Medical Studies in France: A Complete Guide for Saudi Students

Few ambitions carry the weight of becoming a doctor. Fewer still are as demanding to pursue abroad. For Saudi students considering France as a destination for medical studies, the path is real, prestigious, and fully eligible for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship, but it is also one of the most rigorous academic journeys in Europe. This guide explains exactly how the French medical education system works in 2026, what it takes for a Saudi candidate to enter it, and the decisions you need to make before you commit.

Whether you are a final-year high school student, a baccalaureate holder already accepted on Safeer, or a Saudi doctor seeking equivalence in France, this article covers the reformed PASS and L.AS entry pathways, the full six-year curriculum, the national ranking exam (EDN) that determines your specialty, and the realistic expectations you should set for the 2026-2027 application cycle.

Why France for medicine?

France is home to some of the world's oldest and most respected medical faculties. The Sorbonne Université Faculty of Medicine in Paris, the Université Paris Cité, Aix-Marseille Université, the Université de Strasbourg, and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 all rank among the top French institutions training physicians, researchers, and surgeons. French medicine combines a strong public hospital system (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, or AP-HP, is the largest teaching hospital network in Europe), a long tradition of research excellence, and relatively low tuition fees compared to North American or British medical schools.

For Saudi students, France also offers a unique cultural proximity to the Arab world, a growing cohort of international medical students, and a diploma that is recognized across the European Union and increasingly in the Gulf region. However, the path is not the fastest, nor the easiest. Medical studies in France typically span 9 to 12 years depending on the specialty, and the French language remains non-negotiable throughout the curriculum.

The French medical education system in 2026

French medical training has been reformed twice in the past decade. The current system, in effect since 2020, replaced the legendary and punishing PACES first-year model. Today, entry into medicine happens through two official pathways, both reformed under the 2019 law on higher education transformation.

PASS: Parcours d'Accès Spécifique Santé

PASS is the direct pathway. Students enroll in a first-year program dedicated primarily to health sciences, with a mandatory secondary discipline (a "minor") such as law, economics, biology, or psychology. At the end of the year, students take competitive exams for admission into second-year programs in medicine, dental surgery, pharmacy, or midwifery. Only a fraction of students pass; those who do not succeed can, under specific conditions, use their PASS credits to continue in their minor discipline.

L.AS: Licence Accès Santé

L.AS is the alternative, longer pathway. Students enroll in a full Licence (undergraduate degree) in another field, biology, chemistry, psychology, law, or even humanities, with an added "health option" worth 10 ECTS. They can apply to enter second-year medicine at the end of Year 1, Year 2, or Year 3, making the L.AS more forgiving in terms of second chances.

Both PASS and L.AS lead to the same Year 2 of medicine. The choice between them depends on your academic profile, your risk appetite, and whether you want to have a solid "plan B" degree if medicine does not work out. For most Saudi students with strong science baccalaureates, PASS is the faster and more direct route.

Numerus apertus

The old numerus clausus, a rigid national quota that capped how many students could enter Year 2 of medicine, has been replaced by the numerus apertus. Each French university now negotiates its own annual capacity with regional health authorities, based on territorial health needs. In practice, quotas remain tight, and competition for entry into medicine is still intense, with admission rates in PASS typically ranging from 15% to 30% depending on the university.

The full curriculum: from PASS to MD

Once you pass Year 1 (PASS or L.AS), you enter a structured six-year program split into three cycles:

The EDN: national ranking exam

At the end of the 6th year, all French medical students sit the EDN (Épreuves Dématérialisées Nationales), which replaced the former ECNi in 2024. The EDN is a high-stakes national ranking exam that determines, based on your score and rank, both your medical specialty (general medicine, cardiology, surgery, anesthesiology, psychiatry, and dozens of others) and the geographic region where you will complete your residency. Top ranks get the most competitive specialties and cities; lower ranks are assigned whatever remains available.

