🇳🇬 Nigeria → France
A complete, search-friendly guide for applicants from Nigeria: admission route, documents, visa, funding and arrival steps.
At a glance
Africa
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.
University degree (B.Sc/B.A) with a minimum 2:1 (Upper Second Class) for top programs. The NYSC discharge certificate is often requested as part of the professional background. The EEF campaign begins in October. Deadlines for public universities are strictly March/April. Due to significant delays in degree legalization at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, start your application 12 months in advance.
- 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.
- Most Nigerian students apply for English-taught programs. IELTS is recommended but some schools accept 'English Language' proficiency letters from Nigerian universities.
Nigeria 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 Nigeria — Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt
- Campus France Nigeria — Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt
- 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.
Consular interview in Abuja or Lagos follows the Campus France interview. High refusal rates are often linked to 'financial capacity' or 'unclear study plans'. The VLS-TS must be validated via ANEF within 3 months of arrival. 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.
Legalization of academic transcripts and certificates by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja is mandatory before the Campus France interview.
- 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. Consulates strictly scrutinize the 'traceability' of sponsor funds. Self-sponsorship requires substantial personal bank history. Blocked accounts (Studely/Fintiba) are highly effective.
- 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 Nigeria. 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
- French Embassy scholarship — Nigeria — Applicants residing in Nigeria; calls usually open between November and March
- Erasmus+ — EU/EEA and programme-country students on exchange or joint master's degrees
Usually via Gulf carriers or Air France to CDG. Students should secure temporary housing (AirBnb/Crous) before landing.
- 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 Nigeria.
- Waiting until admission to start document legalization in Abuja
- Sponsors with high balances but no clear source of income (business docs needed)
- Inconsistent spelling between WAEC results and International Passport
- Applying for a visa without the Campus France attestation
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 Nigeria — Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt
The EEF campaign begins in October. Deadlines for public universities are strictly March/April. Due to significant delays in degree legalization at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, start your application 12 months in advance.
Legalization of academic transcripts and certificates by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja is mandatory before the Campus France interview.
Proof of €{{visa.proof_of_resources_annual}} annual resources. Consulates strictly scrutinize the 'traceability' of sponsor funds. Self-sponsorship requires substantial personal bank history. Blocked accounts (Studely/Fintiba) are highly effective. Consular interview in Abuja or Lagos follows the Campus France interview. High refusal rates are often linked to 'financial capacity' or 'unclear study plans'. The VLS-TS must be validated via ANEF within 3 months of arrival.
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.