Université Paris-Saclay, south-west of Paris, is one of France’s top research universities and is especially strong in mathematics, physics and the sciences. It was ranked 76th in the world and fourth in France in the QS World University Rankings 2027. It brings together faculties and institutes with well-known schools such as CentraleSupélec, ENS Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech and the Institut d’Optique, and works closely with major research organisations based on the Paris-Saclay campus.
How you apply depends on the level you’re aiming for, your nationality and where you live. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Université Paris-Saclay’s own guidance and official French government information.
1. Choose your level and programme
Université Paris-Saclay offers bachelor’s (licence) programmes, many master’s programmes, including a range taught in English, and doctoral programmes. Most bachelor’s programmes are taught in French, while many international students come for a master’s. Look at the list of master’s programmes taught in English, and check the language of teaching for each programme you like.
2. Apply for a first-year bachelor’s through the right platform
For the first year of a licence:
- Parcoursup is compulsory for EU/EEA, Swiss, Monaco and Andorran nationals and for anyone with a French or European baccalaureate.
- Études en France is for non-EU students who live in a country covered by the procedure.
- The preliminary admission request (DAP) is for non-EU students without a French or European baccalaureate who live in a country not covered by Études en France. You send the white form to the French embassy in your country.
For September 2027 entry, the government’s DAP calendar opened on 1 October 2026, with a deadline of 15 December 2026. Applying for undergraduate programmes.
3. Use eCandidat for the second or third year
If you’ve already studied at university and want to join the second or third year of a bachelor’s, all applicants, including international students, apply on the eCandidat platform. If you’re admitted, you then complete the Études en France steps or start your visa application. Paris-Saclay advises starting the visa process three months before you arrive.
4. Apply for a master’s on INCEPTION or MonMaster
Most international master’s applicants use Université Paris-Saclay’s INCEPTION platform. European students, and applicants for a first-year master’s (M1) who aren’t covered by the Études en France procedure, use the government’s MonMaster platform instead. If you live in an Études en France country, apply on INCEPTION first, and once you’re admitted, create your Études en France account and complete the “I am accepted” section. Master’s places are limited and admission is selective, so check each programme’s deadline with its director. International students: applying for a master’s.
5. Show strong grades in your subject
Paris-Saclay’s master’s programmes are research-led and selective, so admissions teams focus on your results in the core subjects of your field. Upload complete transcripts and certified translations, and if your university uses an unusual grading scale, explain it.
6. Write a motivation letter that shows your research interest
Explain why you want this programme, which courses or research teams interest you and what you want to do after your master’s, whether that’s a PhD, research or industry. Paris-Saclay’s international scholarship jury even looks at M2 applicants’ motivation to do a PhD at the university, so research interest really matters. See our 50 sample SOPs for ideas on structure.
7. Prove your language level
For programmes taught in English, you’ll usually need to show a good level of English with a test such as IELTS or TOEFL. For programmes taught in French, you’ll usually need a recognised French test such as the DELF/DALF or TCF. Check the exact requirement on your programme page. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
8. Understand the fees
For 2026–27, the national fees for a licence are €178 a year for EU students and €2,902 for most students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. For a national master’s, they are €255 and €3,950. Most students also pay the €105 Student Life and Campus Contribution (CVEC). Université Paris-Saclay’s Board of Governors has approved a partial exemption, so non-EU students subject to the higher fees can pay the same fees as domestic students. National rules now limit how many non-EU students universities can exempt, so check the fees page for the policy that applies to you.
9. Apply for the International Master’s Scholarship
Université Paris-Saclay’s International Master’s Scholarship pays €10,000 a year from September to June, plus up to €900 a year towards travel and visa costs, and it can be renewed for a second year. To be eligible, you must be admitted to a master’s programme at the university or one of its partner institutions, be enrolling in French higher education for the first time, and be under 30. You must apply to your master’s before the scholarship deadline, and your course coordinator nominates candidates. For 2026, the coordinator deadline was 25 March and the application deadline was 31 March, so apply to your master’s early. International Master’s Scholarships.
10. Plan your visa and life on the Saclay campus
If you’re from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, you’ll usually need a long-stay student visa (VLS-TS). If you live in a country covered by the Études en France procedure, you apply for your visa through it after you’ve been accepted. You’ll need to show that you have enough money for your living costs, and you must validate your visa online after you arrive. The Paris-Saclay campus is outside central Paris, so look at housing on or near the campus. After a master’s degree, you can usually apply for a one-year residence permit to look for work or start a business in France. Rules change, so check the French embassy in your country and Campus France for the latest advice.
Applying for a PhD at Université Paris-Saclay?
Université Paris-Saclay has many doctoral schools linked to its research laboratories. You’ll need a master’s degree, a supervisor and usually funding. Look for advertised PhD projects, contact potential supervisors early with a clear research proposal, and check the doctoral school’s calendar.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Université Paris-Saclay’s master’s programmes are selective, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université and ENS de Lyon. Our guide to studying in France explains how the French system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Université Paris-Saclay’s official admissions, fees and scholarship pages, official French government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and visa rules can change, so always confirm the details on Université Paris-Saclay’s admissions and fees pages before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Université Paris-Saclay.