Yes, Hong Kong students can study AI in France in English, with no French required at AI2. You get your acceptance letter, complete Études en France with an interview, then book your visa through TLS Contact. Here is every step, with the costs in Hong Kong dollars.
In short: students from Hong Kong or Macau use Campus France Hong Kong’s “Students already accepted” route, at HK$1,800, with an academic interview. You then book through TLS Contact, and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau decides. At AI2, the Bachelor costs €9,000 a year (about HK$79,200) in Years 1 and 2, and MSc Year 1 costs €12,500 (about HK$110,000), from €10,500 with scholarship. Intakes are in February, May and September 2027.
AI2 (Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence) is a French school of applied AI and data science at Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord. French is not required for its English-taught programmes.
⚠️ Important: no deposit, no enrolment certificate
AI2 issues your enrolment certificate only after your €5,000 deposit is paid. Campus France and the consulate ask for this certificate: without the deposit, your Études en France file and your visa application cannot go ahead.
Applying to AI2 is free: there is no application fee. If your visa or your Campus France file is officially refused, the deposit is refunded minus €300 of administrative fees, on presentation of the refusal letter. Pay only by the instructions in your AI2 documents, never to a personal account.
What AI2 costs in Hong Kong dollars
| Programme | Tuition | In local currency | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Applied AI, Years 1 and 2 | €9,000 a year | about HK$79,200 | February, May or September 2027 |
| Bachelor, final year | €9,900 | about HK$87,100 | Follows Year 2 |
| MSc, Year 1 | €12,500, from €10,500 with scholarship | about HK$110,000, from HK$92,400 | February, May or September 2027 |
| MSc, 18-month direct entry | €13,000 single fee, from €11,300 with scholarship | about HK$114,400, from HK$99,400 | See tuition fees |
| Fast-Track Data Science, 11 months | €12,500, or €11,000 before 15 November 2026 | about HK$110,000 | February 2027 |
Local amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 2026-11-02 and are rounded. They are indicative: AI2 bills in euros.
Your route from Hong Kong in 6 steps
A typhoon Signal 8 or a Black Rainstorm closes the Consulate, so keep some margin around your appointment.
When to start
France-Visas asks for at least 15 days before departure and recommends several weeks, with peaks from mid-April to the end of July and in December, and no express process. Campus France says you can file up to 3 months before departure, while the Consulate says six, so plan on the shorter window. No reply within 2 months counts as a refusal. For February 2027, start now.
How much money you must show
France requires at least €877.50 a month, about HK$7,700. Twelve months comes to €10,530, about HK$92,700. Campus France Hong Kong asks for 3 months of statements or a bankbook, and certificates of deposit are refused. A sponsor provides statements, an ID copy and the financial guarantee form. Your passport must stay valid more than 3 months after your return.
HKSAR, Macao SAR and BNO passports can stay under 90 days in any 180 without a visa, but a degree needs the long-stay student visa. Document of Identity holders need a visa for any stay.
Does a Hong Kong diploma get you in?
There is no legal equivalence between diplomas: the host institution decides, and HKEAA says non-local institutions set their own requirements for HKDSE holders. These are AI2’s entry points, and admissions confirms yours in writing.
| Your background | AI2 entry to ask about | What admissions looks at |
|---|---|---|
| HKDSE or A Levels | Bachelor, Year 1 | Results, with mathematics, or science for the Industrial IT track |
| One year at a university | Bachelor, Year 2 | One validated year in a related field |
| Associate Degree or Higher Diploma | Bachelor, Year 3 | Two years of higher education in a related field |
| Bachelor’s degree | MSc, Year 1 | Your degree, transcripts and field of study |
English: AI2 asks for B2 level, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or English-medium schooling. TOEFL iBT and IELTS are both available in Hong Kong. Translation: the visa file takes French or English, and Chinese documents need a certified translation. Apostille: the Campus France guide does not ask for one. If you are told you need it, the High Court Registry issues apostilles at HK$125 per application.
Funding and scholarships
AI2’s scholarships for excellence and early application can bring MSc Year 1 from €12,500 down to €10,500. The France Excellence Yersin scholarship is for Master level, “national Master’s (or equivalent)”, and does not cover a Bachelor, so ask the Consulate in writing before you count on it for an MSc. The Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme looks for world-renowned institutions, so do not build your budget on it.
Student visa or working holiday?
Hong Kong is on France’s working holiday list, but that visa lasts one year and its main purpose is tourism. It is not a route into a Bachelor or MSc.
Is an AI2 qualification recognised?
AI2’s degree programmes prepare RNCP titles at Levels 6 and 7, recognised by the French State. Campus France states that the value of a French diploma is guaranteed by the State for national diplomas, Ministry-approved diplomas and titles registered in the RNCP. You can look up each code on the France Compétences website. See is AI2 recognised and all programmes.
After you graduate
The one-year job-search permit is open to master’s-level graduates, among others, so most bachelor’s graduates who want to stay continue to a master’s first. Any AI2 BSc graduate can progress to MSc Year 1. No school can promise a job or a visa, and AI2 does not. While you study, the student visa allows up to 964 hours of work a year.
Getting to the campus
Cathay Pacific lists direct flights from Hong Kong to Paris-CDG, and Air France lists non-stop flights. Check the current schedule before you book. Also read visa guidance, the guides for Taiwan, Singapore and China, and all country guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can Hong Kong students study AI in France in English?
Yes. AI2’s Bachelor and MSc programmes at Écouen near Paris are taught 100% in English, and French is not required.
Is Campus France mandatory in Hong Kong?
Yes, for programmes of 3 months or longer. Students already accepted by a school use the pre-consular route.
How much is Campus France Hong Kong?
HK$1,800, paid through the Alliance Française de Hong Kong site after your file is validated. It is not refunded.
Where do I apply for the French student visa in Hong Kong?
You book through TLS Contact once Campus France confirms your file has moved to the visa section. The Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau decides.
How much does AI2 cost in Hong Kong dollars?
Bachelor Years 1 and 2 cost €9,000 a year, about HK$79,200. MSc Year 1 costs €12,500, about HK$110,000, or from €10,500 with scholarship. AI2 bills in euros.
How much money do I need for the visa?
At least €877.50 a month, about HK$7,700. Certificates of deposit are refused as proof.
Does AI2 accept the HKDSE?
AI2 assesses each diploma individually. Ask admissions about Bachelor Year 1 with your HKDSE results, and get the answer in writing.
Can students from Macau apply the same way?
Yes. Campus France Hong Kong covers Hong Kong and Macau, and Macao residents go to the Consulate in Hong Kong for the visa.
Last checked on 2 November 2026 against the official sources listed below. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with Campus France and the French consulate before you pay.
Official sources: Campus France Hong Kong: EEF guide · France-Visas: Hong Kong · Consulate General: visas · Campus France Hong Kong: scholarships · Hong Kong Judiciary: apostille · HKSES: notes for applicants · Service-Public: student visa, resources and tax
Tell AI2 your current level: admissions confirms your entry year, tuition and scholarship in writing, then you start your visa file.
