Lucknow has neither a Campus France office nor a French visa centre, so applicants from the city deal with New Delhi at both stages. With a little planning that is straightforward, and this page explains who handles your file and how to organise the trip.
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 French State qualifications registered with France Compétences (RNCP) at level 6 (bachelor’s level) and level 7 (master’s level).
Applying from Lucknow: what is specific to you
A Delhi-based manager for Uttar Pradesh
Campus France India’s New Delhi office assigns a named manager to applicants from Uttar Pradesh. The office works from two sites: the Alliance Française de Delhi in Lodhi Estate and the French Institute in India on Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Marg. Your Études en France file is submitted online, and the academic interview takes place at the slot you are allotted, so ask your manager early whether you will need to be in Delhi for it.
The Delhi visa centre
No VFS Global centre for France appears in Uttar Pradesh on the France-Visas list. The nearest is in Delhi, at the mezzanine level of Shivaji Stadium Metro Station on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, taking applications Monday to Friday by appointment. Security is strict: only the applicant may enter, bags are limited to a clear plastic folder or a small handbag, and phones, laptops and other electronic devices are refused because the centre has nowhere to store them.
Lucknow’s institutions and AI2’s programmes
The city’s institutions include the University of Lucknow; IIIT Lucknow, which offers B.Tech degrees in computer science, CS with AI and IT, plus an M.Sc. in AI and machine learning; IIM Lucknow, which runs a BS in Artificial Intelligence & Business Analytics; and IET Lucknow, an autonomous constituent institute of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University on Sitapur Road. A B.Tech graduate in a related field fits the MSc Applied AI. Holders of a related master’s, such as an M.Sc., can consider the 11-month Fast-Track, which starts in January.
From Amausi to Paris
Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (LKO) is your departure point. Air France’s 2026 summer schedule highlights Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru on its India routes, so a connection through Delhi is a natural choice for travellers from Uttar Pradesh.
What the main items cost in rupees
| Item | EUR | INR (approx., at the October 2026 rate) |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Applied AI, per year after the AI2 scholarship | from €10,500 | about ₹11.2 lakh |
| Fast-Track (11 months), total | €11,000 | about ₹11.7 lakh |
| Bachelor in Applied AI, per year | from €9,000 | about ₹9.6 lakh |
| Campus France India processing fee | about €190 | ₹20,000 |
Add the cost of your Delhi trip to this list. The national procedure, step by step, is in our France student visa from India guide.
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France India: offices · France-Visas: applying in India (VFS Global centres) · IIIT Lucknow · IIM Lucknow · IET Lucknow · European Central Bank: euro reference rate for the Indian rupee
Programmes open to students from Lucknow
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 Lucknow 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.
Visa from India: follow our France student visa from India guide (Campus France, documents, timeline).
Frequently asked questions
Is there a French visa centre in Lucknow?
No. The nearest VFS Global centre for France is in Delhi, at Shivaji Stadium Metro Station. France-Visas lets you use any VFS centre in India.
Which Campus France office handles applicants from Uttar Pradesh?
The New Delhi office, which has a manager dedicated to Uttar Pradesh. It operates from the Alliance Française de Delhi and the French Institute in India.
I have an M.Sc. from a Lucknow university. Is the Fast-Track open to me?
The Fast-Track is designed for holders of an engineering degree, a master’s or four years of higher education in a related field. It costs €11,000 and starts in January.
Can a parent come with me into the Delhi visa centre?
Normally no. Only applicants may enter, unless companions have prior authorisation obtained by emailing the VFS help service.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
