Thinking about a master’s in France after your BS? This guide answers the five questions Pakistani families ask most, from the official pages: is 16 years enough, who attests what, how Campus France Pakistan works, what a year costs in rupees, and when to file.
Is 16 years of education enough for a master’s in France?
Pakistan counts total years of schooling; France counts years of higher education.
Campus France Pakistan describes the French LMD structure this way: a Licence (bachelor’s) takes three years and 180 ECTS credits, and a Master takes two further years. Its advice to Pakistani applicants has three parts: hold degrees recognised by HEC (and by IBCC for school certificates), have completed the same number of years of education as the European framework requires, and apply to Master 1 once you hold a bachelor’s. It also points out that France and Pakistan have no bilateral agreement on the mutual recognition of degrees, so each French institution applies its own entry rules.
Now add HEC’s own equivalence policy. Twelve years of school plus a three-year Licence makes 15 years. A four-year BS (Hons) after 12 years of school makes 16, and HEC generally recognises it as equivalent to the old MA or MSc. A two-year Associate Degree, like the old two-year BA or BSc, stops at 14 years: one year short of a Licence.
| Your Pakistani qualification | Years | What HEC or PEC says | Master’s route in France |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS (Hons), 4 years, 124 to 136 credit hours over 8 semesters | 16 | Generally equivalent to the old MA or MSc of 16 years | Master 1. At AI2, a related four-year degree can open direct entry into MSc Year 2, after academic review |
| Two-year BA or BSc, then two-year MA or MSc | 16 | Phased out: BA and BSc with the 2019 academic year, MA and MSc on 30 June 2022 | Master 1. AI2 lists a related Master’s among the degrees for MSc Year 2 direct entry |
| Associate Degree, or a two-year BA or BSc alone | 14 | A two-year Associate Degree of 60 to 66 credit hours is generally equivalent to the old BA or BSc | Complete a third year of higher education first. At AI2, that is the one-year BSc final year |
| BE or BSc Engineering, PEC-accredited | 16 | Pakistan has been a full signatory of the Washington Accord since June 2017 | Master 1, or AI2’s 11-month Fast-Track, open to four-year accredited BE degrees from Washington Accord countries |
| MS or MPhil | 18 | MS and MPhil sit at the same level, with at least 30 credit hours | Master 1 at the least; at AI2, MSc direct entry or the Fast-Track |
Check your admission year first
Two ways to apply through Campus France Pakistan
For Pakistani residents, Études en France is mandatory for any programme in France longer than three months. The platform has two tabs, and the one you use depends on whether you still need an admission or already hold one.
| “I am applying” (Candidature) | “I am accepted” (Pre-consular) | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Public universities listed in the Études en France catalogue | A direct admission from an institution outside the catalogue, such as AI2 |
| Choices | Up to 7 master’s programmes | One final letter of acceptance |
| Deadline | 18 November 2026, for the 2027-2028 year | 30 December 2026 for January to March 2027 starts; 30 August 2027 for September to November 2027 |
| Decision | Institutions post results on the platform by 30 April 2027 | Admission already in hand; for private institutions, final once tuition is paid |
| Full process | Up to 7 months | Up to 3 months |
| Fee | PKR 30,000, not refundable. Switching from one tab to the other, or to a new programme, means paying again. | |
On the pre-consular tab you upload your acceptance letter and documents, wait for the payment request, pay within one week, fix any correction within two working days, then attend an in-person academic interview at the Alliance Française in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi with all your originals. The step-by-step version, with the AEG booking, is in our France student visa from Pakistan guide, and the questions you are likely to face are in Campus France interview questions.
HEC, IBCC or MOFA: which attestation do you need?
Campus France Pakistan asks for school certificates “preferably attested by IBCC” and university degrees and transcripts preferably attested by HEC. It accepts documents in English during the Études en France stage, so no French translation is needed there.
HEC: your BS, MS and transcripts
IBCC: Matric, Inter, O and A levels
MOFA: only after HEC or IBCC
One rule trips up many files: HEC will not start an attestation if your name, father’s name or date of birth differ between your CNIC and your certificates. Fix any spelling with your university or board first.
English: IELTS, or your BS taught in English?
