Eiffel Scholarship (France): conditions, what it covers and how to apply

Short answer: The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is one of the French government's main scholarship programmes for international students. The key difference is that students do not apply directly — the French university submits the application as its nominee. So you first apply to the university and get into its Eiffel nomination.

Who is it for?

• Master's level (usually with an age limit).
• PhD (joint or exchange format, usually shorter).
• Priority fields: engineering, sciences, economics and management, law, political science and others — the list is updated every year.

What does it cover?

• A monthly allowance (for living costs).
• International airfare.
• Extras such as insurance and cultural activities.

Tuition is usually not included, but fees at French public universities are relatively low. Check amounts on the Campus France website.

Application steps

• Choose a French university and programme. See: studying in France and Campus France.
• When applying to the university, state that you want to be nominated for the Eiffel scholarship.
• The university runs an internal selection and usually submits suitable students to Campus France by January.
• Results are usually announced in spring.

Becoming a strong candidate

• High academic results.
• A clear career plan and programme-related motivation. See: how to write a scholarship essay.
• Strong recommendation letters.
• A language certificate (depending on whether the programme is English- or French-taught).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know French?

Not for English-taught programmes, but basic French helps a lot in daily life.

Can I apply for another scholarship alongside Eiffel?

Yes, but check the rules on receiving two scholarships covering the same costs. See: scholarship deadlines 2027.

Note: conditions, amounts and dates may change every year. Check Campus France and the university's official website.

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