Looking for a data science bachelor in France taught in English? What “data science” means at bachelor level in the French system, which diplomas exist, what you will study year by year, what it costs, and where an English-taught route fits if you do not speak French.
What does a data science bachelor mean in France?
There is no single “licence in data science”. Several diplomas cover the field, with different angles.
France uses the European bachelor, master, doctorate structure: according to Campus France, a bachelor’s (licence) takes six semesters and 180 ECTS credits. Within that frame, data science at undergraduate level is spread across a few families of diplomas:
- The BUT Science des données, a three-year national diploma taught in university institutes of technology. France Compétences lists two specialisations at level 6: exploration and statistical modelling (RNCP41616), and visualisation and design of decision tools (RNCP41617).
- Licences in mathematics, computer science or applied mathematics at public universities. Campus France’s computer science sheet (October 2018) also counted a mathematics and computer science major for the humanities and social sciences at about 20 universities.
- Professional titles registered in the RNCP at level 6, prepared in a final bachelor year with a company placement. Some focus on application development with AI, others on industrial data, dashboards and supervision.
What the BUT sheets describe is a good picture of the bachelor-level data job: organising data collection, checking quality and security, storing data in structured databases and warehouses, running statistical analyses with specialised software, then presenting results as reports, dashboards and data visualisation. Jobs listed include data analyst, BI developer, reporting analyst, data manager, decision analyst and big data developer.
Data science or computer science: which bachelor fits you?
Both start with programming. They diverge on mathematics, tools and the first job.
| Question | Data science bachelor | Computer science bachelor |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Statistics, data management, analysis and decision support | Software design, development, systems and networks |
| Mathematics | Heavy on statistics, probability and linear algebra | Logic, discrete maths, algorithms; statistics lighter |
| Typical tools | Python, R, SQL, NoSQL, BI tools, notebooks | Python, TypeScript or Java, Git, frameworks, Docker, CI/CD |
| First jobs named on RNCP sheets | Data analyst, BI developer, reporting analyst, data manager (BUT Science des données) | Application developer, back-end, front-end or full-stack developer (RNCP37873) |
| Natural next step | A master’s in data science or AI | A master’s in software, AI or cybersecurity, or a developer job |
If you enjoy building products more than analysing them, read our companion guide to the bachelor in computer science in France in English. Many students hesitate between the two, which is why programmes with a shared foundation and a later choice of final year are useful.
Can you study data science in English at bachelor level in France?
Yes, but mainly outside the public first-year routes.
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, and that selective tracks such as IUT programmes (where the BUT is taught) go through Parcoursup. Campus France South Africa adds 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. For a student without French, the realistic options are English-taught programmes, which are mostly run by private institutions.
| Route | Diploma and level | Language and application | Tuition signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUT Science des données | National diploma, three years, level 6 | Mostly French; selective, through Parcoursup | Public fee scale; check the institution |
| Licence in mathematics or computer science | National diploma, 180 ECTS | Mostly French; DAP or Études en France, French B2 expected | €2,902 a year for non-EU students (2026-27) |
| Private bachelor in English with an RNCP final year | Final year at RNCP level 6 (EQF 6) | English-taught programmes exist; direct application | About €6,000 to €18,000 or more a year in private institutions |
What will you learn in a data science bachelor?
Three layers that build on each other: mathematics, programming and data, then analysis and communication.
| Layer | What you should find in the programme | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Descriptive statistics, probability, linear algebra, functions and optimisation | The basis of every model you will later train |
| Programming | Python with Pandas and NumPy, often R; object-oriented code; Git and Linux | Data work is code: clean, versioned and reproducible |
| Databases | SQL from basic queries to window functions, a NoSQL database, cloud storage | Most of the job starts with getting the right data |
| Analysis and BI | Data visualisation, dashboards in Power BI or Tableau, reporting | Decision-makers read dashboards, not notebooks |
| Responsible data | GDPR, data ethics, the basics of the EU AI Act | A legal requirement for any team handling personal data |
| Projects | Team projects on real datasets, defended before a jury | Your portfolio for internships and master’s applications |
Why the skills are worth it: Eurostat reports that 19.95% of EU enterprises with ten or more employees used AI technologies in 2025, and that among enterprises that had considered AI without using it, the most common reason was a lack of relevant expertise (70.89%). France employed 1.4 million ICT specialists in 2025, the second largest group in the EU. Those figures describe a labour market that needs people who can prepare and read data, which is exactly where a data science bachelor starts.
Fees, visa and work rules for a data science bachelor
The cost depends on the institution; the visa and work rules are the same for everyone.
| Item | Amount or rule | 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 |
| Minimum resources for the student visa | €877.50 a month, €10,530 for twelve months | Service-Public F2231, verified 1 August 2026 |
| First student visa (VLS-TS) | Valid 4 months to 1 year; multi-year student card possible after one year in France | Service-Public F2231 |
| Paid work while studying | Up to 964 hours a year without a separate authorisation | Service-Public F2713, verified 7 October 2025 |
| Work-study contract | Requires more than one year in France for a foreign student at bachelor level | Service-Public F2713 |
| Job-search permit after graduation | For a professional licence, a Mastère Spécialisé, a labelled MSc or a diploma at least equivalent to a master’s | Service-Public F17319, verified 1 June 2026 |
The last row explains a common plan: data students who want to work in France usually treat the bachelor as the first step of a five-year route, with the master’s opening the one-year job-search permit. Our guide to working in France after graduation covers the permits in order, and the guide to bachelor scholarships in France for international students lists funding options.
Before you apply: a five-point check
- 1Statistics, not just toolsCount the hours of statistics and probability. Dashboards without the maths behind them will not carry you into a master’s.
