Want to study computer science in France, but in English? How French bachelor’s programmes in computing are organised, why most public routes run in French, what English-taught options cost, and how to pick the right entry year with your current diploma.
How is a computer science bachelor organised in France?
Three years, 180 credits, and several types of diploma that do not carry the same legal status.
France follows the European licence, master, doctorate structure. According to Campus France, a bachelor’s (called a licence) requires six semesters and 180 ECTS credits, with up to 30 credits per semester. A master’s then adds four semesters and 120 credits. A computer science bachelor therefore takes three years after the end of secondary school.
Inside that three-year frame, you will meet several kinds of programme in computing:
- The general licence in computer science, offered by about 60 public universities according to Campus France’s computer science sheet (October 2018).
- The BUT (bachelor universitaire de technologie), a three-year national diploma from university institutes of technology, applied for through Parcoursup.
- The licence professionnelle, a one-year third year after two years of higher education, focused on a job family.
- Professional titles registered in the RNCP at level 6 (EQF 6), often prepared in a final bachelor year with a company placement.
Campus France is clear on what protects you: the value of a French diploma is guaranteed by the State when it is a national diploma, a diploma approved by the Ministry (diplôme visé) or a title registered in the RNCP, the national directory of professional certifications. Before you compare prices or rankings, find which of these your programme is, and at which level.
Can you study computer science in English at bachelor level in France?
Yes, but the language of the route depends on who runs it.
The public first-year route is built for French speakers. Campus France explains that non-EU students living abroad apply for a first year of licence through the demande d’admission préalable (DAP), on the Études en France platform where that procedure applies, while IUT programmes go through Parcoursup. Campus France South Africa states that the DAP runs from 1 October to 15 December, allows up to three courses and asks for French at least at DELF B2 level. English-taught computing bachelor’s programmes are mainly found in private institutions.
| Route | Length and level | Language and application | Tuition signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence in computer science, public university | Three years, 180 ECTS, national diploma | Mostly French; DAP or Études en France, French B2 expected | €2,902 a year for non-EU students (2026-27) |
| BUT in computer science, university institute of technology | Three years, national diploma | Mostly French; selective, through Parcoursup | Public fee scale; check the institution |
| Licence professionnelle (third year only) | One year after two years of higher education | Mostly French; apply to the university | Public fee scale |
| Private bachelor in English with an RNCP title | Usually three years, final year at RNCP level 6 | English-taught programmes exist; direct application to the institution | About €6,000 to €18,000 or more a year in private institutions |
Even in an English-taught programme, a little French helps with housing, internships and daily life. Our guide do I need French to study in France? covers what is required and what is simply useful.
What will you actually learn in a computer science bachelor?
Programming first, then systems, data and software engineering, with a professional focus in the final year.
Programme names differ, but the core is stable: mathematics for computing, programming and algorithms, databases and SQL, operating systems and networks, web development, and software engineering with testing and version control. The final year turns these into a professional profile.
The RNCP sheet of the Ministry of Labour title Concepteur développeur d’applications (RNCP37873, level 6) is a good way to see what employers expect at the end of a bachelor. It is organised in three competency blocks: developing a secure application, designing and developing a secure layered application, and preparing the secure deployment of an application. The sheet also asks graduates to follow the security recommendations of ANSSI, to apply GDPR and accessibility rules, and to read and write technical English at B1 level.
Software and application development
Industrial computing
Data and analytics
Which year can you join with your current diploma?
Your previous studies decide whether you start in Year 1, Year 2 or the final year.
Campus France recalls that only the host institution can accept or refuse an applicant. In practice, three profiles are common:
| Your current level | Usual entry point | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school completed (Grade 12, A-levels, baccalauréat) with mathematics | Year 1 of a bachelor | Transcripts, proof of English or French depending on the language of teaching |
| One validated year of higher education in a related field | Year 2, after review of your transcript | Course list and grades of the year completed |
| Two years of higher education in computing (HND, BTEC Level 5, BTS, Years 1 and 2 of a BSc) | Final year (top-up) leading to a level 6 qualification | Full syllabus, so the institution can map your modules to the final-year requirements |
If you are finishing school now, our guide to studying in France after 12th grade explains the first-year options. If you already hold an HND or a BTEC Level 5, the top-up degree after an HND in France guide shows how a final year works.
