Your Gateway to France: A Guide to the Eiffel Scholarship Program

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program is a prestigious initiative launched by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to attract top international students to French higher education institutions. This program is aimed at supporting French educational institutions in their international outreach efforts and drawing talented international students to Master's and Doctoral programs in France.

Here are the key details about the Eiffel Scholarship Program:

Objectives

1. International Outreach: Enhance the international visibility and attractiveness of French higher education.

2. Academic Excellence: Support French educational institutions in their efforts to recruit the best international students.

3. Career Development: Encourage future foreign decision-makers from the private and public sectors to study in France.

Scholarship Benefits

The Eiffel Scholarship provides significant financial and logistical support, including:

For Master’s Level:

• Monthly Allowance: €1,181

• Tuition Fees: Not covered by the scholarship; however, students are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver directly with their French institution.

• International Transport: Round-trip international air travel.

• Domestic Transport: Train travel within France from the first study location to the last.

• Insurance: Health insurance coverage by Campus France.

• Cultural Activities: Participation in cultural activities organized by Campus France.

• Housing Allowance: Additional housing subsidy, under specific conditions.

For PhD Level:

• Monthly Allowance: €1,700

• Tuition Fees: Not covered by the scholarship; however, students are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver directly with their French institution.

• International Transport: Round-trip international air travel.

• Domestic Transport: Train travel within France from the first study location to the last.

• Insurance: Health insurance coverage by Campus France.

• Cultural Activities: Participation in cultural activities organized by Campus France.

• Housing Allowance: Additional housing subsidy, under specific conditions.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Nationality: Only non-French nationals are eligible. Candidates with dual nationality, one of which is French, are not eligible.

2. Age Limit:

• For Master’s level: Candidates must be 25 years old or younger at the time of the 2025 application deadline.

• For PhD level: Candidates must be 30 years old or younger at the time of the 2025 application deadline.

1. Academic Level:

• For Master’s level: Candidates must have applied for a master’s program in France.

• For PhD level: Candidates must have applied for a PhD program under joint supervision or joint direction of thesis in partnership with a French higher education institution.

1. Previous Applications: Students who have previously received an Eiffel scholarship at the master’s level are not eligible to reapply at the same level, but may reapply at the PhD level.

Selection Criteria

The selection process is based on the following criteria:

1. Excellence of the candidate: Academic achievements and merit.

2. Institutional Strategy: Alignment of the candidate’s field of study with the institution’s priorities and international outreach strategy.

3. International Policy: Applicant’s relevance to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ international strategy.

Application Process

1. Nomination: Applications must be submitted through French higher education institutions. Students must first be accepted into a French institution, which will then nominate them for the scholarship.

2. Submission Deadline: The application deadline typically falls in January each year. Institutions have their internal deadlines for students to submit the required documents, which are usually set a few months before the official deadline.

3. Notification: Results are usually announced in March for the following academic year.

Fields of Study

The Eiffel Scholarship Program supports four broad fields:

1. Science and Technology:

• Biology and Health

• Ecological Transition

• Mathematics and Digital

• Engineering Sciences

1. Human and Social Sciences:

• History, French Language, and Civilization

• Law and Political Science

• Economics and Management

Duration of the Scholarship

• Master’s Level: 12-36 months, depending on the duration of the program.

• PhD Level: Up to 12 months, which can be split over three years as part of a joint supervision or joint direction of thesis.

Important Contacts

For further information, prospective candidates should contact the international office of their chosen French institution or visit the Campus France website.