Masters in Computer Science in France in English: Options, Eligibility and Fees for 2027

Finished a B.Tech, a BCA or a BSc in computer science? France has English-taught master’s options at three kinds of institutions, with different fees, calendars and awards. This guide compares them, checks your eligibility degree by degree, and walks through the cost and the visa before you pick one.

Can you do a master’s in computer science in France in English?

Yes, and the choice is wider than most search results suggest. What changes from one option to the next is not only the language, but who awards the qualification, how long it lasts, what it costs and when it starts. In France, higher education is shared between public universities, engineering schools (part of the “grandes écoles”) and private institutions, and each family recruits international students in its own way.

In practice, English-taught options are easier to find in specialised tracks (data science, AI, cybersecurity, networks, software engineering) than under a general “computer science” label, and public English programmes are selective, so shortlist across at least two families. Campus France, the French agency for international students, publishes a searchable catalogue of programmes taught in English: Campus France India counts more than 1,700 of them across all subjects, and it is the best place to start a shortlist.

How do the three options compare?

Fees at engineering schools and private institutes vary too much to average: always read the programme’s own fee page.

Master, MSc, MS or RNCP level 7: what will your degree be called?

Indian students often search for an “MS in computer science”, the American name. France uses several labels, and knowing them helps you read programme pages correctly.

• Master (university master’s degree): the two-year national diploma of French universities, in the bachelor, master, doctorate system used across Europe.
• MSc: a format used by engineering and business schools for international, often English-taught programmes. Service-Public names the MSc labelled by the Conférence des grandes écoles among the qualifications that open the post-study job-search permit.
• Mastère Spécialisé: a specialisation format of the grandes écoles, also named by Service-Public for that permit.
• RNCP level 7 title: a professional certification registered by France Compétences in the national register and recognised by the French State. Level 7 is master’s level, EQF 7 on the European scale.

For your career, the label matters less than three questions: is it taught entirely in English, does it include an internship in France, and is the qualification at master’s level for residence purposes? Ask each school in writing.

Am I eligible after a B.Tech, BCA or BSc in computer science?

Usually yes. The question is not whether you can apply but which year you enter.

France and India signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of academic qualifications in 2018, in force since 2019. According to Campus France India, it treats an Indian bachelor’s degree as comparable to the French licence and an Indian master’s as comparable to a French master’s, for degrees from recognised institutions. In practice, each French programme still reviews your transcripts and decides where you fit.

Marks and English level

There is no national cut-off for CGPA: each programme sets its own bar, and in applied programmes a strong project portfolio carries real weight. Many schools ask for an English level around B2, shown by IELTS, TOEFL or, for some, a medium-of-instruction letter from your university. If your degree was taught in English, read our guide to studying in France without IELTS before booking a test.

How much does a computer science master’s in France cost?

Tuition at public universities is low by international standards because the State funds most of the real cost. For 2026 to 2027, Campus France lists €3,950 a year for a master’s for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, against €255 for EU students. Engineering schools and private institutes set their own fees, so compare what is included as well as the price.

The figure that shapes your visa file is the resources requirement: at least €877.50 a month for the length of your stay, shown by a bank certificate, a sponsor’s attestation with proof of income, or a scholarship letter. Tuition comes on top. Housing is the biggest living cost in the Paris region, which is why Campus France advises reserving at least temporary accommodation before you travel.

How does the student visa work for Indian students?

India is one of the 75 countries and territories where Campus France runs the “Études en France” procedure. For a master’s, you follow it all the way to the visa, whichever type of institution admits you.

1. 1
   Open your Études en France file

   Create an account on the platform, fill in your academic records, language skills, CV and statement of purpose, and upload your documents.
2. 2
   Validation and fee

   Campus France reviews the file and asks for corrections if needed. Once it is validated, you pay the fee, INR 20,000 since 1 August 2026, through the official link only.
3. 3
   Academic interview

   You explain your study project and bring the originals of your documents. After the interview you receive an automated email allowing you to book the visa appointment.
4. 4
   Visa application and biometrics

   You complete the long-stay visa form on France-Visas and attend a VFS centre in person to register your biometric data.
5. 5
   Validate on arrival

   Within three months of arriving, you validate your long-stay visa online and pay the €100 tax. The visa then works as your residence permit for the first year.

Can you work during and after your master’s?

During your studies, the student visa allows paid work of up to 964 hours a year, 60% of the legal working time, without a separate work authorisation (Service-Public). Most computer science master’s also include an internship: when it lasts more than two months, French law requires a minimum stipend of €4.50 an hour (Service Public Entreprendre, verified 1 January 2026).

After graduation, a holder of a master’s or an equivalent qualification obtained in France can request a one-year job-search or business-creation permit. A job related to your studies paid at least €2,800.53 gross a month, or a Talent permit from €39,582 gross a year, then lets you stay on as an employee (Service-Public, verified 1 June 2026). Campus France India also describes a bilateral arrangement that lets Indian graduates extend their stay by up to 24 months after their studies, as a 12-month visa renewable once.

When should you apply?

Public universities start almost all their master’s programmes in September, and each programme publishes its own application window, often several months before the start. Engineering schools follow a similar calendar, sometimes with several admission rounds. Private institutes are more flexible and often open more than one intake a year. Whatever you choose, plan six to eight months between your first application and your flight: admission, the Campus France file, the interview and the visa each take time, and appointment slots fill up before the September rush.

Where does AI2 fit for a computer science graduate?

AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, is a private institute in the third family above. Its campus is in Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord by train, and every programme is taught 100% in English.

AI2’s three master’s programmes are built for graduates who can already code and want to specialise. All three share an applied AI first year (Python, SQL, machine learning, deep learning, data engineering, cloud), then branch into a specialisation and end with a six-month internship in a company. Each final year awards the AI2 MSc diploma and prepares a professional certification recognised by the French State and registered in the RNCP at level 7. The certifier of both titles is DATAKOO, AI2’s parent company.

Admission is a file review and an online interview that checks Python and SQL foundations. GRE, GMAT and French are not required, and the English level is B2 (IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent; a medium-of-instruction certificate may support a waiver). Every international candidate is assessed automatically for the AI2 scholarship. For the February 2027 intake, the priority deadline is 30 November 2026; the September 2027 window runs from January to May 2027.

Compare the programmes in detail on the MSc Applied AI and Data Science, MSc Applied AI & Cybersecurity and MSc Applied AI & IoT pages, and see all fees on the tuition page. If you are weighing a full master’s against shorter training, our overview of AI courses in Paris sets out the formats, and B.Tech holders will find the Fast-Track route explained in master’s in France after a B.Tech.

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