Each French institution sets its own language rule. At AI2, the admission page asks for English at B2 level, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or an equivalent; a medium-of-instruction certificate from your university may support a waiver, and admissions confirms the accepted evidence case by case. French is not required.
Campus France Pakistan works from its own checklist, which lists an “IELTS or other English-language proficiency certificate” among the pre-consular uploads. If you plan to rely on a medium-of-instruction letter, ask Campus France Pakistan before you submit whether it will accept that letter for its file.
What does a master’s in France cost in Pakistani rupees?
Conversions at Rs 308.63 per euro, derived from the State Bank of Pakistan’s US dollar M2M revaluation rate of 276.8022 on 27 October 2026 and the ECB euro reference rate of 1.1150 dollars on the same day. The SBP’s latest monthly sheet of banks’ floating euro rates gave 314.37 on 30 September 2026, which shows how much the rupee figure can move: keep a margin.
| Item | EUR | PKR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa living funds, one month | €877.50 | Rs 270,800 |
| Visa living funds, twelve months | €10,530 | Rs 3.25 million |
| AI2 MSc Year 1, after scholarship (standard €12,500) | from €10,500 | from Rs 3.24 million |
| AI2 MSc direct entry, 18 months, after scholarship (standard €13,000) | from €11,300 | from Rs 3.49 million |
| AI2 Fast-Track, February 2027, applications before 15 November 2026 | €11,000 | Rs 3.39 million |
| Living costs in the Paris region for a year, AI2 estimate of €900 to €1,700 a month | €10,800 to €20,400 | Rs 3.33 to 6.30 million |
| Études en France fee | paid in PKR | PKR 30,000 |
| HEC e-Attestation, per document | paid in PKR | Rs 3,000 |
| AEG service charge per file, by province | €8.12 to €11.50 | about Rs 2,500 to 3,550 |
| Student visa validation tax, paid in France | €100 | about Rs 30,900 |
A worked example: the first year of an AI2 MSc direct entry at €11,300 plus twelve months of visa living funds at €10,530 comes to €21,830, about Rs 6.74 million, before flights, insurance, the embassy’s visa fee and your deposit timing. Campus France Pakistan says the financial statement must cover tuition and living expenses for at least one year, shown by your own bank statements for the last six months or by a guarantor’s affidavit, statements and ID. Our proof of funds guide explains the documents, and every AI2 fee is on tuition fees 2027. Every international applicant is assessed for the AI2 scholarship automatically, with no separate form: see the scholarships page.
Timeline for February, May and September 2027
Two calendars run side by side. The pre-consular process can take up to three months, and after the embassy interview the decision comes in two weeks to two months, so work backwards from your start date.
| Intake | AI2 dates | Campus France Pakistan | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2027 | Fast-Track scholarship until 15 November 2026; priority deadline 30 November 2026; enrolment and deposit by 15 December 2026 | Spring pre-consular campaign for January to March 2027 starts; closes 30 December 2026; review December 2026 to March 2027 | Tight. Apply now, pay the deposit, file Études en France straight away and book AEG the day your receipt arrives |
| May 2027 | Dates sent on request by the admissions office | Not covered by either published campaign | Ask Campus France Pakistan how it will schedule a May file before you choose this intake |
| September 2027 | Dates sent on request by the admissions office | Fall pre-consular campaign for September to November 2027 starts; closes 30 August 2027; review May to September 2027 | Comfortable. Start HEC and IBCC attestation now, secure the admission early in 2027, file from May |
Whatever the intake, renew your passport early: Campus France Pakistan wants it valid for at least 18 months after the academic intake.
From the Campus France receipt to the visa in your passport
Book through AEG
Interview in Islamabad
Validate on arrival
Working during and after your master’s
During your studies, Service-Public allows a foreign student to work up to 964 hours a year, 60% of the legal annual working time, without a work authorisation. It cannot count towards your proof of funds.
After graduation, a non-European graduate holding a diploma at least equivalent to a master’s can request a one-year card to look for a job or create a company. Service-Public asks you to file it at the préfecture within the two months before your student card expires; the card is not renewable. Our guide to working in France after graduation covers the job-search card, the Talent card and the EU Blue Card with their salary thresholds.
