Applying from Kathmandu means two visits on either side of the Bagmati: Campus France sits in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, and the VFS visa centre is in Thapathali. Both are in neighbourhoods that already host engineering campuses, and this page sets out the local details for an AI2 application.
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 Kathmandu: what is specific to you
Campus France Nepal in Pulchowk
Campus France Nepal is located inside the Alliance Française de Kathmandu premises in Pulchowk, Lalitpur (Ward No. 4, Damkal Sundarighat Marg). Its orientation staff can be reached on +977 1 5420488, and by email at contact.cfnepal@gmail.com or orientation.cfnepal@gmail.com. Its weekly orientation sessions are a good place to raise questions about the EEF platform before you open a file. This is the office that manages your Études en France file in Nepal; what it checks is explained in our Nepal country guide.
VFS Global, Thapathali
France’s visa application centre for Nepal is run by VFS Global on the 4th floor of the LS Building, Thapathali 11. France-Visas lists it as open on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 to 13:00, and asks people submitting in Kathmandu to do so at least 15 days before their planned departure. The booking link sits on VFS Global’s India site, because files are processed in New Delhi. France does not represent any other Schengen country in Nepal, so the centre deals with applications where France is your sole or main destination, which is the case for a full degree at AI2.
Studying computing in the valley
Tribhuvan University, whose central campus is at Kirtipur, offers the BSc CSIT and, through its Institute of Engineering, runs the Pulchowk and Thapathali campuses. Kathmandu University, based in Dhulikhel outside the valley, has a Department of Computer Science and Engineering and a Department of Artificial Intelligence. Graduates of these four-year programmes are eligible to apply for the MSc Applied AI. For Pulchowk Campus students, the Campus France office is in the same Lalitpur neighbourhood, and Thapathali Campus students will find the VFS centre in their own district.
From Tribhuvan International to Paris
Tribhuvan International Airport is Nepal’s main international gateway. In Paris, the AI2 campus at Écouen is 22 minutes from Gare du Nord; our student accommodation guide helps you find somewhere to live before you fly. Keep your admission letter and Études en France papers in your hand luggage for the journey.
| Kathmandu planning item | EUR | NPR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| First year of the MSc Applied AI | from €10,500 | about Rs 17.9 lakh |
| BSc final year, after two years of a bachelor’s | from €9,900 | about Rs 16.8 lakh |
| Three years of the Bachelor at the starting fee | from €27,000 | about Rs 45.9 lakh |
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France Népal: location and contact · France-Visas: applying in Nepal · France-Visas: India and Nepal centres · Kathmandu University
Programmes open to students from Kathmandu
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 bachelor’s degree (BSc CSIT, BE or BIT) 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: the NEB +2 certificate (Grade 12). English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
From Kathmandu 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: it is compulsory for long-stay student visas from Nepal (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). Nepal Time is 4 h 45 ahead of Paris in winter and 3 h 45 in summer. See also study AI in France from Nepal, cost of studying AI in France and visa guidance.
No GRE? No problem: read masters in France without GRE to see how admission works.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the French visa centre in Kathmandu?
VFS Global, 4th Floor, LS Building, Thapathali 11. It receives applications on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 13:00.
Where is Campus France in the Kathmandu Valley?
Inside the Alliance Française de Kathmandu premises in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Phone and email contacts are listed on the Campus France Nepal website.
Who decides my visa if I apply in Kathmandu?
The consular section of the French Embassy in New Delhi. In Kathmandu, VFS Global only receives the files.
I studied in Kathmandu University’s AI department. Which programme suits me?
With a completed bachelor’s in artificial intelligence or computer science, the MSc Applied AI is the next step. If you also hold a master’s, the 11-month Fast-Track is designed for you.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
