Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Study in France

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 officially known as the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Programme — is one of France’s most prestigious government scholarship awards, established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France, offering outstanding international students from all over the world the opportunity to pursue Master’s or PhD programmes at top French higher education institutions with a monthly living allowance of €1,200 (Master’s level) or €2,000 (PhD level), round-trip international airfare, health insurance, housing support, and cultural activities. The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 is unique in one critical way: students cannot apply directly — only French higher education institutions may nominate candidates and submit applications to Campus France on their behalf. Based on the consistent annual cycle, the 2027 campaign is expected to open in October 2026 with a Campus France deadline of approximately 8 January 2027. For all official information visit campusfrance.org/en/france-excellence-eiffel-scholarship-program.

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme was created to enable French universities, Grandes Écoles, and research institutions to attract the brightest foreign students from developing and industrialised countries to their Master’s and doctoral programmes — training the future foreign decision-makers of the public and private sectors in France’s priority academic fields. The programme is managed by Campus France, the French national agency for the promotion of higher education, international student services, and international mobility, on behalf of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Key Highlights

Benefits

Fields of Study

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship covers two main academic fields encompassing seven disciplines (confirmed from official Campus France page):

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-French Nationals Only: French nationals are not eligible. The scholarship is exclusively for international students who are NOT French citizens.
• Age Limits (Hard Stop):
  • Master’s level: Must be under 29 years old at the time of application
  • PhD level: Must be under 35 years old at the time of application
• Country Priority:
  • Master’s level: Priority given to candidates from developing countries
  • PhD level: Open to candidates from both developing and industrialised countries
• Field of Study: Must be enrolled in one of the two main disciplinary fields (Science and Technology OR Humanities and Social Sciences) as defined by the Eiffel programme.
• Not Already Enrolled in France: For the 36-month PhD scholarship — candidates must be “new candidates” not already studying in France and not enrolled at a French institution. (12 and 18-month PhD scholarships may be available for those already in France.)
• No Other French Government Scholarship: Candidates must not already hold another French government-funded scholarship.
• Nominated by a French Institution: Must be nominated by the French higher education institution where you intend to study. You cannot apply independently — the university submits your application to Campus France.
• Strong Academic Excellence: The selection is highly competitive. Only candidates with outstanding academic records, leadership potential, and strong motivation are typically nominated and selected.

Who is NOT Eligible:

• French citizens
• Students applying directly (without French institution nomination)
• Students over 29 (Master’s) or 35 (PhD) at time of application
• Candidates already holding a French government scholarship
• Students in disciplines outside the two main Eiffel fields

Important Rules and Conditions

• Scholarship Cannot Be Postponed: The study period must begin between September 1 and November 30 of the year the scholarship is awarded. The start date cannot be deferred to the next academic year.
• Failing Academic Requirements = Scholarship Suspended: If a recipient is compelled to repeat a year due to failing academic requirements, the scholarship is suspended.
• Only Periods in France Are Funded: The scholarship only covers periods of study spent in France — with exceptions for required internships or exchanges abroad (up to 1 year maximum abroad, and time abroad cannot exceed total time in France).
• Required Internships/Exchanges Abroad: If an internship or exchange abroad is a mandatory degree requirement, the scholarship is maintained — capped at 1 year abroad. Must submit internship agreement to Campus France no later than 1 week before the internship begins.
• Optional Internships/Exchanges: If an internship or exchange is optional (not a degree requirement), the scholarship is SUSPENDED for that period.
• Gap Years Permitted (Scholarship Suspended): Gap years are allowed but result in automatic suspension of scholarship. Must notify Campus France at least 2 months before gap begins and 2 months before returning. Returns must be announced no later than July 31 of the return calendar year. Maximum 1 gap year per scholarship period.
• Apprenticeship/Professional Training Contract = Scholarship Ceases Automatically: If a recipient enters an apprenticeship or professional training contract, scholarship benefits automatically and permanently cease.
• Health Insurance Proof Required Within 2 Months: Must submit proof of enrolment in French Sécurité Sociale within 2 months of arrival. Failure to do so may result in suspension of scholarship payments.
• PhD Split-Stay (12 and 18 months): Scholarship can be split into multiple stays in France, each of minimum 6 months. Schedule must be submitted to Campus France during first stay. Changes must be reported at least 2 months in advance.
• Return Ticket: Must be requested within 12 months of scholarship end date. Coverage depends on submission of academic results. After scholarship ends, student no longer has French government scholarship status during any remaining stay.

