France

• Public university fees are set nationally: EUR 2,902 a year for a licence and EUR 3,950 for a master's for most non-EU students in 2026–27.
• You can work up to 964 hours a year on a student residence permit without a separate work permit.
• Master's-level graduates can get a one-year permit to look for work or start a company.
• In Études en France countries, one online platform takes you from application to visa request.

Teaching language

French; some programmes are taught in English, and Campus France's programme search lets you filter for them.

Intakes

Most programmes start in September or October. For 2027–28 entry, first-year licence applications (DAP) run from 1 October to 15 December 2026, and Mon Master applications run from February to March 2027.

Bachelor's

Licence: 3 years (180 ECTS)

Master's

Master: 2 years (120 ECTS)

PhD

Doctorat: at least 3 years of research

Tuition

In 2026–27 most non-EU students at public universities pay EUR 2,902 a year for a licence and EUR 3,950 for a master's, and universities may exempt no more than 30% of their non-EU students (25% in 2027–28 and 20% in the long term).

If you live in a country covered by Études en France, you apply on that platform; for the first year of a licence you file a DAP (preliminary admission request) between 1 October and 15 December 2026 for 2027–28 entry. Non-EU students living outside those countries file a DAP through the French embassy for first-year licence and apply for master's through Mon Master, or directly to schools that recruit outside these platforms. You usually need transcripts, diplomas and language test results.

The letter of acceptance is issued by the French higher education institution that admits you; you must be registered or pre-registered with an institution to get a long-stay student visa (VLS-TS).

1. 1

   Step 1: Check if Études en France applies

   If you live in one of the countries listed by Campus France, you must apply through the Études en France platform, which handles your application through to the visa request. Doctoral applicants follow a separate route and contact doctoral schools directly.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Step 2: Create your Études en France file

   Create an account on the Études en France platform, complete your online file with your personal details, education, language results and documents, and pay the Campus France fee. You can contact the Campus France office in your country for help.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
3. 3

   Step 3: Complete the Campus France check

   Your local Campus France office reviews your file before it goes to institutions; in some countries, such as India, it also holds an academic interview where you bring your original documents and your fee receipt.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
4. 4

   Step 4: Apply to your chosen institutions

   Send your applications through the platform; for a first-year licence with a non-French school-leaving qualification you file a DAP between 1 October and 15 December 2026 for 2027–28 entry. If you live outside an Études en France country, file the DAP through the French embassy, apply for master's through Mon Master, or contact other institutions directly.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
5. 5

   Step 5: Accept one offer

   If you receive several acceptances, you must choose one; for DAP applications, universities answer before 30 April 2027 and you must reply before 31 May 2027, or your silence counts as a refusal. Keep a printed copy of your letter of acceptance for the visa.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
6. 6

   Step 6: Apply for the VLS-TS visa

   In Études en France countries your visa request follows on from your platform file (in India, for example, you then fill in the France-Visas form and book a visa-centre appointment for biometrics); everyone else applies through France-Visas. You need proof that you are registered or pre-registered with an institution and proof of sufficient resources.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
7. 7

   Step 7: Validate your visa online

   Within 3 months of arriving in France, validate your VLS-TS on the foreigners-in-France website and pay the fee online. You need an email address, your visa details, your arrival date, your address in France and a bank card, or an electronic stamp bought at a kiosk.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)

Visa

Long-stay student visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS 'étudiant')

In Études en France countries, you complete the Campus France procedure and then apply for the visa. You need proof of admission and proof of resources of at least EUR 877.50 a month. Within 3 months of arriving in France you must validate the VLS-TS online and pay a fee.

Proof of funds

EUR 877.50 a month, for visa applications from 1 August 2026 (previously EUR 615).

Visa fee

EUR 50 for students applying through the Études en France procedure (2026); other applicants may pay a different rate.

While you study

Up to 964 hours a year (60% of full-time hours), counted from when your residence permit is issued or your VLS-TS is validated. You do not need a separate work permit, but your employer must declare you to the prefecture at least 2 working days before you start. Different limits apply to Algerian students.

After you graduate

'Recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise' residence permit: valid 1 year and not renewable. It is for graduates with a French master's-level degree (or a licence professionnelle) obtained in the last 12 months; apply within the 2 months before your student permit expires. While it is valid you can work without a separate work permit in a job related to your studies paying more than EUR 2,800.53 gross a month (2026), or set up a company.