Scholarship Guides France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship (France): How to Apply
France · Application Guide
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship (France): How to Apply
The France Excellence Eiffel scholarship supports international students for Master's and PhD study in France across priority fields (STEM, economics and management, law and political science). Students do not apply directly. A French higher-education institution must submit your application to Campus France on your behalf.
Administered by: French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, administered by Campus France
Written by Zain Aqdas, Founder and lead researcher, Scholarships AtlasLast updated 30 October 2026
What it covers
- A monthly allowance (for Master's and PhD levels) paid over the study period
- For Master's: coverage of the international return ticket and, in many cases, housing assistance
- Reimbursement of the institution application fee within the programme's limits (does not cover tuition)
- Access to a network of Eiffel scholars and the France Excellence alumni network
Eligibility
- International candidates (non-French nationals) applying through a French higher-education institution
- Applications can be made by institutions for Master's students who have applied to the institution, or for PhD candidates supervised by the institution
- Priority fields: sciences and engineering; economics and management; law and political science
- For Master's: candidates must be starting a Master's; for PhD: first-time PhD candidates, single institutional affiliation
- The scholarship cannot be combined with some other funding (cumulation rules apply)
Application — step by step
- 1
Find a French institution and be selected by it to represent you
Because students cannot apply directly, you must first identify a French higher-education institution and apply for admission to one of its Master's/PhD programmes. That institution decides which candidates to put forward for Eiffel, and submits the Eiffel application on your behalf.
- 2
The institution files your Eiffel application to Campus France
The French institution submits your application online via the dedicated Campus France website within the call window (for the 2026 campaign: call opened 1 October 2025, Campus France reception deadline 8 January 2026).
- 3
Selection by Campus France and the Ministry
Campus France and the Ministry review the institution-submitted applications on the merit of each candidate and project, and publish the selection results (roughly in the spring for the following academic year).
- 4
Award and begin study in France
Selected students are notified and, upon joining their French institution, begin receiving the monthly allowance under the programme's terms.
Typical documents needed
- Completed Eiffel application form (submitted by the French institution)
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Detailed CV and motivation / research project
- Letters of recommendation
- Language proficiency evidence as required by the institution
- Any institution-specific admission documents for the programme
Application cycles
The latest recorded round (2026 campaign) closed on 8 January 2026 (the date Campus France must receive the institution's submission). No newer cycle is recorded on this page yet — check the official portal for the next one.
| Cycle | Opened | Closed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 campaign | 1 October 2025 | 8 January 2026the date Campus France must receive the institution's submission | Closed 8 January 2026 |
Dates as the programme published them; each cycle links to the official notice. Every round is dated differently, so confirm the current one before you plan around it.
Annual cycle
Dates move every year — always confirm on the official portal before planning around them.
- Early October
- Call for applications opens (example: 1 Oct for the next campaign)
- Early January
- Deadline for Campus France to receive institution-submitted applications (example: 8 Jan)
- Spring
- Selection results announced for the following academic year
- Following academic year
- Eiffel scholar begins study in France