Studying medicine in France is affordable and world class, but it’s also one of the most demanding paths a Pakistani student can choose. Entry runs through the competitive PASS/L.
Let’s be honest with you from the start, because medicine deserves honesty. Yes, France offers affordable, respected medical training. But no, it is not an easy or quick route, and it’s not taught in English. Many students are sold a dream that ignores the two biggest realities: you must study in French, and only a fraction of first year students advance. This guide gives you the real picture, so you can decide with confidence, whether that means pursuing medicine seriously or choosing a smarter health science alternative.
We’ll cover the honest reality, the language requirement, the PASS and L.AS routes, how the long training works, how competitive it really is, how to apply, recognition in Pakistan, and the alternatives worth considering. Let’s look at it clearly.
Who is this guide for?
Pakistani students considering studying medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or health sciences in France, who want an honest, realistic picture.
Before anything else, understand these three truths about medicine in France. They shape every decision:
Beware of anyone promising “easy MBBS in France in English”:
Full medical degrees at French public universities are taught in French, and entry is very selective. Any agent claiming an easy, English taught, assured medical seat is not being honest with you. Real medicine in France demands French fluency and serious commitment.
This is the single biggest factor. To study medicine in France, you need strong French:
No French, no medicine (realistically):
Unlike many French Master’s, medicine is not available fully in English at public universities. If you don’t already have strong French, you’d need to invest significant time reaching DELF B2/DALF C1 before you could realistically start. Factor this into your plan from day one.
Not sure how this applies to you?Send us your details and a Westside adviser will tell you honestly where you stand. Free 30 minute assessment.
Ask on WhatsApp
France replaced the old PACES system in 2020 with two first year routes. Both lead to the same year two of medicine:
Parcours d’Accès Spécifique Santé
Licence Accès Santé
Which to choose?
PASS is the quicker, more direct route for very strong, committed science students. L.AS is more forgiving, giving you a real backup degree and multiple chances to enter medicine. The right choice depends on your academic profile and how much of a safety net you want.
Medical training in France is a long, structured journey. Here’s the full path from first year to doctor:
Roughly 9 to 12 years total:
French students enter medicine directly after high school (not after a bachelor’s), but the full journey to a practising specialist is long. Go in understanding the time commitment, this is a career defining, decade long path.
Be realistic about the odds. Medicine in France is genuinely tough to get through:
The first year filter is real:
Even after the 2020 reform, only a minority of first year students advance into second year medicine at competitive faculties. This isn’t meant to discourage you, it’s meant to prepare you. Success requires exceptional commitment, strong French, and a genuine backup plan.
Because medicine is a first year entry, it uses the DAP route through Campus France:
The application basics still apply:
Medicine follows the same Campus France, attestation, funds, and interview process as any France application, plus the French language requirement and DAP route. See our
Campus France guide
and
SOP guide
The affordability of French medicine is its biggest draw. Here’s the landscape:
Always confirm the current fee:
Medical tuition figures vary by faculty and change by annual decree, and non EU differentiated fees apply. Don’t rely on a single quoted number, check the exact fee on your target faculty’s page for your intake year.
Not sure how this applies to your case?
Send us your question on WhatsApp. A Westside adviser in DHA Lahore will reply, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00.
Ask on WhatsAppIf you plan to return and practise in Pakistan, recognition matters, so plan for it:
Don’t skip the recognition question:
A world class French degree is only useful for your goals if it’s recognised where you plan to practise. Before committing years to French medicine, verify the recognition and licensing path (PMDC/PMC in Pakistan, or wherever you plan to work) with the relevant authority.
If full medicine in French isn’t realistic for you, France offers excellent health related paths, some in English:
A health career doesn’t have to mean full medicine:
If the PASS/L.AS route or the French requirement is a barrier, a biomedical, public health, or research Master’s, sometimes available in English, can still build a strong health sciences career in France. It’s worth exploring these before ruling France out.
| Entry routes | PASS or L.AS (first year) |
| Language | French required (DELF B2 min, DALF C1 preferred) |
| Full MD in English? | No (at public universities) |
| Advancement rate | ~15 to 20% at competitive faculties |
| Total length | ~9 to 12 years |
| Apply via | DAP (Campus France, ~15 Dec deadline) |
| Tuition | Low public; confirm faculty’s exact fee |
| Selection system | numerus apertus (since 2020) |
| Recognition | Check PMDC/PMC for practising in Pakistan |
Medicine is a serious commitment, avoid these costly mistakes:
| Believing “easy English MBBS in France” | Full medical degrees at public universities are in French and highly selective, not easy, English, or assured. | Avoid it: Only trust honest, verified information, and be wary of any agent promising a assured English medical seat. |
| Underestimating the French requirement | Applying without DELF B2/DALF C1 French for a French taught medical program leads to rejection. | Avoid it: Reach the required French level well before applying, and factor in the time it takes. |
| Having no plan B | Given the low advancement rate, going in with no backup risks losing a year if you don’t pass. | Avoid it: Consider the L.AS route (a backup degree) or have a health science alternative ready. |
| Ignoring recognition in Pakistan | Committing years without checking PMDC/PMC recognition can leave you unable to practise back home. | Avoid it: Verify the recognition and licensing path before you commit to French medicine. |
| Missing the DAP deadline | Medicine uses the DAP route (mid December deadline), and missing it costs you a whole year. | Avoid it: Note the DAP deadline (~15 Dec) and prepare your file, and French test, well ahead. |
| Ruling out France entirely | Some students drop France altogether when full medicine is too hard, missing great health science alternatives. | Avoid it: Explore biomedical, public health, or research Master’s (some in English) before giving up on France. |
Here’s the honest truth: medicine in France is a wonderful but demanding path, and the worst thing a consultant can do is sell you a false, easy version of it. Our job is to give you the real picture, assess your genuine chances, and help you choose the right route, whether that’s committed PASS/L.AS preparation or a smarter health science alternative. That’s where we come in.
