The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France to bring international students to master's and doctoral study at French higher-education institutions. The programme began in 1999 and is used by French institutions to attract students who may go on to work with France in their careers. For a master's, the scholarship pays a monthly allowance of around ~€1,181, and for a doctorate around ~€1,700 (est.), plus international travel, health insurance, and some cultural and accommodation support. It does not normally pay tuition fees, though many French public institutions charge low fees. Master's support runs for up to 12 to 24 months depending on the course, and there are priority fields including science, engineering, economics and management, law, and political science. Importantly, students cannot apply directly — the French institution applies on the student's behalf, usually by an internal deadline around early January; a representative date is 8 January (est.). Treat the figures and date here as estimates and confirm current details on Campus France's official Eiffel pages.
Apply for admission to a French institution and ask it to nominate you for Eiffel; the institution submits the Eiffel application.
You cannot apply directly to Campus France — interested students must contact the French institution, which assembles and submits Eiffel applications by its internal deadline.
Open to international (non-French) students; priority often given to applicants from emerging countries for master's level
Campus France selects Eiffel scholars on academic excellence, the strength of the institution's case, and the programme's priorities — including the candidate's profile, the international strategy of the institution, and (at master's level) a focus on applicants from emerging countries. Because institutions nominate, the strength of the institutional file matters alongside the candidate's record.
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France, the national agency for promoting French higher education abroad. Launched in 1999, it supports international master's and doctoral students at French institutions.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
A French government scholarship funded by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France, bringing international students to master's and doctoral study at French institutions.
A monthly allowance (around ~€1,181 for master's, ~€1,700 for doctorate), international travel, health insurance, and some cultural/accommodation support. Tuition is not normally paid.
No — Eiffel does not normally cover tuition, though public-institution fees in France are typically low. The allowance is the main benefit.
Non-French international students applying for a master's or doctorate in a priority field, within the programme's age limits, nominated by a French institution.
No — only the French institution can submit an Eiffel application on your behalf. You must contact the institution and ask to be nominated.
Sciences and engineering, economics and management, law, and political science.
Master's support runs up to 12–24 months depending on the course; doctoral support is for a shorter mobility period within the PhD.
Historically about ~25 for master's and ~30 for doctoral applicants, though you should confirm the current limits in the call.
Institutions submit around early January; a representative date is 8 January, but it varies and the 2027 date here is an estimate. Confirm with the institution.
Campus France, on behalf of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Yes — Eiffel has separate components for master's and for doctoral study, each with its own allowance and conditions.
On Campus France's official Eiffel scholarship pages, which list amounts, priority fields, age limits, and the application calendar.