Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme
🇫🇷 France
Masters
- Monthly allowance (€1,181 for master's)
- Return travel costs
- Health insurance
Deadline: January 9 (French institutions nominate candidates)
🇫🇷
Europe
Scholarships in France for International Students
2 verified scholarships · 1 fully funded · Including Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme, Émile Boutmy Scholarship
France is a top study destination renowned for its centuries-old academic traditions, affordable tuition programs, and rich cultural diversity. We've compiled 2 scholarship opportunities — including 1 fully funded programs — to help international students fund their education in France in 2026.
2
Total Scholarships
1
Fully Funded
2
Degree Levels
2
Open to All Nations
All Scholarships in France
Émile Boutmy Scholarship
🇫🇷 France
Undergraduate
- Tuition waiver or significant reduction (up to €13,190/year)
- Some grants include living cost contribution (€5,000/year)
Deadline: Varies by intake (December–April)
Why Study in France?
France is the leading non-English-speaking destination for international students, hosting more than 400,000 each year — and English-taught Master's programmes have multiplied dramatically over the past decade. Public university tuition for non-EU students is modest (€2,770/year for Bachelor's and €3,770/year for Master's at the national rate), grandes écoles offer global-grade business and engineering education, and the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program supports top international Master's and PhD students with monthly stipends and study allowances. Living in France gives you Schengen mobility and one of Europe's strongest cultural and culinary ecosystems.
Top Universities in France for International Students
These universities anchor the country's scholarship pipeline and are routinely the destination institutions for the funded programmes listed above.
Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres)
Paris
Mathematics, physics, humanities (includes ENS, Dauphine, Mines)
Sorbonne Université
Paris
Medicine, sciences, humanities
Sciences Po
Paris and 7 regional campuses
Political science, international affairs, public policy
École Polytechnique
Palaiseau (near Paris)
Engineering, mathematics, physics; elite grande école
HEC Paris
Jouy-en-Josas
Business, MBA, finance
Université Paris-Saclay
Saclay
Physics, mathematics, life sciences
INSEAD
Fontainebleau
One-year MBA, executive education
Université Grenoble Alpes
Grenoble
Engineering, materials science, climate
Tuition and Cost of Living in France
Fully funded scholarships normally cover both tuition and a monthly living allowance, but knowing the underlying costs helps you choose between full and partial funding offers.
Annual Tuition (Self-Funded Rate)
- Undergraduate
- €2,770/year (public universities, national rate for non-EU)
- Master's
- €3,770/year (public) or €10,000–€30,000 (grandes écoles and business schools)
- PhD
- €380/year (national rate; doctoral candidates often receive contracts of €1,800/month+)
Some universities still apply the EU rate (€170/€243) to all students; grandes écoles charge €10k–€20k/year. INSEAD MBA is €100k+; HEC MBA ~€80k.
Monthly Living Budget (€900–€1,500)
- Rent
- €400–€900 (CROUS student housing or private; Paris easily €700–€1,000)
- Food
- €200–€300
- Transport
- €30–€85 (Navigo Imagine R in Paris is heavily subsidised for students)
Paris is roughly twice as expensive as cities like Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, or Lille. CAF housing assistance (APL) reduces rent costs further for most students.
Student Visa, Work Rights, and Post-Study Pathway
Visa rules and post-graduation work rights vary dramatically between destinations — for many applicants they matter as much as the scholarship itself.
Long-Stay Student Visa (VLS-TS)
- Visa Fee
- €99 (waived for certain bilateral agreements)
- Processing Time
- 3–6 weeks through Campus France
- Financial Proof Required
- €7,380/year (≈€615/month) for living expenses
- Health Insurance
- Free enrolment in French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie) for students; complementary mutuelle ~€20–€40/month
- Work While Studying
- Up to 964 hours per year (~60% of full-time); some research contracts allow more
Post-Study Work Rights
Temporary Residence Permit (APS) for 12 months post-Master's degree (24 months for PhDs) gives time to find work or start a business. Switching to a Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) is straightforward for graduates with skilled job offers earning ≥€41,500/year.
