Looking for a master’s in France as a Zambian student? AI2 offers English-taught MSc programmes in applied AI, data science, cybersecurity and IoT near Paris, open to graduates from Zambia, with a State-registered qualification at master’s level (RNCP level 7).
Zambia has no French visa desk of its own: the embassy in Lusaka does not issue visas, and long-stay files are decided by the French Consulate General in Johannesburg. You can still lodge your file and give biometrics at a Capago centre in Lusaka, and because Zambia sits outside the Études en France procedure, there is one step fewer than for South African applicants.
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 Zambia: what is specific to you
Your ECZ certificate and your degree, mapped to AI2
AI2 asks for the Grade 12 School Certificate, examined by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ), with mathematics, for entry to Bachelor Year 1. After school, the match depends on how far you have gone:
- A diploma in computing or engineering, or two completed years at a university or college, points to the BSc final year.
- A bachelor’s in computer science, engineering, mathematics or statistics points to the MSc Applied AI.
- If your degree in a related field ran for four years, you may meet the Fast-Track condition of four years of higher education; the academic team checks this on your transcript.
Proving your documents are genuine: ZAQA
The Zambia Qualifications Authority runs a verification service that confirms a Zambian qualification is approved and was really issued by its awarding body. Applications and payment go through ZAQA’s online Qualifications Management Information System, local requests take about 14 working days, and the result is an e-certificate with a digital seal that you can forward by email. Starting it early means you have it ready if anyone in the process asks for proof.
Lusaka centre, Johannesburg decision
On France-Visas you must choose South Africa as the country of submission, even though you live in Zambia. Campus France South Africa confirms that the Johannesburg consulate handles students resident in Zambia directly, without the Études en France platform. The Capago visa application centre is on the 9th floor of Regus Sunshare Tower, Katima Mulilo Road, Lusaka. Capago charges a base service fee of €120 plus €30 for transferring your passport, both payable in kwacha, and returned passports are collected from Mercury Express Logistics in Longacres.
Budget in kwacha
| Item | EUR | ZMW (approx., at the October 2026 rate) |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Applied AI, per year | from 10,500 | about K237,000 |
| Bachelor in Applied AI, per year | from 9,000 | about K203,000 |
| BSc final year (top-up) | from 9,900 | about K224,000 |
| Fast-Track (11 months) | 11,000 | about K249,000 |
| Capago service and passport transfer | 150 | about K3,400 |
The French visa fee is extra and is set in euros by the French administration. For rent and daily expenses near Paris, see student accommodation in the Paris region.
English tests and flights from Lusaka
The British Council holds IELTS at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Great East Road. If your studies were in English, read studying in France without IELTS first. For the journey, Kenya Airways sells Lusaka to Paris Charles de Gaulle itineraries through Nairobi, Ethiopian Airlines connects Lusaka with Paris through Addis Ababa, and Airlink flies to Johannesburg for an onward Air France flight.
Sources checked in October 2026: France-Visas: Zambia · Campus France South Africa: students outside South Africa · Campus France: countries under the Études en France procedure · Zambia Qualifications Authority: learners · IELTS: British Council, Mulungushi International Conference Centre · Kenya Airways: Lusaka to Paris
AI and data science programmes for students from Zambia
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 Zambia
- Bachelor Year 1: the Grade 12 School Certificate, 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 mining, banking, telecoms and NGOs in Zambia and across Southern 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 Zambia: step by step
Apply to AI2 online and attend an online interview with the academic team.
Receive your admission letter.
Zambia 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
Central Africa Time (UTC+2): one hour ahead of Paris in winter, the same time 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
Can I hand in my French student visa application at the embassy in Lusaka?
No. France-Visas states that the French Embassy in Lusaka does not issue visas. Files are lodged at the Capago centre in Lusaka and decided by the French Consulate General in Johannesburg.
Which country do I select on France-Visas if I live in Zambia?
Select South Africa as the country of submission. This routes your file to the Johannesburg consulate, which covers residents of Zambia.
Do Zambian students go through Études en France?
No. Zambia is not on Campus France’s list of Études en France countries, so after your AI2 offer you go straight to the France-Visas application.
How can I show that my Grade 12 or degree certificate is authentic?
Apply to ZAQA for verification through its online QMIS portal. You receive an e-certificate with a digital seal that can be shared by email.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