This ranking mechanism is one of the defining features of French medical training. It means that your specialization is not chosen freely but earned through national competition, and your final six years of training in France are shaped by a single exam taken after five years of medical school.

The admission path for Saudi students

Saudi students applying to French medical schools from abroad follow the standard international pathway through Parcoursup (for Year 1 PASS or L.AS) and the Études en France platform. There is no separate quota or reserved seats for Saudi nationals; you compete on the same academic criteria as French and EU applicants.

Eligibility requirements

• High school diploma: A Saudi general secondary certificate (Tawjihi) with strong grades in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Most faculties expect an average of 90% or higher for competitive PASS candidates.
• French language proficiency: DELF B2 minimum, with DALF C1 strongly preferred for medicine. Many faculties refuse applications below B2. The entire curriculum is taught in French; clinical rotations require fluency when speaking with patients.
• Campus France procedure: Mandatory for non-EU students applying from Saudi Arabia. The procedure opens in October for the following September intake. See our student visa guide for details.
• Motivation letter and academic file: A well-structured dossier explaining why you want to pursue medicine in France, why at this specific university, and how your background prepares you for the PASS curriculum. See our guide to writing motivation letters.

Timeline for a 2027 intake

If you are targeting entry into PASS or L.AS for the September 2027 academic year, here is a realistic timeline:

• October 2026: Campus France registration opens. Create your profile, draft your project.
• November-December 2026: Finalize your DELF B2 or DALF C1. Request academic transcripts and translations.
• January 2027: Parcoursup platform opens. Select your PASS/L.AS preferences (typically up to 10 wishes).
• March-April 2027: Submit your full dossier. Motivation letter, transcripts, language certificate, proof of funding.
• May-July 2027: Parcoursup responses. Universities send admission decisions in waves.
• July-August 2027: Visa application at the French embassy in Riyadh. Accommodation booking. Pre-departure briefing.
• September 2027: Arrival in France. Start of PASS year.

For Saudi students on the Custodian Scholarship, this timeline must be coordinated with the Safeer portal cycles. See our detailed Safeer month-by-month calendar for the 2026 cycle; the 2027 calendar will follow a similar structure.

Language: the hardest barrier

If there is one non-negotiable requirement for medical studies in France, it is French. Unlike business schools or some engineering Grandes Écoles, no French medical faculty offers a full MD program in English. Every lecture, every textbook, every clinical case discussion, and every patient interaction is in French. You will write prescriptions in French. You will read patient histories in French. You will be examined in French.

Most Saudi students need 12 to 24 months of intensive French preparation before they can realistically attempt PASS. We typically recommend a year of French immersion in France (through a university language center, or a certified program) before starting medical school. Some of our students complete their DELF B2 during their final year of secondary school in Riyadh, then do a year of DALF C1 in France before entering PASS.

For a deeper look at language requirements and preparation options, see our guide to French language requirements for studying in France.

Costs, scholarships, and Safeer coverage

Tuition fees

Public French medical faculties charge differentiated fees for non-EU students. For 2026-2027, expect approximately:

• PASS / L.AS (Licence level): around 2,770 EUR per year.
• Years 2-5 (Master level equivalent): around 3,770 EUR per year.
• Year 6 and 3rd cycle (residency): reduced fees, often below 400 EUR per year, with a modest hospital salary during residency years.

Some universities have opted to waive differentiated fees and charge the standard French rate (around 170 to 380 EUR per year). Check each faculty's fee policy before applying.

Living costs

Beyond tuition, budget approximately 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per month for living in Paris (rent, food, transport, insurance), and 800 to 1,100 EUR per month in regional cities like Strasbourg, Lyon, or Montpellier. Our article on living in France as a Saudi student covers the full breakdown.

Safeer scholarship coverage

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship covers medicine as a recognized priority specialty. Eligible Saudi students benefit from:

• Full tuition fee coverage for all six years plus the third cycle.
• A monthly stipend calibrated for the French cost of living.
• Housing allowance.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Round-trip air travel per academic year.

