Parcoursup vs Études en France: Which French Application Procedure You Must Use

Two official application channels

France has two main official application channels, and using the wrong one can stall your application. Parcoursup is the national platform for entry into the first year of many higher-education programmes. Études en France (also called the Campus France procedure or EeF) is a dedicated online procedure for international students from certain countries, which centralises the application and connects to the long-stay student visa.

Which channel you must use depends mainly on your nationality, your country of residence, and the level you are applying to. This is general guidance, not immigration advice. Because the rules are set officially and updated each cycle, always confirm your situation on the official Campus France source before acting.

When the Études en France procedure applies

The Études en France procedure is mandatory for students who are nationals of, or resident in, one of the countries connected to the procedure (often called 'Études en France countries'). For these applicants it is the required channel and is linked to the long-stay student visa application.

If you fall under this procedure, you generally use it rather than applying directly, and in many cases it replaces a separate Parcoursup application for the relevant programmes. Check on Campus France whether your country of residence is part of the Études en France network.

• Driven by nationality and country of residence
• Mandatory for applicants in connected 'Études en France' countries
• Centralises the application and links to the visa
• Confirm your country's status on Campus France

When Parcoursup applies

Parcoursup is generally the route for entry into the first year of higher education for applicants who are not covered by the Études en France procedure — for example, certain candidates depending on nationality, residence or where they hold their qualification.

Some first-year university applications for non-EU students go through the separate DAP procedure instead. Because the boundaries between Parcoursup, Études en France and the DAP depend on your exact situation, verify which one applies to you on the official source before starting.

Level of study matters too

The level you are applying to affects the channel. First-year (entry-level) applications are where Parcoursup and the DAP are most relevant, while applications to later years or to master's level often go through the Études en France procedure or directly to institutions, depending on your country.

Grandes écoles and many master's programmes also run their own admission routes that sit outside these national platforms. Always read the specific programme's official admission page alongside checking the national procedure.

How to find your correct channel

Work through three questions in order: What is my nationality and country of residence? What level am I applying to (first year of licence, a later year, or master's)? And what does the specific programme's official page say?

Use Campus France to check whether the Études en France procedure applies to your country, and confirm Parcoursup or DAP requirements where relevant. This is general guidance, not immigration advice — the official sources are authoritative, so verify your case there before you apply.

• Check nationality and country of residence
• Identify your level of study (first year vs later vs master's)
• Read the specific programme's official admission page
• Confirm Études en France status on Campus France