Frequently Asked Questions

EAE offers two ways to follow the same program, and the right one depends on your profile, budget, and visa situation. Work through the comparison below before you start your application:

1. Initial route: you are a full-time student. Your time is spent in academic modules, projects, and internships that you arrange yourself. Tuition is paid directly by you (or a sponsor), and this route is generally simpler to combine with a first-time student visa application.

2. Apprenticeship (alternation) route: you split your week between EAE (academic days) and a partner company (around four days a week in-company). You sign a work-study contract with an employer, who typically covers some or all of your tuition and pays you a monthly wage.

3. Check eligibility: apprenticeship contracts in France usually require you to already hold a valid residence permit or to be an EU/EEA national — first-time non-EU applicants arriving from abroad are generally not eligible to start directly on an apprenticeship contract, so most international students begin on the Initial route.

4. Consider your finances: if avoiding upfront tuition costs matters most and you are already resident in France (or eligible), ask EAE's admissions team whether an apprenticeship placement is realistic for your intake.

5. Consider your career goal: the apprenticeship route gives earlier hands-on company experience, which can be valuable if you want to convert your studies directly into a job offer in France.

6. Make your selection in the application form: the very first step of the online application asks you to choose "Initial" or "Alternation" and your preferred teaching language (Full English or Training in French) — you can discuss this choice with the admissions team before submitting if you are unsure.
For course-specific questions, please contact info@eae-paris.fr.

The admissions journey has five stages inside the online form, followed by a review and confirmation stage. Follow it in this order:

1. Step 1 — Personal Information: enter your gender, name, date of birth, nationality, contact details, and current address.
2. Step 2 — Previous Schooling: state your current level of education (High School, Bachelor, Master, or Other), your last school attended, the degree obtained, the school year, and your specialisation.
3. Step 3 — CV & Cover Letter: upload your CV, your cover letter, and a short written statement describing your motivation for joining the program; you can also add an optional message to the admissions department.
4. Step 4 — Documents: upload your last three academic reports/transcripts, proof of your last degree, your identity document (with its expiry date), your residence permit if you already hold one, and a recent ID photo.
5. Step 5 — Confirmation: review every section, tick the box confirming the information is accurate, and submit.
6. After submission: the admissions team evaluates your academic background and eligibility against the program requirements.
7. Offer stage: if successful, you receive an official admission offer by email, along with the next steps (deposit, enrolment documents, and — if relevant — guidance on Campus France or your visa application).
8. Enrolment: you confirm your place (typically with a deposit or signed enrolment agreement) and begin preparing for your visa/arrival, guided by EAE's student support team.

Gather these documents before you start the form, so you can upload everything in one sitting:

1. Academic records: your last three school/university reports or transcripts, and proof of your most recently obtained degree or diploma — have certified translations ready if your originals are not in English or French.
2. Identity documents: a valid passport or national ID (note its expiry date — it should ideally be valid well beyond your intended arrival date), plus a recent, passport-style ID photo.
3. Immigration documents (if applicable): your current residence permit and its expiry date, if you already hold one.
4. CV and cover letter: a CV in reverse-chronological order, and a cover letter that explains your motivation for the specific program you are applying to.
5. Motivation statement: a short written answer to "Can you describe your motivation for joining one of our courses?" — be specific about why EAE and this program.
6. Scan quality check: make sure every uploaded file is a clear, complete scan or photo (no cropped edges, no glare) before submitting, since incomplete documents are the most common cause of admissions delay.

EAE reviews applications for the 2026–2027 intake on a rolling basis, but visa timelines make early application important. Work backwards from your intended start date:

1. If you will need a French student visa: apply to EAE at least 4–6 months before your intended start date, since you will still need to complete Campus France (where required), receive your offer letter, book a visa appointment, and wait for visa processing — each step can take several weeks.
2. If you are an EU/EEA national or already resident in France: you have more flexibility, but applying at least 6–8 weeks before intake is still recommended so you have time to arrange accommodation and enrolment formalities.
3. Contact admissions directly if your intended start date is close, to check whether a later application can still be accommodated for the current intake or whether you should target the next one.