English Language Requirements
For English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL iBT 80–100. For French-taught programmes you need DELF B2 (or DALF C1 for many grandes écoles) — TCF and TEF are also accepted. Sciences Po, École Polytechnique, and HEC programmes have specific entrance exams alongside language tests.
Application Timeline for France Scholarships
Most scholarship deadlines are 8–14 months before the programme start date. Backwards-plan from your target intake to avoid missing key dates.
- 1
12–15 months before
Register on Campus France or the relevant national portal; shortlist programmes.
- 2
10–12 months before
Take IELTS/TOEFL/DELF; secure transcripts.
- 3
6–10 months before
Submit applications (Sciences Po deadlines November, HEC rolling, Polytechnique January).
- 4
4–6 months before
Apply for Eiffel Excellence (via your French host institution — internal deadline December).
- 5
2–4 months before
Accept offer, apply for VLS-TS through Campus France, book CROUS housing.
How to Win a Scholarship in France
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme has an unusual structure: you cannot apply directly. You apply to a French university programme, and the university then nominates its strongest international candidates to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs by their internal December deadline. To improve odds, identify the programme coordinator, submit your application well before the university's own deadline, and explicitly mention Eiffel candidacy in your motivation letter. Public universities also offer their own scholarships (Sorbonne, Paris-Saclay, Paris Cité); grandes écoles like HEC and Polytechnique run separate need- and merit-based programmes. French government scholarships through bilateral agreements (e.g. CampusBourse) are worth exploring depending on your nationality.
France Scholarships at a Glance
- Public French university tuition for non-EU students is €2,770 (BA) and €3,770 (MA) per year.
- Over 1,700 Master's programmes in France are now taught in English.
- Students receive housing assistance (APL) regardless of nationality — typically €100–€200/month off rent.
- CROUS-managed student housing rents from €200–€400/month and is heavily subsidised.
Scholarships in France by Student Nationality
Find scholarships in France tailored to students from your home country. Select your nationality to see specific opportunities and eligibility requirements.
🇵🇰 Pakistani Students 🇮🇳 Indian Students 🇳🇬 Nigerian Students 🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Students 🇰🇪 Kenyan Students 🇬🇭 Ghanaian Students 🇵🇭 Filipino Students 🇪🇬 Egyptian Students 🇪🇹 Ethiopian Students 🇳🇵 Nepali Students 🇻🇳 Vietnamese Students 🇮🇩 Indonesian Students 🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Students 🇹🇿 Tanzanian Students 🇺🇬 Ugandan Students
Explore Other Study Destinations
Considering other countries? Browse scholarships in these popular study destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in France
Yes, France offers several fully funded scholarships that cover tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and sometimes even travel costs. Government-sponsored programs and university-specific awards provide comprehensive funding for international students at all degree levels.
Competition varies by program. Prestigious government scholarships tend to be highly competitive with acceptance rates under 5%, while university-specific funding and partial scholarships are more accessible. Starting your application early and maintaining strong academic credentials significantly improves your chances.
Most English-taught programs require IELTS (6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100) scores. Many European universities also offer programs in the local language, with preparatory language courses included in some scholarship packages.
Start researching and preparing at least 12–18 months before your intended start date. Most scholarship deadlines fall between October and March for programs starting the following September. Early preparation gives you time to gather recommendation letters, write strong personal statements, and take standardized tests.
Most student visa categories in France allow part-time work during term time (typically 15–20 hours per week) and full-time work during holidays. However, many fully funded scholarships provide sufficient living allowances, allowing you to focus entirely on your studies.
TheScholarSphere currently lists 2 scholarship programs in France for the 2026 academic year, ranging from fully funded government scholarships to partial university grants. New opportunities are added regularly, so subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
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