Scholarships to study in France (Eiffel, BGF & more)
France funds thousands of international students every year - and a scholarship does more than pay an allowance: most also waive the high non-EU university fees. Here is each main programme, what it really covers, and how to apply, with an official source for every figure.
Updated 2026-06-20
There is no single “France scholarship”. Funding comes from several places: the French government (the France Excellence Eiffel programme and the Bourses du Gouvernement Français / BGF), the European Union (Erasmus+ and the Erasmus Mundus joint masters), French regions and cities, and the schools and universities themselves. The single most useful first step is the official CampusBourses search engine, which lets you filter every catalogued grant by your nationality, field and level of study. One thing worth knowing before you start: holding a French government scholarship or an embassy fee-exemption grant exempts you from the higher “differentiated” university fees charged to non-EU students - so a scholarship can be worth far more than its monthly allowance.
How to apply for a scholarship, step by step
-
Start on CampusBourses
Use the official CampusBourses directory and filter by your nationality, level (Licence / Master / Doctorate) and field. It lists government, regional, institutional and private grants in one place.
-
Check the eligibility before you invest time
Most programmes have hard limits - level (Eiffel is Master/PhD only), age (Eiffel: ≤29 at Master, ≤35 at PhD), field (priority subjects), or where you live. Read the rules first; do not apply to a grant you cannot win.
-
Know who applies - you, or the school
This trips up most candidates. For Eiffel you cannot apply yourself - a French institution must nominate you. For BGF you usually apply through the French embassy / Campus France office in your country. For school and regional grants you apply directly. Identify the right channel early.
-
Secure your admission / contact a French institution
Because the school often drives the application (Eiffel) or the grant requires enrolment (regional, institutional), get your admission file moving in parallel - through Études en France / Campus France for non-EU students.
-
Build a strong file
Transcripts, diplomas, a sharp motivation letter tying your project to France, CV, language proof (often B2 French or an IELTS/TOEFL score), and reference letters. Excellence scholarships are competitive - the academic record and the coherence of the project decide it.
-
Respect the calendar
Government deadlines are early and fixed. The Eiffel 2026 campaign closed for institutions on 8 January 2026, with results from 30 March 2026; the 2027 campaign will open in autumn 2026. BGF and embassy calendars differ by country - check your local Campus France site.
-
Once awarded, claim your fee exemption
If you hold a BGF or embassy exemption, download your exemption certificate and present it at enrolment so you are not charged the differentiated non-EU fees or the CVEC. Do not pay first and hope to be reimbursed.
France Excellence Eiffel - the flagship for Master & PhD
The France Excellence Eiffel programme, run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France, is the country’s flagship merit scholarship for future foreign decision-makers. It targets Master and Doctorate students in priority fields.
| Item | Master level | Doctorate level |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly allowance (from Jan 2026) | €1,200 | €2,100 |
| Age limit (at selection) | ≤ 29 | ≤ 35 |
| Duration | 12–36 months (M2 ≈ 12, M1 ≈ 24, engineering ≈ 36) | 12–36 months |
- Also covers: international and national transport, insurance, support with housing, and cultural activities.
- Priority fields: biology & health, ecological transition, mathematics & digital, engineering; and in humanities/social sciences - French language & civilisation, law & political science, economics & management.
- Important: tuition fees are not paid by Eiffel - but Eiffel laureates are exempt from the differentiated non-EU fees as scholarship holders.
- How to apply: you cannot apply directly. You choose a French institution; the institution selects you and submits your application to Campus France. The 2026 institutional deadline was 8 January 2026.
Campus France - France Excellence Eiffel scholarship programme ↗
French Government Scholarships (BGF) - the most complete cover
The Bourses du Gouvernement Français (BGF) are awarded by the French State, mostly through the French embassy / Campus France office in your country (embassies handle about three-quarters of Foreign-Ministry funding). They are the most complete package because they bundle money, fees and services.
- Monthly allowance - around €900/month at Bachelor/Master level and €1,850/month at Doctorate level (exact amount varies by programme and embassy).
- No tuition fees - BGF holders pay no registration fees at public institutions, differentiated or not, and are exempt from the CVEC.
- Housing - priority access to CROUS university residences, arranged by Campus France; rent is then deducted from the allowance.
- Social protection - registration with French social security (free) plus support with a complementary mutuelle; Campus France provides temporary cover on arrival.
- Transport & insurance - international travel (economy) and insurance are organised by Campus France.
Allowance figures and the exact mix of services depend on the programme (e.g. embassy “excellence” master grants) and on your country - confirm with your local Campus France office.
