France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program at Paris-Saclay University 2027/2028
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program represents one of France’s premier international award schemes, established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France to help French higher education institutions recruit top international talent for Master’s and PhD studies.
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Designed to train future decision-makers in both the public and private sectors, this prestigious award provides comprehensive financial benefits, including a monthly living stipend (€1,181 for Master’s level and €1,800 for PhD scholars), international round-trip transportation, health insurance, and priority access to housing. Under this framework, institutions such as Paris-Saclay University preselect, mentor, and officially nominate outstanding foreign applicants.
With the national call for applications launched on October 1, 2026, prospective students must adhere strictly to internal host university deadlines—specifically November 26, 2026, for Master’s applicants and November 30, 2026, for PhD candidates at Paris-Saclay. Below is an exhaustive guide detailing eligible fields of study, key benefits, nomination procedures, and step-by-step application instructions.
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Empowering International Academic and Research Leaders
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program was established by the French Government to bolster the international appeal of French higher education institutions while training emerging decision-makers from both public and private sectors. Designed to target foreign students applying from top global universities, the scheme enables recipients to complete rigorous graduate and doctoral education in France’s most critical scientific and humanistic disciplines.
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Through participating academic centers like Paris-Saclay University, scholars gain access to world-class research infrastructure, international academic networks, and comprehensive financial security. Eiffel scholars join an elite network of international alumni who drive policy, technological innovation, economic growth, and academic leadership across the globe.
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program |
| Host Country ⇒ | France |
| Study Level ⇒ | Master’s and PhD |
| Benefits ⇒ | Master’s: €1,200 per month PhD: €2,100 per month |
| Funded by ⇒ | French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Managed by Campus France) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All Countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Master’s: November 26, 2026 PhD: November 30, 2026 |
Comprehensive Financial Benefits and Coverage
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship provides monthly living allowances alongside direct governmental services:
- Master’s Level Living Allowance: A monthly stipend of €1,200 to cover accommodation and living costs.
- PhD Level Living Allowance: A monthly stipend of €2,100 to cover research and living expenses.
- Direct Supplemental Benefits:
- International airfare/return transportation ticket to and from France.
- Domestic transportation within France.
- Health and liability insurance coverage.
- Priority access and assistance with student housing, cultural activities, and administrative registration.
- Tuition Fee Status: Recipients enrolled in national diploma programs (Master’s and PhD) at public institutions are exempt from national tuition charges.
Eligible Fields of Study
Scholarship awards are strictly restricted to two main disciplinary areas encompassing seven key fields:
1. Science and Techniques
- Biology and Health
- Ecological Transition
- Mathematics and Digital Sciences
- Science and Engineering
2. Human and Social Sciences
- French History, Language, and Civilization (exclusively centered on the French language)
- Law and Political Science
- Economics and Management
Eligibility Criteria and Scholarship Duration
Master’s Level Criteria
- Age Cap: Must be an international student born after March 31, 1997 (maximum 29 years old during the 2027 selection).
- First-Time Applicants: Only candidates applying for the first time at the Master’s level are eligible.
- Institutional Residency: Candidates already studying in France at the time of application are ineligible.
- Funding Duration:
- 12 months for enrollment in Master 2 (Year 2 of a Master’s degree).
- 24 months for enrollment in Master 1 (Year 1 of a Master’s degree).
- Note: Engineering degrees at Polytech Paris-Saclay are ineligible for the Eiffel scholarship.
PhD Level Criteria
- Age Cap: Must be an international student born after March 31, 1991 (maximum 35 years old during selection).
- First-Time Applicants: Only candidates applying for the first time at the PhD level are eligible.
- Funding Duration:
- 36 months: Available exclusively for newly arriving students enrolling in the 1st year of a PhD (co-supervision is not allowed).
- 12 or 18 months: Available for candidates pursuing a PhD under a joint supervision (cotutelle) or co-direction agreement:
- 12 months: For enrollment in the 2nd or 3rd year of a PhD.
- 18 months: For enrollment in the 1st or 2nd year of a PhD.
