About the opportunity
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship program is developed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and administered by Campus France. It enables French higher education institutions to attract top international candidates for master’s and doctoral study programs. The initiative aims to train future foreign leaders and decision-makers across the public and private sectors in core priority disciplines spanning Science and Technology as well as Humanities and Social Sciences.
Funding and benefits
- Scholarship funding for international master's and doctoral students in France
- Enrollment in top French higher education institutions
- Comprehensive institutional and administrative support through Campus France
Who can apply?
- International students with outstanding academic records who are not French nationals
- Applying for or enrolled in eligible master's degree programs (Master 1 or Master 2) or doctoral programs (PhD)
- Candidates in eligible fields: Biology and Health, Ecological Transition, Mathematics and Digital Sciences, Engineering Sciences, History, French Language and Civilization, Law and Political Science, or Economics and Management
- Direct student applications are not accepted; candidates must be selected and presented exclusively by a French higher education institution
Required documents
- Academic transcripts and degree diplomas
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Statement of purpose and professional project
- Proof of language proficiency (French or English depending on degree requirements)
- Research project proposal (for doctoral applicants)
- Additional application materials as required by the sponsoring French institution
When to apply
- Call for applications officially opened in October
- Application deadline for the 2027 campaign is January 8, 2027 (with institutional submissions closing around January 6–8, 2027)
- Individual university internal deadlines occur well ahead of January to allow institutional vetting and submission
How to apply
- Contact the international relations or admissions office of the French higher education institution offering your degree program of interest
- Submit your degree and scholarship candidacy files directly to the French institution before their internal deadline
- The French higher education institution reviews and selects top candidates according to excellence criteria
- The institution formally submits the application dossier to Campus France via the institutional portal by the January deadline
Additional information
- Direct applications sent by students directly to Campus France or the French Ministry are automatically rejected
- Eligible disciplinary tracks are grouped into Science and Technology (4 fields) and Humanities and Social Sciences (3 fields)
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Applicants with top-tier academic records aiming to complete a full Master's or PhD degree in France
- Prospective researchers or students whose work directly aligns with key French priority areas such as ecological transition, digital sciences, health, or governance
- Candidates who already have established contact or received support from a professor or admissions committee at a French university
What should you think carefully about?
- You cannot apply independently; success depends entirely on securing an institutional endorsement from a French university first
- Internal university deadlines are substantially earlier than the official Campus France closing date in January
- The program is restricted to specific priority fields, excluding subjects outside designated STEM, humanities, and social science clusters
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This scholarship serves students and early-career researchers aiming to pursue high-caliber graduate education in France with full institutional backing. It is particularly valuable for aspiring leaders and researchers wanting to build strong European professional networks and conduct cutting-edge research in priority economic and scientific sectors.
Our take
Outstanding international students who can secure early institutional endorsement from a French university in one of the seven designated study fields should definitely prioritize this scholarship. Those without university backing or seeking disciplines outside the target categories will need to explore alternative funding.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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