Key facts
- Procedure
- Études en France (Nigeria) — required for most public institutions
- Visa type
- VLS-TS Étudiant
- Cost
- Campus France fee approx. ₦120,000 + visa fee €50 in NGN
- Timeline
- 6–10 weeks end to end; visa decision 15–30 days
- Proof of funds
- €615/month, domiciliation letter and sponsor's bank statements for 6 months
The procedure, step by step
1. Get transcripts and WAEC verified
Order official transcripts and be ready for WAEC/NECO verification. Any discrepancy in name spelling between passport, WAEC and transcripts causes rejection.
2. Build a defensible funding file
Six months of sponsor bank statements, a notarised affidavit of support, and evidence of income source (business registration, payslips). Sudden large deposits are the top rejection reason.
3. Campus France interview in Abuja or Lagos
Be precise about why this programme, this city, and how it maps to a career back home or in the EU.
4. Visa appointment and post-arrival steps
Submit at the visa centre in Abuja or Lagos. After landing, validate the VLS-TS within 90 days, register with CPAM, and get a Visale guarantee before signing a lease.
A realistic timeline for students from Nigeria
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 Nigeria
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 Nigeria 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 Africa: what is specific to you
Diplomas from Nigeria 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
Abuja · Lagos
Where Nigerian students usually go
Paris · Lyon · Bordeaux · Nantes · Marseille
Frequently asked questions
Why are French student visas refused for Nigerian applicants?
The main reasons are unverifiable funds, weak links between the programme and previous studies, and inconsistent documents. A funding trail over six months and a coherent SOP fix most of it.
Can I study in France in English as a Nigerian student?
Yes. Over 1,700 programmes are taught fully in English, mostly at business schools, engineering schools and master's level at public universities.
How much are tuition fees for Nigerian students in France?
Public universities charge €2,850/year for licence and €3,879/year for master's for non-EU students, and many waive it down to €170–€243. Private schools charge €8,000–€20,000.
How early should students from Nigeria 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 Nigeria?
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 Nigeria 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 Nigeria?
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 Nigeria?
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 Nigeria
AdmissionsThe Études en France portal for students from Nigeria
AdmissionsParcoursup for international students for students from Nigeria
AdmissionsThe DAP procedure for students from Nigeria
The four guides everyone from Nigeria 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
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