France Student Visa from Bangladesh 2027

Overview

France hosts more than 400,000 international students and is a strong option for Bangladeshi students who want an internationally recognised degree at moderate cost. Public universities charge regulated fees, and since 2026-2027 non-EU students pay EUR 2,902 per year for a Licence (Bachelor's) and EUR 3,950 per year for a Master's, unless their institution grants an exemption (amounts for 2027-2028 are yet to be published, and exemptions will be capped at 25% of non-EU students). Business schools, engineering grandes écoles and private institutions set their own, higher fees.

Students staying longer than three months need a long-stay student visa. For stays of four months to one year this is the VLS-TS 'étudiant', which acts as your first residence permit once you validate it online within three months of arrival. For longer programs you then apply for a multi-year residence permit from France.

Bangladesh is one of the countries covered by the Études en France procedure run by Campus France. Every Bangladeshi applicant must create a file on the Études en France platform, pay the Campus France processing fee, and complete an academic interview with Campus France Bangladesh, located at the Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi, before applying for the visa. This applies even if a university has already accepted you directly.

After the Campus France stage, the visa application is completed on France-Visas and lodged in person at the VFS Global France Visa Application Centre in Gulshan 2, Dhaka, which began operating in September 2025. Once in France, students can work up to 964 hours a year, benefit from free registration with French social security, and Master's graduates can stay up to 12 months on a temporary residence permit (APS) to find a job.

What's new for 2027

• Tuition exemption cap tightens: under the May 2026 decree, universities may exempt at most 25% of non-EU students from differentiated fees in 2027-2028 (down from 30% in 2026-2027), with a long-term cap of 20%. Expect fewer fee waivers.
• Differentiated public university fees (EUR 2,902 Licence, EUR 3,950 Master's in 2026-2027) apply; amounts for 2027-2028 had not been published as of September 2026 and may be indexed slightly upward.
• The DAP calendar for a September 2027 first-year Licence normally opens on 1 October 2026 and closes on 15 December 2026; confirm exact dates on Campus France.
• Otherwise this guide is based on current rules (EUR 615 per month resources, EUR 50 reduced visa fee, 964 working hours per year, 12-month APS). No other changes had been officially announced; re-check closer to applying.
• Visa submissions continue at the VFS Global France Visa Application Centre in Gulshan 2, Dhaka.

Scholarships available in France

France's government funding is strong but fragmented: the biggest national scheme, France Excellence Eiffel, cannot be applied for by students at all, because only a French institution can submit the application. For a Bangladeshi applicant the practical route is Bourses du Gouvernement Français, run by the French embassy in your own country, and the single biggest trap is that BGF terms, quota and deadlines are set locally, so the Dhaka embassy's own call governs everything. Campus Bourses is the official catalogue to search first.

• France Excellence Eiffel (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères)): A monthly allowance of EUR 1,200 for a Master's and EUR 2,100 for a doctorate (reduced from EUR 2,210 in January 2026), plus international and national travel, health insurance, help finding housing and cultural activities. Tuition fees are not paid. The 2026 campaign opened on 1 October 2025, closed through Campus France on 8 January 2026 and results came from 30 March 2026. The 2027 campaign is expected to run from about 1 October 2026 to 8 January 2027
• MOPGA 2027 (French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy of France in Dhaka): A 12-month visiting fellowship for doctoral holders with BGF (bourse du gouvernement français) status, covering a monthly allowance, health insurance and return travel for the 12 months of the fellowship. Applications 15 September 2026 – 15 December 2026; results May – June 2027
• Bourses du Gouvernement Français (BGF) (French embassies, so in Bangladesh the Embassy of France in Dhaka): Indicative Campus France figures are about EUR 860 a month for a Master's and about EUR 1,690 a month for a doctorate, plus airfare, health insurance and either public university tuition or up to EUR 5,000 of private tuition. Holders also get an automatic full tuition-fee waiver under Decree No. 2026-385 of 19 May 2026, with transitional protection for students already enrolled. Country-specific: the quota, the terms and the deadline are all set by the French embassy in your country, and the Bangladesh terms were not published centrally
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (European Commission, administered by EACEA): Full funding for a one- or two-year master's: tuition fees, a monthly living and installation allowance, travel between the participating countries, insurance and where applicable a mobility allowance for students with fewer mobility opportunities. Calls are published by EACEA once or twice a year, with deadlines usually falling between November and February for the following autumn intake
• Erasmus+ mobility grants (European Commission, applied through your home or host institution): Travel and subsistence support for a study period or traineeship in France, paid as travel top-ups, individual support or real-cost support depending on the call. Tuition is not covered and the grant covers only the mobility period. Institutional calls, usually announced between October and December for the following spring or autumn mobility period
• MSCA Doctoral Networks (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) (European Commission, through the Doctoral Network host institutions): The doctoral researcher is recruited as an employee on a salary, and the network covers salary, mobility and family allowances where they apply, plus research and training costs at the host institutions. No central deadline: each network advertises its vacancies, which are listed on EURAXESS and on the host universities' own pages
• Fondation de France scholarships (Fondation de France): Scholarships and grants for higher education, with the amount and what it pays for set per call: some cover tuition, others give partial maintenance support, and a few fund a short course or a research stay. Calls open and close through the year, each with its own deadline and its own eligibility criteria
• Regional authority and research-body scholarships (French regions and research organisations such as CNRS, IRD, ADEME and IFREMER): Monthly maintenance support and sometimes tuition for foreign students accepted into a programme hosted or co-funded by that body, with the amounts set by the region or the institute. Varies by body; calls are usually announced with the academic year, from autumn onwards, and can close early in the year

