Yes, South Korean students can study AI in France in English, with no French required at AI2. You get an admission certificate, complete the pre-consular file and interview in Seoul, then file at the embassy. Here is every step, with the costs in won.
In short: South Korean students need a long-stay student visa for a degree in France. Campus France Korea’s pre-consular file comes first, at KRW 350,000, with an in-person interview at the embassy in Seoul. You then file at the same embassy, at least 3 working days later. At AI2, the Bachelor costs €9,000 a year (about KRW 13,560,000) in Years 1 and 2, and MSc Year 1 costs €12,500 (about KRW 18,830,000), 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 in Korean won
| Programme | Tuition | In local currency | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Applied AI, Years 1 and 2 | €9,000 a year | about KRW 13,560,000 | February, May or September 2027 |
| Bachelor, final year | €9,900 | about KRW 14,910,000 | Follows Year 2 |
| MSc, Year 1 | €12,500, from €10,500 with scholarship | about KRW 18,830,000, from KRW 15,820,000 | February, May or September 2027 |
| MSc, 18-month direct entry | €13,000 single fee, from €11,300 with scholarship | about KRW 19,580,000, from KRW 17,020,000 | See tuition fees |
| Fast-Track Data Science, 11 months | €12,500, or €11,000 before 15 November 2026 | about KRW 18,830,000 | February 2027 |
Local amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 2 November 2026 and are rounded. They are indicative: AI2 bills in euros.
Your route from South Korea in 6 steps
When to start
Campus France Korea advises submitting about 3 months before classes, or about 4 months for August and September starts, and it expects about 2 to 3 months from final submission to visa. June to September is the peak. February 2027 is therefore very tight from now on: May or September 2027 are safer. Do not buy a non-refundable flight before you hold the visa.
Your passport must stay valid at least 15 months beyond departure. Korean nationals can visit France for under 90 days without a visa for tourism or simple visits, but a degree needs the long-stay student visa, so do not plan on entering first and changing status in France.
How much money you must show
France requires at least €877.50 a month, about KRW 1,320,000. Twelve months comes to €10,530, about KRW 15,860,000. Check the France-Visas document list for the proof the embassy accepts.
Does a Korean diploma get you in?
There is no legal equivalence between diplomas: the host institution decides. The Études en France form has its own categories, and these are not equivalences. Public university rules for Licence 1 do not bind a private school. These are AI2’s entry points, and admissions confirms yours in writing.
| Your background | AI2 entry to ask about | What admissions looks at |
|---|---|---|
| 고등학교 졸업 or 검정고시 | Bachelor, Year 1 | Transcripts, with mathematics, or science for the Industrial IT track |
| One year at a university | Bachelor, Year 2 | One validated year in a related field |
| 전문학사 (junior college) | Bachelor, Year 3 | Two years of higher education in a related field |
| 학사 (bachelor’s degree) | MSc, Year 1 | Your degree, transcripts and field of study |
AI2’s published entry rules do not name a CSAT score. English: AI2 asks for B2 level, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or English-medium schooling. Both tests are available in Korea. Documents: Korean university certificates are uploaded in English, verifiable online, and issued within the last 3 months. If your degree was obtained abroad, bring the original to the interview. Apostille: the Campus France Korea pages we read do not ask for one, so do not order one unless you are told to.
Funding and scholarships
Build your budget around your own funds, family and AI2’s scholarships for excellence and early application: MSc Year 1 can fall from €12,500 to €10,500. The Korean government overseas scholarship covers master’s and doctoral degrees, so it does not cover a Bachelor, and you should ask NIIED about an MSc before you count on it. Confirm any other funding with its provider before you pay a deposit.
Student visa or working holiday?
France and Korea run a working holiday scheme with 2,000 visas a year. According to the Korean information centre, France does not permit study on this visa except language courses, and switching to a student visa means returning to Korea and applying at the embassy. It is not a route into a Bachelor or MSc.
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
Korean Air sells Incheon to Paris-CDG, and Air France lists Paris-Seoul services. Check current timetables and non-stop options before you book. Also read visa guidance, the guide for Japan and all country guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can Korean 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 Campus France mandatory from South Korea?
Yes. The pre-consular file is mandatory for Korean citizens and legal residents aged 18 or over who are admitted to a programme in France and need a long-stay visa for more than 90 days.
How much is Campus France Korea?
KRW 350,000, paid by transfer in your own name. It is separate from the visa fee and cannot be refunded after first submission.
Is the Campus France Korea interview online?
No. It is in person only, at Campus France inside the French Embassy in Seoul, in French or English.
Can I apply for the visa in Busan?
France-Visas lists Seoul only. Both the Campus France interview and the visa filing take place there, so plan a trip.
How much does AI2 cost in won?
Bachelor Years 1 and 2 cost €9,000 a year, about KRW 13,560,000. MSc Year 1 costs €12,500, about KRW 18,830,000, or from €10,500 with scholarship. AI2 bills in euros.
How long does the student visa take?
France-Visas gives 3 weeks to 2 months minimum. Campus France Korea expects about 2 to 3 months from final submission to visa, so plan ahead.
Do I need the CSAT?
AI2’s published entry rules do not name a CSAT score. Admissions reviews your diploma, transcripts and English level, and confirms your entry year in writing.
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: Campus France Korea: student visa procedure · Campus France Korea: English guide · Campus France Korea: exemptions · France-Visas: South Korea · France-Visas: student · Service-Public: student visa, resources and tax · NIIED: overseas scholarship notice · Korean working holiday information centre
Tell AI2 your current level: admissions confirms your entry year, tuition and scholarship in writing, then you start your visa file.