This depends on your country of residence. Campus France operates a mandatory "Études en France" procedure in many non-EU countries. Follow these steps if you are in one of them:
1. Check whether your country of residence has a Campus France procedure (most non-EU/EEA countries do; EU/EEA residents are generally exempt).
2. Create your "Études en France" account on the Campus France website for your country as early as possible.
3. Complete your online dossier: academic history, chosen program, and supporting documents, mirroring much of what you will also submit to EAE.
4. Attend an interview at your local Campus France office if one is required in your country — this is used to confirm your project and language level.
5. Submit your EAE application in parallel (or immediately after), referencing your Campus France dossier where the application asks for it.
6. Wait for both validations: your EAE offer letter and your Campus France validation are usually both required before you can book your visa appointment, so keep both processes moving at the same time rather than one after the other.

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and the length of your stay. Work through this checklist:

1. Check your nationality: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a visa to study in France.
2. Check your length of stay: non-EU/EEA nationals staying more than 90 days (i.e., for a full academic year) need a long-stay visa, not a short-stay Schengen visa.
3. Identify the correct visa type: for a full program of study in France, this is the long-stay student visa, known as the VLS-TS "étudiant".
4. Confirm with your consulate: exact requirements can vary slightly by country, so check the checklist published by the French consulate or visa centre serving your country of residence before booking your appointment.

Understanding this distinction avoids a common source of confusion for first-year students:
1. The VLS-TS ("visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour") is a long-stay visa that also functions as your residence permit for your first year — it is a sticker in your passport, not a separate plastic card.
2. It is valid for a set period, typically four months to one year, matching the first year of your program.
3. Unlike a normal visa, it must be validated online after you arrive in France (see the next question) — without this validation step, it is not legally usable as a residence permit.
4. From your second year onward, once your VLS-TS expires, you switch to applying for an actual residence card ("carte de séjour pluriannuelle" or an annual renewal), which is a physical card issued by the prefecture rather than a visa sticker.

Validating your visa is mandatory and time-sensitive. Do this as soon as you have a French address:
1. Check the deadline printed on or near your visa (usually within three months of your arrival date in France).
2. Go to the official online validation portal for the VLS-TS (accessible via the France-Visas / ANEF government website).
3. Create an account and enter your visa number, passport details, and arrival date.
4. Enter your address in France, so your validation is linked to your place of residence.
5. Pay the online validation stamp duty (timbre fiscal) through the portal, using a card.
6. Submit and wait for confirmation — you will receive a validated confirmation (often by email), which you should print or save digitally as proof.
7. Keep this confirmation with your passport at all times during your stay, alongside your original visa.

Consulates ask for broadly similar documents, though exact lists vary — prepare these in advance:
1. Your EAE offer/enrolment letter, confirming your program, dates, and tuition.
2. Proof of accommodation in France for at least your first few months (a lease, booking confirmation, or accommodation attestation).
3. Proof of financial resources — bank statements, a scholarship letter, or a sponsor's financial guarantee, generally expected to cover at least around €615 per month of stay.
4. Your valid passport, with enough blank pages and validity beyond your program's end date.
5. Recent passport-style ID photos, in the format required by your consulate.
6. Your Campus France reference number and validation, where your country requires it.
7. A completed long-stay visa application form and any consulate-specific forms — download the current version from your consulate's website rather than reusing an old copy.
Book your appointment as early as your offer letter allows, since visa appointment slots can be limited, especially in peak intake months.

Renewal is done entirely online through the French government's foreigner portal (ANEF). Follow this sequence:
1. Mark your expiry date as soon as you arrive, and count back 4 months from it — this is your earliest filing window.
2. Between 4 and 2 months before expiry, go to the ANEF portal and select "Je demande ou renouvelle un titre de séjour" ("I am applying for or renewing a residence permit").
3. Create or log into your ANEF account and select the "student" renewal category.
4. Fill in your personal details and upload the required documents: current residence permit/visa, proof of continued enrolment (certificate from EAE), proof of address, proof of financial resources, and recent ID photos.
5. Pay the applicable renewal fee (a tax stamp/timbre fiscal) online through the portal.
6. Submit the application and download your "récépissé" (temporary receipt) once it is issued — this proves you are in a legal renewal process even while your card is being produced.
7. Attend a biometrics appointment at your prefecture if you are asked to (fingerprints and photo).
8. Collect your new residence card once you receive notification that it is ready.
9. File this at least two months before expiry, and never later than the expiry date itself, to avoid the late-filing fee described in the next question.

