Overview - Applying to French higher education institutions from the Philippines

The Philippines is a country that does not require the Études en France - EEF application procedure (also known as the Campus France online application)

Some French HEIs ask applicants to contact the Campus France office in their country to begin the application process. This is not the case for applicants from the Philippines (for both Filipinos and foreigners in the country). 

Please check our application guides by level (undergraduate/licence, Master's, Doctorate/PhD) found below for more detailed information on each academic level

Reminders: 

• Interested applicants are responsible for contacting the French higher education institutions (HEI) of their choice regarding applications and admissions procedures.
• In most cases, applicants must send their applications directly (almost always online) to the HEIs 
  • Follow the HEI's application instructions for students coming from outside the EU and who are not part of the countries using the Études en France - EEF application procedure

At present, there are no officially recognized equivalences between French and Philippine degrees.
 

For Filipinos applicants, completing a pre-requisite degree is usually enough to be able to apply to degree programs in France (HS for undergrad, undergrad for Master’s, Master’s for PhD)

For reference:

• Unofficial comparison - Philippine and French education systems
• French higher education system - structure and credits

For complete information regarding application requirements and admission criteria, applicants are highly encouraged to visit the websites of the French schools and universities they are interested in.

Requirements vary from one institution to another. Most of the time, prospective students should accomplish an application form (available on the website of the French HEI), provide a motivation letter or a personal essay, a recommendation letter, and a transcript of records. It is possible that HEIs would require a translated version (French) of certain documents.

Depending on the medium of instruction, French HEIs may require a certification of proficiency in the French language (DELF/DALF).

💡Tip💡 

Visit the Alliance française de Manille’s website for more information on French language certifications/tests and official translation services.

Other French HEIs may also require international students to provide English language test scores (IELTS).

💡Tip💡 

Contact the international relations or admissions team of the French HEI to inquire if an exemption can be made for the English proficiency test, upon presentation of an official certificate that English is the medium of instruction 

In France, the academic year starts in September/October (fall semester) for the majority of undergraduate (Licence/Bachelor) and Master's degrees.

However, there are some exceptions to this, particularly:

• Some Master's degrees offer a spring intake (January)
• Doctoral programs tend to be more flexible in terms of their start date

Please make sure to allot enough time to work on and to complete the application procedures. 

 Due to the diversity of the French higher system, there is no single fixed deadline for application to degree programs

Sample timeline

Applications for the September 2022 fall intake:

• Start: as early as October 2021
• End: May to early June 2022 (on rare occasions earlier or later)

Notes

• Make sure to regularly check the French HEI's site for key application dates and deadlines

• If you are also applying for a scholarship (especially if it is from the HEI), the application deadline may be earlier