France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Programme

Overview

Run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs via Campus France, this prestigious award helps French institutions recruit top international students into master's and PhD programmes. It funds a monthly allowance (around €1,200 for master's, €2,100 for PhD) plus travel, insurance, housing assistance, and cultural activities. Applications are submitted by the host institution on the student's behalf, not directly by the student.

Funding

Monthly allowance (approx. €1,181/month for Master's, €2,100/month for PhD) plus travel, health insurance, and housing support; does not cover tuition fees itself

Eligibility

• Non-French nationals applying to a French higher education institution's master's or PhD programme
• Under 29 years old for master's level, under 35 for PhD level, at time of application
• Nominated and submitted by the French institution you're applying to (not a direct student application)
• Priority given to future leaders in targeted fields (engineering, economics, law, political science, etc.)
• Selected students must not already be studying in France

Application Deadline

Call opens around 1 October and closes around 8 January each year for the following academic year (universities set earlier internal deadlines for nomination) Always confirm exact dates on the official site before planning your application, since deadlines shift year to year.

How to Apply

1. Apply for admission to an eligible French higher education institution first
2. Ask that institution's International Relations office whether it will nominate you (only institutions can submit Eiffel nominations, not individual students)
3. Institution submits your nomination file to Campus France by the January deadline
4. Await the Eiffel selection committee's results, published around late March
5. Complete visa and enrolment formalities if selected