🇺🇸 United States → France
A complete, search-friendly guide for applicants from United States: admission route, documents, visa, funding and arrival steps.
General information only — not official guidance. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you act.
At a glance
Americas
At a glance
Direct application
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.
US bachelor's degree with official transcripts; GPA conversion is done by the institution. The institution's own deadline is paramount for direct applications. However, for master's degrees at public universities, you must still adhere to the national 'Mon Master' platform calendar, which typically runs from February to April.
- 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.
- English-taught masters widely available; French programmes ask for DELF/TCF B2.
No Études en France procedure — apply directly to institutions; Campus France USA offers guidance only. You can still use Campus France resources for programme search, grade equivalence and scholarship calls.
- No Études en France procedure — apply directly to institutions; Campus France USA offers guidance only.
- No Campus France attestation is required for your visa or enrolment file.
- Keep the same email address across Campus France, Parcoursup, Mon Master and the school portals.
The VLS-TS étudiant visa appointment is booked directly with VFS Global. No Campus France interview is required for US citizens. 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.
Prepare official transcripts, your diploma, passport, CV, and a motivation letter. Legalisation is not typically required for US documents.
- 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.
For the visa application, you must prove you have €{{visa.proof_of_resources_annual}}/year. Accepted proofs include official loan letters, family bank statements with a sponsorship letter, or an assistantship contract.
- The reference figure is about €{{visa.proof_of_resources_monthly}}/month 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 United States. 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
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — France — US citizens for study or teaching in France
- Chateaubriand Fellowship — US doctoral students collaborating with French labs
Direct flights to CDG/ORY from most US hubs; open a French bank account in the first week.
- 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 United States.
- Assuming the Schengen 90-day rule covers a full semester
- Missing the ANEF validation deadline
- Booking the visa appointment too late in summer
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
No Études en France procedure — apply directly to institutions; Campus France USA offers guidance only.
The institution's own deadline is paramount for direct applications. However, for master's degrees at public universities, you must still adhere to the national 'Mon Master' platform calendar, which typically runs from February to April.
Prepare official transcripts, your diploma, passport, CV, and a motivation letter. Legalisation is not typically required for US documents.
For the visa application, you must prove you have €{{visa.proof_of_resources_annual}}/year. Accepted proofs include official loan letters, family bank statements with a sponsorship letter, or an assistantship contract. The VLS-TS étudiant visa appointment is booked directly with VFS Global. No Campus France interview is required for US citizens.
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.