Apply to Study in France: Deadlines, Application Process, Timeline

Pursuing higher education in France is now raising popularity for its affordability and less stringent admission policies. Those looking forward to taking admissions in French universities need to select a program of their choice, primarily. Once you have short-listed the course you want to pursue in France, you will need to short-list the universities with which you want to make applications. Admission requirements of various universities in France vary based on the university you want to apply to.

Every year, the French universities commence a couple of sessions in the months of September and February. You need to apply to your favorite program through the university application portal or via study in France. If your application is selected by the desired university or school, they will ask you to appear in an interview session which is considered as the final round of selection. The admission decisions are declared by the universities within 4-8 weeks of applying and the applicants are notified via email.

General Timeline to Apply to Study in France

International students are accepted by the universities in France in September and January mostly in spring, autumn, or fall and summer. A huge number of universities in France have a wide variety of admission schedules even for the same season. However, the approximate schedule for applying to study in France is given below:

How to Apply to Study in France

You can apply for admission once you are ready with all the prerequisites including academic transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, proof of financial availability, immigration documents, and other necessities. A step by step explanation of the application process to study in France is provided here:

• Select your program of study
• Check for the colleges offering the program
• Research on the admission requirements of the colleges
• Check the scores of exams to study in France and mean academic scores of the previous batches to get an idea about the cutoff
• Check the fee structures
• Arrange all the admission requirements to fulfill the eligibility criteria
• Submit the application to the online application portal
• Pay the application fee

Admission Requirements to Study in France

The admission requirements vary based on the programs and universities. GRE and GMAT scores are required by some universities in France, however, other universities are test-optional. Following are the common admission requirements for applying to study in France:

• Official transcripts or electronic copies
• Copies of graduation diploma with French translations
• Campus France authorization
• A civil liability certificate
• SOP
• Resume
• Cover letter
• LOR
• Optional GMAT or GRE
• Proof of financial availability (800 Euro per month)
• Proficiency in French and/or English

English Proficiency Test Requirements

Most of the universities in France offer programs in French and English or French. In order to apply to study in France, international students require a demonstration of proficiency in English or French. The admission requirements are variable across different universities. However, the range of the test score requirements for the bachelor’s programs are as follows:

Following are the ranges of English proficiency test score requirements at various universities in France for graduate programs:

French Student Visa for International Students

International students need a long-stay visa to study in France to apply for programs with a duration longer than 6 months. You can apply for the visa through a French consulate in your country or via Campus France. Following are the steps to apply to a student visa:

• Apply through the official website of the French Consulate in your area and schedule an appointment.
• Check the online calendar and schedule a date at least 90 days prior to your departure to France.
• Pay the visa processing fee (50-100 Euro based on the visa type)

Application requirements: The documents required to apply for the France student visa are provided here:

• Completed application form
• Valid passport
• 2 Passport photos
• Proof of visa fee payment
• Copies of previous visas if available
• Proof of accommodation arrangement in France
• Air ticket or reservation documents with date of departure
• Medical insurance between 300-700 Euro
• Proof of availability of finances for spending at least 615 Euro (~54,000 INR) per month
• English or French proficiency test scores

When to Apply to Study in France

Here are the admission deadlines of some of the top universities in France:

Application Deadlines to Study MBA in France

France is popular among international students for its MBA programs covered by numerous business schools and universities. Although most of the MBA programs begin in the term of September, however, there are exceptions. Here are the application deadlines of some of the top MBA programs in France:

Apply to Study in France Tips and Tricks 

There are several minute factors to keep in mind while applying to study in France which can make difference in the selection process. Following are the key factors to be considered to apply to study in France:

• Learning French: Although your university might not force you to learn French to get admission, however, learning the native language will give you an added advantage. Besides, this will also reflect your affection and intention to study in France.
• Professional LOR: If you want to apply to a master’s program like MBA, a professional LOR from your workspace senior will provide added value to your profile. If you were not employed previously, you can provide academic LOR instead.
• Multiple Application: Do not apply to a single university that exhibits high admission requirements and a competitive admission policy. Instead, you can apply for the same program in two or more universities to secure a backup.
• Deadlines: There are countless application deadlines for different universities in France. Try to select universities at the earliest, so that you don’t miss out on the application deadline of that particular year.

Mistakes to Avoid While Applying to Study in France

Even with excellent preparations, some students get rejected by their favorite university due to minute mistakes. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind to avoid rejections when you apply to study in France:

• Lack of financial availability: Make sure you have enough money in your personal account to satisfy the minimum financial availability requirements.
• Counterfeit documents: Sometimes students provide downloaded certificates or fake letters and statements. Never try to do such activities as this may involve legal actions and permanently ban you from applying to any French international university.
• Missing documents: Cross-check the course-specific admission requirements and country-specific visa application requirements. Missing out any of the documents may result in rejection.
• Lack of proof showing intent to return to your home country: Always mention your intention of returning to your country right after completion of the course. This increases your chance of getting accepted by the university and French embassy.
• Lack of knowledge about the selected program: Research about the program of your choice, the contents, future opportunities. Keep adequate information ready about your plans to contribute to social welfare after completing the program.

The application deadlines of both undergraduate and graduate programs widely vary across different universities in France. Hence, you should choose the university at the earliest so that you have enough time to prepare for the application process. Make checklists for different stages of the admission process to perform the step-by-step actions properly. Applying to universities with average scores of the previous batch lesser than yours increases your chances of getting selected.