Campus France South Africa 2027: the complete guide, from Pretoria to the visa

Information checked on 2 November 2026.

Campus France South Africa sets a simple rule: applications on the Études en France platform run from 1 October to 15 December, every year. For the September 2027 intake, the date to remember is therefore 15 December 2026. Interviews then take place by video, in January and February. This guide follows the route specific to South Africa: the Pretoria office, how South African qualifications translate (matric, Bachelor, Honours), the choice between English and French, payment by EFT, then the visa at Capago. For the general logic of the platform, see our complete guide to Campus France.

Campus France South Africa: who does it apply to?

Only students residing in South Africa use the Études en France platform run by Campus France South Africa. Applicants from Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana and other countries without a Campus France office check each university's website for the process to follow.

One point reassures many applicants: you do not need an Honours degree to study in France. A three-year Bachelor gives access to Master 1.

The Campus France office in Pretoria

Before writing, the office asks you to read its "First Steps" pages and its FAQ. Visa questions go directly to France-Visas.

Studying in English or in French?

For a French-taught programme, the accepted tests are the DELF B2 and DALF C1, or the TCF TP and TEF if the B2 or C1 level is validated with at least 14/20 in written expression. For the DAP, only the DELF B2, DALF C1 and TCF TP with the written section count: the TEF is not accepted. Applicants from a country where French is the only official language and those who completed high school in French are exempt. The Alliances françaises organise these tests. Our article on the French test for Campus France details the exams, and our comparison IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo helps if the institution asks for an English test.

Campus France South Africa dates 2027-2028

Campus France South Africa publishes these dates under a "2026" heading without tying them to a year; the Campus France national calendar confirms the DAP dates for the 2027 intake: opening on 1 October 2026, closing on 15 December 2026, answers before 30 April 2027, choice before 31 May 2027. For Campus Art, the national page sets 28 February 2027, while the South African page gives 15 December: aim for the earlier date. The comparison with other countries is in our Campus France 2027-2028 calendar.

The Campus France South Africa procedure in 7 steps

The documents required: passport; CV, in French unless the programme is 100% in English; qualifications (including matric) with certified French translations; marks for the last two years of study, translated likewise; proof of language level. A matric student enters grade 10 to 12 marks, term by term; an ongoing qualification is declared as "Ongoing qualification". Our guide to the Campus France motivation letter helps with the most-read part of the file.

Campus France fees in South Africa

The amount of the processing fee is not shown on the pages consulted: it appears in the payment notice you receive after submitting. Payment is made by EFT, with the file number as reference.

Exempt are: French government scholarship holders, South African government scholarship holders, and holders of a French baccalauréat less than five years old. A scholarship applicant pays the fee, then is refunded once the scholarship is confirmed. Tuition fees are paid at enrolment, and the university may announce an exemption with its offer. The full departure budget is in our article on Campus France fees.

Admitted directly: the pre-visa procedure

Every student accepted for more than three months must complete the pre-visa procedure on Études en France before applying for a visa. Start 8 to 12 weeks before the programme begins:

A student admitted following an Études en France application made between 1 October and 15 December does not pay the fee again at this stage. Campus France strongly discourages programmes starting after the January or February intake: the long-stay visa then becomes hard to obtain.

The student visa from South Africa: Capago

Once you have the certificate, fill in the application on France-Visas, which redirects you to Capago for the submission and biometrics appointment. Having completed the Études en France procedure entitles you to a 50% reduction on the visa fee. The consulate expects proof of resources equivalent to €877.50 per month of stay.

Capago answers on +27 87 231 0313 and at infofrance-za@capago.eu. The long-stay visa (VLS-TS) is valid for one year and is renewed online two months before it expires. Our guide to proving your resources lists the accepted proofs, and the one on the student visa application the whole file.

Scholarships for South Africans

Campus France South Africa points to the France Excellence Eiffel scholarship (in French), put forward by the French institution, and to the French-South African cooperation programmes; the French embassy scholarships (in French) follow a calendar specific to each country. Our directory of scholarships open to South Africans (in French) also lists programmes outside France, with email alerts before each deadline, and our overview of scholarships to study in France from sub-Saharan Africa compares them.

Preparing your departure with Compatri

The Campus France simulator (in French) places your profile against admitted applicants, free of charge; its thresholds were measured on Beninese applicants and only give an order of magnitude for South Africa. The Campus France support service (in French) is a paid service, whose price is given at the first exchange. The diaspora mentors answer questions as volunteers.

In France, the South African diaspora page brings communities together city by city, and every 27 April Freedom Day gathers compatriots. For the other English- and Portuguese-speaking countries, see our guide studying in France from English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa.

Compatri is not a Campus France or government service, and does not replace the official source: only the information from Campus France South Africa, the embassy and the consulate is binding.

Official sources

• Campus France South Africa: the application process
• Campus France South Africa: Études en France guide, university applications
• Campus France South Africa: Études en France guide, pre-visa procedure
• Campus France South Africa: application dates
• Campus France South Africa: French requirements and tests
• Campus France South Africa: visas
• Campus France South Africa: contact
• Campus France: the Pretoria office
• Capago: visa centres for France in South Africa
• Campus France: national calendar 2027-2028