DAP vs Parcoursup

The application procedure for the first year of an undergraduate degree in France depends on 2 criteria: your citizenship and your matric certificate (Baccalauréat).
 

ALL citizens of France and the EU must apply on Parcoursup.
All other nationalities (including South Africans) must apply with the DAP, through Campus France. However, there are a few exceptions: the type of programme you apply to, and the type of matric certificate you have.

The DAP Procedure is used by international students applying for Bachelor’s degrees taught at universities in France.

However, if you have chosen to apply to a Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles (CPGE), a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS) or a Diplôme de Comptabilité et de Gestion (DCG), you need to use the same platform as French citizens: Parcoursup
Once you have been accepted, you will complete the pre-visa procedure on Campus France for "students already accepted", before you apply for your student visa.

**If you have a French Baccalauréat or a European Baccalauréat, you must apply to universities using the Parcoursup platform.
If you have a South African matric (NSC or the IEB-NSC), or any other matric-equivalent that gives access to university studies, then you must apply using the DAP procedure.

For either application procedure, it is ESSENTIAL that you are fluent in French. From Master’s level, many courses can be found in English but it is very rare to find English-taught degrees at Bachelor’s level.

The minimum requirement to show French proficiency is a DELF B2 certificate, or a minimum score of 499/600 on a TEF exam. Contact your nearest Alliance Française to enquire further about these and French lessons.

Related articles:
How to apply to study in France
Etudiants étrangers : inscriptions dans l’enseignement supérieur français

The DAP is a preliminary application for admission (Demande d’Admission Préalable) to a university in France. It consists of an online application on the EEF platform. 
Note: Students MUST apply through the EEF platform, they may not apply directly to universities for the Licence 1 year of studies.
 

The DAP Procedure allows you to apply to a maximum of 3 courses in France. This can be one course at three different universities, two courses at one university and a third at another university, or three courses all at the same university.
 

Which courses use the DAP Procedure?

• Architecture (DAP Jaune) - Information PDF (French) - maximum of 2 applications allowed!
• Licence (L1)
• Licence Professionel (L1) (Vocational Bachelor) - Information PDF
• Medicine - Two pathways available : PASS (Parcours d’Accès Spécifique Santé) or LAS (Licence Access Santé)
  • For more information about these two options, read this breakdown provided by the Medical Faculty at the Sorbonne University.
  • Information PDF (French)
     

How to find a course in France?

You can consult the course catalogue for Bachelor’s degrees. Search by keyword, field of study or by the regions in France.

• If the course has an L3 label, this is a 3-year course. If it is an L1, it is only a one-year course, etc.

You can also use the catalogue that is available on the EEF platform.
 

Application process and submission

Step 1: Create your Etudes en France account

Step 2: On the EEF platform, complete your personal information (including education & professional experience and language skills) and your programme basket (3 choices max).
You need to electronically complete one DAP Blanche form for each programme that you choose and upload this to the EEF platform as a PDF. The form and application guide can be downloaded here.

For your personal information, include the following:

• Passport or birth certificate (translated to French + certified copy of the original)
• CV (in French)
• Matric (or equivalent) certificate (translated to French + certified copy of the original) *ONLY if you have already completed matric!
• Academic report for the last 2 years of high school (translated to French + certified copy of the original) or for each year of studies after high school.
• Proof of French proficiency (DELF B2) or proof that you have completed high school in French.

Step 3: Verify that all your information is correct and that all of the required documents have been uploaded. Then confirm the information and submit your file to Campus France South Africa on the EEF platform.

Step 4: Pay the EEF processing fee (R1800). You will receive a notice via the EEF platform to make your payment. The notice will include the banking details so that you can make an EFT or deposit for your payment.
Make sure to use the correct payment reference, otherwise you will need to make the payment again!!!

Step 5: Attend your interview online (video). To complete the processing of your file, you will be requested to attend an online interview. The date, time and a link to connect to the interview will be provided in your interview notice which is sent via the EEF platform.
Ensure that you have the original versions of all your documents (including passport) during the interview!

Once your application has been validated, it will be reviewed by the Admissions Officers of your chosen universities in France. You will then be notified of their final decision on the EEF platform.

Step 6: Of the programmes that you are accepted to, confirm which one is your final choice and accept the admission offer from that university on the EEF platform.
WARNING: once you have chosen your final choice, you will not be able to change it.

Step 7: Submit your pre-consular application on the EEF platform (as a student already accepted) and then complete your student visa application on France-Visas!

DAP Verte

This is for international students who are already in France.

The procedure is slightly different. All information is provided in the guide and application form.

Medicine

Whilst medicine is a selective course, applications are not done through Parcoursup. Students need to apply using the DAP Procedure.

Two pathways available : PASS (Parcours d’Accès Spécifique Santé) or LAS (Licence Access Santé)

• For more information about these two options, read this breakdown provided by the Medical Faculty at the Sorbonne University.
• Information PDF (French)

French proficiency required: B2, but preferably C1.

Art and Architecture

Degrees in art and culture (music, design, dance, etc) – Information PDF

• Apply on CampusArt AND on the EEF platform (following the same procedure as the DAP Blanc).
• You must be fluent in French with at least a DELF B2
• NOTE: The preparatory courses are not required. They are only recommended for students who do not have a portfolio.
• CampusArt Website
• CampusArt Catalogue
• If you want to study art and the history of art, universities are the better root as opposed to schools of art and design, which are better suited to students who want to do art.

Architecture – (DAP Jaune) Information PDF and 2021 Flyer

• For ANY year in an architecture degree (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year), you MUST complete the DAP Jaune application. You are limited to 2 choices for architecture. This is done on the EEF platform. Follow the instructions above for the DAP Blanc.
  • If you are an international student located in France, you apply using the DAP Bleu.
  • It is also possible to apply to some private architectural schools that are affiliated with Campus France. You can find them in the CampusArt Catalogue.
• Only 2 national schools of architecture exist (ENSA – Ecole Normale Superieur d’Architecture)