Timeline for September Intake in France 2026

The September intake in France, also called the Fall Intake, is the primary academic session starting in mid-September. Almost all major universities and colleges participate in this intake and almost 100% courses are available. 

According to Campus France, the number of international students registered for studying in France rose by 17-20% over the last 5 years and in 2024-25, the total number of Indian students studying in France went over 10,000. But as of now, both the Indian and French governments intend to increase this number. 

The French universities accept applications for admission during their two major intakes a year, i.e. the January/Spring intake and September/Fall intake. Like in any other country, the September intake in France is its major intake and features nearly 100% programs and scholarship opportunities available. The applications for the Fall Intake in France open in October of the previous year and close by May/June of the application year. However, the key deadlines of some courses are around December 15th. In comparison to the Spring/January intake in France, more time is available to students in Fall intake to prepare for an application. Students need to really showcase their creative skills as this intake is quite competitive. Admitted students find large student crowds on the campus and class sizes may be larger than in the spring intake. Let us understand the timeline for the Fall intake in France, given below.

You must also check the top universities in France in 2026.

Timeline for the September Intake in France 2026-27

The September intake in French universities is also known by the name, Fall intake. This intake is the preferred choice of many international students. This is why the fall intake in France has a high level of competition. This, in turn, makes it all the more challenging for international students to take admission during this intake. Hence, it is important to plan in advance and take the necessary steps for admission. Given below is the timeline for the September intake to study in France. 

March-April 2026

• Till March, shortlist 8-10 universities. Check the requirements of the universities and deadlines for the courses in which you want to take admission
• Know all the funding options that you have such as loan providers and scholarships
• Start working on admission forms
• By April, appear for the required exams like GMAT / GRE
• Accordingly, appear for language tests as well like IELTS / TOEFL. It is advised to plan the buffer time in case you have to retake the test

May - June 2026

• Start working on your SOPs and collect LORs from your seniors or professors at least a month before your deadline for the application
• Then, submit scores, letters, and documents to apply to the universities
• Next, apply before the due date 

July - August 2026

• Hear from the universities and appear for the university interviews
• Reply to the university's emails without any delay, in case you are accepted
• Next, take the decision on the admission fee or confirmation fee to the university

August - September 2026

• Now, make the final necessary arrangements, as required
• Next, apply for scholarships or students loans to study abroad, if necessary
• Apply for a student visa

September 2026

• Book your flight tickets and check the accommodation facilities
• Arrange for an International debit/credit card
• Lastly, collect all your documents and be ready to fly
• Check out this complete guide on studying in France

Benefits of Enrolling During the Fall Intake in France

Enrolling during the fall intake in France proves to be highly beneficial for students in various aspects like - getting to choose from the widest range of course options and scholarships available; also, the class sizes are large - making the university life for you quite interesting from the start and also, the timeline of the classes conducted during the fall intake aligns perfectly with the summer and winter internships. All these reasons help Indian students make the transition into a French university's campus life seamlessly. Read below to learn all the benefits of the September intake in France for Indian students - 

1. You get to choose from a wide range of courses and specialisations available at French universities and Grandes Écoles.
2. The timeline of various prestigious scholarships to study in France aligns with the Fall intake in France, which grants you access to the largest pool of funding 
3. The semesters in the fall intake in France are timed to match the employers' hiring time cycle in France and in the broader EU area. This way, most students have good chances of getting hired for internships and jobs as they can apply and join in required period of time.
4. As the fall intake is the largest intake in France - it also attracts the largest number of international applicants than during any other intake throughout the year. This results in one having diverse batchmates - to hold meaningful friendships and diverse professional connections for life.  

Top Universities in France Participating in the for September Intake 

Since the September intake is the major intake, so all private and public universities in France participate in the fall intake. These universities offer all - bachelor's, master's and PhD courses during the September intake in France. Some of the top universities that offer fall intake in France are:

• HEC Paris
• INSEAD
• Sorbonne University
• PSL Research University
• HEC Paris
• Ecole Polytechnique
• ESSEC Business School
• SKEMA Business School
• KEDGE Business School

You may use the Campus France Program Catalogue to find courses taught in English or French at these universities.

How to Apply to Universities in France 2026 for the Fall Intake?

A step-by-step explanation of the application process to study in France is given below:

• First of all, be clear with the programme that you want to study
• Then, check for the colleges and/or universities offering that program
• Get familiar with the admission requirements of the universities
• Next, check the tuition fee
• Fulfil all the eligibility criteria before applying to French universities
• Next, submit the application form (suitably till June of the application year) 
• Lastly, pay the application fee

Before starting the application process, you might want to learn How to crack Campus France Interview?

Documents Required to Study in France

Note that the admission requirements to study in France may vary as per the chosen programs and universities. Given below is a basic list of the documents required while applying to universities situated in France.

• Attested copies of mark sheets of previous qualifications
• SOP
• Resume
• LOR
• GRE / GMAT score
• Proof of funds
• English language proficiency scores
• French language proficiency scores: DEFL or TCF
• Health insurance
• A copy of the passport
• Scanned passport-size photographs

Also check out the top 5 Reasons to do MBA from France

Some points to keep in mind while applying to Study in France

There are numerous factors that one needs to keep in mind while applying to study in France. These can make a difference in the selection process. Check the key factors that have to be considered while applying to study in France provided below:

• Learning French: The universities might not force you to learn French in order to take admission. However, learning the native language will give you an upper hand and will specify your intent and motivation to study in France.
• Professional LOR: If you want to apply for a program like MBA, then a professional LOR from your senior at the workplace will provide value to your profile. In case, you were not employed previously, you can provide academic LOR.
• Follow the deadline: Before applying to your desired French university, check its application deadline and then work towards its submission. If you do not want to miss out on the application deadline for a particular year, it is advised to shortlist the universities for admission as soon as possible.

Some of the mistakes that should be avoided while applying to study in France are:

• Ensure that you have enough funds to satisfy the minimum financial availability requirements
• Carefully check the course-specific admission requirements and country-specific visa application requirements and then, submit the required documents.
• Research your desired program properly. This includes its contents and future opportunities.

Read More:

• Post-Study Work Permits for Indian Students in France

• Top Courses in France