Kolkata is home to a Consulate General of France whose district reaches across eastern and north-eastern India and the Kingdom of Bhutan. Students in the city have Campus France at the Alliance Française du Bengale on Park Street and a VFS Global centre in Kasba, so every French office involved in a student application is local.
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 Kolkata: what is specific to you
Campus France on Park Street
The Kolkata manager works from the Alliance Française du Bengale, Flat 15, 57A Park Mansions, Park Street, and replies at kolkata@india-campusfrance.org. Book a free counselling session before you begin the Études en France procedure.
Kasba for biometrics, the Consulate General for the decision
VFS Global’s France counter is on the 5th floor of Rene Tower, Plot AA-I, 1842 Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, near Geetanjali Stadium, open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:00 by appointment. Visa decisions are taken by the Consulate General of France in Kolkata, responsible for West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as Bhutan. Everything else about the procedure is national and sits in our France student visa from India guide.
A city with a mathematical tradition
The city is home to several institutions with a quantitative focus. The Indian Statistical Institute has its Kolkata campus here, Jadavpur University is on Raja S.C. Mallick Road, and IIEST Shibpur lies across the Hooghly at Botanic Garden, Howrah. A three-year B.Sc (Hons) in mathematics, statistics or computer science points to the MSc Applied AI, whose Data Science track builds directly on that grounding. A B.E. or B.Tech from Jadavpur or IIEST counts as an engineering degree for the 11-month Fast-Track. Both routes start with an online application and an online interview, and English at B2 level, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or English-medium schooling.
| Route | Duration | EUR | INR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Applied AI, first year | per year | from €10,500 | about ₹11.2 lakh |
| 11-month Fast-Track | 11 months, January start | €11,000 | about ₹11.7 lakh |
Intake dates and current fees are on all programmes; funding options are on scholarships.
Leaving from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport
The city’s international airport carries the name of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and is operated by the Airports Authority of India. It is not among the Indian cities from which Air France’s India website sells Paris departures, so expect to connect, either within India or through a hub abroad. Before booking, weigh a domestic hop to Delhi or Mumbai, where Air France does fly non-stop to Paris, against routes through hubs abroad. Neighbouring Dhaka and Kathmandu have their own guides.
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France India: office addresses · VFS Global France: Kolkata centre · Consulate General of France in Kolkata · VFS Global France India: centre list · Airports Authority of India: Kolkata · Jadavpur University
Programmes open to students from Kolkata
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 Kolkata 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
Which French consulate decides on a visa lodged in Kolkata?
The Consulate General of France in Kolkata. Its district covers West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, the north-eastern states and Bhutan.
Where is the French visa centre in Kolkata?
VFS Global, 5th Floor, Rene Tower, 1842 Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, near Geetanjali Stadium. Appointments run weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00.
I live in Guwahati. Do I need to come to Kolkata?
VFS lists a temporary service point in Guwahati on two Fridays a month. If you cannot get a slot, the Kolkata centre is the permanent option.
My B.Sc (Hons) is in statistics. Which AI2 programme fits?
The MSc Applied AI, which requires a bachelor’s in a related field; statistics qualifies. The Data Science track is the natural continuation.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
