student visa and scholarships

Disclaimer: This page is intended for non-EU students. The information provided is for guidance only and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date details, please consult the official Campus France and Service.Public.fr websites.

Visa obtention

If you are a EU citizen, you don't need to apply for a visa to study in France.

If you are not an EU citizen, you need to apply for a visa online, please refer to this site for the latest informations on the procedures and necessary documents. 

The acceptance letter you received from us is the necessary document to obtain a visa for non EU student.  

Once you have received your nominative acceptance letter, you must apply for a student visa online if you come from countries connected to Campus France, 

If your country of residence is not connected to the Campus France network, you must then contact the French consular authorities of your country of residence to submit your visa application.

There are two types of student visas:

• Temporary Long Term Visa, as residence permit for students or VLS-T Etudiant

• Long Stay Visa valid as residence permit for students (VLS-TS) mention “Exemption of residence card” 

Temporary Long Term Visa, or VLS-T Etudiant

If you are an exchange student for a semester and you come from countries connected to  the Etude en France Programme of Campus France, you can apply to the Temporary Long Term Visa, or VLS-T (for more information please click here).  Please note that the Temporary Long Term Visa which has a duration of 6 months maximum, gives the right to: 

• travel freely in all Schengen countries

• benefit from social security during your stay, after enrolment in a higher education institution, and thus get a refund of part of your health expenses

• Unlike the VLS-TS, the VLS-T does not have to be validated upon your arrival. You have no steps to take during the validity of your visa.

Beware! The VLS-T does not allow you to:

• work during your studies,

• benefit from housing aids

• extend your stay beyond the validity period of your visa

Long Stay Visa valid as residence permit for students (VLS-TS) mention “Exemption of residence card” 

If you are a permanent international student or your exchange period at Strate exceeed one semester or your countries does not allow you to apply for a  VLS-T, you will have to apply for a Long Stay Visa valid as residence permit for students (VLS-TS "ÉTUDIANT", VISA LONG SÉJOUR VALANT TITRE DE SÉJOUR). Please click here for more information on how to obtain and activate it.

The Long Stay Student Visa valid as residence permit (VLS-TS Etudiant) allows you to study in France for a period of four months to a year. When it expires, you must apply for a residence permit to stay in France.

It gives the right to:

• travel freely in all countries of the Schengen area

• work 964 hours a year

• receive housing benefits (VISALE, CAF etc.) and social security

• extend your stay beyond the validity of your visa by applying for a residence permit at the local Préfecture

Beware! Upon your in France, you will have to validate this visa online, on the OFII platform (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration) by paying a  €60 fee.

The temporary long-stay visa mention “Exemption of residence card” (VLS-T).

This visa makes it possible to study in France for a period of four to twelve months.

IMPORTANT: As a visa cannot be amended once in France, it is very important to apply for a visa fitted to your projects in France (studies, internship, competition etc.) before your departure.

Visa Renewal

If you need to RENEW your current student visa, you have to do this onlineby logging in into your personal account that you created to obtain a student visa the first time. Please click on this video and on this link for more information. To obtain the most updated list of the documents necessary for the visa renewal please check the section - "Après un an de séjour - Quels sont les documents à fournir pour le renouvellement du titre de séjour étudiant ?".

You have to renew your visa within 2-4  months from the expiry date of your student visa. For example: if your residence permit expires on September 1st, 2024, you have to submit your renewal request between May 1st and July 1st, 2024.  For more info, please click here.

Once you submit your renewal request before the expiry date of your current residence permit, the prefecture will issue you a récépissé (or attestation de prolongation).

This temporary document allows you to remain legally in France under the same rights and conditions as your current permit,  including the right to:

• continue your studies

• work part-time (up to 964 hours/year)

• complete internships

You are therefore considered legally resident in France even if your original card has already expired, as long as your renewal request is being processed. 

If you only have a récépissé (temporary receipt of renewal), you are strongly advised to remain in France and avoid travelling abroad. In most cases, a récépissé does not allow you to leave France and re-enter, especially if you travel outside the Schengen Area. You may be refused boarding or re-entry at the border unless the récépissé explicitly states “autorisation de retour” (re-entry permission), which is not automatic.

For more official information, please always consult the French government website.

Scholarships

You can find information about available scholarships from the French government on this website.

Staying in France after your studies: Carte de séjour ou VLS-TS - Recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise

After graduating from Strate with a diploma equivalent to a Master’s level in France, you may be eligible for a temporary “job seeker / new business creator” residence permit (carte de séjour “recherche d’emploi / création d’entreprise”).

The permit is valid for 12 months and cannot be renewed.

It allows you to:

• Stay in France after graduation to gain your first professional experience,

• Look for work and work legally during this period,

• Create a company in a field related to your studies.

More information is available here: Campus France (in English) or Service.Public.fr (in French)