Eiffel Excellence Scholarship
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs · France
France's flagship award for international students, aimed at training future decision-makers in the public and private sectors.
Application deadline
10 Jan 2027
97 days remaining
- Intake
- Sep 2027 intake
- Open to
- Worldwide
- Study level
- Masters, PhD
We never charge for applications
What the scholarship covers
- Monthly allowance of €1,181 for master's students
- Return international travel
- Health insurance
- Cultural activities allowance
- Tuition remains payable at public-sector rates, which are low
Eligibility requirements
- Non-French nationality
- Under 25 for master's, under 30 for doctoral applicants
- Nominated by a French higher-education institution — you cannot self-apply
- Not previously an Eiffel scholarship holder
Documents you will need
- Institutional nomination from the French institution
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of motivation
- Language proficiency evidence
How to apply, step by step
- 1
Apply to a French institution first
Only the institution can nominate you, so admission comes before the scholarship.
- 2
Ask about Eiffel nomination
Institutions have internal selection rounds, usually in November and December.
- 3
Provide nomination materials
The institution assembles the file, but you supply everything in it.
- 4
Meet the age limits
These are applied strictly, based on age at the application date.
- 5
Wait for the March result
Results are announced centrally, not by the institution.
When to do what
Counting backwards from the deadline. Applications rushed in the final fortnight are the ones that fail.
28 weeks before
Apply for admission to French institutions.
20 weeks before
Ask each institution about its Eiffel nomination process.
14 weeks before
Prepare CV, motivation letter and transcripts.
10 weeks before
Submit materials to the institution's internal round.
6 weeks before
Confirm the institution has nominated you.
What the panel is actually looking for
- Academic excellence
- Fit with the institution's international strategy
- Potential to work in decision-making roles
- Field alignment with the four eligible areas
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to apply directly rather than being nominated.
- Missing the institution's internal deadline, which is far earlier.
- Exceeding the age limit by the application date.
- Applying in a field outside the four eligible areas.
Fields of study
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Don't miss this deadline
We'll email you before applications for Eiffel Excellence Scholarship close.
Apply to more than one
Even outstanding applicants are rejected for reasons outside their control, quotas, country allocations, a stronger field that year. Shortlist three or four awards you genuinely qualify for and apply to all of them.