The SCAC opinion, also called the “cultural service opinion”, is a mandatory document issued by the Service for Cooperation and Cultural Action (SCAC) for any non-European student wishing to enroll in a higher education institution in France.
The SCAC depends on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is attached to each French embassy or consulate. Its role is to evaluate applications for the registration of international students and to issue an advisory opinion on whether or not to accept them.
Concretely, the SCAC opinion is a recommendation on the academic quality of a student's academic record and on the seriousness of their application to study in France. Although it is advisory, this opinion is decisive for the final decision to enroll the French higher education institution.
As explained above, the SCAC opinion is issued by the Cooperation and Cultural Action Service of the French Embassy in the student's country of origin. Concretely, it is the cultural and cooperation advisor at the embassy who is responsible for issuing this opinion, after studying the file by SCAC agents.
The SCAC opinion is then sent directly by the SCAC to the French higher education institution where the student applied. The notice usually comes when the institution reviews the registration files.
To obtain a favorable opinion from the SCAC, it is important to build a solid file and to meet the expected conditions.
Here are some tips to maximize your chances of getting a positive review:
● Excellent academic results in his previous career (high school for example)
● Good level of French, especially in writing
● Well-written and personalized motivation letter for each student wish
● Coherent and realistic study project, in line with its background and objectives
● Credible funding guarantees (grants, personal funds, sponsorship...)
● Serious professional prospects after studying in France
By maintaining the academic quality of their file and by demonstrating the maturity of their project, students maximize their chances of obtaining the precious sesame that is the favorable opinion of the SCAC.
When the SCAC gives an unfavorable opinion on a file, the consequences are unfortunately quite limited for the student.
Concretely, the requested French higher education institution can still accept the file despite the negative opinion, but this is not automatic. Most of the time, the negative review is unacceptable and leads to a refusal to register.
The opinion issued by the Service for Cooperation and Cultural Action is a key element in the registration file for foreign students wishing to study in France.
Although it is advisory, the SCAC opinion has an important weight in the final decision of French institutions. A favorable opinion validates the academic quality of the file and the maturity of the study project. On the other hand, a refusal seriously complicates the chances of admission.
It is therefore crucial to take care of your request for a SCAC opinion beforehand, by building up a solid file on both academic results and motivation.
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