🇮🇳 India → France
A complete, search-friendly guide for applicants from India: admission route, documents, visa, funding and arrival steps.
At a glance
Asia
At a glance
Études en France procedure
At a glance
English-taught options common
What to do for this route
These sections are generated from the same editorial framework, so each country page stays consistent while still being specific to your route.
A 3-year Bachelor's degree is generally accepted for Master's programs, though some high-ranking public universities or specific 'Grandes Écoles' may prefer a 4-year degree (B.Tech/B.E.). Provisional certificates are accepted for final-year students. The EEF campaign opens in October. The national deadline for 'Mon Master' (public universities) is typically in March. However, private Business and Engineering schools (Grandes Écoles) often operate on rolling admissions from October to June. It is critical to complete the Campus France 'Pre-Consular' process at least 4-6 weeks before your intended visa appointment.
- For Licence 1 (first undergraduate year) at public universities, apply on Parcoursup (Jan-Mar).
- For Master 1 in a public university, apply on Mon Master (Feb-Apr).
- For 'Grandes écoles' and private schools, apply directly on the school's own portal, following their specific deadlines.
- IELTS (6.5+) or TOEFL (90+) is required for English-taught programs. For French-taught tracks, DELF/DALF B2 is the standard. Several schools now offer internal English tests or waivers based on medium of instruction (MOI) certificates.
India is connected to the Études en France (EEF) procedure: you build the online file, pay the Campus France fee, attend the interview, then receive the attestation your consulate requires. Campus France India — New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Jaipur
- Campus France India — New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Jaipur
- The consulate will not process the visa file without the Campus France attestation.
- Keep the same email address across Campus France, Parcoursup, Mon Master and the school portals.
Submit your VLS-TS application at VFS Global. The 'Pre-Consular' interview at Campus France must be completed first. Ensure your VFS checklist matches the latest guidelines on France-Visas.gouv.fr. The VLS-TS (long-stay student visa) is required for any stay over 90 days for study purposes.
- Use the France-Visas wizard to generate your exact document list before booking.
- Your VLS-TS étudiant must be validated online via the ANEF platform within 3 months of your arrival in France.
- Renewals are filed on ANEF, ideally 2–4 months before expiry.
Consolidated marksheets, Degree/Provisional Certificate, Passport (valid for 15+ months), SOP, and LORs. The 'Campus France NOC' is generated after your interview and is mandatory for the visa application.
- Use one consistent spelling of your name across every document.
- Check whether your country requires apostille (Hague) or full consular legalisation.
- Keep certified digital scans — you will re-upload them for housing, CAF and the bank.
Proof of €10,530 annual resources. Strongest evidence: Education Loan sanction letter. Other options: Fixed Deposits, liquid funds in parent's/sponsor's account (6 months history), or an Income Tax Return (ITR) of the sponsor.
- The reference figure is about €877.50 monthly for the visa file.
- A guarantor file is usually needed for private housing, even when the visa file is complete.
- Scholarship award letters strengthen both the admission and the visa file.
Funding routes commonly used by students from India. Deadlines usually fall months before admission results, so track them in parallel with your application.
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship — Outstanding international master's and PhD candidates — nominated by the French institution, not by the student
- Charpak Scholarship (Master's / Research / Exchange) — Indian students for various levels of study in France
- Franco-Indian Education Trust Scholarships — Indian students for Master's and specialized training
- Erasmus+ — EU/EEA and programme-country students on exchange or joint master's degrees
Direct flights to CDG/ORY. Students should apply for their 'Social Security' number and 'CAF' immediately. Indian student associations (like Yuvashakti) are active in major French cities.
- Week 1: SIM card, transport pass, proof of address (attestation d'hébergement or lease).
- Week 1–2: open a French bank account and request your RIB.
- Week 2: validate the VLS-TS on ANEF.
University enrolment, social security registration, CAF housing aid and student insurance — done in this order, the first month stays manageable.
- Complete administrative enrolment and pay the CVEC before your student card is issued.
- Register for social security (assurance maladie) online using your enrolment certificate and birth certificate.
- File the CAF housing-aid application in the month you move in — it is not retroactive.
The recurring blockers reported by students from India.
- Missing the 'Mon Master' deadline while waiting for Campus France updates
- Loan letters without clear 'disbursement to university' clauses
- Not accounting for the 2-week processing time for the Campus France NOC
- Name discrepancies between Aadhaar, Passport, and Degree certificates
Every step above points back to a government or national-platform source. Check the date on each official page before acting on it.
What we already know about this country
Campus France India — New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Jaipur
The EEF campaign opens in October. The national deadline for 'Mon Master' (public universities) is typically in March. However, private Business and Engineering schools (Grandes Écoles) often operate on rolling admissions from October to June. It is critical to complete the Campus France 'Pre-Consular' process at least 4-6 weeks before your intended visa appointment.
Consolidated marksheets, Degree/Provisional Certificate, Passport (valid for 15+ months), SOP, and LORs. The 'Campus France NOC' is generated after your interview and is mandatory for the visa application.
Proof of €{{visa.proof_of_resources_annual}} annual resources. Strongest evidence: Education Loan sanction letter. Other options: Fixed Deposits, liquid funds in parent's/sponsor's account (6 months history), or an Income Tax Return (ITR) of the sponsor. Submit your VLS-TS application at VFS Global. The 'Pre-Consular' interview at Campus France must be completed first. Ensure your VFS checklist matches the latest guidelines on France-Visas.gouv.fr.
Estimate housing aid and plan ahead
CAF is one of the biggest money questions after arrival, so we’re surfacing it directly on the country page.
Eligible for CAF
Usually needs a French lease and residency status.
€176
Estimated monthly CAF support
What you may still pay
€344
This is a directional estimate. CAF uses income, household size, lease details and property rules. Check the official simulator before making a financial decision.