France’s flagship Études en France platform opened for the 2027/28 academic year at 00:01 on 1 October 2026. All non-EU students—whether they reside in a country covered by the online procedure or must follow the classic DAP route—can now begin their digital applications. The window runs until 28 February 2027 for licence-level candidates and slightly longer for master’s programmes. What is new this year. • A redesigned interface hosted at the new URL etudesenfrance.diplomatie.gouv.fr promises faster document uploads and real-time messaging with consular teams. • The financial-means threshold, already raised on 1 August 2026 to €877.50 per month, is now hard-coded into the portal; candidates must upload bank statements or sponsorship letters that meet the figure before they can submit. • Several grandes écoles—HEC, ESCP, INSA group—have joined the connected system, meaning their admission letters will automatically feed into the long-stay visa (VLS-TS) workflow. Why it matters for global mobility. France is the top Schengen destination for corporate trainees and junior assignees from Africa and South-East Asia. HR teams can leverage the six-month head-start to secure admission letters and biometric-visa appointments before the summer rush. Companies sponsoring sandwich-course employees should note the higher living-cost requirement when drafting support letters. Early filing also mitigates the risk of delays once the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully mandatory in April 2027. Practical tips. 1) Use the ‘multiple application’ function to apply to up to seven institutions with one fee. 2) Upload colour scans under 3 MB to avoid automatic rejection. 3) Schedule the mandatory Campus France interview early; slots in popular hubs such as Lagos and Delhi fill within days. 4) Remind students that health-insurance proof must cover the entire first academic year, not just the visa-issuance period. Next steps. Admission results will be released on a rolling basis until May 2027. Successful candidates can book TLScontact or VFS appointments for their long-stay visas between 15 May and 27 August 2027. Firms planning September 2027 start dates for graduate hires should lock in accommodation guarantees (Attestation d’hébergement) by March 2027 to keep files moving.
Source: Campus France (global bulletin)
