Planning a master’s in France after a degree in Sri Lanka? Which French diplomas really count as a master’s, where your SLQF degree lets you enter, what the fees mean in rupees, which scholarships are realistic and what the diploma opens once you graduate.
Which diplomas count as a master’s in France?
Four families of programmes, with different legal status.
France organises higher education in three cycles, licence, master and doctorate (LMD). Campus France explains that a bachelor’s (licence) takes six semesters and 180 ECTS credits, and a master’s four more semesters and 120 ECTS, with up to 30 credits per semester. In practice the French master’s is a two-year programme, often described as M1 and M2.
The word “master” appears on several kinds of programme, though, and the legal status of the diploma decides how employers and the prefecture read it after graduation.
| Diploma | Length | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| National master’s | Four semesters, 120 ECTS | The standard LMD degree. At public institutions, non-EU students pay €3,950 a year in 2026-27. |
| Master of Science (MSc) labelled by the Conférence des grandes écoles | Set by each school | A labelled programme of a grande école. Service-Public lists it among the diplomas that open the job-search permit. |
| Mastère Spécialisé | Set by each school | A labelled specialisation programme, also listed by Service-Public for the job-search permit. |
| Professional title registered in the RNCP at level 7 | Set by each programme | A professional certification recognised by the French State at master’s level (EQF 7), registered in the national register managed by France Compétences. |
Campus France Sri Lanka gives one clear piece of advice: before applying to a private institution, make sure it delivers diplomas recognised by the State. About 21% of students in France attend private institutions, according to Campus France. The check is simple: ask for the exact status of the diploma and, for an RNCP title, its code, level and certifier. Our explainer on RNCP level 7 qualifications shows how to read the official sheet.
Where does your Sri Lankan degree let you enter?
Your SLQF level and your subject matter more than the number of years.
The Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework (SLQF), published by the University Grants Commission, places a bachelor’s degree at exit level 5 with at least 90 credits and an honours bachelor’s at level 6 with at least 120 credits. A coursework master’s sits at level 7: the framework sets it at 30 credits after level 5 or 6, or 60 credits when it includes a research component of at least 15 credits.
Two consequences for a French application. First, the systems count differently: an SLQF credit is built on 15 hours of lectures (or 30 to 45 hours of laboratory work) within a full-time year of 1,500 notional learning hours, while ECTS are counted per semester. French admissions teams therefore read your transcript and syllabus, not just the credit total. Second, a Sri Lankan used to one-year coursework master’s should expect the French standard to be two years after a three-year degree.
| Your qualification | SLQF reference | Realistic French entry |
|---|---|---|
| GCE Advanced Level | Minimum admission requirement for a bachelor’s | First year of a bachelor’s, not a master’s; a first-year university place needs a preliminary admission request (DAP) through the French Embassy |
| Higher National Diploma or other two-year higher diploma | Below bachelor’s level | Usually a one-year bachelor’s top-up first, then a master’s; see the top-up route for Sri Lankan HND holders |
| Three-year bachelor’s (BA, BSc) | Level 5, at least 90 credits | First year (M1) of a two-year master’s in a related subject |
| Four-year honours bachelor’s | Level 6, at least 120 credits | M1, or in some programmes direct entry to the final year after a review of your syllabus |
| A master’s already completed | Level 7 or above | Second year (M2) or a specialised programme, if the subject matches |
Should you study in English or in French?
Check the language of the whole programme, not only the brochure.
Both are possible. The Campus France Sri Lanka website has a dedicated search for programmes taught in English at undergraduate and master’s level. Check the language of every course, of the examinations and final defence, and of the internship. French stays useful in daily life and at work even when your course is in English, so a few months of classes before you leave are worth it.
What does a master’s in France cost in rupees?
Tuition first, then the money the embassy wants to see.
Tuition depends on the type of institution. The other large figure is the money you must show for the visa: Service-Public sets it at €877.50 a month at least, in addition to tuition. Conversions below use LKR 370.86 to the euro, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka indicative rate for 29 October 2026.
| Item | In euros | In rupees (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s at a public institution, non-EU rate, per year | €3,950 | LKR 1.46 million |
| Private institutions, per year (Campus France range) | About €6,000 to €18,000 or more | LKR 2.23 million to 6.68 million or more |
| AI2 MSc Year 1 after the AI2 scholarship | From €10,500 | LKR 3.89 million |
| Visa resources, one month | €877.50 | LKR 325,429 |
| Visa resources, twelve months | €10,530 | LKR 3.91 million |
Public fees could fall with a waiver, but Campus France notes that Decree No. 2026-385 of 19 May 2026 amended the rules for waivers granted by institutions, so do not build your plan on one. Rent, food, transport, the visa fee and arrival costs are set out line by line in our guide to the cost of studying in France for Sri Lankan students.
