Research your school deeply Spend two full hours on your school's website before the interview. Read the program page entirely. Note the names of 2 to 3 modules that are most relevant to your project. Find one thing about the school that distinguishes it, an accreditation, a partnership, a research center, a ranking. Being able to cite one specific and true detail about the school immediately signals that you are serious.
Write your projet d'études and read it every day for two weeks Write out your complete study project in French. Not bullet points. Full sentences. The narrative that connects your background to your program to your career goal. Read it every morning for two weeks before your interview. Not to memorize it word for word but to internalize the logic so it comes out naturally in conversation.
Practice speaking French out loud daily Reading French and speaking French are completely different skills. Find a language exchange partner on Tandem (tandem.net) or HelloTalk (hellotalk.com) and practice having a conversation about your project specifically. Ask them to ask you the questions from Part 3 of this guide. Record yourself answering and listen back.
Know your numbers Before the interview, know exactly: your annual tuition fees, your estimated monthly living costs in your target city, your total annual budget, and where each euro is coming from. Write these numbers down and practice saying them naturally in French. The financial question is one of the most commonly failed parts of the interview simply because students have not prepared specific numbers.
Prepare your financial documents Bank statements, scholarship letters, and a letter from your parents confirming their financial support have all of these ready. You may be asked to reference them during or after the interview.
Visit the Campus France office website for your country Each Campus France office publishes specific guidance for students in that country. Some have sample questions. Some have preparation workshops. Check your local office before your interview.
Nigeria: nigeria.campusfrance.org - offices in Lagos and Abuja. Administrative fee: NGN 80,000. Portal opens October 1st each year. Interview conducted in English.
Cameroon: cameroun.campusfrance.org - interview in English for anglophone regions, French for francophone regions.
Senegal: senegal.campusfrance.org - interview in French.
Côte d'Ivoire: cotedivoire.campusfrance.org - interview in French.
Morocco: maroc.campusfrance.org - interview in French.
Ghana: ghana.campusfrance.org - interview in English.
All other countries: campusfrance.org/en/countries
Arrive early and dress professionally This is not a job interview in terms of strict formality but it is a professional conversation. Dress as you would for a serious meeting. Arrive 15 minutes early. Being rushed or flustered before you sit down affects your performance.
Bring your complete dossier in physical form Even if you submitted everything digitally, bring a printed copy of your entire application, transcripts, diplomas, language certificates, financial documents, acceptance letters.