✨ Should I Apply for France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Master's: €1,181 monthly; PhD: €1,800 monthly
⏱
Duration
Master's: 12-36 months; PhD: Up to 36 months depending on the doctoral agreement
🗓
Deadline
January 10, 2024 (Annual; next cycle typically ends early January 2025)
🔬
Fields
Biology and Health, Ecological Transition, Mathematics and Digital, Science and Engineering, History, French Language and Culture, Law and Political Science, Economics and Management
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 350 to 500 awards per year
🏛️
Provider
Campus France (on behalf of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
📊
Acceptance
Approximately 15-20% of nominated applicants
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract the best foreign students for Master's and PhD programs. It is designed to educate future foreign leaders in key areas of study.
👥 Who Should Apply
Must be a non-French citizen, meet age requirements (Master's ≤ 27, PhD ≤ 35), and be nominated by a French institution
🏛️ Host University
Any accredited French higher education institution (Universities, Grandes Écoles, etc.)
🤝 Sponsor
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
🔬 Fields of Study
Biology and Health, Ecological Transition, Mathematics and Digital, Science and Engineering, History, French Language and Culture, Law and Political Science, Economics and Management
✨ Key Benefits
Monthly stipend (€1,181/€1,800), international airfare, national rail travel, health insurance, and cultural support
🎯 Target Students
International students from emerging countries (Master's) and all countries (PhD)
🏷 Tags
France
Master's
PhD
International Students
Government Scholarship
Merit-based
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
No (The program does not cover tuition fees; however, state-run universities often have low fees for those with this scholarship)
Living Stipend
Yes, a monthly allowance for living expenses is provided to all awardees
Total Award
Master's: €1,181 monthly;
✈️ Travel: Includes one international return journey, local transport within France, and train travel to the study location
🏠 Accommodation: No (But recipients get priority access to student housing and may receive a housing allowance)
💊 Health Insurance: Comprehensive social security coverage and supplementary health insurance (mutuelle) are provided
🔄 Renewable: No
💳 App Fee: None for the scholarship (Host institutions may have their own application fees)
🎓 Tuition Coverage
No (The program does not cover tuition fees; however, state-run universities often have low fees for those with this scholarship)
🏠 Living Stipend
Yes, a monthly allowance for living expenses is provided to all awardees
🏡 Accommodation
No (But recipients get priority access to student housing and may receive a housing allowance)
✈️ Travel Allowance
Includes one international return journey, local transport within France, and train travel to the study location
💊 Health Insurance
Comprehensive social security coverage and supplementary health insurance (mutuelle) are provided
🎁 Other Benefits
Cultural activities, housing search assistance, and access to the Campus France alumni network
📋 Renewal Conditions
Not applicable; the scholarship is granted for the specific duration of the degree program
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Foreign nationals only (French dual citizens are ineligible)
🎓 Academic Level
Master's, Engineering degree, or PhD (Doctorate)
📊 Minimum GPA
Varies (High academic excellence is the primary selection criterion)
🗣️ English Requirement
Varies by host institution (B2/C1 usually required if the program is taught in English)
🎂 Age Limit
27 years old for Master's level; 35 years old for PhD level
💼 Work Experience
Not mandatory, but relevant professional experience is valued for specific fields
🏆 Leadership
High; aimed at future decision-makers in the public and private sectors
💰 Financial Need
No (Selection is strictly merit-based)
🎯 Target Students
International students from emerging countries (Master's) and all countries (PhD)
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (A statement of purpose and description of the professional project are required)
Rec Letters
Yes (Academic recommendation letters are usually required by the nominating institution)
Interview
Varies (The host university may conduct an interview before nominating the student)
Application Fee
None for the scholarship (Host institutions may have their own application fees)
Documents Required
- Academic Transcripts
- Passport / National ID
- Yes (Academic recommendation letters are usually required by the nominating institution) Recommendation Letters
- CV / Resume
- Personal Statement / Essays
- Varies by host institution (B2/C1 usually required if the program is taught in English)
- Interview: Varies (The host university may conduct an interview before nominating the student)
- Min GPA: Varies (High academic excellence is the primary selection criterion)
📋 Application Process
You cannot apply directly to Campus France. You must first be accepted by a French university and convince them to nominate you.
💡 Insider Tip: Contact the international relations office of your target French institution as early as September to start the nomination process.