Yes, Maldivian students can study AI in France in English, with no French required at AI2. You get an admission letter, complete France-Visas, then file at VFS Global in Malé. Here is the official route.
In short: the Maldives are not on the Études en France list, so after admission Maldivian students go directly to France-Visas and file at VFS Global in Malé, and the Embassy of France in Colombo decides. Filing at VFS Colombo is also allowed. At AI2, the Bachelor costs €9,000 a year in Years 1 and 2, and MSc Year 1 costs €12,500, 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
| Programme | Tuition | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Applied AI, Years 1 and 2 | €9,000 a year | February, May or September 2027 |
| Bachelor, final year | €9,900 | Follows Year 2 |
| MSc, Year 1 | €12,500, from €10,500 with scholarship | February, May or September 2027 |
| MSc, 18-month direct entry | €13,000 single fee, from €11,300 with scholarship | See tuition fees |
| Fast-Track Data Science, 11 months | €12,500, or €11,000 before 15 November 2026 | February 2027 |
AI2 bills in euros.
Your route from the Maldives in 5 steps
Malé or Colombo?
Maldivian nationals may also file at VFS Colombo, where the service fee is €19.48. That saves on the fee but adds a flight and a stay in Sri Lanka, while Malé only needs domestic travel from the atolls. Compare your full cost before you choose.
When to start
France-Visas asks you to submit at least two months before departure. Processing normally takes 15 calendar days from a complete file, and up to 60 with checks or extra documents. For February 2027, start now.
How much money you must show
France requires at least €877.50 a month, or €10,530 for twelve months. See the cost of studying AI in France for a realistic budget near Paris.
Does a Maldivian diploma get you in?
There is no legal equivalence between diplomas: the host institution decides. These are AI2’s entry points, and admissions confirms yours in writing.
| Your background | AI2 entry to ask about | What admissions looks at |
|---|---|---|
| A Levels or Higher Secondary Certificate | Bachelor, Year 1 | Results, with mathematics, or science for the Industrial IT track |
| One year of higher education | Bachelor, Year 2 | One validated year in a related field |
| Two years of higher education | Bachelor, Year 3 | Two years 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 is listed for the Maldives, and the British Council lists IELTS in Malé. Legalisation, not apostille: the Maldives are not in the Apostille Convention, and France’s table shows legalisation. Ask admissions what it needs before you start this step. Back home: ask the Maldives Qualifications Authority how your title will be treated.
Funding
AI2’s scholarships for excellence and early application can bring MSc Year 1 from €12,500 down to €10,500. France is not on the 2024 Approved Country List of the Maldivian higher education loan scheme, so ask the Ministry of Higher Education before you count on a loan. Confirm any other funding with its provider before you pay a deposit.
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
Air France lists 2 flights a week to Malé until early March in winter 2026-27, so check before you print “direct” on your plans for May or September. Also read visa guidance, the guides for other countries and all country guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can Maldivian 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 Études en France required in the Maldives?
The Maldives are not on the France-Visas or Campus France lists, so after direct admission you go to France-Visas.
Where do I apply for a French student visa in the Maldives?
At VFS Global in Malé, by appointment. The Embassy of France in Colombo decides. Maldivian nationals may also file at VFS Colombo.
How much does it cost to apply?
The VFS service fee is €95 in Malé or €19.48 in Colombo. France-Visas shows about €99 as the indicative visa fee for countries outside Études en France.
How long does the visa take?
Normally 15 calendar days from a complete file, and up to 60 with checks. Submit at least two months before departure.
Can I use the Maldivian student loan for France?
France is not on the 2024 Approved Country List. Ask the Ministry of Higher Education before you count on it.
How much does AI2 cost?
Bachelor Years 1 and 2 cost €9,000 a year. MSc Year 1 costs €12,500, or from €10,500 with scholarship.
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: France-Visas: Maldives · France-Visas: Sri Lanka · France-Visas: student · Campus France Sri Lanka: how to apply · Maldives MoHE: approved countries · HCCH: Apostille Convention status · 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.
