Sierra Leone is not on Campus France’s Études en France list, so once you hold an AI2 admission letter you go straight to the visa application. You can lodge it in Freetown, but the decision is taken by the French Embassy in Guinea, and the Freetown centre opens only a few days each month.
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 Sierra Leone: what is specific to you
Your qualifications and AI2 programmes
- WASSCE including mathematics: the Bachelor in Applied AI.
- HND, for instance from one of the former polytechnics such as Milton Margai, which became a technical university in 2021: the BSc final year, one year to RNCP level 6.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics or statistics: the MSc Applied AI.
- Master’s, engineering degree or four years of related higher education: the 11-month Fast-Track, starting in January.
Schooling in English is accepted by AI2 as evidence of B2 level, so an IELTS certificate is not always needed; details are in study in France without IELTS.
No Études en France step
Because Sierra Leone is not among the 75 countries and territories covered by Études en France, you apply for the long-stay student visa directly on France-Visas after admission. That puts more weight on your own preparation: there is no Campus France interview to spot a missing document before the appointment.
Lodging the visa in Freetown
France-Visas lists a Capago centre at the French diplomatic office (antenne diplomatique), 39 Loop Road, Freetown. It accepts applications by appointment from 10 am to 5 pm, and only on the first and third Tuesday and Wednesday of each month; passports are returned on the same days. Files are decided by the visa department of the French Embassy in Guinea, and the listed call-centre number is +224 62 49 33 333. For a long-stay visa, France-Visas advises allowing four months between submission and departure.
| Programme | EUR | SLE (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Applied AI, per year, after the AI2 scholarship | from €9,000 | about SLE 232,000 |
| BSc final year (top-up) | from €9,900 | about SLE 255,000 |
| MSc Applied AI, per year, after the AI2 scholarship | from €10,500 | about SLE 271,000 |
| 11-month Fast-Track | €11,000 | about SLE 283,000 |
Amounts are in new leones (SLE). Living costs and funding are covered in our cost of studying AI in France and scholarships guides.
Getting to Paris
International flights use Freetown International Airport at Lungi, on the far side of the Sierra Leone River estuary from the capital. ECOWAS travel guidance describes the water taxi as the usual transfer, with a crossing of roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on conditions, so build that into your departure day.
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France: countries in the Études en France procedure · France-Visas: Sierra Leone · ECOWAS (WAIGF 2026): travel and arrival information for Freetown · State House Sierra Leone: Milton Margai Technical University
AI and data science programmes for students from Sierra Leone
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 for students from Sierra Leone
- Bachelor Year 1: WASSCE results, including mathematics, with mathematics. English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
- BSc final year: an HND or two years of higher education in computing or engineering lets you enter the third year directly and earn a level-6 qualification in one year.
- MSc: a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, statistics or a related field. English at B2 level: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or equivalent, or schooling in English.
Why study AI in France rather than the UK or Australia?
- Tuition from €10,500 a year for an MSc, far below typical UK fees.
- Programmes taught in English, in the Paris region, at the heart of Europe.
- The right to work up to 964 hours a year during your studies, and a post-study permit for master’s-level graduates.
- Applied projects with companies, from the first semester.
Careers after an AI degree
Graduates can target data and AI roles in banks, telecoms, NGOs and international organisations in West Africa or in Europe. Typical roles include data scientist, machine learning engineer, AI developer, data analyst and AI security specialist.
How to come to France from Sierra Leone: step by step
Apply to AI2 online and attend an online interview with the academic team.
Receive your admission letter.
Sierra Leone is not part of the Études en France procedure: once you hold your admission letter, you apply for the visa directly on France-Visas (see above for where to lodge your file).
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). The full timeline is in our visa guidance, and daily life is covered in life in France.
Time difference for your online interview
Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0): one hour behind Paris in winter, two in summer.
Have an HND? Earn a bachelor’s-level qualification in one year: see our top-up degree after an HND in France.
Frequently asked questions
Do students in Sierra Leone go through Campus France?
No. Sierra Leone is not on Campus France’s Études en France list, so after admission you apply directly on France-Visas and lodge your file in Freetown.
Who decides my French visa if I apply in Freetown?
The visa department of the French Embassy in Guinea. The Capago centre in Freetown receives your file and biometrics.
How often is the Freetown visa centre open?
On the first and third Tuesday and Wednesday of each month, from 10 am to 5 pm, by appointment only.
Can I use my Sierra Leonean HND for the AI2 top-up year?
Yes. An HND gives direct entry to AI2’s BSc final year, which leads to an RNCP level 6 qualification in one year.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
