Applying to a French Institution

International candidates can work with Campus France and apply to multiple French institutions using the Etudes en France platform as a common application. 

Applications Open October 1, 2023 for Fall 2024 Admissions

 

Etudes en France simplifies the application process for international candidates 

Etudes en France is a comprehensive online platform that manages all of the enrollment procedures to higher education institutions in France up until the visa request. With one common application on the Etudes en France platform, international candidates can apply to several higher education programs in France with the assistance of Campus France USA agents.

Candidates that have E.U. member state nationality will not apply using Etudes en France, but will apply either using Parcoursup (for first-year admissions) or directly to the French higher education institutions (for admissions other than first-year). 

Before applying to programs on the Etudes en France platform, candidates must verify all prerequisites and deadlines, including French proficiency requirements. Students who do not have the test result when submitting their Etudes en France application, can provide a registration to a French test while awaiting to have the final results. The programs availability and prerequisites are provided by French institutions, candidates should contact directly the institution if they need clarifications about the requirements.  

The DAP (Demande d'Admission Préalable) procedure concerns all international students applying to the first year of an undergraduate program (Licence 1), PASS and L.AS programs (first year of medical school), or architecture programs (all levels) in France. DAP candidates must apply through the Etudes en France online platform* and are allowed to apply to up to 3 programs.

The HDAP (Hors Demande d'admission préalable) procedure concerns all international students applying to the second or third year of an undergraduate program (Licence 2 and 3), or all other graduate programs (Masters) in France. HDAP candidates must apply through the Etudes en France online platform* and are allowed to apply to up to 7 programs.

*It is important to note that some French institutions are not connected to the Etudes en France platform. For these programs, candidates must apply directly through the institutions’ website.

Art programs: For candidates applying to art programs in France, the procedures and deadlines are different. Please contact Campus Art for more information about art programs.

 

TIMELINE

DAP Candidates

October 1, 2023: Opening of admission applications on the Etudes en France platform
December 15, 2023 at 6 pm EST: Deadline for application submissions 
April 30, 2024: Deadline for French universities and institutions to accept or refuse candidates.
May 31, 2024: Deadline for candidates to accept one admission proposal

DAP Candidates in Architecture 

October 1, 2023: Opening of admission applications on the Etudes en France platform
December 15, 2023 at 6 pm EST: Deadline for application submissions 
April 30, 2024: Deadline for French architecture schools to accept or refuse candidates.
May 31, 2024: Deadline for candidates to accept one admission proposal

HDAP Candidates

October 1, 2023: Opening of admission applications on the Etudes en France platform
January 1, 2024 at 6 pm EST: Deadline for application submissions 
April 30, 2024: Deadline for French universities and institutions’ responses and proposals for acceptance. Students will receive a response from the universities to which they have applied by this date.

May 31, 2024: Deadline for candidates to accept one admission proposal

Our team is looking forward to helping candidates throughout this admission process. Should you have questions about the application process, please contact Campus France USA at washington@campusfrance.org

How to Apply

STEP 1: Complete your account on Etudes en France follow the instructions provided in the application guide below: 

STEP 2: Pay the Campus France Application Fee online and submit payment paperwork

STEP 3: Be contacted by Campus France USA for an interview, finalize application submission to French institutions 

General Requirements for Admissions Applications (DAP and HDAP)

Required Document(s)

Notes 

Passport 

Please note that you will need a valid passport to apply for a visa. If you are a citizen of a country other than the US, please provide a proof of legal status in the US (permanent residence card, etc.) as well as your passport.

Headshot

Find or take a headshot, the file should be 50kb max. It can be a passport-style photo or simply a cropped photo of your face.

Statement of Motivation

The statement of motivation should be written by the applicant in French (or English if you are applying to a program that is taught in English). It should be a maximum of 2,500 characters.

Resume/CV

An updated resume that includes your most recent academic and professional achievements.

Letter/s of Recommendation

While not always obligatory, we suggest obtaining 1-2 letters of recommendation from academic references when applying to programs in France.

Official Transcripts

You will be required to scan and upload your most recent official transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are not accepted. A PDF version of your official transcripts is fine, if there is a watermark that appears on official hard copies when you scan them, that is fine for our purposes.

Diploma

We will require a copy of the most recent degree or diploma you received (high school or college).

French Proficiency Test Results

Results from an official French language test are required. DAP Candidates must have a minimum B2 level on the TCF and DELF/DALF, or must have scores a minimum of 400/699 on the TEF. Check your program’s specific pre-requisites, you may need a higher level.

We recommend finding a proficiency test as early as possible before submitting your application, as results may take several weeks to be received, and registration deadlines may be well before test dates.

Most students applying to programs with French as the language of instruction will be required to take the TCF, TEF, or DELF/DALF. Check with the programs you're interested in to learn their requirements. 

Note: DAP candidates who plan to take the TCF tout public must also take the written expression module. More information here. For HDAP Candidates who plan to take the TCF, including the written expression module is also recommended. 

Locations of TCF, TEF, and DELF/DALF testing centers can be found here.

More information on all TEF testing centers can be found here.

French Translations 

You will need to obtain French translations of all documents (except for your passport and French test results). The diploma and transcripts MUST be translated officially and completed by a professional. Translations of the letter/s of recommendation and resume do not have to be completed by a professional, but they must be in perfect French. We suggest finding a translator through the American Translators Association.

Translations must be done by a professional translator who affixes their stamp; a translation without the translator's contacts and stamp is not acceptable. Translations do not need to be notarized.