First-year applicants, depending on status and residence
Detailed route Parcoursup / Études en France
Use the official decision tree; the correct route cannot be inferred from nationality alone.
Europe · undergraduate
Applying to university in France.
France uses different routes depending on nationality, residence, qualification and programme type. Parcoursup is the national first-year pre-registration platform; many non-European applicants living in countries covered by Études en France must use that procedure, sometimes with a DAP for first-year Licence study.
National routeParcoursup
International routeÉtudes en France / DAP
LanguageProgramme-specific
VisaPost-admission process
Choose the route that matches you.
Central systems do not erase university-specific requirements. They only determine where the application begins.
How to apply.
Use this sequence as the backbone, then attach the current requirements for each programme.
- 01
Classify your situation
Record nationality, country of residence, diploma and target programme type.
- 02
Use the official route checker
Determine Parcoursup, Études en France/DAP or direct institution application.
- 03
Check language evidence
French- and English-taught programmes set their own accepted tests and levels.
- 04
Prepare academic file
Translate and present records according to portal and institution instructions.
- 05
Submit choices and motivation
Complete each programme’s required project, motivation or supplementary evidence.
- 06
Finish visa and registration
Admission, Campus France/visa and final university registration can be separate workflows.
Document set
Official transcript or school-reported academic record
Current courses and predicted or final results
Identity details that match official documents
English-language results when required
Programme-specific portfolio, test or interview evidence
Certified translations when required
French-language evidence for relevant programmes
DAP or Études en France dossier where applicable
Planning rhythm
- 01Route determination
Do this before the relevant platform opens.
- 02Choice window
Create and confirm programme choices within the active national/international calendar.
- 03Admission phase
Respond to offers within the platform’s response windows.
- 04Visa and enrolment
Complete immigration and institution registration after admission.
05 / EASY TO MISS
Before you trust the form.
- The correct route depends on residence as well as nationality.
- A private school or specialist programme may use its own route.
- DAP and Parcoursup calendars are not interchangeable.
- An admission offer may still require Campus France and visa completion.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Verify the current cycle.
Last reviewed August 2026. Dates and applicant categories can change.