Required Documents
All supporting documents must be submitted in French or English.
Master’s Level Dossier
- Copy of passport or official national ID card.
- Professional Resume / CV (1 to 2 pages) detailing university history, professional experience, and internships with explicit start/end dates (month + year).
- Copies of higher education degrees already awarded.
- Official Ranking Certificate for the last degree completed or current study years.
- Official Transcripts of Records covering all years of higher education.
- French Language Certificate (if applying to a program taught in French when French is not the native language).
- Professional Project / Motivation Letter (1 to 2 pages) outlining your academic background, choice of study program, and rationale for choosing France. (External recommendation letters may be attached).
PhD Level Dossier
- Copy of passport (ID page) or national ID card.
- Cotutelle agreement or co-supervision certificate signed by both foreign and French institutions (mandatory for 12- or 18-month tracks).
- Complete PhD financing scheme budget document.
- Curriculum Vitae in French or English (1 to 2 pages).
- Current year enrollment certificate (if applicable).
- Transcripts of records for the last 3 years of study and higher education degrees.
- Motivation Letter / Professional Project statement (1 to 2 pages).
- Detailed Research Project presentation and advancement report (1 to 5 pages).
- Independent evaluation of the research project’s scientific quality written by a Full Professor or Research Director external to the PhD supervisor’s research team.
Step-by-Step Application Procedure
Because students cannot apply directly to Campus France, all candidates must apply through Paris-Saclay University.
Master’s Application Steps
- Contact Master’s Coordinator: Browse the Paris-Saclay course catalogue and contact the coordinator of your intended Master’s program before November 26, 2026.
- Submit Project Case: Provide a thorough description of your academic background, transcripts, class ranking, CV, and professional goals.
- Internal Preselection: The university selection committee evaluates candidates and publishes internal preselection results by December 7, 2026.
- Complete Regular University Admission: Preselected candidates must also complete the standard Paris-Saclay Master’s degree admission procedure starting in February 2027.
PhD Application Steps
- Submit Online Form: Complete the dedicated online portal between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
- Upload Research Package: Attach all required combined PDF dossiers, including research plans, cotutelle agreements, and expert evaluations.
- Institutional Evaluation: Preselected candidates will receive evaluation reports from their prospective PhD supervisor, host laboratory, and doctoral school director to complete the submission.
- National Nomination: Paris-Saclay University submits selected candidate files directly to Campus France before the national institutional cutoff.
Timeline and Key Dates
- October 1, 2026: Launch of the 2027–2028 call for applications.
- November 26, 2026: Internal Paris-Saclay deadline for Master’s level applications.
- November 30, 2026: Internal Paris-Saclay deadline for PhD-level applications.
- December 7, 2026: Notification of internal preselection results to candidates.
- January 6–8, 2027: National cutoff for universities to submit finalized files to Campus France.
- Week of April 12, 2027: Official announcement of successful Eiffel laureates by Campus France.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship directly through Campus France?
No. Direct applications sent by students to Campus France are automatically declared ineligible. Applications must be submitted exclusively by a French higher education institution (such as Paris-Saclay University) on your behalf.
Can I combine the Eiffel Scholarship with another French government grant?
No. The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship cannot be cumulated with any other French government scholarship or funding scheme.
Are students currently living or studying in France eligible for the Eiffel Master’s scholarship?
No. International candidates already studying in France are ineligible for the Master’s level scholarship.
Can I submit Eiffel scholarship nominations through multiple French universities?
No. Candidates can only be nominated by a single educational institution. If multiple institutions submit an application for the same student, all submissions for that candidate will be rejected.
Does being preselected for the Eiffel scholarship automatically guarantee university admission?
No. Candidates supported for the Eiffel scholarship by Paris-Saclay University must still complete the standard university academic admission procedure for their chosen degree program.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, allowance rates, and eligibility rules in this post were verified from official Paris-Saclay University and Campus France documentation as of October 2026. Information is subject to administrative adjustments. Always verify current requirements directly on the official Paris-Saclay University portal before submitting your dossier. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Paris-Saclay University or Campus France.
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