Guides · 5 min de lecture

Studying in France in 2026-2027: the complete guide for Tunisian students

17 July 2026 · By the Scholarev team

France remains, by far, the first destination for Tunisian students. In 2024-2025, 15,949 Tunisian students were enrolled in French higher education, a 22% increase over five years. Tunisia is now the 6th country of origin of international students in France, and the first in the world relative to its population. This guide gathers, with verified figures, everything you need to prepare for the 2026-2027 academic year in France from Tunisia.

Why France attracts so many Tunisian students

Geographic and linguistic proximity matters, but it does not explain everything. France hosts nearly 445,000 international students, offers a dense university network, tuition fees still well below those of English-speaking countries, and a real system of scholarships and fee waivers. French degrees are recognised in Tunisia and across Europe, and the French job market remains open to qualified young graduates.

The Campus France procedure, step by step

For a Tunisian student, everything goes through the “Études en France” (EEF) procedure managed by Campus France Tunisia. Since 1 August 2025, the application fee is 400 dinars. The typical path looks like this:

Create your account on the Études en France platform and submit your file (transcripts, diplomas, study plan).
Select your programmes: up to 7 choices for bachelor’s and master’s level.
Academic interview at Campus France Tunisia: your study plan is evaluated, prepare it seriously.
Answers from institutions, then final acceptance of one programme.
Long-stay student visa application through TLScontact.

Watch the calendar: the campaign for the September intake opens as early as October of the previous year. Starting twelve months ahead is not excessive.

What studying in France really costs

Since 2019, public universities apply “differentiated fees” to non-European students. For 2026-2027, they are set at 2,902 € per year for a bachelor’s degree and 3,950 € per year for a master’s degree. Doctoral studies are not concerned: PhD students pay the same fees as French students. Add to this the student life contribution (CVEC) of 105 €.

An important point: many institutions waive part of these differentiated fees for their international students. A decree of May 2026 now regulates these waivers, capped at 30% of non-European students per institution for 2026-2027. A waiver obtained during a study cycle remains valid until the end of that cycle, in the same institution.

Expense	Amount 2026-2027
Campus France Tunisia application fee	400 DT
Student visa (EEF procedure rate)	50 €
TLScontact service fee	28 €
Bachelor’s at a public university (non-EU)	2,902 € / year
Master’s at a public university (non-EU)	3,950 € / year
CVEC	105 € / year

For daily life, based on our advising experience, plan a monthly budget of around 800 € outside Paris and 1,200 € or more in Paris, housing included. CROUS university residences remain the most affordable option: apply early, from spring onwards.

Scholarships and funding: what really exists

Three main paths deserve your attention:

The France Excellence Eiffel scholarship, the most prestigious: from January 2026, it pays 1,200 € per month at master’s level and 2,000 € per month at doctoral level, on top of flights and insurance. French government scholarship holders are also exempt from the CVEC. Applications go through the French institution, not the student.
Institutional fee waivers: partial or full, they are requested directly from the university, often at application time. Always ask.
Student work: the student visa allows up to 964 hours of work per year (about 60% of full time), a real complement to your budget.

The student visa: the final stretch

Once your programme is accepted in Études en France, the long-stay visa application (VLS-TS) is filed with TLScontact. The visa rate is 50 € for countries under the EEF procedure, including Tunisia, plus a 28 € service fee per file. Prepare a complete file: proof of funds, acceptance letter, housing, insurance. After arriving in France, the VLS-TS must be validated online within three months.

A visa refusal is never final: a stronger file, a new appointment (100 DT) and solid arguments often change the outcome. This is exactly the kind of situation where professional guidance makes the difference.

Our advice to maximise your chances

Start twelve months before your target intake: the best files are the early ones.
Polish your study plan: it is what Campus France and the universities evaluate.
Aim wide but coherent: 7 well-argued choices beat 7 scattered ones.
Systematically ask each institution about waivers and scholarships.
Book no flight and no permanent housing before the visa is granted.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start the procedure for the 2027 intake?

From October 2026. The Études en France platform opens in autumn for the following September intake, and Campus France interview slots fill up fast at the end of the campaign.

Can you study in France without going through Campus France?

Essentially no: the EEF procedure is mandatory for Tunisian students seeking enrolment in French higher education. A few private schools recruit outside the platform, but the visa still requires the Études en France attestation.

Do differentiated fees apply everywhere?

They concern public universities under the Ministry of Higher Education. Grandes écoles, private schools and some institutions have their own fee scales. And doctoral studies are exempt.

What should I do after a visa refusal?

Analyse the reason, strengthen the weak points of your file (funds, coherence of the study plan, housing) and reapply. Experienced guidance clearly increases the odds on a second attempt.

Sources

Figures verified at publication date (July 2026). Amounts and procedures change: every file is confirmed, up to date, during your consultation with your Scholarev advisor.