Looking for a master’s in France as a Ethiopian student? AI2 offers English-taught MSc programmes in applied AI, data science, cybersecurity and IoT near Paris, open to graduates from Ethiopia, with a State-registered qualification at master’s level (RNCP level 7).
Ethiopia is one of the countries where Campus France’s Études en France procedure is mandatory, so Ethiopian students admitted to AI2 complete a Campus France file before the visa stage. This guide sets out who handles each step in Addis Ababa, how Ethiopian certificates and degrees relate to AI2’s programmes, document authentication, and AI2 fees in birr.
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 Ethiopia: Campus France, VFS Global and the embassy
Step one: Campus France in Addis Ababa
Because Ethiopia is on Campus France’s list of Études en France countries, you open your file on the platform as a student already admitted and complete the Campus France process before applying for the visa. The local office, the Espace d’Addis Abeba, is at the Alliance éthio-française on Wavel Street. Write to ethiopie@campusfrance.org for the current fee in birr and to ask whether an interview is required.
Step two: the visa appointment
France-Visas states that everyone residing in Ethiopia needs an appointment, booked via VFS Global, and that files are submitted at the French Embassy in Addis Ababa, which alone decides. Passports are collected from the VFS Global centre for France on the 1st floor of the Haimi Apartment Hotel, Bole Sub City. Fees are paid in birr, converted from the euro amount at the chancellery rate, and are kept even if a visa is refused.
Ethiopian qualifications and AI2 entry
The Ethiopian secondary school leaving certificate, with mathematics, is the entry point for the Bachelor in Applied AI. Holding a bachelor’s in a related field such as software engineering or statistics, you would apply for the MSc Applied AI; with an engineering degree, a master’s, or four years of related study, the January Fast-Track becomes an option. If you have completed two years of university, the BSc final year (top-up) is also open to you. Compare them on the programmes page.
Authenticating Ethiopian documents
The Education and Training Authority (ETA) confirms the originality of degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued in Ethiopia, and runs the service online at neta.gov.et. If you are asked for authenticated copies at any stage, start there. For qualifications earned abroad, including a future French one, the ETA’s separate Equivalence service applies.
Before Campus France: English and the AI2 interview
To show B2 English you can submit an IELTS band of 6.0, a TOEFL iBT score of 72, another equivalent result, or evidence that you were schooled in English; our page on studying without IELTS explains the last option. Interviews with the AI2 academic team are held online, so you can complete admission from anywhere in Ethiopia before your Campus France file opens.
| Programme | EUR | ETB (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Applied AI (yearly, scholarship deducted) | from 9,000 | about 1.68 million |
| BSc top-up, one year | from 9,900 | about 1.85 million |
| MSc Applied AI (yearly, scholarship deducted) | from 10,500 | about 1.96 million |
| Fast-Track, January intake | 11,000 | about 2.06 million |
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France: countries using the Études en France procedure · Campus France: Espace d’Addis Abeba · France-Visas: applying in Ethiopia · Education and Training Authority (ETA)
AI and data science programmes for students from Ethiopia
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 for students from Ethiopia
- Bachelor Year 1: the Ethiopian secondary school leaving certificate, with mathematics. English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
- MSc: a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, statistics or a related field. English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
Why study AI in France rather than the UK or Australia?
- Tuition from €10,500 a year for an MSc, far below typical UK fees.
- Programmes taught in English, in the Paris region, at the heart of Europe.
- The right to work up to 964 hours a year during your studies, and a post-study permit for master’s-level graduates.
- Applied projects with companies, from the first semester.
Careers after an AI degree
Graduates can work in Europe or join Ethiopia’s expanding telecom, fintech and public digital programmes. Typical roles include data scientist, machine learning engineer, AI developer, data analyst and AI security specialist.
How to come to France from Ethiopia: 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: it is compulsory for long-stay student visas from Ethiopia (details above).
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). The full timeline is in our visa guidance, and daily life is covered in life in France.
Time difference for your online interview
East Africa Time (UTC+3): two hours ahead of Paris in winter, one in summer.
No IELTS? AI2 accepts English-medium education as an alternative: see study in France without IELTS. Missed September? Start in January or May 2027.
Campus France interview? Prepare with our guide to Campus France interview questions and the Études en France procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Études en France procedure compulsory in Ethiopia?
Yes. Ethiopia is on Campus France’s list of Études en France countries, so the Campus France stage comes before your visa application.
Who handles my French visa file in Addis Ababa?
Appointments are booked via VFS Global, files are submitted at the French Embassy, and passports are collected from the VFS Global centre in Bole Sub City.
How do I authenticate my Ethiopian degree?
Use the Education and Training Authority’s online authentication service at neta.gov.et, which confirms the originality of degrees, diplomas and transcripts issued in Ethiopia.
Can I pay the visa fee in euros?
No. France-Visas states that fees are paid in Ethiopian birr, calculated from the euro amount at the chancellery rate.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
