If you live in a country where the “Études en France” procedure applies, it is your mandatory route to French universities all the way to the visa application. Campus France calls it “the reference to access higher education in France”; it manages enrolment procedures up to the visa request.
New: since 1 October 2026 the platform has moved to a new address with a simpler interface: etudesenfrance.diplomatie.gouv.fr. Existing accounts still work, so there is no need to create a new one.
Does it apply to you?
The procedure is mandatory only for students from listed countries; Campus France says 75 countries and territories. They include:
- Arab countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Mauritania, Djibouti and the Comoros.
- Others: Senegal and Iran, among others.
If your country is not listed, you apply directly to universities and then for a visa through France-Visas.
Which route fits your level?
| Your level | Route |
|---|---|
| First year of a bachelor’s (L1) with a non-French secondary diploma | Prior admission request (DAP) through Études en France |
| L1 with a French or European baccalauréat or A-levels | Parcoursup, plus the Études en France steps |
| Second or third year (L2, L3) and Master’s | Études en France until the visa |
| Doctorate | Not through the platform: contact doctoral schools, then apply for a “talent passport” visa |
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals use Parcoursup only.
The steps (Campus France Egypt example)
- Create an account.
- Enter your details and upload scanned documents.
- Choose programmes and write your motivation for each.
- Submit your file.
- Campus France checks the file, then sends payment instructions.
- Interview at the Campus France office.
You then follow institutions’ answers in your account. With positive answers, you confirm your final choice and book a visa appointment at your local visa centre (for example TLS-Contact in Tunisia and Lebanon).
Campus France fees
Fees vary by country and are paid to the local Campus France office. Current official examples:
- Tunisia: 400 dinars since 1 August 2025, by bank card at the office or online.
- Lebanon (2026–27): €320 in cash, covering file processing, the interview and the pre-consular certificate.
For other countries, check your local Campus France website before paying; some published pages are outdated.
Dates: DAP for 2027/28
According to the main Campus France page:
- Opens: 1 October 2026.
- Closes: mid-December. The page says “15 December 2027”, which looks like a typo since answers come before April 2027. Confirm the date on your country’s Campus France site.
- Universities answer: before 30 April 2027.
- You reply: before 31 May 2027 — no reply counts as a refusal.
In Egypt, for example, applications for September 2027 opened on 1 October 2026. For Master’s, L2 and L3, the calendar depends on the country; in Lebanon the 2026–27 round ran from 1 October 2025 to 31 January 2026.
The visa: long-stay student visa (VLS-TS)
- For studies longer than 3 months you need a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS).
- After arrival you validate it online within 3 months on the French Interior Ministry website, with a €50 fee.
Financial resources for the visa: increased in 2026
Since 1 August 2026, you must show €877.50 per month, up from €615.
- Applications filed up to 31 July 2026 used the old amount.
- French government scholarship holders are exempt.
- If you stay longer than a year, you must meet the new amount when you renew.
That is roughly €10,530 for a full academic year (our calculation).
Tuition at public universities, 2026/27
| Level | Non-EU students | EU students |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s (Licence) | €2,902 a year | €178 |
| Master’s | €3,950 a year | €255 |
| Doctorate | €398 | €398 |
Exemptions: Erasmus+ exchange students and French government scholarship holders pay no tuition; refugees pay the EU rate.
Practical tips
- Start in September: prepare translations and certificates before the platform opens in October.
- Write a different motivation for each programme: committees read what you write on the platform.
- Prepare for the interview: know your programmes and how you will fund your studies.
- Budget with the new figures: €877.50 a month for the visa, plus tuition.
- Don’t miss the May reply deadline: not answering an offer counts as a refusal.
FAQ
Can I apply to French universities without the platform if my country is listed? No. It is the official route for students from listed countries up to the visa application.
Does it cover doctorates? No. Doctoral candidates contact doctoral schools directly.
Does the Eiffel scholarship exempt me from the resources requirement? Eiffel is a French government scholarship, and Campus France states that French government scholarship holders are exempt. Confirm with your local Campus France office.