Yes, students from Turkmenistan can apply to 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 Istanbul. Here is the official route, and what to confirm before you travel.
In short: Turkmenistan is not on the Études en France list and we found no Campus France office there, so students who live in Turkmenistan go directly to France-Visas after admission. You select Turkey as your filing country and book VFS Global in Istanbul, and the Consulate General of France in Istanbul issues the long-stay visa. Allow for a Turkish visa and a stay in Istanbul. 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. Card use is very limited in Turkmenistan, so ask admissions how to pay before you apply.
Your route from Turkmenistan in 5 steps
Short-stay visas follow a different route, through the Italian Embassy in Ashgabat. Do not confuse the two: a Bachelor or MSc needs the long-stay student visa. France-Visas mentions dedicated student slots during student campaigns, with under one week on average to get an appointment. For February and May intakes, check availability early.
What to confirm with the consulate before you travel
Email visas.istanbul-cslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr and ask about your visa fee, any Campus France step for Turkmen residents, whether legalised diplomas are required, and how long processing takes. Get the answer in writing before you book flights.
How much money you must show
France requires at least €877.50 a month for a student visa, or €10,530 for twelve months. The cost of studying AI in France guide shows a realistic budget near Paris.
Does a Turkmen diploma get you in?
AI2 assesses each diploma individually and may ask for a comparability statement. Ask admissions about Bachelor Year 1 after complete secondary education, and about MSc Year 1 after a bachelor’s degree. Turkmenistan’s national information centre describes a bachelor of 4 years, a specialist of 5 to 6 years and a master of 1 to 2 years.
Legalisation, not apostille: Turkmenistan is not in the Apostille Convention, and France’s table shows legalisation for Turkmen documents. Ask admissions what it needs before you start this step. English: AI2 asks for B2 level, shown by IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72 or English-medium schooling. Turkmenistan is on the TOEFL iBT country list but does not appear in the official IELTS centre finder, so check early where you can sit a test.
Before you pay
- Exit and study-abroad rules are set by the Turkmen authorities. Check your own position before you pay a deposit.
- Hold a passport that stays valid for your whole programme, and check the renewal rules that apply to you.
- If you live in another country, follow that country’s procedure, which may include Études en France.
- If you plan to return, ask the Ministry of Education how your title will be treated.
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
We could not confirm a direct flight from Ashgabat to Paris, so plan a connection. Turkish Airlines says it flies direct between Istanbul and Ashgabat, which also suits your visa trip. Routes change, so check before each intake. Also read visa guidance, the guides for Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and all country guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can students from Turkmenistan 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 there Campus France in Turkmenistan?
We found no Campus France office there, and Turkmenistan is not on the Études en France list. Confirm with the consulate in Istanbul whether any Campus France step applies to you.
Where do Turkmen students apply for a French student visa?
Students living in Turkmenistan book VFS Global in Istanbul, and the Consulate General of France in Istanbul issues the long-stay visa.
Do I need a Turkish visa to file in Istanbul?
Turkey’s foreign ministry says ordinary Turkmen passport holders need a visa to enter. Allow time for it.
How much does the visa cost?
France-Visas shows €99 as the indicative fee for countries outside Études en France, plus a €30 VFS service fee. Confirm your amount with the consulate before you travel.
Do Turkmen diplomas need an apostille?
No apostille route exists, because Turkmenistan is not in the Apostille Convention. France’s table shows legalisation. Ask AI2 admissions what it needs.
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. AI2 bills in euros.
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: Turkey · France-Visas: student · Embassy of France in Turkmenistan: visas · Embassy of France: study in France · Campus France: outside Études en France · Turkey MFA: visa information · ENIC-NARIC: Turkmenistan · 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.