However, Safeer does not replace the academic admission process. You must still be admitted to a French medical faculty through Parcoursup before the scholarship activates. For full eligibility details, see our guide to the Custodian Scholarship 2026 requirements. Our complete list of scholarships for Saudi students in France also covers alternatives and supplementary funding options.

Alternative paths: equivalence for Saudi MD holders

If you are already a Saudi medical graduate (MBBS from King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, or another accredited Saudi institution), you may not need to restart from PASS. France offers several equivalence and integration procedures:

EVC: Épreuves de Vérification des Connaissances

The EVC is a competitive examination for foreign-trained doctors who wish to practice in France. It is organized annually by the Centre National de Gestion (CNG). Passing the EVC allows Saudi MDs to enter a specific specialty training path in France, culminating in full practice authorization. The exam is in French, highly selective, and typically attempted after several years of residency or post-MD clinical experience.

FFI: Faisant Fonction d'Interne

FFI positions are temporary hospital roles available to foreign medical graduates during their integration phase. They allow you to work under a senior physician's supervision while preparing the EVC or completing required French language and clinical adaptation requirements.

Research masters and PhD in medical sciences

Saudi medical graduates can also pursue Master 2 Recherche (M2R) programs in medical sciences, translational research, or public health, followed by a PhD. This path is particularly relevant for academic careers and is often fully conducted in English at top French universities like Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, or Université Paris Cité.

Career prospects after graduation

A French medical degree opens three main career paths for Saudi graduates:

1. Practicing in France: After the EDN and full third-cycle training, you can work in the French public hospital system, open a private practice, or join a multi-disciplinary medical house. Full French citizenship or an EU residency status facilitates administrative processes.
2. Returning to Saudi Arabia: Most Saudi doctors trained in France return to practice in the Kingdom. The French MD is recognized by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) after equivalence review. Graduates are often recruited by major Saudi hospitals such as King Faisal Specialist Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, or the Ministry of Health network.
3. Practicing in the EU or Gulf region: The French diploma is recognized throughout the European Union, allowing practice in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland (with some additional procedures), and other EU countries. Within the Gulf, France has growing cooperation agreements for medical professionals.

Is medicine in France right for you?

Medical studies in France are demanding, rewarding, and long. They are well-suited for Saudi students who:

• Have strong baccalaureate results in biology, chemistry, and physics.
• Are comfortable with (or willing to invest deeply in) the French language.
• Plan for a career horizon of 10 to 12 years before full specialization.
• Value the research tradition and clinical breadth of French medicine.
• Have the support system (family, Safeer coverage, community) needed for an extended stay abroad.

They may be less suitable for students who want a faster path to practice, prefer an English-taught curriculum, or who are not sure medicine is their long-term vocation. For those profiles, French Grandes Écoles or universities in other disciplines may offer better fits.

Next steps

If you are considering medicine in France for the 2027-2028 entry, the most important decisions to make in the coming months are:

1. Validate your French language trajectory. Book a DELF B2 exam date within 6 months. If you are not yet at B2, plan an intensive course or a year of immersion before Parcoursup.
2. Research target faculties. Not every French university offers both PASS and L.AS. Some have higher admission rates; some have stronger research facilities; some are in regions with lower living costs. Pick 4 to 6 faculties that match your profile.
3. Align your Safeer application with your academic admission. Submit your Safeer file in parallel with Parcoursup. Coordination is critical; a gap between your scholarship approval and your academic admission can delay your visa.
4. Prepare psychologically. Medicine is a 10 to 12-year commitment. Speak with Saudi students already in French medical programs. Visit faculties virtually or in person during summer open days.

Al Qantara Institute guides Saudi students through every step of the French medical admission process, from Parcoursup dossier preparation to Safeer coordination, language tutoring, and installation in France. If you want personalized advice for your specific situation, contact our team directly. We respond within 24 hours.