If you plan to use your French qualification back in Pakistan, know how HEC works before you enrol. HEC does not attest foreign degrees directly: it issues an equivalence letter for a foreign qualification, and that letter is what it attests. Its foreign-degree page refers to chartered universities listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database and recognised in their country of origin, and Campus France Pakistan asks students to check recognition with the institution, so ask your school which documents it issues for this.
Where AI2 fits for a Pakistani graduate
AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, runs three MSc programmes in applied AI, with Data Science, Cybersecurity and IoT specialisations, taught 100% in English on its campus at the Hub Nikola Tesla in Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord. Each MSc final year awards the AI2 diploma and prepares a professional certification recognised by the French State and registered in the RNCP at level 7, master’s level (EQF 7): RNCP39978 for Data Science and Cybersecurity, RNCP40554 for IoT, both certified by DATAKOO, AI2’s parent company.
Selection is a file review and an online interview, with no GRE or GMAT, and admissions replies within two working days of an application. Because AI2 admits directly, Pakistani students use the pre-consular tab, and AI2 provides the admission and enrolment documents the file needs. The AI-specific side, from the curriculum to the entry year for each Pakistani degree, is covered in our dedicated guide: study AI in France from Pakistan. To see the course content of the flagship programme, open the MSc Applied AI and Data Science.
📘 Related guide: Scholarships in France for Pakistani students: official programmes and AI2 scholarships.
📘 Related guides: Cost of studying in France for Pakistani students (PKR budget) · Study in France after 14 years of education.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a master’s in France with a 16-year BS from Pakistan?
Yes. Campus France Pakistan tells bachelor’s holders to apply to Master 1, and a four-year BS covers the three years of a French Licence. HEC generally treats it as equivalent to the old MA or MSc of 16 years.
Is a 14-year BA or BSc enough for a master’s in France?
Often not on its own. It equals two years of higher education, one short of a three-year French Licence, and Campus France Pakistan asks for the same number of years as the European framework. Complete a third year first, or add a two-year MA or MSc.
Do I need HEC attestation for France?
Campus France Pakistan asks for degrees and transcripts preferably attested by HEC. The request is online on HEC e-Services, costs Rs 3,000 per document and ends with a downloadable e-Attestation certificate.
Do I need MOFA attestation for a French student visa?
The Campus France Pakistan checklist mentions HEC and IBCC, not MOFA. MOFA attests only after HEC or IBCC, so add it if the embassy or your institution asks for it.
How much does a master’s in France cost in Pakistani rupees?
At Rs 308.63 per euro on 27 October 2026, twelve months of visa living funds come to about Rs 3.25 million. At AI2, the first MSc year starts from €10,500 after scholarship, about Rs 3.24 million.
Is IELTS required for a master’s in France from Pakistan?
It depends on the institution. AI2 asks for B2 English and may accept a medium-of-instruction certificate, while Campus France Pakistan lists an IELTS or other English certificate among its uploads, so confirm with both.
Can I start a master’s in France in May 2027 from Pakistan?
AI2 runs a May 2027 intake, but the Campus France Pakistan campaigns cover January to March and September to November starts. Ask Campus France Pakistan how it will schedule a May file first.
Can I stay and work in France after my master’s?
Graduates holding a diploma at least equivalent to a master’s can request a one-year, non-renewable job-search card, filed in the two months before the student card expires.
Sources consulted on 28 October 2026: Campus France Pakistan: pre-consular application · Campus France Pakistan: FAQ · Campus France Pakistan: EeF rules · Campus France Pakistan: French higher education system · Campus France Pakistan: long-stay student visa · HEC: degree attestation · HEC: equivalence FAQs · HEC: notice on two-year degrees · HEC: foreign institutions · IBCC: attestation FAQs · IBCC: requirements for attestation · MOFA: attestation of documents · MOFA: general attestation checklist · PEC: Washington Accord · AEG: French visa · State Bank of Pakistan: USD/PKR rates · SBP: banks’ floating exchange rates · ECB euro reference rates · Service-Public: student visa · Service-Public: student work · Service-Public: job-search card
Send your transcripts: AI2 admissions confirms your entry year, tuition and any scholarship in writing, then issues the acceptance letter your Campus France Pakistan file needs.
