FRENCH MINISTRY FOR EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MANAGED BY CAMPUS FRANCE
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Programme
partial · masters, phd
- ~€1,200/mo (Master’s)Monthly allowance
- Up to 24 monthsMaster’s duration
- French institutionsHost country
- Master’s & PhDStudy levels
- Institution-nominatedApplication route
- Priority fieldsFocus
At a glance
partial
Funding
€21k
Max amount
Jan 8, 2027
Deadline
All countries (master's prioritises emerging countries)
Country
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, managed by Campus France
Provider
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Programme is run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France to attract top international students to French higher education institutions at master's and doctoral level. It is a tool of French influence, designed to train future decision-makers and strengthen France's academic appeal. The Eiffel scholarship provides a monthly allowance of ~€1,181 for master's scholars (~€1,700 for doctoral scholars) plus a package of benefits (travel, health cover, cultural activities), though tuition itself is generally arranged with the host institution. Master's grants run up to ~24 months and doctoral grants up to ~12 months. Students cannot apply directly — French institutions select and submit candidates to Campus France by the ~early-January national deadline. Priority is given to four defined fields and, for master's grants, to candidates from emerging countries.
What's covered
- Monthly allowance (Master's) — ~€1,181/month maintenance allowance for master's scholars.
- Monthly allowance (PhD) — ~€1,700/month for doctoral scholars.
- Travel — A return international airfare to and from France.
- Health insurance — Social security / health cover for the scholarship period.
- Cultural activities — A contribution toward cultural activities and accommodation support in some cases.
- Tuition note — Tuition is not directly part of the grant — it is arranged with the host institution (many waive or reduce fees for Eiffel scholars).
How to apply
The institution applies on your behalf. You secure admission/interest from a French institution, which then nominates you to Campus France with a full application file.
- Choose a French institution — Identify a French higher education institution and programme in a priority field.
- Contact the institution early — Express interest in being nominated for the Eiffel scholarship well before the internal deadline.
- Provide your file — Supply transcripts, CV, motivation, and references for the institution to build the application.
- Institution submits to Campus France — The institution submits the Eiffel application by the national deadline (~early January).
- Campus France evaluation — A selection committee reviews files; results are announced in the spring.
- Enrolment — Selected scholars enrol for the following academic year (~September).
Eligibility
NationalityNon-French nationality; foreign students already in France may be eligible if not previously Eiffel-funded.
Age (Master's)Generally under ~25 years for master's applicants (guideline, set per cycle).
Age (PhD)Generally under ~30 years for doctoral applicants (guideline).
NominationYou must be put forward by a French higher education institution — direct applications are not accepted.
Priority fieldsPreference for defined fields (sciences, engineering, economics & management, law & political science).
Contact the French institution you wish to attend; it assembles and submits the Eiffel application to Campus France by the national deadline (~early January).
Eligible countries
All countries (master's prioritises emerging countries)
Deadlines
2027 entry2027-01-08
Selection
Campus France selects on academic excellence, the candidate's profile, the institution's justification, and alignment with priority fields and target countries (master's grants prioritise emerging countries; doctoral grants are open more broadly). The institution's nomination and the strength of the file are decisive.
Verified sources
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme — Campus Francecampusfrance.orgofficial
About the provider
The France Excellence Eiffel 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. It aims to attract the best international students to French institutions and to train future foreign decision-makers with strong ties to France.
Frequently asked questions
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.
What is the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship?
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A French government scholarship run by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France, designed to attract top international students to French master's and doctoral programmes.
Who is eligible?
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Non-French international students nominated by a French institution — generally under ~25 for master's and under ~30 for PhD (guidelines), in priority fields.
What does it cover?
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A monthly allowance (~€1,181 for master's, ~€1,700 for PhD), return airfare, health cover, and cultural-activity support. Tuition is arranged with the host institution, which often waives or reduces it.
Can I apply directly?
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No — you cannot apply directly. A French higher education institution must nominate you and submit the application to Campus France. Contact the institution early.
When is the deadline?
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The national submission deadline is ~early January (institutions set earlier internal deadlines). Results are announced in ~late March for a September start.
Which fields are prioritised?
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Sciences and engineering, economics and management, and law and political science are the priority fields for the Eiffel programme.
How long does the scholarship last?
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Master's grants run up to ~24 months and doctoral grants up to ~12 months (often used for a mobility period within a co-supervised PhD).
Is tuition covered?
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Not directly by the grant — tuition is handled with the host institution. Many French institutions waive or reduce fees for Eiffel scholars; confirm with yours.
How competitive is Eiffel?
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Highly — institutions can nominate a limited number, and Campus France selects the strongest files nationally, prioritising fit with target fields and countries.
Does Eiffel prioritise certain countries?
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For master's grants, yes — emerging countries are prioritised. Doctoral grants are open to candidates from all countries.
Can I hold Eiffel with another French scholarship?
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The Eiffel grant generally cannot be combined with another French government scholarship for the same period; check the current programme rules.
What happens after I am nominated?
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Campus France evaluates all nominated files; if selected you receive the scholarship for enrolment the following September, with the allowance and benefits beginning at the start of your programme.