Algerian students in France: how many they are, their associations, and how to find each other

Information checked on 6 October 2026.

Every autumn, several thousand young Algerians put down their bags in a French city they do not know. Yet they do not leave into the void: Algerian students in France form one of the largest foreign student communities in the country, with its associations, mutual-aid networks and gatherings, starting with 5 July. This article sums up what the official figures say, which associations really exist, and how to find your compatriots in your city, ideally before you even arrive. If your departure is not settled yet, our Campus France Algeria guide covers the procedure from the start.

How many Algerian students are there in France?

The latest detailed country figures made public by Campus France (the French public agency for international students) cover the 2023-2024 academic year. They come from the statistics department of the French Ministry of Higher Education (SIES):

Three takeaways:

Campus France published a new edition of its « Chiffres clés » (key figures) in September 2026, available on request from its website. The figures above remain the latest we were able to check directly; consult that edition for the 2024-2025 year.

Which cities do they study in?

In the official publications we consulted, we found no breakdown of Algerian students by city or by education authority. We would rather say so than invent a ranking. There is a general benchmark, though: according to Campus France, 63% of international students are enrolled at university, ahead of business schools (15%) and engineering schools (8%). Large university cities therefore naturally host most of them.

To know who is already in your future city, the most reliable way is to ask those who live there: local associations, your institution's international office, and communities of compatriots.

Algerian student associations

Campus France Algeria keeps a list of associations that support Algerian students in France. Here is a selection, as presented on that page:

Two tips before you commit. First, check that the association is active in your city: a national body does not necessarily have a branch everywhere, and a student association's activity depends on its current volunteers. Second, look beyond Algerian associations too: pan-African associations and those on your campus welcome Maghrebi students widely. Our overview of African student associations in France presents several of them.

5 July, Independence Day in the diaspora

5 July marks Algeria's independence, in 1962. In France, it is often the big event of the year for the diaspora: gatherings, evenings, shared meals, organised by associations or groups of friends. The date falls right at the end of the academic year, between the last exams and the summer departures, which also makes it a chance to meet up before the holidays.

On Compatri, the Algerian Independence Day page gathers the celebrations organised in the diaspora, as soon as members or associations publish them. If nothing is planned in your city yet, maybe you are the one to start the first.

Keeping the link with home

Going abroad to study means living between two shores: calls to the family, celebrations spent far away, news from the neighbourhood arriving by message. The students who cope best often keep a contact routine and a circle of compatriots nearby who understand without needing everything explained. Our article on keeping the link with your home country offers concrete ideas to keep it up over time.

That link also runs through language and culture: Arabic or Tamazight classes offered by some associations, music nights, shared meals during Ramadan or for Eid. It is often these ordinary moments, more than the big celebrations, that turn strangers from the same city into a real network. And they benefit newcomers as much as those who have been settled for years.

Mutual aid between Algerian students, day to day

The first weeks are packed with formalities, and that is when mutual aid matters most:

For the full list of what to do when you arrive, follow our guide to the first month of an international student in France.

Before you leave: three reflexes

A network is easier to build before you arrive than after. Three simple steps, as soon as your admission is confirmed:

When the community is not enough

A community supports you; it does not replace the services designed for that. If money runs short, if your housing falls through or if your morale drops, also turn to the social service of the Crous (the French student services body) and your university's health service, open to international students like everyone else. Your institution's international office usually knows the local emergency schemes. Talking about it early stops a temporary difficulty from jeopardising the year.

Finding your compatriots with Compatri

This is exactly what Compatri is for: finding people from your country of origin in the city where you live. The Algerian community in your future city brings together students, young professionals and long-settled families, who post meetups, answer questions and welcome newcomers. You can find it from the Algerians in France page and join it even before you leave, as our guide on how to join your community before you leave explains. The « Étudiants africains » (African students) group, open beyond a single city, completes this network for questions on grants, housing and mutual aid between campuses.

Compatri is not a service of Campus France or of the State, and does not replace the official source: for your formalities, refer to Campus France Algeria, France-Visas and service-public.gouv.fr.

Official sources

• Campus France: Chiffres clés 2025 press release, annex on countries of origin (PDF)
• Campus France: Chiffres clés 2026
• Campus France Algeria: associations supporting Algerian students in France
• Campus France Algeria: consular procedure and status of Algerian students in France
• Service-public: 1-year residence certificate for Algerians