France continues to attract foreign students because of its outstanding educational resources for students from other regions of the world; however, tuition fees and living costs in France may not be affordable for many.
Although French public universities' annual tuition is generally low (€200-€600), it is high at its private universities (€10,000). The annual living costs of about €10,000 is exorbitant for most international students. To help alleviate this, Study & Scholarships has compiled a list of scholarships in France for international students below.
TIP: To enhance your success, go through the details of each scholarship program to find those whose criteria you fit into most. Apply to those ones first.
French Government (and EU) Scholarships for International Students
- Eiffel Scholarships for International Students
The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs launched the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme in January 1999 as a tool to support French higher education institutions to attract the best foreign students for master’s and PhD degree programs. Master students receive a monthly grant allowance of 1,181 Euros, and also coverage for various expenses including return travel, health insurance and cultural activities. PhD stydents receive a monthly allowance of 1,400 Euros with additional allowances for one international return trip, health insurance and cultural activities...read more. - Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for Developing Countries
The European Union offers FULL-TIME scholarships for Masters and Doctorate programmes to students coming from any country of the world. These scholarships are exclusively awarded to students that have been selected to attend one of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes at Masters or Doctorate level...read more.
French Universities participate in many study programs funded by the Erasmus Mundus Scholarships. By this, international students are enabled to undertake participating Erasmus Mundus Master Courses and PhD Courses for free.
See also this List of Erasmus Mundus scholarships for International students: Erasmus Mundus aims to enhance quality in higher education through scholarships and academic cooperation between Europe and the rest of the world. The programme offers financial support for institutions and scholarships for individuals. - HEC-Eiffel MBA Scholarships for Developing Countries
The Eiffel Scholarship is designed to bolster international recruiting by French schools of higher education to attract top foreign students. The scholarship provides participants with a monthly allowance of €1,181, and covers additional expenses including travel, health insurance and cultural activities. Tuition fees are not covered by the scholarship...read more. - ALIS Scholarship Programme for International Postgraduate students
In March 2010, the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes - MAEE) and AIR LIQUIDE decided to create a programme to host and support high-level foreign students in France. The co-financed ALIS scholarship programme is aimed at students from Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey and the Ukraine who are currently studying in their country...read more. - Ile-de-France Masters Scholarships
The Ile-de-France Scholarship Program enables some select French universities like Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC) and École Centrale Paris to receive relatively consistent funding from Conseil Régional, Ile-de-France. Eligibility include foreign students who are newcomers, aged no more than 30 within the selection year, and wishing to prepare a Master degree in any field of study. All nationalities are eligible; however, priority is given to applicants from priority areas of decentralized cooperation in the Region, or from emerging countries such as Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East or the new Member States of the European Union. The scholarships include a lump sum of €10,500 per student during duration of stay. - IFAS Research Scholarships in Humanities and Social Sciences (not yet updated)
Established by the French Department of Foreign Affairs on the 12th of May 1995, IFAS-Research has been founded to answer France’s wish to take part in the construction of the new South Africa concerning research in the Human and Social Sciences. There will be an overall budget of less than 40 000 South African Rands or 4000 euros. Financial participation from other institutions (details of which should be provided in the project) are allowed...read more.
French Colleges/Universities Scholarships for International Students
- Fondation Rainbow Bridge MBA Scholarships
The Fondation Rainbow Bridge enable young women recipients to enrich their academic background by obtaining an HEC MBA. Women applying must come from an Asian or African country affected by a natural disaster, drought or famine. In addition, they must demonstrate a commitment to solving some of the social and economic issues affecting their countries while working for the long-term security of the people living there. The sum of €20,000 are awarded to each successful applicant...read more. - École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure (ENS) is the Top 58 University in the 2012 University Rankings by Times Higher Education. Each year the ENS organizes an international selection allowing about thirty of the most promising international students, either in Science or in Humanities, to follow a two or three-year course at the ENS. They receive a monthly stipend of approximately 1,000 Euros and benefit from an accommodation on the ENS campus. About 30 foreign students are awarded each year. - Ampère Excellence Scholarships
The Ampère Scholarships of Excellence provide excellent international students with the opportunity to pursue one of the eligible Masters programs offered at ENS de Lyon. International students are provided the opportunity to enrol in one of the ENS de Lyon Masters programs in the Exact Sciences, the Arts or the Human and Social Sciences (excluding the Professional Masters programs in teaching). A monthly stipend of 1000€ is awarded for a duration of 12 months (renewable)...read more. - École Polytechnique
Ecole Polytechnique offers a number 0f scholarships for foreign students from all countries. This includes Major Excellence Scholarships which includes tuition fees up to €5,000 per academic year and an allowance of €200 or €615 per month, depending on available financial resources. Another major scholarship program is the Fondation de l’Ecole Polytechnique Scholarships which covers tuition fees of up to 24060 € for the whole duration of the curriculum and an allowance of up to 650 to 720 € / month during scientific education period. Possible additional allowances: uniform, social security and insurance, one return trip. - Centrale Nantes
Centrale Nantes offers attractive scholarships of excellence to students with strong academic background accepted on the international Masters programme at the University. The value of the scholarship is 50% reduction in tuition fees (from €12000 to €6000 for the 2 years). - École Centrale Paris
The Ecole Centrale Paris offers 4 Graduate Fellowships of €4000 Euros each to international students residing abroad, based on the quality of their application. - Sciences Po University
Sciences Po created the Emile Boutmy Scholarship after the founder of Sciences Po in order to attract the very best international students from outside of the European Union who are applying and previously admitted to Sciences Po University. The Emily Boutmy Master’s Programme can take different forms ranging from €5,000 to €16,000 for 2 years of postgraduate study or €3,000 to €12,300 for 3 years of undergraduate study...read more. - HEC Paris
HEC Paris offers generous scholarships to international students from different countries and backgrounds. HEC scholarships fall into various categories: merit-based or based on specific criteria. One of the major scholarship programs is the HEC MBA Scholarships for Excellence which are designed to attracting the best participants and helping them to achieve their personal and professional goals. The amount of the scholarship varies from €6,000 to €24,000. - INSEAD
The INSEAD Scholarships are the most sought-after source of financial assistance. They are limited in number and there is significant competition for each award. These scholarships are granted under various criteria and fall into two major categories: need-based and non-need based (based on either merit, nationality, gender, professional background, leadership abilities, field of previous studies etc.). The value of the scholarships range from $5,000 to $25,000.
French Organizations Scholarships for International Students
- INSEAD-Syngenta MBA Scholarships
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Since Syngenta strongly believes that talented people are the key to successful businesses they embrace INSEAD's mission to train the brightest and best from around the world for the challenge of tomorrow's business world. Syngenta is particularly committed to the dynamic emerging market regions and has therefore chosen to offer this scholarship opportunity to future leaders from emerging countries...read more.
Some other INSEAD scholarships published on Study & Scholarships include: the INSEAD Nelson Mandela MBA Scholarships, the INSEAD Goldman Sachs Scholarships and the INSEAD Greendale Foundation Scholarships for African students, and the INSEAD Alumni Fund (IAF) Women's Scholarship(s) for Outstanding Females. You may use the SEARCH box at the top of this page to find others. - INSEAD MBA Scholarships
To honour the life and work of President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, the INSEAD MBA Class of ’75 created the INSEAD Nelson Mandela Endowment Scholarships at their 30th Class Reunion to provide financial support for one or more African participants per year at INSEAD in perpetuity. In awarding scholarships, INSEAD shall particularly seek candidates from southern Africa... read more. - Emile Boutmy Scholarships
Sciences Po created the Emile Boutmy scholarship after the founder of Sciences Po (1871) in order to attract the very best international students from outside of the European Union. The Emile Boutmy Scholarship is awarded to top students whose profiles match the admissions priorities of Sciences Po and individual course requirements...read more.
Non-French Scholarships for International Study in France
- PTDF Scholarships for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Nigerians
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), a parastatal of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has a mission to train Nigerians to qualify as graduates, professionals, technicians and craftsmen in the field of engineering, geology, science and management in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria or abroad...read more. - Tullow Oil Group Scholarships for Postgraduate African and South American Students
The Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme aims to build capacity in areas where Tullow’s host countries experience significant skills gaps, especially, but not exclusively, around their oil and gas industries. Scholarships are available to those who are committed to making a contribution to their own country’s development. The Scheme gives candidates a chance to receive a high standard of education from internationally recognised institutions, which can then be applied in the scholar’s home country...read more.