Studying in France: applications, fees and visas

FRANCE

Studying in France

01

Applications from Türkiye go through Campus France Türkiye

A student applying for the first year of a bachelor's prepares a preliminary admission file (DAP) through Campus France Türkiye and chooses up to three universities. For the 2027/28 term, the deadline for this file is 15 December 2026. Applications for the 2nd and 3rd years of a bachelor's and for master's programs follow the same route. The deadline is 30 December 2026. A foreign applicant living in Türkiye does not use the Mon Master platform in France.

02

French or English?

To enter a French-taught bachelor's program in the first year, a paid language exam is needed. For 2025 entry, Campus France Türkiye asked for at least B2 on the TCF. For a master's in a French-taught program, the school asks for DELF B2, DALF, TCF or TEF. For an English-taught program, IELTS, TOEFL or TOEIC is accepted. More than 1,600 programs in the Campus France catalog are partly or fully in English. Most of these are at master's level.

03

How a study year goes

A bachelor's (licence) takes three years. A master's is a 120-credit program of four semesters. The academic year starts in September or October, and the first semester ends in December or January. Each university sets its own calendar.

04

Daily life as a student

A student visa gives the right to work up to 964 hours a year. This is 60% of normal working time in France. A meal at a university restaurant costs 3.30 euros. In Paris, the Imagine'R student transport pass is 374.40 euros a year.

05

After graduation

A student who finishes a master's or a licence professionnelle can apply for a 12-month residence permit to look for work or start a company. This permit cannot be renewed. When you find a job, you need to switch to another residence permit before the time runs out.

SCHOOLS

Featured schools

The universities are the country's top three schools according to the QS World University Rankings 2026.

UPUniversité PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)ParisQS 202628IPPInstitut Polytechnique de ParisParis region (Île-de-France)QS 202641UPSUniversité Paris-SaclayParis region (Île-de-France)QS 202670

COST

Cost by program

Examples from current fees for international students, as published on the schools' own pages.

At Alliance Française in Paris, the two-week intensive course was 770 euros in June 2026. Sorbonne Université's July 2026 summer course costs 480 euros for two weeks for outside students. The Université Côte d'Azur summer school in Nice costs 520 euros for two weeks.

Intensive French course, A2 to C1, mornings 9:00 to 13:00 (22 June to 3 July 2026)€770total · 2027 (figure from the 2026 term)Alliance Française Paris

Summer intensive French course, A1 to C1, 2 weeks, 30 hours (6 to 17 July 2026)€480total · 2027 (figure from the 2026 term)Sorbonne Université (SIAL FLE)

Summer French course, two-week session, 36 hours€520total · 2027 (figure from the 2026 term)Université Côte d'Azur (Université Internationale d'été de Nice)

MONTHLY BUDGET

A student's monthly costs

Université PSL estimate, Paris, 2024

Monthly total€667,20per month

Rent (studio in a CROUS-type student residence, charges included)€400

Food (groceries)€200

Transport (Imagine'R 374.40 euros a year, divided into months)€31,20

Internet€20

Mobile phone€10

Home insurance (20 m² studio, 73 euros a year)€6

For the visa

For a long-stay student visa, you must show a source of living money of at least 615 euros a month. If the student stays without paying rent (for example with relatives), this amount is 308 euros a month.

PLAN

Application timeline

A month-by-month plan for 2027 entry. Official date Our suggestion

December 2026 to February 2027
Choose a course that matches the student's French level. The Sorbonne summer course has classes from A1 to C1.
January to March 2027
Confirm the course's age and student requirements with the school. The Sorbonne price is for university students.
February to April 2027
Register and pay. At Alliance Française Paris, the two-week intensive course was 770 euros in summer 2026.
March to April 2027
Arrange accommodation. The price of the three courses we looked at does not include accommodation.
April to May 2027
Apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for a course of up to 90 days (at most 90 days in any 180 days).
June to August 2027
Course period. In 2026, the Nice summer school ran from 29 June to 24 July and from 17 to 28 August.

FRANCE

Important for France

01

Preliminary admission file (DAP) for the first year

A preliminary admission application (DAP) is required for those applying to the first year with a high school diploma from a non-EU country. For the 2027/2028 term, the deadline for files is 15 December 2026. Up to three universities that you choose review the file at the same time. The deadline for the student to give their decision is 31 May 2027.

