Rabat — For decades, Moroccan students have been making their mark at France’s prestigious grandes écoles, impressing with their academic performance and building a pipeline of talent that serves both countries.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, more than 42,000 Moroccan students pursued higher education in France — representing 10% of all foreign students in the country and making them the largest international community, according to Campus France figures.
Moroccan students dominate the French engineering schools’ student body with over 6,000 enrolled, ranking among the top ten nationalities in doctoral programs in hard sciences.
At École Polytechnique Paris alone, 24 Moroccan students gained admission in 2025 – numbers that the prestigious institution says “confirm the excellent results of Moroccan students in entrance exams.”
Hicham Kasraoui, a strategy consultant, credited this success to the quality of Morocco’s education system and the dedication of Moroccan youth. He noted that deep cultural and educational ties between the two countries smooth integration, while French language proficiency and strong scientific skills give students an edge in competitive preparatory classes.
These graduates typically secure key positions in both public and private sectors both back home and in France, as well as internationally, working across fields from engineering and political science to management, technology, finance, and law.
Now, however, a new trend emerges, as many young Moroccan professionals trained in France want to return home. Morocco’s major development projects, growing economic appeal, and strategic positioning in Africa and globally draw them back.
“We’re seeing unprecedented enthusiasm reflected in attendance at forums and conferences we organize, as well as daily requests for information,” said Karim Basrire, an entrepreneur and strategic consultant based between Paris and Rabat. He described a highly qualified diaspora eager to contribute to Morocco’s development.
Malak Komairi, president of Forum Horizons Maroc in Paris — a major job fair for Morocco — pointed out the concrete reasons for the pull.
“Morocco attracts more and more people thanks to excellent quality of life, very attractive salaries, and a particularly favorable lifestyle-to-salary ratio,” she explained.
The country’s development momentum and international openness, particularly toward Africa, further strengthen its appeal to young graduates considering where to build their careers.
MWN with MAP
