Apply to Study in France: Deadlines, Application Process, Timeline

France is the 4th most popular study destination in the world, as per the French national agency report of 2024, welcoming over 400,000 international students every year? Among them, a growing number are from India, drawn by France’s world-class universities, affordable tuition, and exciting career opportunities.

From the prestigious Sorbonne University (Ranked #63, as per QS World University Rankings 2025), the research-driven École Polytechnique (ParisTech)(Ranked #61, as per QS World University Rankings 2025), to the multi-disciplinary Paris Sciences et Lettres University(Ranked #24, as per QS World University Rankings 2025), France offers a wide range of programs in engineering, business, humanities, and sciences.

Most universities in France have two main intakes:

✔ Fall Intake (September/October) – The primary and most preferred intake.

✔ Spring Intake (January/February) – Available for select programs.

Whether you dream of studying art in Paris, business in Lyon, or engineering in Grenoble, France’s top-ranked universities, globally recognized degrees, and post-study work opportunities make it an ideal destination for Indian students.

Explore: Student Guide to Study in France

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General Timeline to Apply to Study in France

International students are accepted by the universities in France in September and January mostly in spring, autumn, or fall and summer. A huge number of universities in France have a wide variety of admission schedules even for the same season. However, the approximate schedule for applying to study in France is given below:

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Application Deadlines to Study MBA in France

France is popular among international students for its MBA programs covered by numerous business schools and universities. Although most of the MBA programs begin in the term of September, however, there are exceptions. Here are the application deadlines of some of the top MBA programs in France:

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Apply to Study in France Tips and Tricks

There are several minute factors to keep in mind while applying to study in France which can make difference in the selection process. Following are the key factors to be considered to apply to study in France:

• Learning French: Although your university might not force you to learn French to get admission, however, learning the native language will give you an added advantage. Besides, this will also reflect your affection and intention to study in France.
• Professional LOR: If you want to apply to a master’s program like MBA, a professional LOR from your workspace senior will provide added value to your profile. If you were not employed previously, you can provide academic LOR instead.
• Multiple Application: Do not apply to a single university that exhibits high admission requirements and a competitive admission policy. Instead, you can apply for the same program in two or more universities to secure a backup.
• Deadlines: There are countless application deadlines for different universities in France. Try to select universities at the earliest, so that you don’t miss out on the application deadline of that particular year.

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Mistakes to Avoid While Applying to Study in France

Even with excellent preparations, some students get rejected by their favorite university due to minute mistakes. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind to avoid rejections when you apply to study in France:

• Lack of financial availability: Make sure you have enough money in your personal account to satisfy the minimum financial availability requirements.
• Counterfeit documents: Sometimes students provide downloaded certificates or fake letters and statements. Never try to do such activities as this may involve legal actions and permanently ban you from applying to any French international university.
• Missing documents: Cross-check the course-specific admission requirements and country-specific visa application requirements. Missing out any of the documents may result in rejection.
• Lack of proof showing intent to return to your home country: Always mention your intention of returning to your country right after completion of the course. This increases your chance of getting accepted by the university and French embassy.
• Lack of knowledge about the selected program: Research about the program of your choice, the contents, future opportunities. Keep adequate information ready about your plans to contribute to social welfare after completing the program.

Also Check: Jobs in France for International Students

The application deadlines of both undergraduate and graduate programs widely vary across different universities in France. Hence, you should choose the university at the earliest so that you have enough time to prepare for the application process. Make checklists for different stages of the admission process to perform the step-by-step actions properly. Applying to universities with average scores of the previous batch lesser than yours increases your chances of getting selected.