Which scholarships can Sri Lankan students target?
Few schemes fund a master’s directly; plan for partial support.
Eiffel Excellence
French Embassy in Sri Lanka
Erasmus Mundus
Campus France adds that some institutions fund their own enrolled foreign students, and that the ministry’s needs-based grants require two years of residence and tax in France, so they are closed to new arrivals.
How do Sri Lankans apply without Études en France?
A shorter route than in much of South Asia, but the visa file must stand on its own.
Campus France publishes the list of the 75 countries that use its Études en France procedure. Sri Lanka is not on it. Campus France Sri Lanka explains what this means: for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes, you contact the institutions directly; once accepted, you receive an admission document and apply for a student visa at the French consulate in your country of residence. Only a first-year place in a university licence goes through a preliminary admission request (DAP) at the embassy.
- 1Twelve months ahead: shortlistDiploma status, entry level, language and intakes.
- 2Apply to each institutionEach sets its own calendar, documents and interview; some also start in February or May.
- 3Accept an offer and pay the depositYour admission documents are the basis of the visa file.
- 4Apply for the long-stay student visaOn France-Visas, then at the visa application centre in Colombo. Our France student visa guide for Sri Lanka covers the centre, documents and processing times.
- 5Arrive and validate your visaService-Public requires you to validate the VLS-TS within three months of arrival and pay a €100 tax.
What does a French master’s open after graduation?
The level of your diploma, not its length, decides your right to stay.
Service-Public (F17319, verified 1 June 2026) sets the rules for non-EU graduates who want to work in France:
| Option | Main condition |
|---|---|
| Job-search or business-creation permit | A licence professionnelle, a Mastère Spécialisé, a labelled MSc or another diploma at least equivalent to a master’s, obtained in the last 12 months; apply at the prefecture in the 2 months before your student permit expires; €150 in tax stamps. Campus France Sri Lanka describes it as valid twelve months and non-renewable. |
| Change to an employee permit | A job related to your studies paid more than €2,800.53 gross a month; the 964-hour limit on student work no longer applies. |
| Talent permit, qualified employee | A salary from €39,582 gross a year. |
| Return visa after you leave | Campus France Sri Lanka notes that holders of a master’s-level degree from a French institution can request a travel visa to return to France regularly while living in another country. |
Titles registered in the RNCP at level 7 appear on the official list of diplomas at least equivalent to a master’s for residence purposes, as AI2’s programme pages state. The full path, from internship to a long-term permit, is in our guide to working in France after graduation.
Before you apply: a six-point check
- 1Status of the diplomaNational master’s, labelled programme or RNCP title, and its level.
- 2Your entry yearM1, final year or a top-up first, confirmed in writing.
- 3LanguageCourses, examinations and defence in a language you master.
- 4Full costTuition for every year, plus at least €877.50 a month of resources.
- 5Company experienceAn internship or work-study period in France, and support to find it.
- 6After graduationWhether the diploma opens the job-search permit you are counting on.
Where AI2 fits: an English-taught MSc in applied AI near Paris
For graduates in computing, engineering, mathematics or science who want a technical master’s-level programme in English, AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, is built for that profile. Its MSc in Applied AI has three Year 2 tracks, Data Science, Cybersecurity and IoT, taught 100% in English on the Écouen campus, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord by Transilien line H. No French is required, and GRE or GMAT scores are not asked for.
| Format | Who it is for | Length | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc, 2 years | Three-year bachelor’s in computing, mathematics, engineering or science | Year 1, Year 2, then a 6-month internship | Year 1 €12,500, from €10,500 after scholarship (LKR 3.89 million); Year 2 €13,000 |
| Direct entry, 18 months | Related four- or five-year degree, after academic review | 12 months taught, then a 6-month internship | €13,000, from €11,300 (IoT from €11,800) |
| Fast-Track, Data Science only | Four-year accredited B.Tech or BE (Washington Accord) or a master’s, with a technical check | 11 months from February 2027: 5 on campus, 6 in a company | €12,500, or €11,000 for applications before 15 November 2026 (LKR 4.08 million) |
Every AI2 MSc leads to the AI2 MSc diploma and prepares a professional certification recognised by the French State and registered in the RNCP at level 7 (EQF 7): RNCP39978 « Architecte des systèmes d’information dans les processus industriels » for the Data Science and Cybersecurity tracks, and RNCP40554 « Architecte Internet des objets (IoT) » for IoT, both certified by DATAKOO, AI2’s parent company.
