The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Program 2026

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is the French government's flagship award for international students. It is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France. Its purpose is to help French universities, engineering schools and business schools attract the best international candidates to their Master's and PhD programs. In more than 20 years, the program has supported over 10,000 students from 115 nationalities, working with nearly 400 French partner institutions.

For Indian students, this is one of the most valuable scholarships in Europe. Master's scholars receive a monthly allowance of €1,200, and PhD scholars receive €2,100. Both levels also get return airfare to France, health insurance and a housing allowance, and the visa fee is waived where it applies. Eiffel does not pay tuition directly. However, French government scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees, according to Campus France's brochure.

The most important thing to understand is how you apply. You cannot apply to Campus France yourself. Your chosen French institution must select you and submit your file on your behalf. Each institution sets its own internal deadline, often in October or November, while Campus France's own deadline falls in the first week of January. At Subraxo, we advise Indian applicants to shortlist programs early, apply for admission, and ask the institution's international relations office about its Eiffel process well before autumn.

To be nominated for an Eiffel Scholarship, you must:

• Be an international student. Indian citizens are eligible. Candidates with dual nationality who hold French citizenship are not.
• Apply through a French higher education institution, which nominates you for the scholarship.
• Be applying to a program that leads to a nationally accredited French degree, at Master's level (including engineering diplomas) or PhD level.
• Meet the age limit set for each session. For the 2026 session, candidates had to be up to 29 years old for a Master's and up to 35 years old for a PhD. Check the limit again when the 2027 call is published.
• Not already hold a French government scholarship.

Who is not eligible

• Master's candidates who are already studying in France
• Students in French programs offered outside France
• Programs under an apprenticeship or professional training contract (contrat d'apprentissage or contrat de professionnalisation)

Eligible fields of study

• Science and Technology
• Biology and Health
• Ecological Transition
• Mathematics and Digital Technology
• Engineering
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• French History, Language and Civilisation
• Law and Political Science
• Economics and Management

How it works

• Choose a Master's or PhD program at a French institution and apply for admission.
• Contact the institution's international relations office and ask about its internal Eiffel deadline.
• If the institution pre-selects you, it prepares and submits your application to Campus France.
• A selection commission made up of expert panels for each field reviews all nominations.
• Results are usually published from late March.

Selection criteria

• Your record of academic excellence
• The host institution's reputation abroad and its international student policy
• The institution's cooperation with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Tips for Indian applicants

• Internal deadlines come first. Many French institutions close their Eiffel nominations in October or November, so a January Campus France deadline does not give you until January.
• For PhD candidates, students who are currently studying outside France get priority over those already living in France. The full 36-month scholarship is reserved for first-year PhD students registering in France for the first time.
• Campus France India has offices across the country that can help with program selection and the visa process. Its guidance is free.
• A strong academic record matters most. Good CGPA or percentage, research work, publications for PhD applicants and clear career goals all strengthen your file.

Partial Funding , Monthly allowance of up to EUR 2,100

• Monthly allowance of €1,200 for Master's students
• Monthly allowance of €2,100 for PhD students
• Return international air travel between India and France
• Health insurance
• Housing allowance
• Visa fees waived where applicable
• Exemption from tuition fees for French government scholarship holders
• Funding for 12 to 36 months, depending on your degree and year of registration
• Support from Campus France throughout your stay
• Membership in France Alumni, a global network of about 370,000 current and former students of French higher education
• One of the most prestigious scholarships in France, which adds strong value to your CV