Opportunities in France

France handles much of its international student intake through Campus France, the national agency promoting French higher education abroad. In countries where it applies, applicants must complete the online Etudes en France procedure before starting the long-stay visa application, and no visa application is processed without it. Campus France lists scholarship programmes by world region, including the Eiffel Excellence programme and the Hubert Curien partnerships.

The Eiffel programme funds master's and PhD study, but only French higher education institutions can submit candidates, so applicants must first apply to a French programme. The yearly campaign opens in autumn with an early-January deadline for institutions, and age limits apply. Students on a French student permit may work up to 964 hours a year. Graduates with a master's or an equivalent degree can apply for a non-renewable job-search or business-creation permit lasting up to 12 months, which must be replaced by a different permit before it expires.

Common mistakes include starting the visa application before finishing the Etudes en France step, approaching Campus France as an individual for Eiffel funding instead of going through the institution, and exceeding the working-hour limit. Language expectations depend on the programme and institution, so applicants should check whether courses are taught in French or English. Procedures and fees can also differ by country, so the local Campus France office is the first place to confirm the current steps.