Who can apply

• You have been accepted by a French higher education institution, either through the DAP procedure (first-year Bachelor's at public universities) or through the Études en France platform or directly by a school.
• You have completed the Études en France procedure with Campus France Bangladesh, including the processing fee and the Campus France interview.
• You can prove at least EUR 615 per month of available resources for the length of your stay.
• You meet the language requirement of your program: French B2 for most French-taught first-year Bachelor's places, or IELTS/TOEFL (or equivalent) for English-taught programs.
• You hold a passport valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay, with blank pages.
• You have arranged accommodation for at least your first three months in France.
• You are applying no more than three months before your departure date.
• Your academic history is coherent with your chosen program and you can explain any gaps.
• Applicants under 18 need parental authorisation and a guardian arrangement in France.

Requirements by study level

Intermediate / A Level

France has few foundation-year routes comparable to the UK, but Bangladeshi HSC and A-Level holders can often enter the first year of a Licence directly. Students who need to improve their French or academic preparation usually take a university French-language year or a private foundation program first.

• HSC and A-Level holders can apply for the first year of a Licence at public universities through the DAP (demande d'admission préalable) procedure on Études en France, which normally closes on 15 December for the following September.
• DAP applicants usually need French at B2 level, shown through the TCF-DAP or DELF B2, unless exempt.
• Students without enough French can enrol in a university French-language program (DU FLE) or a private language school for a year, but a language-only course leads to a different visa type and may not lead automatically to degree admission.
• Private business and engineering schools offer English-taught foundation or pre-Bachelor years; check that the school is recognised and that the program is eligible for a student visa.
• Applicants under 18 need written consent from both parents, a guardian in France and suitable supervised accommodation; in practice most programs require students to be 18 at the start.
• Funds, Campus France and VFS steps are the same as for other levels.

Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor's students either apply to public universities through the DAP procedure (French-taught, strict December deadline) or directly to grandes écoles and private schools, many of which teach in English. Either way, the Campus France procedure is mandatory before the visa.

• For a September 2027 intake, DAP registration is expected to run from 1 October to 15 December 2026, with university responses by about 30 April and student confirmation by about 31 May 2027.
• Public university Licence fees for non-EU students were EUR 2,902 per year in 2026-2027; universities may exempt at most 25% of non-EU students in 2027-2028.
• English-taught Bachelor's programs are mostly at business schools and private institutions, with fees commonly from about EUR 8,000 to over EUR 15,000 per year.
• Submit HSC and SSC certificates and transcripts, with certified English or French translations if needed.
• Your motivation letter and Campus France interview should explain clearly why this program in France fits your background.
• A three-year Licence completed in France can lead to a French Master's; Bachelor's graduates are generally not eligible for the post-study APS unless they hold a qualifying professional Licence.

Master's Degree

Master's applicants with a Bangladeshi Bachelor's degree can apply through the Études en France platform, national Master's platforms or directly to schools. A large number of English-taught Master's programs are available, particularly in business, engineering and data science.

• Public university Master's fees for non-EU students were EUR 3,950 per year in 2026-2027 (2027-2028 amounts to be confirmed); business school Master's programs are considerably more expensive.
• English-taught programs usually require IELTS around 6.0-6.5 or equivalent; French-taught programs usually require B2 or C1 French.
• Bring Bachelor's certificates, transcripts, and HSC and SSC records, plus any work experience letters.
• Master's-level graduates can obtain a 12-month APS temporary residence permit to look for work or create a business in France.
• French government scholarships (BGF) and Eiffel Excellence scholarships exempt students from tuition and CVEC.
• Explain your career plan clearly at the Campus France interview, as officers check the coherence between your Bachelor's, the chosen Master's and your future goals.

PhD / Doctorate

A PhD in France is a job. You are recruited by a doctoral school (école doctorale) or a laboratory, normally on a three-year doctoral contract (contrat doctoral) or a research grant, and the recruitment is employer-led rather than application-led.