Late renewal creates real financial and legal risk — here is what to expect at each stage of lateness:
1. If you apply after your permit's expiry date but within six months: your application can usually still be processed, but a late-processing fee of around €180 typically applies, and processing takes longer.
2. If you let your status lapse without applying: you risk being considered in an irregular administrative situation, which can affect your right to work part-time, your CAF housing benefit, and in serious cases your ability to remain in France.
3. If you are abroad when your permit expires: you may need to apply for an entirely new student visa through the consulate rather than a simple renewal, which takes considerably longer.
4. Recovery step: if you realise you are close to or past your deadline, contact EAE's student support team and, if needed, book a prefecture appointment immediately — do not wait for a reminder, as prefectures are frequently overloaded and slow to respond close to deadlines.

Yes — EAE's student support services assist with these administrative steps. Here is how to make use of that support:
1. Contact the student support team as soon as you receive your visa or renewal deadline (ideally at enrolment, and again 3–4 months before any renewal is due).
2. Ask specifically for the current document checklist for your situation (visa validation, first residence permit, or renewal), since requirements are updated periodically by French authorities.
3. Bring or send scanned copies of your documents for a pre-check before your prefecture or online appointment, so errors are caught early.
4. Ask whether EAE or its partner institutions operate a "guichet unique" (single-window) arrangement with the local prefecture, which can let you renew through the school rather than a standard prefecture appointment.
5. For anything specific to your file or appointment, email info@eae-paris.fr directly so the right team member can follow up with you individually.
For course-specific questions, please contact info@eae-paris.fr.

Start your housing search as early as possible — Paris is competitive. A practical sequence:
1. Apply to CROUS (public, subsidised student housing) as soon as your offer letter arrives — this is the most affordable option but has limited places and an early application window.
2. In parallel, browse private student residences, which offer furnished studios with flexible international-student-friendly leases (usually more expensive than CROUS but faster to secure).
3. If you plan to share a flat or rent privately, prepare your file in advance: ID, proof of enrolment, proof of income or a guarantor, and (if you have no French guarantor) look into the state-backed Visale guarantee scheme, which many landlords accept from students.
4. Shortlist neighbourhoods based on your commute to EAE's Paris campus and your budget, keeping in mind that rents vary significantly by arrondissement.
5. Sign your lease only once you have visited (in person or via a trusted video visit) and confirmed the deposit and inventory terms in writing.
6. Keep a signed copy of your lease and your first utility bill — you will need both for your CAF application, bank account opening, and visa/residence permit files.

Most students with valid residence status can apply for CAF housing assistance. Steps to apply:
1. Confirm eligibility: you generally need a valid VLS-TS or residence permit, a French bank account, and a rental agreement in your own name.
2. Open a French bank account and get your RIB (bank details slip) — this is required for CAF to pay you.
3. Go to caf.fr and run the online simulation first, to estimate your likely monthly amount before you commit time to the full application.
4. Create your CAF account and complete the housing assistance (APL or ALS) application, uploading your lease, ID, proof of enrolment, and RIB.
5. Submit as soon as your lease starts — payments are calculated from your application date, not your move-in date, so delaying costs you money.
6. Expect a processing time of roughly 6–8 weeks for your first payment; check your CAF account regularly for requests for additional documents.

Health cover is mandatory and mostly automatic, but you need to actively register. Steps:

1. Register with French social security (Sécurité sociale / CPAM) shortly after arrival — this is generally free for enrolled students and gives you a social security number.
2. Gather the documents CPAM will ask for: passport, proof of enrolment at EAE, proof of address, and (if applicable) your birth certificate (sometimes with a certified translation).
3. Once registered, you will be reimbursed for a percentage of most medical costs (doctor visits, prescriptions, etc.) after paying upfront and submitting your claim, or via direct "tiers payant" billing at many providers.
4. Consider a complementary "mutuelle" plan to cover the portion Sécurité sociale does not reimburse — compare a few student-oriented mutuelle providers before choosing.
5. If you are an EU/EEA national, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and check its validity for your full stay — it can reduce or replace the need for separate French registration in some cases.

