The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs runs the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program, which is also known as France Excellence Eiffel. The goal is to help French colleges and universities attract top overseas students to their Master’s and PhD programs. The purpose is to help future leaders and scholars with great promise in areas critical to France.
Fields of Study Covered
The scholarship is offered in a limited set of academic areas. Eligible fields include:
- Science & Technology: Biology & Health; Ecological Transition; Mathematics & Digital Sciences; Engineering Sciences.
- Humanities & Social Sciences: History, French Language and Civilization; Law & Political Science; Economics & Management.
Who Is Eligible
Some of the core eligibility conditions:
- The individual must be from a different country and not be French. It is impossible to be a dual citizen if one of your nationalities is French.
- It is not permissible to be enrolled in a French educational institution at the time of application.
- Applicants for the Master’s level must have been born after a specific date (e.g., after 31 March 1996 for 2026), which translates to a minimum age of 29 and a maximum age of 30..
- At the PhD level, age restrictions may vary by country and whether the program is a new enrollment or a continuation (some sources assert that the minimum age is approximately 35).
- One must possess a strong research plan or motivation, have excelled in previous academic pursuits, and be eligible for one of the specified fields.
Duration & Allowances
- Master’s level:
 • Up to 24 months if entering Master 1 (first year)
 • Up to 12 months if entering Master 2 (second year)
 • For engineering masters, up to 36 months in some cases, depending on year of ingress. - PhD level:
 • Up to 36 months in many cases for full enrollment.
 • Shorter duration (12-18 months) if entering later years of a PhD or involved in co-supervised / joint supervision arrangements. - Monthly allowance:
 • For Master’s scholars: ~ €1,181 per month.
 • For PhD scholars: ~ €2,100 per month (some sources list ~€1,700 in certain years or conditions), depending on level and conditions.
What It Covers & What It Doesn’t
Covered:
- Maintenance allowance or monthly subsistence stipend.
- Travel to and from France from your native country, as well as travel within the country to the initial study location and back.
- Health insurance or health protection is required until you enroll in the French social security system; occasionally, additional insurance is required.
- In numerous instances, assistance is provided in locating a residence through Campus France or CROUS.
- Cultural events, assistance with transportation (e.g., public transit or a taxi from the airport), and other mobility assistance.
Not covered:
- Eiffel does not reimburse tuition and enrollment expenses. The scholarship typically does not cover tuition, though it may in certain unusual circumstances at public institutions or if the school agrees to waive the fee.
- The student will need to plan for living costs that go beyond the stipend and direct services.
Application Process & Deadlines
- The Eiffel Programme does not receive applications directly from students. Instead, they pass through French higher education institutions. Campus France receives application files from universities or nominates students.
- Many institutions anticipate that the application period for 2026–2027 will commence in October 2025 and conclude in early November. For example, the Université Paris-Saclay call is open from October 1 to November 9, 2025.
- Campus France frequently discloses the results in March or April.
Advantages & Considerations
Advantages:
- An esteemed fellowship that enhances your research qualifications and your CV.
- Provides travel/insurance and stable living support, which significantly reduces financial burdens.
- Access to French institutions, research laboratories, and global networks.
Considerations:
- It does not cover tuition; in many universities, fees are modest or waived for some public institutions, but students must check.
- Highly competitive; age limits, nationality restrictions, and academic excellence are strictly enforced.
- Must be nominated by the university; you need to gain admission + coordinate with the university’s international office.
Being outside France at the time of application is required; if already in France as a student, you may be ineligible.
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