• Public university doctoral tuition for non-EU students is only EUR 398 a year, and the doctorate is exempt from the higher differentiated non-EU fee that Bachelor's and Master's students pay under the decree of 19 May 2026.
• There is no national PhD application round: laboratories advertise positions on their own pages and through EURAXESS, so you follow supervisors and projects rather than a national call.
• The usual funding is a contrat doctoral of three years, and some doctorates are extended to four years; a funded position normally includes a teaching assistantship as well.
• Doctoral contracts and research fellowships are recruited all year, so there is no deadline to miss, but the main doctoral cohort starts in September with the rest of the university.
• The main funding routes are France Excellence Eiffel (EUR 2,100 a month for a doctorate, nominated by your institution), BGF (about EUR 1,690 a month) and MSCA Doctoral Networks, where you are recruited directly by the network.
• After the doctorate your residence permit changes from a study permit to a research or employment permit, and a completed French doctorate is well recognised when you later apply for a job-search permit.

How to apply, step by step

1. Choose programs and check requirements: Use Campus France catalogues to shortlist programs, and check language levels, tuition and deadlines. Decide whether you are a DAP applicant (first-year Licence at a public university) or a non-DAP applicant.
2. Take language tests: Sit TCF-DAP or DELF/DALF for French-taught programs (available through the Alliance Française de Dhaka) or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programs.
3. Create your Études en France file: Register on the Études en France platform, complete your academic profile, upload documents and select programs. DAP files must be complete by 15 December for the following September.
4. Pay the Campus France fee and attend the interview: Pay the processing fee, then attend the academic interview with Campus France Bangladesh at the Alliance Française de Dhaka, Dhanmondi. The interviewer checks your study project, language level and academic consistency.
5. Receive admission: Institutions respond through the platform or directly. Accept your offer and pay any deposit required by private schools.
6. Prepare funds and accommodation: Gather bank statements showing at least EUR 615 per month, sponsor documents or scholarship proof, and book accommodation for at least your first three months.
7. Complete France-Visas and book VFS: Fill in the long-stay application on france-visas.gouv.fr, then book an appointment at VFS Global's France centre in Gulshan 2. Payment by email confirms the booking. Apply no more than three months before departure.
8. Submit application and biometrics: Attend your VFS appointment in person with originals and copies, give fingerprints and a photo, and pay the fees.
9. Visa decision and passport collection: The Embassy of France decides the application; collect your passport from VFS.
10. Travel and validate your VLS-TS: After arrival, validate your VLS-TS online on the ANEF foreigners' portal within three months and pay the residence tax.

Document checklist

• Valid passport (Valid at least three months beyond your intended stay, with blank pages; copies of the data page.)
• France-Visas long-stay application form (Completed online on france-visas.gouv.fr, printed and signed.)
• Recent passport photos (Meeting ICAO standards.)
• Admission or pre-enrolment letter (From a French institution, stating program, dates and fees.)
• Études en France / Campus France file and interview confirmation (Proof that the Campus France procedure and interview are complete.)
• Campus France processing fee receipt (Paid before the Campus France interview; confirm the current amount with Campus France Bangladesh.)
• Proof of resources (At least EUR 615 per month for the stay: bank statements, sponsor letter with sponsor's financial documents, or scholarship certificate.)
• Sponsorship letter (attestation de prise en charge) (If a parent or relative funds you, with their bank statements, income proof and relationship evidence.)
• Scholarship award letter (Only if you hold a scholarship such as BGF or Eiffel.)
• Proof of accommodation (Rental contract, residence hall booking or host certificate for at least the first three months.)
• Academic certificates and transcripts (SSC, HSC or A-Levels, and Bachelor's degree for Master's applicants.)
• Language test results (TCF/DELF/DALF for French-taught programs; IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programs.)
• Motivation letter and CV (Explaining your study project, choice of France and career plan.)
• Translations (Documents in Bengali need translations into French or English.)
• Proof of tuition payment or deposit (Often requested by private schools and helpful for public universities.)
• Parental consent and guardian details (Only for applicants under 18.)
• Visa fee and VFS service fee payment (EUR 50 reduced rate for Études en France students, paid in BDT; not refunded if refused.)

Costs & proof of funds

• Visa fee: EUR 50 (reduced rate for Études en France students)
• VFS Global service fee: Approximately EUR 20-40 equivalent in BDT
• Campus France processing fee: Set locally by Campus France Bangladesh
• Public university tuition (non-EU): EUR 2,902 per year (Licence), EUR 3,950 per year (Master's) at 2026-2027 rates
• Private and business school tuition: Roughly EUR 8,000-25,000 per year
• CVEC contribution: EUR 105 in 2026-2027; 2027-2028 amount to be confirmed
• VLS-TS validation tax: About EUR 50
• Living costs: About EUR 800-1,200 per month outside Paris; more in Paris

You must show you have at least EUR 615 per month available for the length of your stay in France, which is about EUR 7,380 for a 12-month academic year. This is a minimum; showing more strengthens your application, especially for Paris.