How much does a computer science bachelor in France cost?
Tuition depends on the type of institution; the visa adds a fixed minimum for living costs.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public bachelor’s programme, non-EU student | €2,902 a year (2026-27) | Campus France, updated 25 June 2026 |
| Private higher education institution | About €6,000 to €18,000 or more a year | Campus France, updated 25 June 2026 |
| AI2 Bachelor in Applied AI, Years 1 and 2 | €9,000 a year, AI2 scholarship possible | AI2 tuition fees page, read 29 October 2026 |
| AI2 BSc final year (top-up) | €9,900, AI2 scholarship possible | AI2 tuition fees page, read 29 October 2026 |
| Minimum resources for the student visa | €877.50 a month, €10,530 for twelve months | Service-Public F2231, verified 1 August 2026 |
| ENIC-NARIC attestation, if requested | €120 per request | Campus France, French degrees and LMD |
A worked example for a full three-year route at AI2, before any scholarship: €9,000 + €9,000 + €9,900 = €27,900 of tuition. The visa rules add at least €10,530 a year of resources, so €31,590 over three years. Scholarship criteria and payment rules are on the AI2 tuition fees page.
Visa, part-time work and internships during a bachelor
A three-year programme means a first visa, then residence permits, and real work rights from the start.
- Your first document is a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked “étudiant”, issued for 4 months to 1 year. You then apply for a student residence card between four and two months before it expires. After one year in France, you can obtain a multi-year student card (Service-Public F2231).
- With a student permit you can work up to 964 hours a year without a separate work authorisation (Service-Public F2713). Part-time jobs and paid projects are therefore possible from Year 1.
- Work-study (apprenticeship or professionalisation contract) is a strong option in computing, but Service-Public states that a foreign student must have been in France for more than one year to sign such a contract at bachelor level. In practice, it becomes realistic from Year 2.
- Internships longer than two months must be paid at least €4.50 an hour in 2026 (Service-Public F32131).
After graduation, the one-year job-search permit described by Service-Public (F17319) is open to holders of a professional licence, a Mastère Spécialisé, a labelled MSc or another diploma at least equivalent to a master’s. That is why many computing graduates plan the bachelor and the master’s as one five-year project. If your goal is a developer job, our guide on how to become a software developer in France maps the steps after graduation.
How to choose a computer science bachelor in English: a six-point check
- 1Check the legal statusNational diploma, diplôme visé or RNCP title: note the code, the level (6 for a bachelor’s level) and the certifier.
- 2Check the language of every yearMake sure all three years, the exams and the final jury are in English, not only the first semester.
- 3Check your entry year in writingAsk the institution to map your previous studies and confirm whether you join in Year 1, Year 2 or the final year.
- 4Check the tools and projectsLook for Python, SQL, Git, Linux, testing and cloud deployment, with projects you can show in a portfolio.
- 5Check the company experienceAsk whether a placement in a French company is built in, and how the search is supported.
- 6Check the progression to a master’sIf you want to stay in France after your studies, ask now how graduates enter the master’s year.
AI2’s Bachelor in Applied AI: computer science taught fully in English
AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, runs a three-year Bachelor in Applied AI taught 100% in English on its campus at the Hub Nikola Tesla in Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord by Transilien line H. No French is required for admission. For a student who wants computer science with a strong AI angle, it is a complete route from the first line of code to a French State title.
| Year | Content | Hours and outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Data & AI track | Mathematics, Python, SQL with PostgreSQL, Git and GitHub, Linux and Bash, data visualisation, object-oriented programming, a first Flask web app, ethics and GDPR | 420 hours, 25 subjects; a team project from raw data to dashboard |
| Year 2, Data & AI track | Linear algebra, probability, R and Python, advanced SQL, MongoDB, Power BI and Tableau, cloud data on AWS and Azure | 350 hours, 21 subjects; a deployed data product |
| Final year: BSc AI-Powered Application Development | Secure development, TypeScript and React, layered architecture and REST APIs, PostgreSQL and ORM, testing, Docker, CI/CD, cloud deployment, LLM APIs, RAG and AI agents | 500 hours on campus plus a mandatory company placement; prepares RNCP37873, level 6 |
The final year awards the AI2 diploma and prepares the French State professional title Concepteur développeur d’applications (RNCP37873), certified by the French Ministry of Labour, registered in the RNCP at level 6 (EQF 6). AI2 is an approved centre for this title. The year follows the three RNCP competency blocks, adds a 105-hour AI specialisation (LLM integration, agents, security of AI applications) and ends with a capstone defended before the jury. The BSc AI-Powered Application Development page lists every module.
