In early October, Campus France launched the call for applications for the France Excellence Eiffel 2027 scholarship. French universities and schools have until Wednesday 6 January 2027 inclusive to submit their applications, and results will be sent out the week of 12 April 2027. The scholarship funds international students on master's and PhD programmes for the 2027-2028 academic year.
The Eiffel Scholarship is a programme of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, run by Campus France, the public agency in charge of welcoming international students. Launched more than 20 years ago, this merit scholarship has already funded over 10,000 students of 115 nationalities. Campus France presents the programme, its eligibility rules and testimonials from former scholarship holders in its official brochure.
Timeline for the 2027 round
- Early October 2026: the call for applications opens.
- 6 January 2027 inclusive: deadline for institutions to submit applications to Campus France.
- Week of 12 April 2027: results sent by email to institutions and successful candidates.
- 1 September to 30 November 2027: start of your stay in France, with no possibility of deferral.
Only French higher education institutions can put candidates forward. Each one runs its own selection process and sets an internal deadline, often in November or December. At ENS de Lyon, it's 20 November 2026. Campus France asks candidates to check directly with their institution.
Amounts and eligibility
| Criterion | Master's | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly allowance | €1,200 | €2,000 |
| Maximum age | Born after 31 March 1997 | Born after 31 March 1991 |
| Duration | 12 months (M2), 24 months (M1), 36 months (engineering degree) | 12, 18 or 36 months |
| Already studying in France | Not eligible | Eligible, with priority given to candidates coming from abroad |
These amounts come from the Campus France rules updated in September 2026. Some university pages and Campus France offices abroad still show €2,100 for the PhD.
On top of the monthly allowance of €1,200 (master's) or €2,000 (PhD), several services are paid for directly: your return travel, health coverage followed by a mutuelle (top-up health insurance), an offer of accommodation in a CROUS or private residence, and cultural and sports activities at reduced prices. The full list and conditions are set out on the Campus France page France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship: implementation. The scholarship is reserved for foreign nationals: dual French citizens are not eligible. Distance learning, programmes delivered outside France and work-study programmes are excluded.
What this means for you
- Your point of contact is the institution hosting you for your studies, usually its international relations office. It sets the deadline and tells you which programmes are eligible and which documents to provide. An application sent directly to Campus France will be rejected as inadmissible.
- Only one institution can put your application forward. If two institutions submit it, it is rejected.
- The scholarship is not an admission: you apply to the programme separately, through the institution's own procedure or through Études en France if your country is covered by it.
- Tuition fees: at a public institution under the Ministry of Higher Education, a French government scholarship holder is exempt from tuition fees for a national degree or an engineering degree. For a non-EU student, who would otherwise pay the higher "differentiated" tuition fees, the savings are significant. At a private school, you still pay the fees yourself.
- You still need a visa, but it is normally free for Eiffel scholarship holders. Your award letter serves as proof of funds for your VLS-TS student visa.
Sources
- Campus France – France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship rules (updated September 2026)
- Campus France – Eiffel application submission guide, 2027 round
- Campus France – France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship: implementation
