision of 8 September 2025; national master's rate is €255 |
| Licence, BUT, licence pro | €2,902 per year | Partial exemption not possible for newcomers |
| Engineering diploma | €3,950 per year | Partial exemption not possible for newcomers |
| CVEC | €105 per year | Paid before enrolment |
The fee page does not print the exact amount payable under the master's exemption. The French national master's rate for 2026/27 is €255 (Campus France). Some programs add their own charges: the MLDM page listed an extra university diploma fee in earlier years, and Erasmus Mundus consortia set their own fees, so check each program before applying.
Only 2026/27 is confirmed
The fee page covers 2026/27 only. After Decree 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 changed national waiver rules, the policy for 2027/28 may differ. Check the differentiated fees page again before you enrol.
English-taught programs
The university's international course catalogue lists these fully English-taught master's programs:
Erasmus Mundus joint master's (2 years)
- IMLEX — Imaging and Light in Extended Reality
- iPSRS — Intelligent Photonics for Security, Reliability, Sustainability and Safety
- RADMEP — Radiation and its Effects on MicroElectronics and Photonics Technologies
- LIVE — Leading International Vaccinology Education
- DIGICREA — Digital Creativity Arts and Sciences
International master's (2 years)
- MLDM — Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning and Data Mining
- CPS2 — Cyber-Physical and Social Systems: AI and IoT
- COSI — Computational Colour and Spectral Imaging
- AIMA — Advanced Imaging and Material Appearance
- Photonics Engineering (Optics, Image, Vision, Multimedia)
One-year M2 programs
- Bioacoustics
- Health Performance Science
- Integrated Watershed Sciences
There are no English-taught bachelor's programs in our data. For a wider search, read English-taught programs in France.
Admission requirements
Admission is selective on your file, sometimes with an online interview, and there is no fixed minimum grade. The MLDM master is a good example of what international programs ask for:
- Degree: a BSc (180 ECTS) in computer science, statistics or mathematics.
- English: TOEFL (at least 82 internet-based, 213 computer-based or 550 paper-based), IELTS 6.5, or a Cambridge certificate at B2 or higher. A letter from your university works if your whole degree was taught in English.
- Documents: CV in English, signed motivation statement, two signed recommendation letters, passport, certified copies of your diploma and transcripts, and certified English translations.
- Erasmus Mundus programs: consortia set their own thresholds and calendars.
Deadlines
| Route | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MLDM master, non-EU applicants | Deadline 1 May 2026 | Closed; the 2027-2029 call is not open yet |
| Mon Master (national M1 platform) | 17 Feb – 16 Mar 2026 | For 2027/28: February to 16 March 2027 |
| Erasmus Mundus programs | Set by each consortium | Usually earlier because of scholarship rounds |
Campus France gives the Mon Master calendar for 2027/28 as applications from February to 16 March 2027 (Campus France). International and Erasmus Mundus master's use their own portals, so follow each program site.
Scholarships
- Erasmus Mundus scholarships for IMLEX, iPSRS, RADMEP, LIVE and DIGICREA, awarded by each consortium.
- France Excellence Eiffel: €1,200 a month for master's students, nominated by the university; institutions submit by 6 January 2027.
- Afghan nationals: the French government's France Excellence call for Afghan students (2027) closes on 31 May 2027 and includes a tuition waiver for national degrees at public universities.
More in our France scholarships guide.
Applying from Afghanistan
Check the route before you pay
The university says Afghan residents apply on eCandidat or directly on the program portal, then apply for a visa, and it provides supporting documents for the visa process. The French government's 2027 call for Afghan applicants says people living in Afghanistan go through Campus France in India, Iran or Pakistan and the Études en France platform, and only those embassies issue their student visas. Ask both before you start. Afghan documents need full legalization; see our documents guide.
Honest pros and cons
Benefits
- Automatic fee reduction for national master's in 2026/27, no hardship file needed
- Rare specialisations in photonics, colour science and imaging
- Five Erasmus Mundus programs with scholarship rounds
- Regional rents
Difficulties
- Bachelor's and engineering newcomers pay full differentiated fees
- 2027/28 fee policy not yet published
- Smaller city with fewer large employers than Paris or Lyon
- Program-specific portals and deadlines make planning harder
How to apply step by step
- 1
Pick your program
Use the international course catalogue and note whether the program is a national master's (fee exemption) or an Erasmus Mundus degree (consortium fees).
- 2
Prepare English documents
Certified copies and English translations of your diploma and transcripts, CV, motivation statement, two recommendation letters and an English test.
- 3
Apply on the right platform
Mon Master for national M1s, eCandidat or the program's own portal for international and Erasmus Mundus master's.
- 4
Use Études en France if you live in an EEF country
Residents of countries such as Pakistan, Iran or India must also follow the Campus France procedure.
- 5
Apply for the student visa
Show at least €877.50 per month. See our France student visa guide.
- 6
Enrol in Saint-Étienne
Pay the CVEC, enrol and validate your VLS-TS online within 3 months of arrival (€100 tax).
For the full picture, read our guide to studying in France, visit the France hub and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.
Frequently asked questions
Do non-EU students pay €3,950 at Jean Monnet University?
Not for national master's degrees in 2026/27: the board granted an automatic partial exemption. New non-EU bachelor's and engineering students pay €2,902 and €3,950 a year respectively.
Is Jean Monnet University good for AI and photonics?
It runs English-taught master's such as MLDM (machine learning and data mining), CPS2 and Photonics Engineering, plus Erasmus Mundus programs in photonics and imaging, supported by the Hubert Curien laboratory.
What IELTS score does the MLDM master require?
MLDM accepts IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 82, or a university letter if your degree was taught entirely in English.
When does MLDM open for 2027?
The page says applications for the 2026-2028 intake are closed and gives no dates yet for 2027-2029. Last year the non-EU deadline was 1 May 2026.
Official sources
Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
- 1.Université Jean Monnet — Differentiated fees for non-EU students
- 2.Université Jean Monnet — International course catalogue
- 3.MLDM master — Admission
- 4.Université Jean Monnet — Applying as an international student
- 5.Campus France — Tuition fees in France
- 6.Campus France — Applying to higher education in France
- 7.Campus France — France Excellence Eiffel scholarship
- 8.Service-Public — Student long-stay visa (VLS-TS)
- 9.Campus France Iran — France Excellence call for Afghan applicants 2027