France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program 2026

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program is a prestigious French government scholarship designed to attract high-achieving international students to study in France. It is run under the authority of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with administration support from Campus France. The programme mainly supports study at the Master's and PhD levels.

The scholarship focuses on priority fields identified by the French authorities. These include areas in science and technology, biology and health, ecological transition, mathematics and digital studies, engineering sciences, humanities and social sciences, history, French language and civilization, law and political science, and economics and management. It is intended for excellent international applicants who are nominated through a French higher education institution.

In the reference posting, the scholarship provides a monthly allowance of about EUR 1,200 for Master's students and EUR 2,100 for PhD students. It may also include benefits such as international and domestic transport support, insurance, housing search assistance, and cultural activities. Tuition fees are not normally covered by the scholarship itself, although host institutions may sometimes offer fee reductions or additional support.

The programme is open to non-French international candidates with strong academic records. Based on the referenced eligibility details, Master's applicants are typically expected to be 29 or younger, while PhD applicants are typically expected to be 35 or younger. Candidates usually do not apply directly on their own; instead, a French institution submits the application on the student's behalf after selecting them for nomination.

If you are interested, the usual route is to identify an eligible programme at a French institution, contact the admissions or international office early, and ask whether the institution will consider nominating you for the Eiffel Scholarship.