France University Admission Requirements for International Students

To get into a French university as a non-EU student, you need a diploma that gives access to the level you're applying for, a strong academic record in a relevant field, and proof of language level, usually at least B2 English for English-taught programs. For a master's, that means a bachelor's worth 180 ECTS for M1 entry or a first master's year (240 ECTS) for M2 entry.

There is no national minimum GPA. Each university and often each program sets its own criteria and selects on your file. This guide explains what is required at each level for the 2027/28 intake, with real examples from official university pages.

General principles of French admission

• Universities decide. Service Public explains that for the first-year DAP, the university checks that your diploma gives access to higher education in the country where it was issued.
• Selective programs. Master's programs and international tracks are selective. Your grades, the relevance of your previous studies, your motivation and your references matter.
• Requirements vary by program. Always read the 'Admission' or 'Application requirements' section of each program page.
• Residence decides the procedure. Requirements are the same, but how you submit them depends on whether you live in an Études en France country (see how to apply to universities in France).

Bachelor's (licence) requirements

For the first year of a licence, you need a secondary school diploma that gives access to university in your own country. Most first-year programs are taught in French and require a French certificate such as the TCF DAP. The few English-taught bachelor's programs add their own selection criteria.

Master's requirements

French master's degrees have two years: M1 and M2. You can enter M1 with a bachelor's (180 ECTS) and M2 with a completed M1 (240 ECTS) in a relevant field. Some M2-only tracks require 60 ECTS of a relevant M1.

Typical documents for a master's application

• All transcripts since secondary school and your degree certificate(s)
• A CV, often in English for English-taught programs
• A motivation letter explaining your project
• An English certificate (often B2) or an official medium-of-instruction statement where accepted
• Academic references: Paris-Saclay asks foreign applicants not enrolled in France in the last two years for two academic referees, and IP Paris asks for two references submitted online
• Program-specific items, such as a course-content form (Côte d'Azur Data Science and AI) or a research project (Paris 1 M2 research tracks)

Do French universities have a minimum GPA?

Most do not publish one. Paris-Saclay, Lille, Côte d'Azur and Grenoble Alpes state that selection is on the academic file with no fixed university-wide minimum. Sciences Po is an exception: it publishes a minimum undergraduate grade average per country of study, and applicants below it are not admissible. Some scholarship nominations set a bar too: Bordeaux INP only forwards Eiffel files with an average of at least 15/20.

Entrance tests

Most public master's programs do not require entrance exams, but some do. Toulouse School of Economics requires the GRE for foreign-degree holders on several programs, and Aix-Marseille's IAE MSc applicants must take TAGE MAGE or an equivalent test. Check this early, because test dates fill up.

English language requirements

For English-taught programs, French universities usually describe the level using the CEFR scale (B2, C1). The table shows real scores from official pages.

Can you study in France without IELTS? Sometimes. Several institutions, including Paris-Saclay, Côte d'Azur and PSL, accept proof that your previous degree was taught entirely in English for some programs. This is decided program by program, so never assume it. More detail is in our guide to English-taught programs in France.

Do you need French?

For a fully English-taught program, usually not. But some English-taught programs ask for or recommend some French: Paris-Saclay sometimes recommends French B1, Université Paris Cité asks for B2 French on a few English-taught master's programs, and PSL's Fashion and Materials program asks for French A2. French-taught degrees typically require B2 French (TCF, DELF or DALF).

The motivation and the Campus France interview

If you apply through Études en France, your motivation is written on the platform rather than in a separate letter, according to Campus France Pakistan. You then attend an academic interview. Campus France Iran recommends a coherent study project and adequate command of the program's language, and holds the interview in English for English-taught programs.

1. 1

   Show continuity

   Explain how the program builds on your previous studies or work.

2. 2

   Explain every gap

   Campus France Pakistan asks for a letter explaining any gap of more than six months, and every academic or professional period must be backed by a document.

3. 3

   Be specific about France

   Name the courses, labs or specialisations that attracted you to this program.

4. 4

   Describe your plan after graduating

   A realistic career plan makes your project more credible to the university and later to the visa officer.

Diploma recognition

You normally don't need a recognition certificate to apply, because universities assess foreign diplomas themselves. If an institution or employer asks for one, France's ENIC-NARIC centre at France Education International issues comparability statements. Translation and legalization rules are covered in our documents, translation and legalization guide.

Requirements by level at a glance

PhD requirements

Doctoral admission is decided by doctoral schools, not national platforms, and Études en France does not apply. You normally need a master's degree, a supervisor and a funding plan. The University of Lille, for example, asks for a CV, a thesis project, a funding plan and a passport, and IP Paris accepts PhD applications all year through published thesis topics or a project built with a lab supervisor. Integrated PhD tracks at PSL and IP Paris instead admit strong students at M1 level.

How to strengthen your application

Because French master programs select on the whole file, small details make a difference. These steps come straight from what official pages ask for.

• Match your background to the program. Paris 1 lists prerequisite courses (for example microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics for Development Economics). Check them and highlight matching courses in your transcript or CV.
• Choose referees early. Two academic referees who know your work are standard at Paris-Saclay and IP Paris. Ask them weeks before the deadline.
• Take your English test in time. Sciences Po only accepts tests taken from 1 January 2025 onwards, and TSM asks for TOEFL or IELTS results from the last two years.
• Apply to several programs. Admission is selective, so spread your applications across universities and cities.
• Read every program page. Some master programs require an interview, a GRE score or a course-content form that is not mentioned on the general admissions page.

Requirements for applicants from Afghanistan

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