• Funds can be shown through your own bank statements, a sponsor's commitment letter with their financial documents, or a scholarship certificate.
• Sponsors are commonly parents; provide evidence of the relationship, their income (salary, business or tax documents) and several months of bank statements.
• Scholarships such as the French government BGF or Eiffel scholarship count as proof of resources and also exempt you from tuition and CVEC.
• Tuition fees are separate from the EUR 615 per month living-cost minimum; officers may check you can pay both.
• Avoid large unexplained deposits just before applying; officers look for a stable source of funds.
• When renewing your residence permit in France you will again need to show resources of at least EUR 615 per month.

Visa interview

The Campus France Bangladesh academic interview is mandatory for every applicant and checks your study project, language skills and academic coherence. A separate interview at the visa stage is not usually required but may be requested.

• Know your program in detail: institution, city, duration, main courses and language of instruction.
• Explain how the program follows logically from your previous studies or work.
• Be ready to answer some questions in French if you are applying to a French-taught program.
• Have a clear, realistic career plan and explain why a French degree helps it.
• Know your budget: tuition, rent and monthly living costs, and who is paying.
• Bring originals of all documents uploaded to Études en France.
• Answer honestly and consistently with your motivation letter and CV.

Work rights

Students with a valid VLS-TS or student residence permit can work up to 964 hours per year, about 60% of full-time or roughly 20 hours a week, without a separate work authorisation. Internships that are part of the program are counted separately under an internship agreement. The French minimum wage (SMIC) applies.

Graduates with a Master's-level degree (and some professional Licence holders) can apply for a 12-month temporary residence permit (APS) to look for a job or create a business, working up to 964 hours a year until they sign a qualifying contract. They can then switch to an employee permit or a Talent Passport.

Tips & common mistakes

• Start the Études en France file early; the DAP deadline of 15 December is strict and missed deadlines cannot be fixed later.
• Contact Campus France Bangladesh (bangladesh@campusfrance.org) early to understand interview scheduling.
• Learn French even for English-taught programs; it helps with part-time jobs, housing and daily life.
• Ask universities early about tuition exemptions, which are capped at 25% of non-EU students in 2027-2028 and are more competitive.
• Budget above the EUR 615 minimum, particularly in Paris where rent is much higher.
• Book student residence (CROUS) or verified housing early and beware of rental scams.
• Keep copies of all documents in digital form for residence permit procedures in France.
• Applying for the visa before finishing the Campus France procedure and interview.
• Missing the 15 December DAP deadline for first-year Licence at public universities.
• Showing only the bare minimum funds or large last-minute deposits without explanation.
• Choosing programs unrelated to previous studies without a convincing explanation.
• Forgetting to validate the VLS-TS online within three months of arrival, which makes it invalid.
• Enrolling in unrecognised private institutions without checking visa eligibility and diploma recognition.
• Submitting untranslated Bengali documents.

Frequently asked questions

Is Campus France mandatory for Bangladeshi students?

Yes. Bangladesh is covered by the Études en France procedure, so you must complete a Campus France file, pay the processing fee and attend the Campus France interview before applying for the visa, even with a direct offer.

Where do I submit my French student visa in Bangladesh?

In person at the VFS Global France Visa Application Centre in Gulshan 2, Dhaka, after booking and confirming an appointment online. The Embassy of France in Dhaka takes the decision.

How much money do I need to show?

At least EUR 615 per month for your stay, about EUR 7,380 for a 12-month year, plus proof you can pay tuition.

How much is tuition at French public universities for 2027?

In 2026-2027 non-EU students pay EUR 2,902 per year for a Licence and EUR 3,950 per year for a Master's. 2027-2028 amounts had not been published by September 2026, and universities can exempt at most 25% of non-EU students in 2027-2028.

Can I study in France with English only?

Yes, many Master's and business school programs are taught in English. Public university first-year Licence places through DAP are mostly in French and need B2 French.

Can I work while studying in France?

Yes, up to 964 hours per year, about 20 hours a week, without a separate work permit.

Can I stay in France after graduation?

Master's-level graduates can get a 12-month APS temporary residence permit to find a job or start a business, then switch to a work permit.

Do I need health insurance?

Students register for free with French social security after arrival. Many also buy a complementary mutuelle for better coverage.

Official resources

• Campus France Bangladesh
• Campus France: Études en France procedure
• France-Visas: Bangladesh
• Campus France: VLS-TS student long-stay visa
• Campus France: Working while studying
• Campus France: Temporary Resident Permit (APS)