Studying at university in France

How French higher education is organized

France organizes degrees in three cycles, often called LMD: the licence (three years after the baccalauréat), the master (two further years) and the doctorat. Public universities are open to anyone who holds the baccalauréat or an equivalent, although many programs now select or limit places.

Alongside universities sit the grandes écoles, selective schools of engineering, business and public administration. Many recruit through two years of preparatory classes (classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles, or CPGE) followed by competitive exams. Others admit students directly after high school, and some run their own international admissions. There are also shorter technical programs, such as the BUT at university institutes of technology.

Marks are given out of 20, and 10 is a pass. A mark of 14 or 15 is considered very good, so do not judge your progress by North American percentage habits.

Which application route applies to you

France separates applicants by their school diploma and where they live:

• Parcoursup is the national platform for first-year higher education. It is the route for students preparing a French, European or binational baccalauréat, including students at French lycées in Canada and the United States.
• The preliminary admission request (demande d'admission préalable, or DAP) applies to non-EU applicants with a foreign high school diploma who want to enter the first year of a licence at a university.
• Études en France is the online Campus France procedure used in participating countries. Canada and the United States are on the list, so most applicants living there file their DAP and other applications through it.
• Direct applications to grandes écoles and private institutions follow each school's own calendar.

University guidance for the most recent campaign gave 15 December as the closing date for DAP applications and for registering for the TCF DAP language test, with decisions by 30 April. Expect a similar calendar for 2027 entry, but confirm on the Campus France Canada or USA site in early autumn. Études en France charges a processing fee, set by each country's Campus France office.

If you hold a French baccalauréat from a lycée abroad, the Parcoursup calendar applies instead: lists of wishes are entered in winter and decisions arrive from late spring. See parcoursup.gouv.fr for the 2027 dates.

Entry requirements for North American graduates

French universities ask for a diploma that gives access to university in the country where it was earned. In practice, a Canadian provincial diploma or a US high school diploma is assessed by each university, which may look for specific subjects (mathematics and sciences for science programs, for example) and solid grades. There is no single national conversion table published for North American diplomas, so treat the program's own requirements as final.

Selective programs, grandes écoles and CPGE look closely at grades, recommendations and motivation letters. Some English-taught bachelor's programs at grandes écoles ask for SAT or ACT scores or AP results; others review only school records and an interview.

Medicine and other health fields have their own first-year routes, and some universities do not admit non-EU applicants to them through the DAP. Check before you plan around them.

What the first year of a licence looks like

A licence year is split into two semesters, each organized in teaching units (unités d'enseignement) worth ECTS credits. Large lectures (cours magistraux, or CM) introduce the material, and smaller tutorial groups (travaux dirigés, or TD) are where you practise, present and get marked. Attendance at TD is often compulsory, while lecture attendance is not always checked.

Assessment mixes continuous assessment (contrôle continu) with end-of-semester exams. If you fail a unit, most universities offer a second exam session (session de rattrapage) in late spring or early summer. Some universities compensate a weak mark in one unit with a stronger mark in another, as long as your semester average reaches 10.

Many first-year students find the independence surprising: there are fewer graded assignments, office hours are less formal than in North America, and much of the reading is self-directed. Building a weekly routine early, with time blocked for review after each TD, makes the January exams far less stressful.

Costs and funding

For 2026-27, Campus France lists these annual registration fees at public universities:

Several groups of non-EU students pay the EU rate. Campus France names residents of Québec, under the France-Québec agreement, along with long-term residents, refugees and some others. Universities may also grant waivers. A decree of 19 May 2026 changed the rules for fee waivers granted by institutions, with transitional rules for students who already had one, so check your situation with the university. Grandes écoles and private schools set their own, often much higher, fees.

Students may be eligible for housing assistance (APL) from the CAF. All students also pay the annual student life and campus contribution (CVEC).

Language of instruction and tests

Most licence programs are taught in French. Applicants who did not complete secondary school in French usually prove their level through the TCF DAP or a DELF or DALF diploma; B2 is a common threshold. Students from French-language schools in Canada are typically exempt. English-taught programs are growing, especially at master's level and in business and engineering schools, and ask for an English test or English-medium schooling.

If your French is rusty, start early. Our guide to learning French suggests a practical routine, and the study skills flashcards help with lecture habits.

Student visa

Non-EU students staying more than three months apply for a long-stay student visa that serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS), which you validate online after arrival. For applicants in Études en France countries, the Campus France file feeds into the visa application. You will need proof of admission, accommodation and sufficient resources.

Apply through the official France-Visas site. This guide is not immigration advice.

Tips for applicants from Canada and the US

1. Decide between a university licence, a grande école or a CPGE; the routes and deadlines differ.
2. Open your Études en France account in early autumn and book the TCF DAP if you need it.
3. Write a focused motivation letter in French for each program.
4. Submit before the December deadline and watch your account for interview or document requests.
5. After admission, start the visa and housing steps, and apply for CAF housing aid after arrival.

For a broader look at the jump to university study, read high school to university. You can compare France with Belgium and Switzerland, which also teach many programs in French, from the universities hub.