Entry asks for B2 English, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent; a medium-of-instruction certificate may support a waiver. Selection is a file review and an online interview. Intakes run in February, May and September 2027, with a priority deadline of 30 November 2026. Every international applicant is assessed automatically for the AI2 scholarship, and applying through one of AI2’s partner institutions in Sri Lanka is one of its criteria. Fees and awards are on the AI2 tuition fees page, the full curriculum on the MSc Applied AI and Data Science page, and how A-levels, HNDs and SLQF degrees map to each AI2 programme in our guide to studying AI in France from Sri Lanka.
📘 Related guide: Scholarships in France for Sri Lankan students.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a master’s in France with a three-year degree from Sri Lanka?
Yes. A three-year bachelor’s (SLQF level 5, at least 90 credits) in a related subject normally gives access to the first year of a two-year French master’s. Shorter routes are usually reserved for four-year honours degrees or master’s holders.
Do Sri Lankan students go through Campus France Études en France?
No. Sri Lanka is not among the 75 countries using the Études en France procedure. For master’s programmes you apply directly to the institution and, once admitted, apply for a student visa.
How much is a master’s in France in Sri Lankan rupees?
At a public institution, non-EU students pay €3,950 a year in 2026-27, about LKR 1.46 million at the CBSL rate of 29 October 2026. Private institutions charge about €6,000 to €18,000 or more. Add at least €877.50 a month of resources for the visa, about LKR 325,429.
Is a master’s from a private school in France recognised?
It depends on the diploma: a national master’s, a labelled programme or a professional title registered in the RNCP. An RNCP level 7 title is recognised by the French State at master’s level (EQF 7). Campus France Sri Lanka advises checking the status before you apply.
Which scholarships can Sri Lankan students get for a master’s in France?
The Eiffel Excellence programme funds master’s students up to 29, but only through applications submitted by French institutions, with a deadline of 6 January 2027. Erasmus Mundus joint master’s and institution scholarships are other options. The French Embassy’s own scholarships in Sri Lanka mainly target French language teachers and students.
Can I stay and work in France after my master’s?
Yes, if your diploma is at least equivalent to a master’s. You can apply for a one-year job-search or business-creation permit in the two months before your student permit expires, then switch to a work permit, for example with a job paid more than €2,800.53 gross a month.
Does AI2 accept graduates from Sri Lanka?
Yes. AI2’s two-year MSc in Applied AI admits holders of a three-year bachelor’s in computing, mathematics, engineering or science; the 18-month direct entry takes related four- or five-year degrees. Teaching is in English, intakes are in February, May and September 2027, and Year 1 costs from €10,500 after scholarship.
Sources consulted on 29 October 2026: Campus France: French degrees, LMD system and equivalences · Campus France: tuition fees 2026-27 · Campus France: countries using the Études en France procedure · Campus France Sri Lanka: how to apply · Campus France Sri Lanka: scholarships for foreign students · Campus France Sri Lanka: tuition fees in France · Campus France Sri Lanka: visas · Campus France Sri Lanka: working while studying in France · Campus France: France Excellence Eiffel scholarship programme · University Grants Commission: Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework (PDF) · Service-Public: student visa and residence permit, F2231 (verified 1 August 2026) · Service-Public: job-search or business-creation permit, F17319 (verified 1 June 2026) · Central Bank of Sri Lanka: EUR/LKR indicative exchange rate · AI2: MSc Applied AI and Data Science · AI2: MSc Applied AI and Cybersecurity · AI2: MSc Applied AI and IoT · AI2: tuition fees 2027 · AI2: scholarships 2027
Send your Sri Lankan transcripts: AI2’s admissions team reads your SLQF degree, holds an online interview and confirms your entry year, tuition and scholarship in your admission letter. Priority deadline: 30 November 2026.
