- published on 1/3/2022
- 7min
Funding your studies in France: study grants
Are you aiming to study in a French university, business school, engineering school or in any other higher education institution in France? To reach this goal, you might be seeking funding solutions. Today, more than 12% of the students in France are international and some of them receive a study grant . Many organisations or institutions provide financial support, under specific conditions. Which scholarships are specifically designed for foreign students in France ? Getting through the funding maze can be tricky: take a look at the main available options.
French embassy grant opportunities
Every year, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocates grants to some of the students wishing to study in France. To check if you are eligible and apply, you need to get in touch with the Cooperation and Cultural Action Department of the French embassy or consulate in your country.
Different types of grants
Depending on your goal, French embassies abroad might be able to offer you a specific type of grant:
a study grant, if you wish to enroll in a higher education institution in France to get a degree,
an internship grant, awarded for an average of three to twelve months,
a high-level scientific study program (research program, cultural or scientific exchange…) grant, awarded for one to three months.
Examples of 2015 grants
The French embassy in Canada offers study grants to Canadian (except Quebec) students wishing to complete a Master’s degree, a PhD or a postdoctoral degree in France.
Chinese students with high academic skills can receive a “France Excellence” grant from the French embassy in China to complete a Master’s degree in France.
The French embassy in Chili allocates grants to Chilean students who aim to study in France for a fifth year Master’s degree program.
Indian students wishing to complete studies in France can receive study, internship or research grants from the French embassy in India.
Special scholarships for specific programs
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers scholarships to foreign students taking part in specific programs.
Eiffel excellence scholarship
The Eiffel excellence program is administrated by Campus France and allows the best foreign students to fund a Master’s level course or a 10-month study abroad project as part of a joint thesis supervision arrangement. Applications must be submitted by the higher education institution in France, not the student. Once the students are selected, the list of Eiffel laureates is published on the Campus France website.
Master’s level | PhD level | |
|---|---|---|
Student age limit | 30 years old | 35 years old |
Duration | 36 months when enrolling for an engineering science diploma | 10 months |
Allowance | €1,181 per month | €1,400 per month |
Included | Return travel ticket | Return travel ticket |
Excellence-Major scholarship
The Excellence-Major scholarship was established both by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AEFE (Agency for French teaching abroad) and is designed for the top non-French students graduating from French high schools abroad and wishing to study in France. Applications must be submitted by the French institution abroad. The selected students receive a scholarship for a maximum of five years. The allocated allowance varies depending on the student’s situation:
€500 lump sum payment per the academic year,
Standard rate 1: €222 per month,
Standard rate 2: €685 per month.
Other grants
A scholarship progam co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various businesses allows the best students from over 32 countries to enroll in professional studies in France. Selected students are granted a scholarship amounting to about €1,000 per month, complete an internship in a signatory company (Orange, Alten, Crédit Agricole S.A., Air Liquide…) and receive advice.
French-speaking students wishing to complete a Master’s or a PhD in France can receive a grant for theological studies (nationals of EU countries and North America are not eligible). Awarded for a maximum of 48 months, the grant amounts to €615 per month for a student enrolled in M1 and €767 for students enrolled in M2 or in a PhD program.
Many more funding solutions
What if you aren’t eligible for any of the scholarships offered by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs? What if your application isn’t successful? Foreign students in France may receive many other types of grants.
Grants based on social criteria
The French ministry of higher education and research allocates grants to foreign students under 28 years old who:
are nationals of European Economic Area (EEA) member-states (under specific conditions),
are refugees or stateless, with an OFPRA (French office for the protection of refugees and stateless persons) card,
have been living in France for at least two years (under specific conditions).
To apply for a grant, you need to complete your Dossier Social Étudiant (DSE) online. Grant levels (from 0 to 7) depend on your situation and income. This means the amount of money you receive varies (up to €5,554 per year).
Grants offered by your home country
Various organisations in many countries award study grants to students wishing to study abroad. Collect information! Remember not to go abroad without purchasing an insurance solution for international students.
For instance
The Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) awards scholarships, on a short-term basis, to Japanese students accepted in higher education institutions abroad.
Irish students wishing to study in France may receive a study grant from the The Irish Fund of France.
Explore all funding options! International organisations, European programs such as Erasmus+, the International Organisation of La Francophonie and French local authorities also offer grants to foreign students in France.
To find out more about grants for studying in France:
Use the Campus France grant search engine to find funding opportunities.
