The DAP Procedure: Applying for First-Year Bachelor's Study at a French University

What the DAP is

The Demande d'Admission Préalable (DAP) is a 'prior admission request' — an official procedure required of certain non-EU applicants who want to enter the first year (L1) of a licence at a French public university, or in some cases a school of architecture.

It is a preliminary step that universities use to assess eligibility and language ability before a first-year place is confirmed. Whether you need it depends on your nationality, your country of residence, and how your application is routed. This is general guidance, not immigration advice, so confirm your situation on the official Campus France source.

Who needs the DAP

The DAP generally applies to non-EU/EEA students applying specifically to the first year of a licence at a French public university who are not covered by another route such as Parcoursup or the Études en France procedure. Students applying to later years of a licence, to master's level, or to private and specialised institutions usually follow different procedures.

Because the boundaries between the DAP, Parcoursup and Études en France depend on your exact nationality, residence and level, check which procedure applies to you before starting — using the wrong one can delay your application.

• For certain non-EU/EEA applicants to first-year licence (L1)
• Not for later years, master's, or many private institutions
• May replace or sit alongside other procedures depending on your case
• Confirm your route on Campus France before applying

White DAP vs green DAP

The DAP comes in two forms. The 'white' DAP (DAP blanche) is typically used by applicants who are residing outside France and apply through Campus France in their country of residence. The 'green' DAP (DAP verte) is typically used by applicants already in France, who apply directly to a French academic authority.

Which form applies depends on where you are when you apply. The exact submission route and documents differ between the two, so follow the instructions on the official source that matches your situation.

The French-language assessment

Because first-year licence study at a public university is generally taught in French, the DAP is normally tied to a French-language assessment. Applicants are commonly asked to demonstrate French proficiency through a recognised test or an exemption, depending on their background.

The required level, accepted tests and any exemptions are set officially and can change, so do not rely on an unofficial figure — verify the current French-language requirement for the DAP on the official Campus France source.

Steps and deadlines

If the DAP applies to you, the broad steps are: confirm your eligibility and which DAP form (white or green) you use; prepare your prior qualifications and translations; meet the French-language requirement; and submit within the official window. The DAP has its own calendar, separate from other procedures.

Deadlines, fees and document lists are set officially and updated each cycle. This is general guidance, not immigration advice — confirm the current DAP requirements and dates on the official Campus France and university sources before you apply.