After a mutual-recognition arrangement between India and France for academic degrees, the number of Indian students applying to study in France has grown steadily. Anyone planning higher education in France soon comes across the term Campus France. Campus France is an organisation operating under France's Ministry of Higher Education and Research that promotes and facilitates higher education in France.
From applying to a university to securing a visa and accommodation, Campus France supports applicants at every step so students can focus on their studies rather than the paperwork. A student can register through the official Campus France website or get in touch using the contact option on the site.
- The Campus France Etudes en France (EEF) procedure fee for Indian students is now INR 18,500 for stays exceeding 90 days, effective 1 October 2024
- Campus France India runs eleven offices nationwide
- The procedure is called Etudes en France, replacing the older CEF name, and the final student visa is decided by the French authorities through France-Visas and VFS Global, not by Campus France.
What Is Campus France?
Campus France is the official French government agency, operating under France's Ministry of Higher Education and Research, that promotes French higher education abroad and supports international students. For Indian applicants it manages the mandatory Etudes en France procedure, guiding them from choosing a programme through to applying for a student visa.
What Are the Main Activities of Campus France?
Campus France provides information on France's public universities and courses, fees, rankings and faculty. It guides students through visa documentation, informs them about available scholarships and assists with applications, and helps with finding accommodation near the university. It also conducts the preliminary Campus France interview on behalf of French institutions.
It is important to note that Campus France does not grant the visa itself. After Campus France validates a student's file and completes the pre-consular interview, the applicant submits a long-stay student visa request through the France-Visas portal and books an appointment at a VFS Global centre. The final visa decision rests with the French consular authorities.
What Happens in the Campus France Student Interview?
After creating an Etudes en France account, applicants receive a Campus France interview call. This preliminary interview is conducted on behalf of the chosen university or college and covers the student's language proficiency, academic background, study plans and reasons for applying. A recording of the interview is shared with the institutions during the application process.
Does Campus France Offer French Language Courses?
Yes. In collaboration with partner institutes such as the Alliance Francaise network, Campus France helps students access French language courses and obtain the language-proficiency certificates often required for study in France. Learning French strengthens an application, improves day-to-day life in France and is essential for programmes that are taught wholly or partly in French.
How Does Campus France Support Research Education?
Promoting research education is a major part of Campus France's mission. It organises events, fairs and information sessions to attract researchers and doctoral candidates from around the world to carry out their work in France, and it connects them with French laboratories, funding schemes and doctoral programmes across the country's research institutions.
What Are the Campus France Processing Fees in 2026?
Campus France charges a fee for the Etudes en France procedure. For stays exceeding 90 days, Indian students pay INR 18,500, effective from 1 October 2024 (raised from INR 18,000). No procedure fee applies for stays under 90 days, and the payment is made online after a Campus France adviser validates the application.
How Does Campus France India Work?
Campus France India operates the official portal inde.campusfrance.org. Every Indian student applying to a French institution must do so through the Etudes en France procedure managed by Campus France. The agency runs eleven offices nationwide where students can attend free counselling appointments, and full addresses and contact numbers are listed on the website.
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Hyderabad
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- Pune
The address and contact number for each office are available on the official Campus France India website, where students can also book a free counselling appointment at their nearest centre.