Bachelor in France in English for International Students: Options, Costs and Admission (2027)

Want a bachelor’s in France without studying in French? Where English-taught bachelor programmes actually exist, how to check that the diploma is recognised, how admission and the student visa work, and what three years really cost.

Can you study a bachelor’s in France in English?

Yes, but mostly outside the public university licence, which is usually taught in French.

France organises higher education in three levels: bachelor’s (licence), master’s and doctorate. According to Campus France, a bachelor’s requires six semesters and 180 ECTS credits, with up to 30 credits per semester. That is the same three-year format you find across most of Europe, so a French bachelor’s fits easily into a later master’s in France or elsewhere.

The difficulty is language. Campus France’s office in the United Arab Emirates states that many French universities run programmes taught fully in English, but that most of them are at master’s level, with some bachelor’s programmes in fields such as business, engineering and art. Campus France South Africa is even more direct: its catalogue of bachelor-level programmes (licence, DU, BTS) lists courses that are all taught in French.

So if you do not speak French, your realistic options are English-taught bachelor programmes at schools and private institutions, a few international tracks at public institutions, or a final-year top-up after two years of higher education at home. Campus France publishes a Taught in English catalogue for all levels; filter it for programmes that are 100% taught in English, because some courses mix English and French.

Which kinds of bachelor’s programmes can international students take?

Three families of programmes, with different rules for language, fees and admission.

Public institutions charge regulated fees. For 2026-27, Campus France gives €2,902 a year for a bachelor’s for students from outside the EU, against €178 for EU, EEA and Swiss students. Private institutions set their own fees, and Campus France puts most of them between about €6,000 and €18,000 or more a year. The gap is real, but so is the language barrier: a cheap programme you cannot follow in French is not a saving.

The top-up route deserves a closer look if you already hold an HND, a BTEC Level 5, a BTS or two years of a bachelor’s in computing. Instead of starting again in Year 1, you complete only the final year in France. We explain how it works in our guide to the top-up degree in France after an HND.

How do you check that an English-taught bachelor’s is recognised?

The word “Bachelor” on a brochure tells you nothing about the legal value of the diploma.

Campus France states that the value of a French higher education 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 kept by France Compétences. Any of these gives you a diploma that French employers and other institutions can check.

For an RNCP title, the check takes two minutes on the France Compétences website. Search the RNCP code given by the school and read four fields:

A level 6 title on its own is enough to prove a bachelor’s level qualification. Many students then continue to a master’s-level programme in France, which matters for the right to stay and work after graduation (see below).

How does admission work, and when should you apply?

The procedure depends on the type of institution and on the year you enter.

Students from outside the EU who apply to institutions connected to Études en France use that platform, the Campus France online platform that manages every enrolment step up to the visa request. Campus France USA describes two procedures for the 2026-27 cycle:

Two points are often missed. First, Campus France notes that some French institutions are not connected to Études en France; you then apply directly on the institution’s website, on its own calendar. Second, the first-year licence route mostly leads to programmes taught in French, as Campus France South Africa points out, so it only makes sense if you can already follow lectures in French. English-taught programmes ask you to prove your English instead, through a test or English-medium schooling; check the level each institution sets.

For an English-taught bachelor’s, prepare your secondary school leaving certificate with transcripts, proof of English, a CV, a short statement of motivation and a copy of your passport. Expect an interview as well at many institutions. If you are applying straight from school, our guide to studying in France after 12th grade walks through the documents in order.

How much does a bachelor’s in France cost?

Tuition is only half of the budget. The visa sets a floor for living costs.

For a three-year programme, multiply both lines by three: tuition plus at least €10,530 a year of living resources. Housing support has also changed. Since 1 July 2026, according to Service-Public (F12006), students from outside the EU who hold a residence permit for studies can receive the APL housing allowance only if they receive a social-criteria grant, have a professional activity, or are under an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract. Build your budget without counting on it.

Scholarships at bachelor level exist but are fewer than for master’s studies. We cover each option, from French government scholarships through embassies to institution awards, in our guide to bachelor scholarships in France for international students.

What about the student visa and working while you study?

A bachelor’s means several years in France, and the residence rules follow your study cycle.

Service-Public sets out the path for students from outside the EU. You arrive with a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked “étudiant”, valid for four months to one year, and validate it online within three months. After one year in France you can apply for a multi-year student residence card covering the years left in your cycle. Service-Public gives the example of a bachelor’s student who, after the first year, receives a two-year card. You must still be enrolled, show resources of €877.50 a month and show real and serious studies.

Every step of the visa file, from the Campus France interview to the appointment at the visa centre, is covered on the AI2 visa guidance page.

How to choose: a six-point checklist

1. 1
   Confirm the language of every module

   Lectures, exams, reports and the final defence should all be in English if you do not speak French.
2. 2
   Find the legal status of the diploma

   National degree, Ministry-approved diploma or RNCP title: get the code and check level, certifier and validity on France Compétences.
3. 3
   Check your entry level

   Year 1 after secondary school, or a final-year top-up after two years of higher education. Ask how your previous studies are mapped.
4. 4
   Count the full cost

   Tuition for every year, plus at least €877.50 a month of resources for the visa, plus insurance, travel and visa fees.
5. 5
   Ask about company experience

   Placements and work-study turn a bachelor’s into a first job. Ask when they start and how the search is supported.
6. 6
   Plan the next step

   Check which master’s-level programmes you could enter afterwards, since that decides your options to stay and work in France.

AI2’s Bachelor in Applied AI: an English-taught option near Paris

AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, runs a three-year Bachelor in Applied AI taught entirely in English on its campus in Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord by Transilien line H. It fits students who want to work in software, data and AI and who do not want French to be a condition of admission.

Labs run in groups of at most 12 students. After the final year, graduates can apply to AI2’s MSc programmes, subject to admission review; each MSc final year prepares an RNCP level 7 title at master’s level (EQF 7). Compare all the AI2 entry points in our guide to bachelor’s degrees in artificial intelligence in Europe taught in English, and see what is included in tuition on the AI2 tuition fees page.

📘 Related guides: Bachelor in France for Pakistani students · Bachelor in France for Sri Lankan students · Bachelor in France for UAE students.

📘 Related guide: Bachelor in France for Saudi students.

Frequently asked questions

AI2’s admissions team reviews your school or college record, holds an online interview and tells you whether you enter Year 1 or the final year. Intakes in February, May and September 2027; priority deadline 30 November 2026.

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