Study in France: Key Application Terms 

In this guide, we’ll cover essential terms for your college applications to make your French study journey a success.

• Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS):
  The temporary residence permit for the purpose of studies and business research concerns international students from countries that have concluded bilateral agreements with France. These include the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Gabon, Tunisia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India. APS allows these students to remain in France to seek employment after completing their studies. 

• A2 Level (Elementary):
  Achieving an A2 level in French, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), signifies an elementary proficiency in the language. At this stage, learners have a basic grasp of essential vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills that enable them to handle everyday situations in French. 

• B1 Level (Intermediate):
  If you get to this point, you’ll be able to construct more complicated sentences in order to communicate. You can write a concise and coherent text about a topic you like and have knowledge about. You can comprehend the major points of plain standard speech on topics that you are familiar with. 

• Campus France:
  The French national agency  operates under the French Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research for the promotion of higher education, international student services, and international mobility. In India, the Campus France network is part of  the cooperation service of the French Embassy in India.

• Center for University and School Work (CROUS):
  Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires (CROUS) is a public organization that supports student life in France, particularly through affordable housing and dining services. Scholarship holders are given priority access to CROUS accommodation.

• Classes Internationales:
  The “Classes Internationales” program, born from an agreement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to welcome India’s brightest high-school graduates to France, regardless of their French language proficiency. This program invites top Indian high school graduates to spend a year in France learning French before starting their chosen courses.

• Etudes en France:
  It is the central application system in France. The platform allows international non-European students to apply to public and private universities and student visas by submitting one and only application. For a bachelor program, you can only apply to up to 7 universities  (3 public and 4 private) or 7 private universities in total. 

• Demande d’Admission Préalable (DAP) form: The DAP, or Preliminary Request for Admission, is a mandatory application procedure for non-EU/EEA foreign students applying for the first year of a Bachelor’s degree (Licence 1) or first-year schools of architecture in France. It applies to students with foreign high school diplomas and is usually handled via the “Etudes en France” platform by mid-December preceding the academic year. 

• Office national d’information sur les enseignements et les professions (ONISEP):
  ONISEP is a French public operator under the Ministry of National Education responsible for providing comprehensive information and guidance on educational pathways and careers.

• Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII):
  The French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) is the main operator of the General Directorate for Foreigners in France (DGEF), which designs and manages immigration and integration policies in France.

• France Université Numérique (FUN):
  FUN is the French national platform to promote the use of massive open online courses (MOOCs). The platform aims to offer: 1) High-level online training, for the benefit of a wide audience and support the lifelong training effort 2) Shared resources and services for the benefit of FUN member institutions, in particular higher education institutions 3) Promotes the visibility of the French training offer in France and around the world.

• Class Formats in Higher Education in France:
  In French universities, instructors and researchers give students two types of classes:
  • Cours magistraux (lectures):
    A professor presents a subject to students in an amphitheatre for 100 to over 1,000 people. These non-mandatory classes are often written up and handed out by the instructors to students in the form of pamphlets, which can prove very handy when it comes time to revise for exams at the end of the semester.
  • Travaux dirigés (TD – tutorials) and Travaux pratiques (TP- practical or lab work):
    These mandatory classes are for smaller groups and are a complement to the lectures, with the intention of applying and deepening theoretical understanding. Company internships may also be required in addition to the tutorials and practical work.

• PASTEF Number: A Pastel number (often referred to as an EEF number or EEF-Pastel reference) is a mandatory, unique identification number provided to international students applying for a long-term student visa to France through the Études en France (formerly Pastel) portal. 

• Parcoursup:
  Launched in January 2018, Parcoursup is the national platform for admission to 1st year courses in the first cycle of higher education. If you prepare or have a French or European Baccalaureate, you must rank your choices on the Parcoursup Platform.

• VLS-TS Visa: The VLS-TS student visa allows you to pursue studies in France for a period of four months to one year. It must be validated upon your arrival in France. If you would like to continue your studies after it expires, you may apply for a multi-annual residence permit.

Source: Campus France, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs