Applying to study in France

When you decide to apply to study in France, it’s important that you understand the French university application requirements and processes. Here’s all the basic information you need to get started.

Language requirements

The majority of university programmes in France are taught in French, however a growing number of universities are starting to provide programmes in English.

If you’re applying to study a programme taught in French, and French is not your first language, you will have to take a language exam. Links to the four different language exams used in France are included at the bottom of this guide; you should check the individual institutions you’re applying to find out which exam they require. In general, your level of French is expected to be equal to B1/B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You can check your language skills against this requirement by using the link at the bottom of this guide. 

It’s possible to be exempt from the French proficiency test if you have taken the baccalauréat (French or international), if you’re a citizen in a country where French is one of the official languages, or if your secondary school education was in French.

If you’re applying to study a programme in English, and English isn’t your first language, you will need to prove your language proficiency by passing the IELTS or TOEFL tests. 

Visa requirements

EU Students

If you’re an EU national, or national from the EEA, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will not require a French student visa. Instead, all you will need to study in France is a valid passport or other valid travel ID.

Non-EU Students

If you’re a national from anywhere else in the world, you will need to obtain a student visa in order to start studying. If your period of study will be less than 3 months, you can apply for a short-stay student visa. However, for a full degree, you’ll require a longer stay visa which you can only apply for once you have been accepted onto a programme at a French university. For more details on how to apply for a student visa, check out our Guide ‘Studying in France: student visas explained’.

Health insurance requirements

For EU students, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will suffice. Non-EU students must have minimum health insurance cover of €30,000 to apply for a visa. 

If you are from outside the EU, once you’ve registered at your university you can then register with the French general social security system. This process is free and is completed via an online form on a website called l’assurance Maladie. It will enable you to reclaim up to 60% of your medical fees, should you need medical support. 

Qualification requirements

Recognised UK qualifications

• England, Wales and North Ireland: A Level + AS + GCSE
• Scotland: Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) -SQC - Advanced Higher + SQC - Higher + Standard Grade
• Other UK-wide accepted qualifications:
  Cambridge AICE Diploma Advanced Level (AL) + Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS)
  Pre-U Principal Subject + Pre-U Short Course
• International Advanced Level + GCSE

By law, public French universities are not allowed to offer places selectively. Generally, A-level (or equivalent) passes are all that is required for entry to a public French university.

For the most part, there are no specific subject requirements. However, for certain programmes, like Medicine or Engineering, this might be different - make sure you check the websites of your chosen universities. 

Recognised US qualifications

High school diploma, with the following general education subjects:

• First language (native language)
• Second language
• Mathematics
• Natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry or Physics)
• Humanities and social sciences (Geography, History or Economics/Law)
• Elective (one subject from category 2, 4 or 5)

Recognised Chinese qualifications

Gaokao (general secondary education certificate), with the following general education subjects:

• First language (native language)
• Second language
• Mathematics
• Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
• Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics/law)
• Elective (one subject from category 2, 4 or 5)

IB Diploma

Candidates taking the French, International or European Baccalaureate must achieve a pass in order to apply for French public universities.

Qualification requirements for Grandes Ecoles, Grands Etablissements and Private Universities

Criteria for Grandes Ecoles

These institutions are allowed to be selective with their candidates, so academic achievement is very important. Students must sit two years of classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE) to prepare them for the highly competitive national entrance exams. Because of this context, most international students attending the Grandes Ecoles undertake postgraduate study.

Criteria for Grands Etablissements

The Grands Etablissements are also highly selective, but they do not require the 2 years of preparatory study before attending. Check out the websites of the institutions you’re thinking of applying to see their specific entrance requirements.

Criteria for Private Universities

Each private university has its own admissions criteria, so you should contact the institution directly to find out the exact requirements. As an example, here are the admissions requirements for the Business in Culinary Arts bachelor’s programme at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris:

• High-School Diploma or an equivalent and provide transcripts
• English proficiency level: 5.5 at the IELTS, 63 at the TOEFL IBT or (CAE) Cambridge Advanced examination
• A resume and a 500-word cover letter

How to Apply 

Public universities

Applications to French public universities are generally made through the Admissions Post-Bac (the link to this website is at the bottom of this article). Not all universities belong to the APB group however, so it is necessary to check for those which require a direct application.

• Applications are generally open between January and March for those wishing to start the following autumn.
• Students are asked to rank up to 12 courses for each institution (and a maximum of 36 courses in total) in order of preference and are later allocated places at random.
• Students find out their allocation in June and can choose to accept it or go through to a second round of allocations with their other choices. Accepting an offer is not legally binding, so if a student later receives an offer that they prefer from a non-APB institution, they can still take it.

For students from certain countries (including China, the US and Singapore) applications are conducted via a separate online admissions portal called Studying in France. Check out their website which is linked at the end of this guide for a full list of countries which use this process over the APB one.

Grandes Ecoles, Grands Etablissements and Private Universities

Applications to the Grandes Ecoles, Grands Etablissements or private universities are always made directly to the institutions. These universities are permitted to recruit students selectively so they can set whatever selection criteria they choose. For example, some may request an interview, a cover letter, an essay or an academic reference.

Further Resources 

Language Information 

The CEFR Levels (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) 

French Language Exams

DELF/DALF 

TEF 

TCF 

English Language Exams 

IELTS 

TOEFL 

Admission Portals 

Admissions Post-Bac (APB) Website (Main Application portal)  

Studying in France (Application portal)