02

French level and exam exemption

Applicants whose native language is not French take a paid language exam, with some exceptions. Campus France Türkiye asks for the TCF for this exam, and its 2025 entry document looked for at least level B2. Graduates of schools on the list, such as Galatasaray High School, and holders of DELF B2 or DALF were exempt from the exam.

03

A separate tuition rate for non-EU students

At public universities, non-EU students pay 2,902 euros a year for a bachelor's and 3,950 euros for a master's in 2026/2027. A decree dated 19 May 2026 limited the share of students that universities can exempt from this fee.

04

964 hours a year while studying

In France, a student visa gives the right to work up to 964 hours a year. This equals 60% of normal annual working time in France.

IN BRIEF

France in brief

Bachelor'sMaster'sGeneral

Last checked: October 2026. Rules and amounts can change. We check the current situation together before you apply.

Bachelor's: length and application route

A bachelor's (licence) takes three years. Applicants living in Türkiye apply for the first year through Campus France Türkiye.

Master's: length and application route

A master's is a 120-credit program of four semesters. Together with the bachelor's, it adds up to 300 ECTS.

Tuition fees

For non-EU students at public universities, the 2026/2027 tuition fee is 2,902 euros a year for a bachelor's and 3,950 euros a year for a master's. A decree dated 19 May 2026 (n° 2026-385) limited the share of students that universities can exempt.

Student visa

The visa for study is a long-stay student visa that replaces a residence permit: 'visa long séjour valant titre de séjour mention étudiant' (VLS-TS étudiant). The visa allows a stay of four months to one year. It must be validated within three months after you arrive in France.

Proof of funds

The student must show resources of at least 615 euros a month.

Working while studying

A student visa gives the right to work up to 964 hours a year, which equals 60% of normal working time in France.

Work permit after graduation

Those who graduate with certain diplomas (licence professionnelle, master's, or a diploma at master's level or higher) can get a one-year residence permit to look for work or start a company. This permit cannot be renewed.

Academic calendar

The academic year starts in September or October. The first teaching period runs from September to December or January, and the second from January to April or June.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a student who does not know French study in France?

Yes, there are English-taught programs. More than 1,600 programs in the Campus France catalog are partly or fully in English. When applying to these programs, you submit the IELTS, TOEFL or TOEIC certificate that the school asks for. There are fewer options in the first year of a bachelor's and more at master's level.

Ask your question on WhatsApp

Can a student get housing aid (APL) in France?

Since 1 July 2026, a student from outside the EU who has no scholarship based on social criteria cannot get APL. A student who works or studies on an apprenticeship or professionalization contract can still apply. So it is more accurate to plan the family budget without housing aid.

Ask your question on WhatsApp

How different is the tuition fee at a public university and at a school like Sciences Po?

In 2026/27 at a public university, a non-EU student pays 2,902 euros a year for a bachelor's and 3,950 euros for a master's. At Sciences Po in the same year, a family outside the EEA pays 14,900 euros for a bachelor's and 20,640 euros for a master's. Some public universities can exempt part of their non-EU students from this higher rate. You need to ask each university about this separately.

ElsewhereCampus Ask your question on WhatsApp

How many universities or programs can I apply to?

For the first year of a bachelor's, you choose up to three universities in the DAP file, and all three review the file at the same time. For the 2nd and 3rd years of a bachelor's and for master's programs, Campus France Türkiye allowed up to 7 programs for 2026 entry. Some schools, such as the grandes écoles, take applications on their own site.

ElsewhereCampus Ask your question on WhatsApp

Where do I apply for the visa in Türkiye?

After you confirm your final choice in the Campus France process, you download the pre-enrolment document (attestation de pré-inscription). With this document, the visa application is made directly to VFS Global. The visa you receive is called VLS-TS and replaces a residence permit.

ElsewhereCampus Ask your question on WhatsApp

FIELDS OF STUDY

Subjects you can study in France

5 subjects, 3 schools. Programmes were checked on the schools’ own websites. Tap a subject to see what you study, what graduates do and the options in other countries.

All fields of study My Place test