Requirements for France

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How to apply:

Who can apply in France?

Any student around the world may apply in France. However, the application process differs in each case.

 Non-European students may apply for admission into a bachelor's program or architectural school upon completion of secondary school. International students may apply for admission to a French institution of higher education at any point in the curriculum, provided they meet the admission requirements.

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Where to apply?

Parcoursup’

Parcoursup’ is the go-to platform for first-year admission in an institution of higher education.

Parcoursup: https://www.parcoursup.gouv.fr/

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This platform concerns:

1. European citizens applying for a first year in an institution of higher education.

2. Non-Europeans having a French Baccalaureate (secondary school diploma) from an AEFE school.

3. Non-Europeans applying to IUT (Technological University Institutes), STS (Higher Technician Sections), and CPGE (preparatory classes for a French Grande Ecole).

Etudes en France – Campus France 

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Non-European international students usually go through Campus France to apply.  Campus France is an educational consultant office that helps students in their application process. They are in charge of verifying and validating all your documents. Campus France can also help you find the university and programs that suit you best! They provide personal assistance in more than 250 locations in over 120 countries.

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The application process is as follows:

1. Create an account on the Etudes en France (link below). Etudes en France is a centralised platform where you can choose up to 7 programs to apply to. Note that not all countries make use of this platform. You can find out if your country has this facility by consulting their website. Otherwise, applications are submitted to the French Embassy.

Campus France: https://campusfrance.org

Etudes en France : https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/login.html

 

2. Fill in all the required fields and upload relevant documents. Your local Campus France office will later validate these.

3. Search and choose the programs you want to apply to. More details are provided on the website to facilitate this step.

4. Take a rendezvous at your local Campus France for the interview. Make sure to bring all the documents you submitted in hard copy.  

After finalising and submitting your applications, you can track your acceptances on the platform itself. Final admission procedures are done on-site at the university where you are admitted.

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Complete details of all the procedures are given on the websites linked above. Make sure to check these so as not to miss anything.

 

 Bonus: students applying in fields like art, fashion, music, architecture, and design may use CampusArt platform.

CampusArt: https://www.campusart.org/

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Language tests

The undergraduate level language requirement is DELF B2 (intermediate) or TCP-DAP. DELF stands for Diplôme d'études en langue française or, in English, the Diploma in French Language Studies. It is a two-day exam comprising a written and oral test.

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DELF exams are usually given by your respective country's French Institute (Institut Français). French Institutes sometimes also offer training and preparation courses to students. These courses are useful in getting acquainted with the examination style, and to know what to expect.

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Here are some resources that might be useful when preparing for the DELF examination:

The French Institute of France: https://www.institutfrancais.com/fr

DELF B1 resources: https://www.france-education-international.fr/diplome/delf-tout-public/niveau-b1

 

For postgraduate students, the minimum language requirement is DALF C1 (advanced), which is the Diploma in Advanced French Language Studies. DALF C1 examinations are harder than DELF B2 and thus require a higher level of French. The examination format consists of a written assessment and an oral examination.

The written assessment requires you to produce a formal piece of writing such as an article in a journal or an editorial. The oral test is scenario-based; you choose a particular scenario based on the choices given.

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DALF C1 resources: https://www.france-education-international.fr/article/dalf-c1

 

Are all programs taught in French?

No. Some programs are taught entirely in English. There are around 125 undergraduate programs and 1200 Master's program taught entirely in English.

English language requirements are usually specified by the schools. IELTS and TOEFL are more commonly requested although they can sometimes be unnecessary.