At Westside Visa, our consultants in DHA Lahore give Pakistani students honest guidance on studying medicine and health sciences in France. We help you:
We’ll never sell you a dream we can’t stand behind, we help you make a clear eyed, informed choice. Think of us as your teammate, experienced, transparent, and fully on your side.
France 2027 intake series from Westside Visa Consultants
Every guide a Pakistani student needs for the September 2027 and January 2028 intakes. Start with the France student visa guide and the Campus France step by step guide.
Plan your France study journey here:
Medicine in France is a serious, rewarding path, and it deserves honest planning. Westside Visa gives you the real picture and the right route, with advice you can trust.
Book Your Free Consultation Message on WhatsApp
+92 322 5061166 info@westsidevisa.com First Floor 22 A, Sector A Phase 5 DHA, Lahore
No, not a full medical degree at public universities. The Diplôme d’État de Docteur en Médecine is taught in French from year one through residency. You need at least DELF B2 (DALF C1 preferred) French. Some biomedical or research Master’s tracks have English components, but the full MD is in French.
They’re the two first year entry routes to medicine, replacing the old PACES in 2020. PASS (Parcours d’Accès Spécifique Santé) is a health focused first year, more direct. L.AS (Licence Accès Santé) is a full degree in another field with a health option, more forgiving with multiple chances and a backup degree. Both lead to the same year two of medicine.
Very competitive. France abolished the numerus clausus in 2020, replacing it with a locally set numerus apertus, but advancement from first year to second year medicine still hovers around 15 to 20% at competitive faculties. You need strong science grades, excellent French, and a serious backup plan.
Roughly 9 to 12 years total: the PASS/L.AS first year, preclinical years 2 to 3, the clinical externat (years 4 to 6), the national ranking exam, and then the internat (residency) lasting 3 to 6 years depending on specialty. French students enter directly after high school, but the full path to a practising specialist is long.
You must check the current PMDC/PMC requirements for recognising a French medical degree and any licensing exams needed to practise in Pakistan. Recognition rules can change, so verify with the relevant authority before committing years to French medicine. Decide early whether you plan to practise in France, Pakistan, or elsewhere.
Yes, and honestly. We give you a realistic assessment of your medicine chances, explain the PASS vs L.AS routes, help you plan the French language requirement, explore health science alternatives (some in English), handle the DAP/Campus France application, and check recognition. We never sell a false, easy version of medicine. Contact us to get started.
Westside Visa News brings the week’s official changes for Pakistani students and families, in plain language, every Monday.
Visit us at First Floor, 22 A, Sector A, Phase 5, DHA Lahore, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00, or message us any time.
This guide is general information from Westside Visa Consultants, not legal advice. Visa rules change often, so always confirm the latest position on the official government website before you apply.
A curated list of the most popular travel packages based on different destinations.
France offers two intakes a year, and choosing the right one can shape your entire study plan. September (Fall) is the big one; January (Spring) is smaller but sometimes the smarter fit. So which is right for you?
Here’s some good news that comes with your French student visa: you’re allowed to work part time alongside your studies, up to 964 hours a year. This isn’t a separate work visa, it’s a right that comes with student status.
Your grades open the door, but your SOP is what walks you through it.
France changed its money rules in 2026, and every one of them affects Pakistani students entering in 2027. Tuition is now differentiated, fee exemptions are shrinking, and the proof of funds requirement jumped by 43%.
France is home to some of the world’s best universities, with 38 institutions in the QS 2027/2028 rankings and several in the global top 100. But a ranking alone won’t tell you where you belong.
Your choice of city can make France affordable, or expensive. Paris is iconic, but a student there can spend twice what they’d spend in Toulouse or Montpellier, for the same public tuition and a similar quality of life.
France offers some of the most generous, fully funded scholarships in Europe, and with tuition and living costs rising for 2027/2028, they matter more than ever.
Here’s a myth that stops many Pakistani students from even considering France: “you must speak French.” You don’t.
Don’t hesitate Call to Westside.
+92 322 5061166
info@westsidevisa.com
+92 322 5061166
Copyright 2026 | All Right Reserved.
Accepted Payment Methods :
