Fund your studies

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract top international students to enrol in their master's and PhD programmes. It offers opportunities to future international decision-makers in the private and public sectors, focusing on priority areas of study.

Institutions apply on your behalf and can do so between october and january of the year prior to your enrollment. Each university has their own schedule however, so make sure to inquire about your prefered institution's own Eiffel selection process.

Find eligibility criteria and the application procedure on Campus France main website.

The Entente Cordiale Scholarship Scheme is a prestigious bilateral awards scheme offered to British postgraduate students who want to study in France and French students who want to study in the UK. 

The grant offers long term scholarships, short term scholarships and language scholarships. Funded for the most part by the private sector in both countries, the scheme provides funding for around 20 French and British students each year.

You can apply for an Entente Cordiale scholarship if you are:

1. a postgraduate student
2. a British national

Find eligibility criteria and the application procedure on the Franco-British Council's website.

The Maison Française d'Oxford scholarship programme offers one-month scholarships for doctoral students enrolled at, or undergoing jointly supervised research (co-tutelle) with, a French university or institution of higher education.

Who can benefit?

1. Doctoral/PhD student in a French university;
2. Students undergoing a co-tutelle (jointly supervised research) with a French university.

Post-doctoral students will NOT be considered for this grant.

What is offered?

1. One-month scholarship (£250), from the 1st to the 30th/31st;
2. Coverage of accomodation costs;
3. Transport costs up to a limit of 200€.

Find eligibility criteria and the application procedure as well as other scholarship opportunities on Maison Française d’Oxford’s website.

The French Ministry of Higher education and Research also awards scholarships to some foreign students, based on social criteria. To be eligible, students must have been residing in France for at least two years and be paying taxes in France. The Ministry also finances doctoral contracts managed by the Doctoral schools.

In France, public research is split between institutes of higher education and public organisations such as the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) which covers all fields of research, the IRD (Institute for Research and  Development), the ADEME (Environmental and Energy Control Agency) and the IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea). In partnership with the regions, these public bodies finance research allocations for doctoral and post-doctoral students.

More information on their website.

French regions and towns allocate scholarships to foreign students enrolled in programmes in their region.They also award doctoral and postdoctoral grants managed by the institutes of higher education and research. Regional scholarships may also be allocated to foreign students as part of exchange agreements with foreign institutes. Look into the specific programmes from your region.

With the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, Erasmus+ grants became limited to very specific programmes.

The Erasmus Mundus joint Master's offer is a study programme that awards scholarships to the world's best students for one or two years, regardless of their field of studies. To receive one, these students must take their master's programme in at least two countries participating in the programme. Several French institutes of higher education offer joint Master's programmes.

In the framework of bilateral agreements between institutes of higher education, Erasmus+ also offers mobility scholarships from and to France. They cover removal and accommodation costs. Find out more from the institute you are enrolled in.