France Application Timeline: Month-by-Month Guide for Indian Students

Indian students are required to follow the Études en France procedure to get admitted to a university in France. The process is completely online, and Campus France suggests that students must complete the procedure by November of the year preceding the study year. This article presents a detailed France admission timeline for Indian students. 

Since India is one of the countries that are affected by the Études en France procedure, Indian students are required to generate a specific request to enrol in higher education institutions in France. So, for admissions to an L1 bachelor’s program, students must make a Preliminary Admission Request (DAP) and follow the Études en France procedure. For L2, L3, M1, and M2, the Hors-DAP track is used along with the Études en France procedure. The former has a shorter application period and allows you to apply only till Dec of the preceding year, while the Hors-DAP track allows you to apply from Feb to May of the academic year. Read this article to get all the details on the France admission timeline for Indian students. 

France Admission Process

Before moving on to learn about the France admission timeline and deadline, it is important to learn how the admission process in France works. 

Admissions in France, for Indian students, mandatorily involve the "Études en France" (EEF) procedure managed by Campus France. Here’s the France admission process, described for Indian students:

1. Visit the Études en France website and register to create your account. Upon filling out the details, you will receive an email to set up your password. Note that you’re required to remember your Campus France Registration Number (a no. at the top of your application in the format - INXX-XXXX) 

2. To log into your account, visit the Campus France India website and click on “Log in”. Then you can fill out an application form online; note that you must submit your documents, including your SOP and academic transcripts, online on this portal only. 

3. Students applying after Class 12th, i.e. for a bachelor’s degree, will be required to make a Preliminary Admission Request (DAP) - which allows them to apply to a maximum of 3 universities. However, students applying for the above levels are not required to make a DAP, and they can apply to up to 7 universities at a time.

4. Once you submit your application, Campus France will review your application and then call you for an interview/appointment. 

5. You must carry your original physical documents (all the application documents that you submitted online) and the payment receipt you receive from your application. 

6. During your Campus France interview, the copies of documents you submitted online will be matched with the physical copies, and the originals will be returned to you towards the end of the interview. You will also receive an interview completion certificate. 

7. Campus France will then share your application with the universities you have applied to, and you will start getting responses from your universities. 

8. Once you receive a confirmation from a university, or from more than one university - you will have to make your final choice and accept the offer of the one university you really wish to attend in France. Note that you cannot change your university in France later. 

9. You can then apply for your French student visa online with VFS France India. 

How many Intakes in France are there?

There are mainly two intakes in France, and a majority of students wish to go for the September Intake, which is also called the Fall intake in France. This intake is more famous, as all French universities participate in it, and so all courses and all big scholarships are available in this intake. The Spring intake in France, on the other hand, is a smaller intake with fewer universities & courses available in it for students. However, the timeline of both these intakes differs largely, which we have described below. 

France Admission Timeline for Indian Students

We have compiled the application data from various data sources of Campus France India in this section. Indian students planning to submit an application for the 2027-28 intakes can take note of the France admission deadline given below. 

For the September/Fall Intake 2027

Now that you are well-versed with the France admission process, you must also get acquainted with the France admission timeline in India. 

For Indian students targeting the Fall (September/October) intake in France, the admission cycle begins roughly 10 to 11 months before the start of classes via the Études en France portal. The applications to most French universities open in October of the previous year - with the deadlines of Campus France and most public universities closing between January and April of the academic year (college-joining year). 

Below, we have provided the France admission timeline for Indian students for the Fall intake of 2027-28.

1. October-December, 2026:- Research programs, choose universities, and start preparing for language tests (IELTS, TOEFL, or DELF/TCF) or management tests (GMAT/GRE) if required. 

2. November-December, 2026: Apply for the EEF Procedure online and submit your application documents like SOP and LORs, online.

3. January-April, 2027: Period for submission of applications - final admission deadlines for students. France admission deadline for students undergoing the DAP procedure may fall in early January 2027, while other students might still be able to apply until April 2027. 

4. February-April, 2027: Students who have submitted their applications will be called for a Campus France interview during this period

5. May-June, 2027: Universities release their offers for students; students have to make their final choice by paying a deposit fee. You must also start looking for accommodations in France, as confirmation of the same will be required for your French VLS-TS student visa application. 

6. June-July, 2027: Prepare to gather your financial documents for the French student visa and apply for one. 

7. August-September/October: Receive your student visa, book your flight tickets, and get ready to move. Fly to France and start attending your classes from September/October. 

For February/Spring Intake 2027 in France

For the Spring (January/February) intake in France, Indian students should start planning 8 to 12 months in advance. Applications typically open around May to August, and submission deadlines fall between September and November of the prior year. Classes begin in January. Here is the timeline for the same:

1. March-June, 2026: Research schools and specific programs (mostly business and select private institutions offer Spring starts). Prepare for English or French language tests like - IELTS, TOEFL, DELF, or TCF.

2. July-August, 2026: Draft your Statement of Purpose (SOP), secure Letters of Recommendation (LORs), and gather academic transcripts.

3. September-October, 2026: Submit an application on the EEF platform

4. November-December, 2026: Universities release offers; accept one and then apply for accommodation and a French student visa. Complete your onboarding requirements during this time.

5. January 2027: Move to France and start attending your classes. 

Note: Universities specify exactly how many days before the start of your classes you must move to France. If you do not receive such a communication from your university in due time, feel free to ask your program supervisor or academic counsellors over email. 

This was all about France application timelines for students in India. If you wish to study in France, get in touch with Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free. 

France Admission Timeline FAQs