Preparing for your studies in France?
Following Brexit, a visa is now necessary for a study period of more than 90 days. It is recommended that students initiate their application at least 2 months prior to departure to ensure a smooth process. But don’t worry! The Campus France UK Team is there to guide you through this.
The procedure is divided into three steps :
You must register through a platform called 'Etudes en France.' Once you have completed all the steps, you need to submit your application. If it is complete and validated by the Etudes en France team, you will be asked to pay the platform fees of £100, except for Erasmus students or individuals with a French or International baccalaureate (please check the conditions below). This is the first step to get your visa. Without the 'Etudes en France' certificate, your visa application will be declined.
Be aware that this process is easily done on a laptop. The platform is not designed for phones.
- Create your profile on Études en France . If you have been admitted to a higher education institution in France and already have an acceptance letter, for example through an exchange program or via the institution's independent selection process, select the section "Student Already Accepted". If you intend to apply for a course through the Etudes en France platform, select the section "Application/Candidature".
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Fill up the sections and upload the requested documents. Be careful to submit readable documents. Should the platform indicate that a document is too large, consider compressing it using available online tools. Mandatory documents include a clear copy of your passport and an acceptance letter indicating the start and end dates of the program. You can request this from your host institution.
- Submit your file. Once it has been reviewed by Campus France UK team, you will receive an email requesting for the payment of the platform fees. Only students doing an Erasmus mobility or having an International or French baccalauréat are exempted from these fees. Upon validation of your payment, an automated email with the Etudes en France certificate will be sent to you. You may present either the confirmation email or the Etudes en France certificate at your TLS appointment.
2nd step: visa application on France visas
- You need to fill in a visa application on the France-Visas platform (see below for the type of visa you need) – except for Erasmus students
- Then, you will have to book an appointment in a TLS Center (London/ Edinburgh /Manchester) to give your documents and biometrics. (The appointment must be booked early if possible, within the limit of three months ahead of the programme).
The whole process can last for up to 2 months
First, you need to identify which visa you need :
On the France-Visas website, as a student, you can apply for different visas if you are coming to France for more than 90 days:
You will need a « Student visa » after registering on Etudes en France if:
- You have been accepted into a graduating programme in France
- You are doing a PhD without a work contract
- You have been accepted into a French Intensive Course
- You are doing a study placement for a semester or a year abroad
- You are doing a study placement + a work placement (you will need to add your internship agreement on Etudes en France)
Be careful:
- If you are doing a study placement for a semester in another country + a study placement for a semester in France: you will have to require your French visa at the French consulate of your first country of studies
- You will need a visa if the duration of your stay exceeds 90 days.
You will need a« Student trainee visa » if:
- you are only coming to France for a work placement of more than 90 days
Secondly, you will need to determine whether or not you need to register on Etudes en France.
- If you need a Student Visa, you must first register on Etudes en France.
- If you need a Student-Trainee visa, you can start immediately with your France-Visas application.
In the following document, you will find a step-by-step to guide you throughout the whole procedure on Campus France’s website: click here.
Please note that the Etudes en France platform is regularly updated; hence, some screenshots can be outdated. We are doing our best to keep our documentation up to date.
To get the information as soon as it is updated follow our social media and our partners:
Campus France UK: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
Discover our new podcast 'Studying in France,' where we guide you through the visa process and share tips from British students who have studied in France! Now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer.
Higher Education Research and Innovation service of the French Embassy: Twitter
Visit our FAQ if you have a specific question: https://www.uk.campusfrance.org/faq
