Chennai has no consulate general of its own, but it does have a Bureau de France in Mylapore, attached to the Consulate General of France in Puducherry, and Campus France works from the same building. For students in the city, that means counselling, biometrics and departure for Paris can all start in Chennai.
AI2 – Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence is an applied AI school on the Écouen campus, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord. Its programmes are taught in English and prepare qualifications registered by the French State with France Compétences (RNCP) at level 6 (bachelor’s level) and level 7 (master’s level).
Applying from Chennai: what is specific to you
Campus France at the Bureau de France, Mylapore
You will find the Chennai Campus France desk on the 6th floor of Bannari Amman Towers, Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore. Two managers answer queries, at cf.chennai@india-campusfrance.org and chennai@india-campusfrance.org.
VFS on Anna Salai, decisions in Puducherry
VFS Global collects French visa files at Ramee Mall, 2nd Floor, No. 365 Anna Salai, Teynampet, on weekdays from 08:00 to 15:00, appointment only. The Consulate General in Puducherry decides on them: its district is Tamil Nadu and Kerala, plus Puducherry, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Outside Chennai, VFS has a centre in Puducherry and a temporary service point in Coimbatore that opens on one or two Saturdays a month. For the documents themselves, see our France student visa from India guide.
Chennai institutions and AI2 entry routes
IIT Madras, Anna University and the University of Madras at Chepauk are among the institutions Chennai applicants graduate from. The city’s technology employers include firms based in TIDEL Park, the IT and ITES office complex in Taramani. A four-year B.E. or B.Tech in a computing field fits both the MSc and the 11-month Fast-Track. Diploma holders and students with two completed years of a degree should compare the BSc final year (top-up) with starting the MSc later. You can sort this out before any travel, since AI2 interviews every candidate online.
| Programme | EUR | INR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| BSc final year (top-up), RNCP level 6 | from €9,900 | about ₹10.5 lakh |
| MSc Applied AI, RNCP level 7, per year | from €10,500 | about ₹11.2 lakh |
Without an IELTS score? English-medium schooling may be accepted instead: see study in France without IELTS.
From Chennai International Airport to Paris
Air France describes its Chennai to Paris service as a collaboration with partner airlines that includes both non-stop flights and journeys with a connection, typically in Mumbai, Abu Dhabi or Delhi. The airline places the airport off NH32, about 13 miles from the city centre, with a drive of 35 minutes to almost two hours depending on traffic. It is also on the blue line of Chennai Metro, and the suburban railway’s South Line stops at Tirusulam, a few minutes’ walk away. Students from Kerala fall under the same consulate; see our Kerala guide.
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France India: office addresses · VFS Global France: Chennai centre · Consulate General of France in Puducherry and Chennai · Air France India: flights from Chennai · TIDEL Park
Programmes open to students from Chennai
Bachelor in Applied AI
Three years after secondary school. RNCP level 6, from €9,000 a year after the AI2 scholarship.
BSc final year
AI-Powered Application Development or Data Analytics & Applied AI. Entry with an HND, a BTS or two years of higher education. RNCP level 6, from €9,900.
MSc Applied AI
Data Science, Cybersecurity or IoT. RNCP level 7 (master’s level), from €10,500 a year after the AI2 scholarship.
11-month Fast-Track
The level-7 qualification in under a year, €11,000. Starts in January.
All programmes and current fees: all programmes, scholarships and our guide to the cost of studying AI in France.
Entry requirements
- MSc: a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc, BCA or equivalent in computer science, IT, engineering, mathematics or statistics. English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
- Fast-Track (11 months): for graduates who want the level-7 qualification in under a year.
- Bachelor: Class 12 with mathematics. English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
From Chennai to Paris: step by step
Apply to AI2 online and attend an online interview with the academic team.
Receive your admission letter.
Complete the Études en France procedure with Campus France in India: online academic file and interview.
Apply for the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) on France-Visas, with proof of at least €877.50 a month of resources.
Arrive on the Écouen campus near Paris and validate your visa online on the ANEF portal within three months.
Start 6 to 8 months before your intake (January, May or September). Time difference: India is 4 h 30 ahead of Paris in winter and 3 h 30 in summer. See also study in France from India, academic partners and visa guidance.
No IELTS? AI2 accepts English-medium education as an alternative: see study in France without IELTS. Missed September? Start in January or May 2027.
After 12th or B.Tech? See study in France after 12th (Bachelor in Applied AI) and masters in France after B.Tech (MSc in 11 or 18 months).
Campus France interview? Prepare with our guide to Campus France interview questions and the Études en France procedure.
Funding: see scholarships in France for Indian students.
No GRE? No problem: read masters in France without GRE to see how admission works.
Only a 3-year degree? It is enough in France: see masters in France with a 3-year bachelor’s degree.
Visa from India: follow our France student visa from India guide (Campus France, documents, timeline).
Frequently asked questions
Is there a French consulate in Chennai?
Not a consulate general. Chennai has a Bureau de France attached to the Consulate General of France in Puducherry, which decides on visas for Tamil Nadu.
Where do I give biometrics for a French visa in Chennai?
At the VFS Global centre in Ramee Mall, 365 Anna Salai, Teynampet. It opens Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:00, by appointment.
I live in Coimbatore. Must I travel to Chennai?
VFS lists a temporary service point in Coimbatore on one or two Saturdays a month, by appointment. If no date suits you, Chennai and Puducherry are the permanent centres.
Is the Chennai to Paris flight non-stop?
It depends on the itinerary. Air France sells both non-stop flights and connections, usually via Mumbai, Abu Dhabi or Delhi, so check before you pay.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
