Campus France is a mandatory registration process for students from most African countries who want to study in France. If your country is in the 'Etudes en France' procedure (which covers the vast majority of African nations), you cannot apply to a French university directly: you must first complete Campus France registration.
Campus France is both a vetting procedure and a student service: it verifies your academic documents, conducts an interview (in some countries), and connects you with French universities through a centralised platform. For many African students, the Campus France interview is the most challenging step: not because it is academically difficult, but because it requires demonstrating genuine motivation and a clear study plan.
This guide walks through the complete process from initial registration to obtaining your French student visa, with specific notes on the most common African countries.
The 'Etudes en France' (EEF) procedure is mandatory for students from: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic), DRC (Congo), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia. Additionally required for: Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lebanon, Nigeria, South Africa, and others, check the full list at campusfrance.org/en/eligibility. If your country is not on the EEF list, you may be able to apply directly to French universities using the standard online application, but Campus France registration is still recommended.
Go to the Campus France platform for your country (e.g., campusfrance.org or the local portal, in Nigeria, go to institutfrancais.com.ng; in Ghana, campusfrance.org/en/ghana; in Senegal, senegal.campusfrance.org). Create an account using your email address. You will be assigned a Campus France number (numéro de dossier Campus France), keep this safe, as it identifies your file throughout the process. Registration typically opens in October-November for the following September intake. Check exact dates for your country as they vary significantly.
Your Campus France dossier must include: (1) complete academic transcripts from secondary school through university, with translations into French if the originals are in English (certified/sworn translations required in most countries), (2) diplomas and certificates, (3) CV, (4) motivation letter in French explaining why you want to study in France and what you plan to do afterwards, (5) proof of French language level (TEF, DELF/DALF) if applying to French-taught programmes, (6) IELTS/TOEFL if applying to English-taught programmes, (7) list of target programmes, you will select up to 12 programmes through the Campus France portal. Quality of translation matters: use a certified translator, not Google Translate. Use the StudiePoint AI essay coach to draft your motivation letter in English first, then have it translated, it supports motivation letters and personal statements specifically. Use the StudiePoint GPA converter to confirm your African grade equivalent meets the programme's stated minimum before shortlisting universities.
The complete process from registration to receiving your Campus France clearance typically takes 4–8 weeks, but the overall timeline from registration to arriving in France is 6–10 months. Registration opens in October-November for September intake. The interview is typically scheduled 2–4 weeks after your dossier is complete. After the interview, response time is 1–3 weeks. Then you apply to universities (1–3 months), wait for admission (1–3 months), then apply for the visa (2–6 weeks). Start the entire process no later than December for a September start.
Yes. Nigeria is on the 'Etudes en France' mandatory list. You must register through the Campus France portal in Nigeria (institutfrancais.com.ng) and complete the interview at the Institut Français de Lagos or Abuja before applying to French universities. Nigerian students have historically had good success rates at French universities, particularly in engineering, economics, and social sciences.
Yes: if you target English-taught master's programmes. France has significantly expanded English-taught programmes at Paris-Saclay, Grenoble INP, CentraleSupélec, and other major institutions. You need IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 88+ for these programmes. That said, learning French before arriving improves your daily life dramatically: the university administration, housing, and social life are largely in French outside of Paris.
The interview is conversational, not a formal examination. The interviewer is primarily checking that your study project is coherent and your documents are genuine. Be prepared to explain clearly: why France, why your specific programme, what you studied before, what you plan to do professionally after, and how you will finance your stay. Having a typed one-page study project summary (projet d'études) ready to leave with the interviewer demonstrates preparation. Students who fail interviews typically have vague answers or cannot explain why they chose France over other destinations.
The Campus France registration fee is typically €50–100 depending on your country. This is separate from the visa fee (~€99 for the VLS-TS) and any university application fees. Some countries charge additional processing fees. Check your specific country's Campus France website for the current fee structure.
Last updated: May 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →