Discover France’s Pinnacle: Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2026

 

About the Scholarship

French universities choose and nominate candidates—they submit applications via Campus France on behalf of eligible students. Direct applications are not accepted. The expected call opens in October 2025, with final submissions due in early January 2026. Results are typically announced by mid‑April 2026

Who Is Eligible

Open to non-French nationals with exceptional academic records. Age limits apply: ≤ 27 years at Master’s level (born after March 1998/1999) and ≤ 32 years for PhD candidates (born after March 1993). Applicants should be applying for the first time—not currently enrolled in France—and must propose studies in priority fields such as science and technology, ecology, digital innovation, economics, engineering, law, political science, or humanities 

↚

What’s Included

You’ll receive a monthly stipend (approximately €1,181 for Master’s; €1,700–1,800 for PhD), round‑trip airfare, health insurance, housing support or living allowance, public transport aid, and cultural activity access. Tuition fees are exempted at public French institutions; support may be offered at private institutions as negotiated by your host university 

Duration of Support

Master’s scholarships cover 12 months (M2), 24 months (M1), or up to 36 months for engineering programmes. PhD awards typically span until 36 months if enrolled in the first doctoral year, or 12–18 months for candidates in later years or co-supervised programmes 

Why It Matters

This is France’s flagship scholarship for grooming future global professionals. It offers financial freedom, institutional prestige, and a global peer network. Eiffel Scholars represent leadership potential in both academic and institutional settings, all while immersing in France’s vibrant intellectual and cultural environment

How to Prepare

Start by identifying French universities offering your desired Master's or PhD programme and contact them about being nominated for the Eiffel Scholarship. Apply to the academic programme first; if accepted, the institution may support your Eiffel nomination via Campus France. Selection is highly competitive and internal to institutions