France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship 2027

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is a tool developed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to assist French institutions of higher education in attracting the best foreign students to Master's and PhD degree programmes. It trains future foreign decision-makers from the private and public sectors in priority areas of study.

Key features of the programme:

• Institution-nominated only — Students cannot apply directly; French universities submit nominations

• ~470 scholarships annually — Approximately 400 at Master's level and 70 at PhD level

• All nationalities except French — Open to international students from every country

• Seven priority fields — Across science/technology and humanities/social sciences

• Monthly stipend + benefits — Living allowance, travel, health insurance, and housing support

• Prestigious network — Join a global community of Eiffel laureates and French alumni

Related: Learn more about studying in France.

Successful Eiffel Scholarship recipients receive:

• Monthly stipend:

  • Master's level: €1,181–€1,200 per month (approximately 12–36 months)

  • PhD level: €1,400–€2,100 per month (approximately 6–36 months)

• Travel allowance — Round-trip international airfare from your home country to France

• Health insurance — Coverage during your stay in France

• Housing support — Assistance with accommodation costs

• Cultural activities — Support for integration and cultural engagement

• Tuition fee arrangements — While tuition is not directly covered by the scholarship, many partner institutions waive or reduce fees for Eiffel laureates. French public universities already charge relatively low tuition

Note: Exact stipend amounts may vary slightly by cycle. Confirm current rates with your nominating institution or Campus France.

Documents are submitted by the French institution on your behalf. You must provide the institution with:

• Completed application materials — As required by your chosen French university

• Passport copy — Proof of non-French nationality

• Academic transcripts and degree certificates — From all previous institutions

• CV / Resume — Highlighting academic achievements, research experience, and professional background

• Motivation letter / Statement of purpose — Explaining why you chose the programme and how it aligns with your career goals

• Letters of recommendation — From professors or employers who can attest to your academic excellence and leadership potential

• Language proficiency certificates — DELF/DALF, TOEFL, IELTS, or other tests as required by your programme

• Research proposal — For PhD applicants

• Any additional documents — As requested by the nominating institution

Tip: Start preparing these documents in September — well before the October opening — so you are ready when university nomination windows open.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Nationality: Must be an international student — French nationals are NOT eligible, even if they hold dual citizenship

• Age:

  • Master's: Must be up to 29 years old at the time of the selection committee meeting

  • PhD: Must be up to 35 years old at the time of the selection committee meeting

• Academic excellence: Must have outstanding academic results — class rankings and academic distinctions carry significant weight

• Programme alignment: Must be applying for a Master's or PhD programme in one of the seven priority fields at a participating French higher education institution

• Not currently in France (Master's): Master's-level candidates must not already be studying in France at the time of application

• No other French government scholarship: Candidates who have applied for or are receiving another scholarship offered by the French government (e.g., Charpak) will NOT be considered

• Application attempts — Master's: No candidate can apply for the Eiffel Scholarship a second time at Master's level, regardless of whether the institution or course is different. A previous rejection at Master's level permanently disqualifies re-application at that level

• Application attempts — PhD: If you received an Eiffel Scholarship at Master's level, you are free to re-apply at PhD level

• PhD co-supervision: PhD scholarships typically follow a cotutelle (joint supervision) model, requiring enrollment at both a French and a foreign institution

• Language proficiency: Proficiency in French or English depending on the programme's language of instruction. Language certificates (DELF/DALF for French; TOEFL/IELTS for English) may be required by the nominating institution

The Eiffel Scholarship has no direct student application. You must be nominated by a French higher education institution. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify French universities offering Master's or PhD programmes in your field among the seven priority areas. Use the Campus France website and Study in France portal to explore programmes.

Step 2: Contact the international relations department of your target universities via email, phone, or their website. Express your interest in the programme and explicitly ask whether they nominate candidates for the Eiffel Scholarship.

Step 3: Apply for admission to the Master's or PhD programme at the university. Your application must be strong enough for the institution to consider you a top-tier candidate worthy of nomination.

Step 4: If the institution accepts your application and deems you an outstanding candidate, they will nominate you for the Eiffel Scholarship.

Step 5: The university submits your nomination file online via the dedicated Campus France portal on your behalf.

Step 6: Campus France and the selection committee review all nominated applications.

Step 7: Results are published approximately March–April 2027.

Step 8: If selected, accept the scholarship and begin preparing for your move to France.

Important: Do not send an application directly to Campus France — it will be immediately rejected. The application must come from the French institution.