Scholarships in France generally fall into four major categories:

• French Government Scholarships
• Regional & City Scholarships
• Institutional (University / School) Scholarships
• Program-Specific & Merit-Based Scholarships

Most international students receive institutional scholarships, while top-performing students may qualify for government-funded or regional awards.

A. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (most prestigious)

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is one of Europe’s most competitive and prestigious funding schemes for international students.

Eligibility

• Primarily Master’s-level programs
• Typical fields: management, engineering, economics, law, political science
• Candidates must be nominated by the French institution

What the Eiffel scholarship covers

• Monthly stipend: around €1,181
• International airfare
• Health insurance
• Local transport allowance
• Cultural activities

Note: tuition fees are usually partially covered by the institution, not directly by Eiffel.

Ideal candidate profile

• Excellent academic record
• Strong international profile
• Clear leadership or professional potential

B. Charpak Scholarship (India only)

Charpak is exclusively for Indian students and is administered by Campus France India.

Types

• Charpak Master’s
• Charpak Lab (research & internships)
• Charpak Exchange

Benefits

• Monthly stipend
• Visa fee waiver (in many cases)
• Support with housing or associated costs

Charpak is one of the most accessible government scholarships for Indian students coming to France.

C. Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA)

This scheme focuses on sustainability-related topics such as:

• Climate change
• Sustainable development
• Environmental science and energy transition

Available for:

• Master’s students
• PhD students
• Researchers

Many French regions provide scholarships or grants to attract international talent in strategic fields. Availability and criteria can change every year.

Île-de-France (Paris region)

• Scholarships up to approximately €10,500 per year
• Often for Master’s programs

Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes (Lyon region)

• Mobility grants
• Research-focused scholarships for key disciplines

Occitanie (Toulouse / Montpellier)

• Science and STEM-focused grants

Brittany & Pays de la Loire (Rennes / Nantes)

• Support programs for engineering, IT, and business students

Always check the latest regional calls, as conditions and amounts are updated each academic year.

Most international students in France receive some form of institutional scholarship, especially in private schools and RNCP programs.

Types of institutional scholarships

• Merit-based scholarships
• Academic excellence awards
• Diversity and internationalisation scholarships
• Early-bird application discounts

Typical value

• 10% – 40% tuition fee reduction for many profiles
• Exceptional profiles may receive up to 50%

Some schools offer scholarships dedicated to specific programs, such as:

• MSc Data Science
• MSc Artificial Intelligence
• MBA
• MSc Supply Chain & Logistics
• MSc International Business
• Hospitality & Luxury management programs

These are often awarded based on:

• Interview performance
• CV strength
• Quality of Statement of Purpose (SOP) / motivation letter
• Overall academic and professional profile

India

• Strong access to Charpak scholarships
• High success rate for institutional scholarships in business and tech schools

Bangladesh

• Merit-based scholarships common in business schools and some RNCP programs

Pakistan

• IT and business-focused scholarships widely available in selected institutions

Nepal

• Academic-performance-based scholarships in management, IT, and hospitality schools

UAE/GCC

• Premium schools may offer partial scholarships for experienced professionals and high-performing students

Most scholarship applications typically require:

• Strong CV (European format is preferred)
• Motivation letter / Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Academic transcripts
• Reference letters (academic or professional, depending on level)
• Early application within scholarship deadlines

Important: early applicants almost always have better chances of securing scholarships and tuition waivers.

Typical deadline windows (subject to yearly updates):

Scholarships significantly reduce your net tuition cost. Example:

• Tuition fee: €10,000
• Scholarship: 30% (€3,000)
• Net tuition: €7,000

When combined with housing support such as CAF, France becomes one of the most cost-effective study destinations in Europe for international students.

Some frequent mistakes that reduce scholarship chances:

• Applying late, close to or after the deadline
• Submitting a generic or copy-paste SOP
• Weak or poorly structured CV
• Insufficient interview preparation
• Choosing programs with limited or no scholarship options

All of these are avoidable with proper planning and targeted guidance.

StudyConnectFrance helps students position themselves for maximum scholarship access by:

• Shortlisting programs and schools with strong scholarship options
• Optimising SOPs and CVs specifically for scholarship evaluation
• Preparing candidates for interviews
• Tracking and respecting key deadlines
• Supporting institutional discussions and negotiation where possible