Key facts
- Procedure
- Études en France (Chine) — plus mandatory pre-consular interview
- Visa type
- VLS-TS Étudiant
- Cost
- Campus France fee ¥2,500 approx. + visa fee €50
- Timeline
- 8–12 weeks, interview slots limited in peak season
- Proof of funds
- €615/month or a scholarship certificate (CSC counts in full)
The procedure, step by step
1. Open the Études en France account
Upload the Gaokao score, degree certificates and CET/TCF results. Documents must be translated into French or English by an accredited translator.
2. Language and academic interview
Held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu or Shenyang. Includes a French or English level check depending on your programme.
3. Visa file
Submit at the visa centre with the Campus France attestation, admission letter, accommodation proof and financial documents.
4. Arrival
Validate the VLS-TS online, register with CPAM for social security, and open a bank account — bring your birth certificate translation, most banks ask for it.
A realistic timeline for students from China
The Études en France calendar, not the school calendar, is what decides whether you make the September intake.
- October–January — open the Études en France account, complete the academic timeline, pay the Campus France fee.
- January–March — Campus France interview, then school decisions arrive inside the portal.
- April–June — accept an offer, receive the attestation, book the consulate or VFS/TLScontact visa appointment.
- July–August — visa decision, flight, accommodation proof, insurance.
- First 90 days in France — validate the VLS-TS on ANEF, CPAM, CAF, bank account.
What a year in France actually costs a student from China
Non-EU students at public universities may pay the differentiated tuition (≈€2,770 licence / €3,770 master), though many universities and grandes écoles waive or reduce it.
- Rent: €350–€600 in Lille, Rennes, Toulouse or Montpellier; €700–€1,100 for a studio in Paris.
- CAF housing aid: typically €100–€200 off the rent each month once your file is accepted.
- Food and transport: €250–€350 a month, with student restaurant meals at €3.30 and city passes around €30.
- CVEC: a single €105 contribution paid before enrolment, refundable for scholarship holders.
Where files from China usually break
These are the failure points we see most often on this desk — none of them are hard to avoid if you know they exist.
- Gaps in the academic timeline with no supporting document — the single most common blocking point.
- Proof of funds that appears days before the appointment, with no history behind it.
- A statement of purpose that does not connect the transcript to the exact programme.
- Missing the 90-day ANEF validation window after arrival, which makes an otherwise valid stay irregular.
Coming from Asia: what is specific to you
Diplomas from China are usually accepted on a case-by-case reading by each institution. Where a comparison is requested, ENIC-NARIC France issues an attestation de comparabilité — order it early, it takes several weeks. Sworn translations (traducteur assermenté) are required for the consulate file, scans are enough for the online stage.
Consulates and Campus France offices
Beijing · Shanghai · Guangzhou · Wuhan · Chengdu · Shenyang
Where Chinese students usually go
Paris · Lyon · Toulouse · Nice · Strasbourg
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese students need to speak French to study in France?
Not for English-taught programmes, but French-taught degrees require TCF/TEF B2. A minimum of A2 French is strongly recommended for daily administration.
Is the CSC scholarship accepted as proof of funds?
Yes, a CSC award letter replaces the €615/month bank requirement entirely.
How early should students from China start the process?
Ten to twelve months before the intake. The application, the interview or school decision, and the consulate appointment are three queues stacked back to back.
Do I need to speak French to study in France from China?
Not for the 1,600+ English-taught programmes, which ask for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90. French-taught programmes require DELF B2 or TCF. Either way, A2 French makes the prefecture, the bank and the landlord far easier.
Can I bring my family from China while I study?
A student permit does not open family reunification. A spouse can apply for a visitor visa with independent proof of funds, which is assessed separately.
Can I stay in France after graduating, coming from China?
Yes. A master's degree opens the APS (autorisation provisoire de séjour) for 12 months to look for work or start a business, and it converts into a work permit once you have a matching contract.
Is student housing aid (CAF) open to students from China?
Yes. CAF aid depends on your accommodation and your resources, not your nationality — you need a lease in your name, a RIB and, for non-EU students, a valid residence permit or validated VLS-TS.
Read next
The Campus France interview for students from China
AdmissionsThe Études en France portal for students from China
AdmissionsParcoursup for international students for students from China
AdmissionsThe DAP procedure for students from China
AdmissionsWriting a statement of purpose for France for students from China
The four guides everyone from China needs
- Campus France & the Études en France procedure, step by step
- Student housing in France: leases, Visale guarantor and CAF aid
- Opening a French bank account and getting a SIM card
- After you land: VLS-TS validation, CPAM and visa renewal
Other desks in Asia
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