France is one of the most accessible European destinations for African postgraduate students — tuition at public universities is €243–€380 per year for non-EU students since the 2019 Bienvenue en France programme, and many programs are taught in English. But the French admissions system has one mandatory step that most students miss: Campus France.
If you are applying from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, or 53 other countries with a Campus France agreement, you must register through the Campus France platform before submitting any application to a French university. This guide explains every step.
Campus France is the French government's official platform for managing international student applications. It is mandatory for students from 57 countries, including most of sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. **African countries where Campus France is mandatory (non-exhaustive):** Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, Togo, Benin, Madagascar, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya. If your country is on the mandatory list, you cannot apply directly to a French university — your application must go through the Campus France 'Études en France' (EEF) platform at pastel.campusfrance.org. Check campusfrance.org for the complete and current list for your country.
Go to pastel.campusfrance.org and create your student account. You will: 1. Fill in your academic background, work experience, and language qualifications 2. Select up to 7 programs/universities you want to apply to — these are your EEF 'wishes' 3. Upload your documents (transcripts, degree certificate, CV, language certificates) 4. Pay the Campus France registration fee (approximately €50–€70, varies by country) 5. Attend a Campus France interview at your local Campus France office — this is an in-person meeting, not a formal interview. The advisor reviews your file and validates it. After validation, Campus France forwards your application to your chosen universities. The universities then manage admissions directly. Key note: Submit your EEF wishes **before** the Campus France deadline, not the university deadline. EEF deadlines are typically January–March for October intake.
France has both French-taught and English-taught postgraduate programs. **French-taught programs:** You need a certified French language qualification. - **DELF B2** — minimum level for most Master's programs - **DALF C1** — required for competitive programs and doctoral research in French - **TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français)** — accepted by many universities - **TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français)** — accepted, especially for visa purposes Alliance Française offices in Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Dakar, and other African cities offer DELF/DALF/TCF testing. Book early — test slots fill up. **English-taught programs:** IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80+ is standard. Some programs in business schools (HEC, ESSEC, Insead) require GMAT or GRE in addition to language scores.
Public university tuition for non-EU students was set at €2,770 for a Master's degree and €3,770 for Doctoral programs under the 2019 Bienvenue en France reform — but many universities on the StudiePoint database have near-zero tuition because they are Grandes Écoles with scholarship coverage or exemption programmes. Living costs in Paris are approximately €1,200–€1,500/month. In Lyon, Bordeaux, or Toulouse, expect €800–€1,100/month.
No — it is mandatory for students from the 57 countries that have a Campus France agreement. This includes most of West Africa, North Africa, and East Africa. Students from countries not on the list (some Southern African countries) can apply directly to French universities. Check campusfrance.org for the current mandatory list.
Yes. Many French public universities and most Grandes Écoles offer Master's programmes in English, especially in engineering, business, international relations, and computer science. You can apply through Campus France for English-taught programmes using IELTS instead of DELF.
Études en France (EEF) is the online portal at pastel.campusfrance.org where you register, submit your academic file, select up to 7 programs, and book your Campus France interview. The full process from registration to interview validation typically takes 4–8 weeks. Budget for this before the Campus France deadline, which is usually January–March for October intake.
Not in the first year. The VLS-TS visa acts as a residence permit for up to 12 months. Within 3 months of arriving, you must validate it online at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr — this takes 5 minutes. In subsequent years, you renew your residence permit (Titre de Séjour Étudiant) at the local prefecture, usually 2–3 months before expiry.
Last updated: July 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →