Thinking about a master’s in France with your Nigerian BSc? This guide covers class of degree, IELTS, WES, the cost in naira at the Central Bank of Nigeria rate, and how Campus France Nigeria and TLScontact fit a February, May or September 2027 start.
Why are Nigerian graduates looking at France for a master’s?
If you are comparing France with the UK and Canada, note that both have tightened their rules, and their official pages say so plainly:
- UK, post-study work: GOV.UK states that the Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years for doctoral graduates).
- UK, family: for postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, a student can bring a partner or children only on a PhD, another doctorate or a research-based higher degree, or as a government-sponsored student.
- Canada, numbers: in a notice dated 25 November 2025, IRCC said it expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, of which 155,000 for newly arriving international students.
France works differently. Nigeria is one of the 75 countries covered by the Études en France procedure, so one online file takes you from admission to the visa interview. French rules let a student with a residence permit work up to 964 hours a year with no separate work authorisation, and graduates of a master’s or an equivalent diploma can apply for a one-year job-search permit. And some programmes, including AI2’s, are taught entirely in English, so French is not always required for admission.
Can you do a master’s in France with a Nigerian bachelor’s degree?
Yes. French institutions set their own admission criteria, and the Campus France Nigeria procedure starts once you are admitted. Three points matter for Nigerian applicants.
Your degree is often four or five years long
Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for international education, notes that Nigerian bachelor’s degrees usually take four or five years, and six for medicine. Some French programmes count those extra years and offer direct entry into their second year: ask each school.
Is a second class upper required?
In Nigeria itself, Nuffic notes that admission to a master’s usually requires first-class or second-class honours. In France there is no single national rule for this: each institution publishes its own conditions. With a second class lower or a third class, ask the school before paying any fee.
Do you need WES or another credential evaluation?
Not for the French visa process as published. Neither the Campus France Nigeria student visa checklist nor the France-Visas page for Nigeria that we read on 28 October 2026 asks for a WES report or similar evaluation. Your school may still ask for one. France-Visas does state that consular departments accept documents only in French or English, so Nigerian certificates issued in English need no translation.
Here is what the student long-stay visa checklist linked from Campus France Nigeria (2024 version) asks for, item by item:
| Document | What the checklist says |
|---|---|
| Passport | Original, valid for at least 24 months, with at least two blank pages, plus copies of previous Schengen, UK, US and Canada visas, including in expired passports |
| Academic documents | Original and copy of your last diploma or degree: WAEC and/or university certificates and transcripts |
| Admission | Admission letter with precise resumption dates, the Études en France attestation, proof of fee payment if applicable |
| Motivation | A cover letter explaining why you want to study this programme in France |
| Funds | Original bank statements for the last 3 months (yours or your sponsor’s), a work certificate showing salary or means of income, or a notarised sponsor guarantee with the sponsor’s ID, or a scholarship letter |
| Accommodation | Proof of where you will live for the first 3 months, with your name, the address and the dates; hotel and Airbnb bookings are not accepted |
| Travel | Travel insurance for 3 months and a flight itinerary that is not yet paid |
Do Nigerian students need IELTS for a master’s in France?
It depends on the school and the language of the programme, not on a national rule. The Études en France form has a language section to complete, and the Campus France Nigeria checklist does not name a specific English test. For a programme taught in English, the school decides which proof it accepts: some ask for IELTS or TOEFL, some also accept a medium-of-instruction letter from your university.
The checklist lists WAEC certificates as academic documents, which is not the same as accepting a WAEC English grade as proof of level: ask each school in writing before you skip a test, and request a medium-of-instruction letter from your university registry early. Our guide to studying in France without IELTS lists the alternatives.
How much does a master’s in France cost in naira?
Conversions use the Central Bank of Nigeria central rate of ₦1,508.03 to the euro, published for 27 October 2026. The naira moves daily, so the euro amounts are the reference: convert again before your sponsor transfers anything.
| Cost item | Official amount | In naira (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa resources, per month | €877.50 | about ₦1.32 million |
| Visa resources, twelve months | €10,530 | about ₦15.88 million |
| Campus France Nigeria fee, regular students (non-refundable) | ₦50,000 | ₦15,000 for Nigerian scholarship beneficiaries, nothing for French Government scholars |
| TLScontact service fee, paid online | €28 | about ₦42,200 |
| Visa fee, paid by card in naira at TLScontact | official schedule | Not refunded if the visa is refused |
| Living costs in the Paris region, rent included (AI2 estimate) | €900 to €1,700 a month | about ₦1.36 million to ₦2.56 million a month |
Tuition depends on the institution: the AI2 section below converts one English-taught master’s into naira.
Campus France Nigeria and Études en France, step by step
This is the route for students who already hold an admission, as Campus France Nigeria describes it.
- 1Open your Études en France accountUse Mozilla Firefox, select Campus France Nigeria and choose “I am accepted / I have an admission”. Fill in your personal details, education and language sections. Photos must be under 50 KB and documents under 300 KB, so compress your scans first.
- 2Wait for validation, then payCampus France Nigeria validates the file within two weeks. Only then do you pay the ₦50,000 fee and declare the payment on the platform. The fee is not refunded, even after a visa refusal.
- 3Book and attend the interviewYour residential address decides the office: Abuja, at the Institut Français in Wuse 2, for the North; Lagos, at the Alliance Française in Ikoyi, for the South. Bring the checklist documents and two colour copies of your completed France-Visas long-stay form.
- 4Lodge the visa at TLScontactYou book the TLScontact appointment only after the Campus France interview. Visa decisions belong to the Consular Section of the French Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General of France in Lagos.
Why students from Abuja also lodge in Lagos
The full document list for the consulate is in our France student visa from Nigeria guide.
When should you start for February, May or September 2027?
Two official rules frame the window. Campus France Nigeria advises starting the visa process at most three months before your programme begins (its example: for a 2 September start, open the account as early as June). France-Visas asks for at least two months between lodging the visa and departure. In practice, that leaves about one month for Études en France validation, payment and the interview, so your admission letter must be in hand before the window opens.
| Intake | Admission (AI2 example) | Études en France opens | Lodge at TLScontact by |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2027 | Priority deadline 30 November 2026; enrolment and deposit by 15 December 2026 | November 2026 | early December 2026 |
| May 2027 | Apply 5 to 6 months ahead, so November or December 2026; exact dates sent on request | February 2027 | early March 2027 |
| September 2027 | Apply 5 to 6 months ahead, so March or April 2027; exact dates sent on request | June 2027 | early July 2027 |
February is the tight one: if your funds or documents will not be ready by the end of November 2026, May 2027 is the calmer choice.
Can you work during and after your master’s?
During your studies
The job-search year
Moving to a work permit
Our guide to working in France after graduation follows each permit step by step.
Where AI2 fits for Nigerian graduates
AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, teaches applied AI, data science, cybersecurity and IoT 100% in English on one campus, the Hub Nikola Tesla in Écouen, 22 minutes by train from Paris Gare du Nord. AI2 sets no minimum class of degree: it reviews your official transcripts and holds an online interview on your projects, motivation and English. No GRE or GMAT is asked, French is not required, and the English level is B2, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or an equivalent; a medium-of-instruction certificate may support a waiver.
| Your qualification | AI2 entry point | Tuition | After AI2 scholarship, in naira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four- or five-year BSc, B.Eng or B.Tech in a related field | MSc direct entry, 18 months: 12 on campus, then a 6-month internship | €13,000, from €11,300 | about ₦17.04 million |
| Three-year bachelor’s in computing, mathematics, engineering or science | MSc, 2 years, Year 1 | €12,500, from €10,500 | about ₦15.83 million |
| Master’s degree, or a four-year accredited B.Tech or BE from a Washington Accord signatory country | Fast-Track, 11 months, February 2027 only | €12,500, or €11,000 if you apply before 15 November 2026 | about ₦16.59 million |
| HND, or two years of higher education | BSc final year, 1 year plus a placement | €9,900, with AI2 scholarships possible (excellence, early application) | about ₦14.93 million |
A worked first year in naira: a Nigerian BSc holder on the 18-month MSc, with tuition at €11,300 after the scholarship, twelve months of visa resources (€10,530), the TLScontact service fee and the Campus France fee comes to about ₦33.0 million, before flights, insurance and the visa fee. Every international candidate is assessed for the AI2 scholarship automatically, with no separate form: it can combine partner-channel, merit and full-payment criteria and applies to the first year of enrolment. Deposits, instalments and the refund conditions in case of visa refusal are set out in the admission letter; the full grid is on AI2 tuition fees 2027.
The MSc Applied AI and Data Science awards the AI2 diploma and prepares the title RNCP39978 « Architecte des systèmes d’information dans les processus industriels », a professional certification recognised by the French State at level 7 (master’s level, EQF 7). It is certified by DATAKOO, AI2’s parent company, so school and certifier belong to the same group. The MSc Applied AI & Cybersecurity and the MSc Applied AI & IoT, which prepares RNCP40554 « Architecte Internet des objets (IoT) », also run in 2-year and 18-month formats (IoT direct entry from €11,800 after scholarship). For the AI angle from Nigeria, including entry after WAEC or an HND, read our dedicated guide: study AI in France from Nigeria.
📘 Related guide: Scholarships in France for Nigerian students: official programmes and AI2 scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a master’s in France with a Nigerian BSc?
Yes. French institutions admit Nigerian graduates on their own criteria. Because Nigerian bachelor’s degrees usually last four or five years, some programmes, such as AI2’s 18-month MSc, admit you directly into the second year.
Do I need a second class upper to study for a master’s in France?
There is no single French rule: each institution sets its own conditions. AI2 sets no minimum class of degree and decides from your transcripts and an online interview.
Is IELTS compulsory for Nigerian students?
Not as a national rule. Each school decides. AI2 asks for B2 English, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or an equivalent, and a medium-of-instruction certificate may support a waiver.
Do I need a WES evaluation for France?
The Campus France Nigeria visa checklist and the France-Visas page for Nigeria do not ask for one. Check whether your chosen school requires it for admission.
How much bank balance do I need in naira?
France requires €877.50 a month, about ₦15.88 million for twelve months at the CBN rate of 27 October 2026. The older checklist figure of ₦8 million is lower, so prepare for the higher amount.
How much is the Campus France fee in Nigeria?
₦50,000 for regular students, ₦15,000 for Nigerian scholarship beneficiaries and nothing for French Government scholars. You pay after validation, and it is not refunded.
Where do Nigerian students submit the French visa?
At TLScontact Lagos, after the Campus France interview. Since 17 November 2025, until further notice, TLScontact Abuja receives only family and diplomatic applications.
Can I work while studying for my master’s in France?
Yes, up to 964 hours a year with a student residence permit, without a separate work authorisation. Your employer declares you to the préfecture beforehand.
Sources consulted on 28 October 2026: Campus France Nigeria: I have an admission · Campus France Nigeria: what to do after getting an admission · Campus France Nigeria: checklist for student long stay visa (2024) · Campus France Nigeria: offices · Campus France: Études en France countries · France-Visas: Nigeria · Central Bank of Nigeria: exchange rates, 27 October 2026 · Service-Public: student visa resources (verified 1 August 2026) · Service-Public: work for foreign students (verified 7 October 2025) · Service-Public: job-search or business-creation permit (verified 1 June 2026) · GOV.UK: Graduate visa · GOV.UK: Student visa, family members · IRCC: 2026 allocations under the international student cap · Nuffic: higher education in Nigeria
Send your degree and transcripts: AI2 reviews them, interviews you online and puts your entry year, tuition and any scholarship in the admission letter your Campus France file starts with.