| AI2 fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Years 1 and 2: €9,000 a year. Final year: €9,900. AI2 scholarships possible (excellence, early application), stated in the admission letter |
| Entry | Year 1 after secondary school with mathematics; Year 2 after one validated year of higher education; final year after two years in computing (HND, BTEC Level 5, BTS or Years 1 and 2 of a BSc) |
| English | B2: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or English-medium schooling; file review and online interview |
| Intakes | February, May and September 2027; priority deadline 30 November 2026 for February |
| Work-study | Possible from Year 2 and in the final year, subject to a contract with an employer |
| Next step | Graduates can apply to MSc Year 1, for example towards Applied AI and Data Science or Applied AI and Cybersecurity |
Every international candidate is assessed automatically for the AI2 scholarship. For a wider look at English-taught bachelor’s routes in Europe, see our bachelor in artificial intelligence in Europe guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study a computer science bachelor in France in English?
Yes. Public university programmes in computing are mostly taught in French, but English-taught bachelor’s programmes exist, mainly in private institutions. AI2’s Bachelor in Applied AI is taught 100% in English for all three years.
How long is a computer science bachelor in France?
Three years. A French bachelor’s (licence) requires six semesters and 180 ECTS credits, according to Campus France. Students with two years of higher education in computing can sometimes join a final year directly.
How much does a computer science bachelor in France cost for international students?
Non-EU students pay €2,902 a year in public bachelor’s programmes in 2026-27, according to Campus France. Private institutions usually charge about €6,000 to €18,000 or more a year. At AI2, Years 1 and 2 cost €9,000 a year and the final year €9,900, with AI2 scholarships possible.
Do I need French to study computer science in France?
For most public first-year programmes, yes: Campus France South Africa states that the DAP application asks for French at least at DELF B2 level. English-taught programmes do not require French, although basic French helps with internships and daily life.
Is a private computer science bachelor recognised in France?
Check its legal status. Campus France explains that the State guarantees national diplomas, diplomas approved by the Ministry and titles registered in the RNCP. An RNCP title at level 6 is at bachelor’s level (EQF 6).
Can I join the final year with an HND or BTEC Level 5?
Often, yes. Some programmes admit students with two years of higher education in computing directly into the final year after reviewing their syllabus. AI2’s BSc final year accepts an HND, BTEC Level 5, BTS or Years 1 and 2 of a BSc.
Can I work while studying computer science in France?
Yes. A student residence permit allows up to 964 hours of paid work a year, according to Service-Public. Work-study contracts at bachelor level require more than one year of residence in France, so they usually start from Year 2.
Sources consulted on 29 October 2026: Campus France: French degrees, LMD system and equivalences · Campus France: tuition fees 2026-27 (updated 25 June 2026) · Campus France: enrolling in a higher education institution (updated 25 September 2026) · Campus France South Africa: DAP or Parcoursup? · Campus France: computer science and digital sheet (October 2018, PDF) · France Compétences: RNCP37873, Concepteur développeur d’applications · France Compétences: RNCP41370, Développeur intégrateur en informatique industrielle · Service-Public: student visa and residence permit, F2231 (verified 1 August 2026) · Service-Public: work for foreign students, F2713 (verified 7 October 2025) · Service-Public: internship gratification, F32131 (verified 1 January 2026) · Service-Public: job-search permit, F17319 (verified 1 June 2026) · Eurostat: ICT specialists in employment (data extracted April 2026) · AI2: Bachelor in Applied AI · AI2: BSc AI-Powered Application Development · AI2: tuition fees 2027 · AI2: scholarships 2027
Tell AI2 your current level: admissions maps your studies, holds an online interview and confirms your entry year, track and tuition in writing. Intakes in February, May and September 2027; priority deadline 30 November 2026.