- 2Language of every yearCheck that every year, exam and jury is in English if you do not speak French.
- 3RecognitionNational diploma, approved diploma or RNCP code, with the level and the certifier.
- 4Real projects and a placementAsk for examples of year projects and how the company placement is found.
- 5The bridge to a master’sAsk how graduates progress to a master’s in data science or AI, and on what conditions.
AI2’s Bachelor in Applied AI: a data science route in English
AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, offers 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. Its Data & AI track is built for future data analysts, AI application developers and data scientists who like mathematics and programming. No French is required for admission.
| Year | What you study | Volume and project |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1: Data & AI Foundations | Logic, linear systems, statistics, combinatorics and probability; Python, OOP, Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib and Plotly; PostgreSQL; Git, Linux; Excel and Power BI; a first Flask app; ethics and GDPR | 420 hours, 25 subjects (140 h of maths); a team project from raw data to dashboard, defended before a jury |
| Year 2: Applied Data, BI & Cloud | Matrices, vector spaces, random variables, optimisation; R and the tidyverse, ggplot2, Shiny; advanced SQL with window functions; MongoDB; Power BI and Tableau; cloud data on AWS and Azure; web scraping | 350 hours, 21 subjects; a deployed data product (dashboard or Shiny app on the cloud) |
| Final year, default: BSc AI-Powered Application Development | Secure development, architecture, testing and deployment, plus LLM APIs, RAG, vector databases and AI agents | 500 hours plus company placement; prepares RNCP37873, level 6 |
| Final year, on academic review: BSc Data Analytics & Applied AI (Industry 4.0) | Industrial networks and IIoT, SQL and time-series databases, SCADA, ETL, industrial BI with Power BI and Grafana, AI for anomaly detection | 14 subjects, 399 hours plus company placement; prepares RNCP41370, level 6 |
Each final year awards the AI2 diploma and prepares a French State professional title, certified by the French Ministry of Labour and registered in the RNCP at level 6 (EQF 6): Concepteur développeur d’applications (RNCP37873) or Développeur intégrateur en informatique industrielle (RNCP41370). AI2 is an approved centre for both. The BSc Data Analytics & Applied AI suits students who want to turn production data into dashboards, alerts and predictions for industry, energy and logistics; its capstone is a site supervision system with production KPIs, a live dashboard and AI anomaly detection.
| AI2 fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Years 1 and 2: €9,000 a year. Final year: €9,900. AI2 scholarships possible (excellence, early application) |
| Entry | Year 1 after Grade 12, A-levels or the baccalauréat with mathematics; Year 2 after one validated year of higher education; final year after two years of higher education (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, subject to a contract with an employer |
| After the BSc | Any AI2 BSc graduate progresses to MSc Year 1; the MSc Applied AI and Data Science prepares RNCP39978, level 7 |
The data path continues into the MSc Applied AI and Data Science, which prepares the professional certification « Architecte des systèmes d’information dans les processus industriels » (RNCP39978, certifier DATAKOO, AI2’s parent company), recognised by the French State at level 7, master’s level (EQF 7). The BSc and MSc entry routes guide shows every path, and the AI2 tuition fees page gives the full fee rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study a data science bachelor in France in English?
Yes. Public data science routes such as the BUT Science des données are mostly taught in French, but English-taught bachelor’s programmes exist, mainly in private institutions. AI2’s Bachelor in Applied AI offers a Data & AI track taught 100% in English, with no French required.
Is there a national data science bachelor in France?
Yes. The BUT Science des données is a three-year national diploma at level 6, with two specialisations registered by France Compétences: exploration and statistical modelling (RNCP41616), and visualisation and design of decision tools (RNCP41617).
What jobs can I get after a data science bachelor in France?
The France Compétences sheets for the BUT Science des données list data analyst, BI developer, reporting analyst, data manager, decision analyst and big data developer. A master’s is the next step if you want to specialise in machine learning and AI.
How much does a data science bachelor in France cost?
Non-EU students pay €2,902 a year in public bachelor’s programmes in 2026-27, according to Campus France, while private institutions usually charge about €6,000 to €18,000 or more. At AI2, Years 1 and 2 cost €9,000 a year and the final year €9,900, with AI2 scholarships possible.
Do I need strong maths for a data science bachelor?
You need secondary-school mathematics to start. Expect statistics, probability and linear algebra from Year 1: AI2’s Data & AI track, for example, includes 140 hours of mathematics in Year 1 and 112 hours in Year 2.
Can I join a data science programme in France in the final year?
Yes, if your first two years match. AI2’s final years accept two years of higher education such as an HND, BTEC Level 5, BTS or Years 1 and 2 of a BSc, after a review of your syllabus.
Can I stay in France after a data science bachelor?
Service-Public lists the job-search permit for holders of a professional licence or a diploma at least equivalent to a master’s. A master’s is therefore often planned as the next step, for example AI2’s MSc Applied AI and Data Science at RNCP level 7.
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: RNCP41616, BUT Science des données, exploration et modélisation statistique · France Compétences: RNCP41617, BUT Science des données, visualisation, conception d’outils décisionnels · France Compétences: RNCP37873 · France Compétences: RNCP41370 · Eurostat: use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (data extracted December 2025) · Eurostat: ICT specialists in employment (data extracted April 2026) · 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: job-search permit, F17319 (verified 1 June 2026) · AI2: Bachelor in Applied AI · AI2: BSc Data Analytics & Applied AI · AI2: MSc Applied AI and Data Science · AI2: tuition fees 2027 · AI2: scholarships 2027
Send your transcripts: AI2 admissions confirms your entry year and track in writing after an online interview, and assesses you automatically for the AI2 scholarship. Intakes in February, May and September 2027; priority deadline 30 November 2026.