The CVEC (Contribution Vie Étudiante et de Campus) is a mandatory annual fee funding student health, culture, and campus-life services. To pay it:

1. Go to the official CVEC portal (messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr).
2. Create an account using your personal details and the academic year you are enrolling for.
3. Enter your future institution (EAE) when prompted, or leave it general if you have not yet been asked for it.
4. Pay the fee online by card — the amount is fixed nationally each year (recently around €105) and does not vary by school.
5. Download your CVEC attestation (certificate) immediately after payment — save both a digital copy and a printed copy.
6. Submit this attestation to EAE during enrolment, since your registration cannot be finalised without it.
7. Check exemptions: certain scholarship holders are exempt from the fee but must still complete the online process to receive their exemption attestation.

Part-time work is allowed for most non-EU students holding a valid student residence permit, within limits. Steps to work legally:

1. Confirm your permit allows work — this is generally stated on or alongside your student residence permit/VLS-TS.
2. Track your annual hour cap: up to 964 hours per year (roughly 20 hours per week on average) without needing a separate work authorisation.
3. Provide your employer with your residence permit and social security number when you are hired, so they can register you correctly.
4. Keep a personal record of your hours worked across all jobs, since the cap applies across all your employment combined, not per employer.
5. If you are offered a role exceeding the weekly cap, check with EAE student support or the prefecture before accepting, since exceeding the authorised hours can affect your immigration status.

Tuition depends on your intake year, chosen route, and any applicable scholarships, so published general figures can be misleading. To get an accurate number:

1. Identify your route first (Initial or Apprenticeship), since apprenticeship tuition is often significantly reduced or employer-funded.
2. Download the current program brochure from the EAE website, which lists the latest published fee structure.
3. Email info@eae-paris.fr with your intended intake year, route, and nationality, and request a written fee quote and payment schedule.
4. Ask specifically about instalment options, any deposit required at enrolment, and whether the CVEC and other statutory fees are included or separate.
5. Get any quoted figure confirmed in writing before you rely on it for your visa financial-proof documents.
For course-specific questions, please contact info@eae-paris.fr.

Paris is one of the more expensive French cities to live in. Use this category breakdown to build your monthly budget:

1. Rent: roughly €350/month for a shared room, €550–€900/month for a private studio, up to €1,500+/month for higher-end accommodation, depending on the arrondissement.
2. Food and groceries: typically €200–€400/month, depending on how often you eat out versus cook.
3. Transport: a discounted Navigo pass for students under 26 costs around €38/month for unlimited metro, bus, and tram access.
4. Utilities and internet: often included in student residences; otherwise budget €50–€100/month if renting privately.
5. Health cover top-up (mutuelle): roughly €20–€50/month if you choose a complementary plan.
6. Personal and leisure spending: a flexible amount, but budget at least €100–€200/month.
7. Total: most students budget €1,000–€1,800/month all-in for Paris, with rent as the single largest and most variable line item — remember CAF housing assistance can offset a meaningful part of your rent once approved.

Beyond tuition and monthly living costs, budget for these one-off items, roughly in the order you will pay them:

1. Campus France processing fee (where applicable): approximately €70–€250, paid in your home country during the Campus France procedure, before your visa application.
2. Visa fee: approximately €99, paid at your consulate appointment before departure.
3. First month's rent plus security deposit: typically one to two months' rent upfront when you sign your lease, on or before arrival.
4. CVEC: approximately €105/year, paid online before enrolment is finalised at EAE.
5. Visa/residence permit validation or issuance fee: approximately €225, paid online shortly after arrival when you validate your VLS-TS or first residence permit.
6. Initial setup costs: airport transfer, a transport pass, basic household items, and first groceries — budget an additional €300–€500 as a buffer for your first weeks.
7. Keep digital and printed receipts for every one of these payments — several are required as supporting evidence for later steps (renewal, CAF, tax declarations).