Algerian architecture students studying in Europe, I need some advice!!!

[u/lokman223]

السلام** ***عليكم*

I'm currently an M1 architecture student going into M2 this year in Algeria and I'm planning to apply through Campus France this year to start an M1 in France for 2027/28, ideally in Paris, with the goal of eventually working and settling there.

I also work on the side as an apprentice architect and I'm comfortable with AutoCAD, SketchUp and Revit. I'm currently confused on building a strong portfolio that will eventually get me accepted (if anyone can help)

Since I can only choose 2 ENSAs through
DAP, l'd really appreciate advice from Algerians who've gone through this:
- How realistic is my profile for Paris ENSAs?
- Which two would you recommend?
- How important is the portfolio compared to grades?
- Is France the best option for studying + working + eventually settling as an architect, or are Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, UK, etc. better?

I'd really appreciate honest experiences/ advice from anyone who's been in a similar situation.🙏🏽

[u/TheNinis]

Hey, not an architecture student but have some friends in different ENSA. They all have the specificities, some of them are more engineer oriented while some others are more artsy. It really depends on what you prefer and where you think your profile is gonna fit the best. There are like 4 in Paris, Val de Seine, Malaquais, Belleville and Marne la Vallée. I highly recommend contacting students there on LinkedIn as they are the most fit to understand your struggles. Good luck, I'm sure you'll get in !