French Government Scholarship (Eiffel Scholarship), 2027

Applications are open for the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship program. The call runs until January 6, 2027. The program was developed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to help French institutions attract top international students to master’s and doctoral degree programs. It aims to train future foreign decision-makers from the private and public sectors in priority fields of study.

Two major disciplinary fields are covered, encompassing seven areas for both the master’s and doctoral components. In science and technology: biology and health, ecological transition, mathematics and digital sciences, and engineering sciences. In humanities and social sciences: history, French language and civilization, law and political science, and economics and management.

The master‘s component offers 12, 24, or 36 months of funding. The doctoral component supports mobility periods of 12, 18, or 36 months. For master’s applicants, the scholarship is awarded for a maximum of 12 months for recipients entering the second year of a master’s program (M2), a maximum of 24 months for recipients entering the first year (M1), and a maximum of 36 months for recipients entering an engineering program. For doctoral applicants, a 36-month scholarship is open only to new candidates enrolling in the first year of a doctoral program. The candidate’s program may not be converted to a dual-degree program. A scholarship of 12 or 18 months is open to all candidates, notably those already enrolled in a doctoral program through joint supervision of dissertation or dual degree: a maximum of 12 months for recipients entering the second or third year and a maximum of 18 months for recipients entering the first or second year.

For both components, the funded study period must begin between September 1 and November 30 of the year in which the scholarship is awarded. The start date cannot be postponed. Only those parts of the study program taking place in France are funded by the scholarship, except for certain internship or exchange periods. If a recipient is compelled to repeat a year owing to failure to meet academic requirements, the scholarship is suspended.

Programme Details

• Host Institution: French universities and academic institutions in France.
• Fields of Study: Seven areas across science and technology, humanities, and social sciences. See the full list below.
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: 12 months for M2, 24 months for M1, 36 months for an engineering program, and 12, 18, or 36 months for doctoral studies.
• Target group: Open to international students nominated by French higher education institutions.

French Government Scholarship Benefits

For master’s-level studies, the Eiffel scholarship includes a monthly allowance of €1,200 (effective January 1, 2026), plus direct payment of several services. For doctoral-level studies, the monthly allowance is €2,000 (effective January 1, 2026). Tuition and fees are not paid by the Eiffel program at either level.

Covered services include:

1. International airfare in the least expensive class available. The cost of airfare incurred by recipients will be reimbursed, upon presentation of receipts, in an amount up to 50% of the maximum rate set by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for travel from the country concerned.
2. Domestic travel support. Reimbursement is based on the cost of second-class train or bus travel from the arrival airport to the academic location.
3. Return air travel. Recipients have 12 months from the end of their scholarship to request their return ticket. Coverage depends on receipt of the recipient’s academic results at the end of the final year.
4. Health insurance. Campus France enrolls recipients in a temporary health insurance plan until coverage by the French national scheme (Sécurité Sociale) takes effect. Recipients must submit proof of coverage under the national scheme within two months of arrival. Upon receipt, recipients are enrolled in a supplemental health insurance scheme at no cost.
5. Assistance in locating housing. Campus France offers recipients a choice of housing in student dormitories managed by CROUS or in private homes. Recipients may decline and make their own arrangements.
6. Cultural activities, including weekend outings and short getaways.

Fields and Levels of Study

The two disciplinary fields of the Eiffel scholarships cover the following seven areas and are available for master’s and doctoral studies:

Science and technology:

• Biology and health
• Ecological transition
• Mathematics and digital sciences
• Engineering sciences

Human and social sciences:

• French history, language and civilization
• Law, political science
• Economics, management

French higher education institutions and national research organizations that nominate candidates for the Eiffel program agree to enroll them in one of the following: a program awarding a master’s degree (or equivalent) accredited by the French government, a nationally accredited engineering program, or a doctoral program (dual degree or joint supervision of dissertation) with a partner institution abroad.

French Government Scholarship Eligibility

To be considered for the French Government Scholarship, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

• Application route: Applications are submitted solely by French higher education institutions. Students do not apply directly. Institutions nominate candidates based on the excellence of the international students they wish to welcome. Any candidate nominated by more than one institution shall be disqualified.
• Nationality: This program is reserved for candidates of non-French nationality. Candidates with two nationalities, one of which is French, are not eligible.
• Level of study: Scholarships are for students wishing to enroll in a master’s course, including at an engineering school, and for doctoral students. The Eiffel Program does not apply to French-run master’s courses abroad. It does not apply to training under an apprenticeship contract or a professional training contract.
• Scholarship incompatibilities: Foreign students who, at the time of application, have already been awarded a French government scholarship from another program are not eligible, even if the scholarship only covers health insurance.
• Previous Eiffel awards: For the master’s component, no application will be accepted from a student who applied previously but was rejected, even if the application is submitted by a different establishment or in another field of study. Students who have already been awarded an Eiffel scholarship at the master’s level are not eligible to reapply at the master’s level. For the doctoral component, establishments may nominate a candidate who was previously awarded an Eiffel scholarship at the master’s level for a scholarship at the doctoral level. Candidates who have already been awarded an Eiffel scholarship once during their doctoral studies cannot be awarded it for a second time.
• Language skills: When preselecting non-French-speaking candidates, establishments must make sure that their language skills meet the requirements of the relevant course of study.

How to Apply to the French Government Scholarship

Those interested in this government scholarship must first contact a French higher education institution. The institution submits the application. Applications directly from students are not accepted. Students should contact the institution that will submit their application to learn its internal deadline.

Institutions complete and submit application files online. They must ensure the files meet the criteria defined for the program. The management of the program is entrusted to Campus France.

The deadline for institutions to submit application files to Campus France is January 6, 2027. This date does not apply to students, who must contact French institutions to find out their deadline for receipt of applications. For more details on the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship program, consult the official page.