To apply to French universities from the US, most American students go through Campus France’s online platform “Études en France”, not Parcoursup. For the first year of a French bachelor’s degree (licence), that means a prior admission request (demande d’admission préalable, DAP) due December 15, 2026 for fall 2027.
For tuition, the visa and work rights in one page, from official sources, see the Diplonaut France guide.
Parcoursup or Études en France: which route is yours?
France has several application routes. Which one you use depends on your citizenship, where you live and the level you apply to. Campus France USA, the official French agency for students in the US, sets them out like this.
| Your situation | How you apply |
|---|---|
| US resident, not an EU citizen, first year of a licence (including the PASS and L.AS health tracks, and architecture) | DAP on Études en France, up to 3 programs |
| US resident, not an EU citizen, second or third year of a licence, or a master’s degree | “HDAP” file on Études en France, up to 7 programs |
| You also hold the citizenship of an EU country | Not Études en France: Parcoursup for the first year, direct applications for later years, MonMaster for graduate programs |
| School not connected to the platform | Apply directly to the school |
| Art programs | A separate procedure (Campus Art) |
Parcoursup is the national pre-registration platform for first-year higher education in France. Its FAQ for international students says a DAP is mandatory for foreigners with a foreign diploma who apply to the first year of a university licence. For other first-year programs, such as preparatory classes for the elite grandes écoles (classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles, CPGE), it says candidates abroad face specific rules. Check each program’s own page.
How to apply to French universities from the US, step by step
Campus France USA describes the process in three steps, followed by the visa.
- Create and complete your account on Études en France, following the application guide.
- Pay the application fee online. Campus France USA lists $460 for DAP and HDAP applicants (checked November 2026). It does not include the visa fee or the visa appointment fee.
- Campus France USA contacts you for an interview. Your application is then finalized and sent to the French institutions.
- Once admitted, apply for your student visa. Campus France USA says every student seeking a French student visa must first complete this pre-consular application on Études en France.
For the first year of a licence, the ministry’s DAP notice for 2027-2028 lets you choose three universities, with one file per program.
The calendar for fall 2027
These dates come from the French higher education ministry’s DAP notice for 2027-2028 and from Campus France USA.
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| DAP form available | October 1 to December 15, 2026 |
| DAP deadline (first-year licence) | December 15, 2026 |
| HDAP deadline (licence year 2 or 3, master’s) | January 15, 2027, 6 pm EST |
| Latest date to take the TCF French test (DAP) | February 12, 2027 |
| Universities’ decisions (DAP) | April 30, 2027 |
| Your answer (DAP) | By May 31, 2027 |
Start early. Applications for fall 2027 opened on October 1, 2026, and rule changes are tracked on Diplonaut’s latest changes page.
French language: the TCF for the DAP
The DAP notice requires the French language test TCF (Test de connaissance du français, run by France Éducation international) in its general version, with the written section. Results stay valid for two years.
Some applicants are exempt. The notice lists, among others:
- People whose secondary studies were mostly in French.
- Holders of a French-language diploma from the higher education ministry at level B2 or above.
- Candidates with a TEF score of at least 400 out of 699.
Proof of an exemption is due by December 15, 2026. Programs taught in English set their own language rules: see English-taught degrees in France.
Master’s programs, later years and other schools
If you already have a US bachelor’s degree, you file an HDAP application on Études en France, with up to seven programs. Our guide to the master’s in France for American students covers documents and how French schools read a US degree.
Some institutions are not on the platform, so you apply to them directly. Art schools follow their own route, described in art school in France for Americans.
Still weighing France against a US college or another country? The Diplonaut comparator puts the official rules side by side, and a degree abroad vs. a US college looks at the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
Do international students use Parcoursup?
Parcoursup is France’s national platform for first-year higher education. For a first-year university licence, the Parcoursup FAQ says foreigners with a foreign diploma must file a prior admission request (DAP) instead. EU citizens use Parcoursup. Other first-year programs have specific rules, so check each one.
How much does it cost to apply through Campus France USA?
Campus France USA lists an Études en France application fee of $460 for DAP and HDAP applicants (checked November 2026). It covers the review of your file, not the visa fee or the visa appointment fee.
When is the deadline to apply to French universities for fall 2027?
December 15, 2026 for a first-year licence (DAP). January 15, 2027, 6 pm EST, for licence year 2 or 3 and master’s programs on Études en France (HDAP).
Do I need to speak French to apply?
For a first-year licence through the DAP, yes: you take the TCF French test unless you are exempt. English-taught programs set their own language requirements.
Official sources
- Campus France USA, Applying to a French Institution
- Campus France USA, Pay the Études en France application fee
- Campus France, the “Études en France” procedure
- French Ministry of Higher Education, DAP 2027-2028 notice (dossier blanc, PDF)
- Parcoursup, FAQ for international students
Checked November 13, 2026. Diplonaut is not affiliated with any school or evaluation body.