Erasmus+ & Erasmus Mundus - the European route
Erasmus+ is the EU mobility programme. Two routes matter for studying in France:
| Programme | Who | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ study mobility | Students enrolled at a partner university spending a period (often a semester) in France | ≈ €600/month (France is a Group 1 / higher-cost destination; 2024–2027 rates) | A top-up grant toward living costs during the exchange; you stay enrolled at - and pay fees to - your home university. Extra ≈ €250/month inclusion top-up for students with fewer opportunities. |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) | Top international students on a selective joint master delivered across ≥2 countries (often including France) | €1,400/month, up to 24 months | A full scholarship: tuition fees, health insurance, a monthly living allowance and a travel/installation contribution. |
Ordinary Erasmus+ study mobility is arranged through your home university’s international office, not by you alone. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are applied for directly to the consortium running the programme - browse them on the EU’s Erasmus Mundus catalogue.
Regional, city & institutional scholarships
Beyond the national programmes, two layers are often overlooked:
- Regions and cities. French regional councils fund students enrolled in their region - eligibility is based on where you study, not your nationality. Example: the Île-de-France region pays an international-mobility grant of €250–450/month (1–10 months) and a €4,000 lump sum for humanities/social-science doctoral mobility. Other regions (e.g. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) run their own simulators and scales. Check the regional council of the region where you will study.
- Schools & universities. Many institutions - public universities and private grandes écoles alike - run their own merit or need-based scholarships and tuition waivers for international students. Public institutions can also exempt up to 10% of their intake from fees on their own criteria. These are listed on each school’s “international / fees & funding” page and in CampusBourses.
The hidden value: exemption from non-EU university fees
Since 2019, French public universities may charge non-EU students “differentiated” fees far above the standard rate. For 2025–2026 these are €2,895/year for a Licence (Bachelor) and €3,941/year for a Master, versus the standard €178 (Licence), €254 (Master) and €397 (Doctorate) paid by EU students.
Scholarship holders are exempt. If you hold a French government scholarship (BGF) or a tuition-exemption grant from a French embassy, you pay the same low fees as French and EU students - or nothing at all under a full BGF. That exemption can be worth several thousand euros a year, on top of any allowance. Always present your exemption certificate at enrolment.
Differentiated fee amounts are revised periodically and some universities apply them more widely from September 2026 - confirm the current figure on your university’s enrolment page before you commit.
Campus France - differentiated enrolment fees for non-EU students ↗
Common questions
How much does the Eiffel scholarship pay?
From January 2026, €1,200 per month at Master level and €2,100 per month at Doctorate level, plus transport, insurance, housing support and cultural activities. Tuition is not paid directly, but Eiffel laureates are exempt from non-EU differentiated fees as scholarship holders.
Can I apply for the Eiffel scholarship myself?
No. Eiffel applications are submitted only by French higher-education institutions. You choose a French school, and it nominates you to Campus France. So you secure admission and ask the institution to put your name forward - you cannot apply directly.
Does a scholarship cancel the high non-EU university fees?
Yes - if it is a French government scholarship (BGF) or an embassy tuition-exemption grant, you are exempt from the differentiated fees (€2,895 Licence / €3,941 Master in 2025–26) and pay the standard EU rate or nothing. This exemption is often worth more than the allowance itself.
What is the difference between Eiffel and BGF?
Eiffel is one specific, very selective merit programme for Master/PhD that the school applies for on your behalf. BGF is the broader family of French government scholarships, usually applied for through the embassy / Campus France office in your country, and typically bundles fee exemption, CROUS housing and social security.
Where do I search for every scholarship at once?
Use the official CampusBourses directory (campusbourses.campusfrance.org). Filter by your nationality, field and level and it returns government, regional, institutional and private grants you may be eligible for.
Sources
- Campus France - France Excellence Eiffel scholarship programmeofficial · 2026-06-20
- Campus France - France Excellence Eiffel implementation (amounts & calendar)official · 2026-06-20
- Campus France - scholarship-holder guide (BGF benefits)official · 2026-06-20
- Campus France - bursaries for foreign studentsofficial · 2026-06-20
- Campus France - differentiated enrolment fees for non-EU studentsofficial · 2026-06-20
- Campus France - am I subject to the differentiated tuition fees? (FAQ)official · 2026-06-20
- CampusBourses - official scholarship search engineofficial · 2026-06-20
- France Diplomatie - finance your studies / scholarshipsofficial · 2026-06-20
- European Commission - Erasmus+ studying abroad (student mobility)official · 2026-06-20
- European Commission - Erasmus Mundus Joint Mastersofficial · 2026-06-20
- CVEC - official student-life contribution portalofficial · 2026-06-20
Not sure which scholarship fits you?
Tell us your nationality, your level (Licence, Master or Doctorate) and your field - we’ll point you to the scholarships you can realistically win and the schools that nominate for them. Free.