Application Timeline

Application Process

Step 1: Start NOW — Contact French Universities (September/October 2026)

The most important step is to act immediately. French universities have their own internal deadlines — typically between October and December — which are significantly earlier than the Campus France deadline of ~8 January 2027. You must first apply for admission to a Master’s or PhD programme at a French institution, then ask the International Relations Department to consider nominating you for the Eiffel Scholarship. Contact Campus France offices in your country or visit campusfrance.org to find a list of French institutions and contact their International Relations departments by email or telephone. Do NOT wait until November or December — by then, most institutions’ internal deadlines will have passed.

Step 2: Choose Your Programme and Field of Study

Ensure your intended programme is in one of the Eiffel-eligible fields: Science and Technology (Biology and Health, Ecological Transition, Mathematics and Digital, Engineering Sciences) or Humanities and Social Sciences (History and French Civilization, Law and Political Sciences, Economics and Management). Use the Campus France programme catalogue at campusfrance.org to find suitable French institutions and programmes. Also verify your age eligibility — under 29 for Master’s, under 35 for PhD.

Step 3: Apply for Admission at Your Chosen French University

Submit your application for admission to the Master’s or PhD programme directly to the French university. Each institution has its own admission requirements, documents, and deadlines — these are completely separate from the Eiffel application. Prepare: academic transcripts, degree certificates, CV, motivation letter, research proposal (PhD), and language proficiency evidence. Contact the International Relations Department specifically about the Eiffel Scholarship and ask whether the institution participates in the programme and whether you would be a competitive candidate.

Step 4: The University Nominates You (If Accepted)

If the university accepts you for admission AND agrees to nominate you for the Eiffel Scholarship, they will prepare your Eiffel application file and submit it to Campus France through the official Campus France portal before the Campus France deadline (~8 January 2027). You cannot do this yourself. The university’s International Relations office coordinates the submission. The entire Campus France application is done by the institution — not by you.

Step 5: Campus France Reviews and Announces Results

Campus France receives all institution-submitted applications, reviews them against the Eiffel programme criteria, and a panel of experts selects final recipients. Results are typically published from around 30 March of the application year. Successful candidates are notified through their nominating institution. Studies begin between September 1 and November 30 of the award year — the start date cannot be postponed.

How to Apply

Also Check

• 📌 Chevening Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded UK Government Master’s Scholarship
• 📌 Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded PhD and Master’s at Cambridge
• 📌 Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s and PhD in the UK
• 📌 Stipendium Hungaricum 2027 | Fully Funded Hungarian Government Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027?

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 (officially: France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Programme) is a prestigious French government scholarship for outstanding international students pursuing Master’s or PhD programmes at French higher education institutions. It provides €1,200/month (Master’s) or €2,000/month (PhD), tuition waiver (at eligible public institutions), round-trip airfare, health insurance, housing support, and cultural activities. The 2027 campaign is expected to open October 2026 with a Campus France deadline of ~8 January 2027. Results published ~30 March 2027. Managed by Campus France on behalf of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

2. Can I apply directly for the Eiffel Scholarship?

No — this is the most important thing to understand about the Eiffel programme. Students cannot apply directly to Campus France or to the French Ministry. Only French higher education institutions may submit applications on behalf of their students. Your process is: (1) apply for admission to a French Master’s or PhD programme, (2) ask the university’s International Relations Department to nominate you for Eiffel, (3) if they agree, they submit your application to Campus France. Any application submitted directly by a student or by a foreign institution is automatically declared ineligible.

3. What is the Eiffel Scholarship stipend in 2027?

Based on the January 2026 rate confirmed on the official Campus France Implementation page: €1,200 per month at Master’s level and €2,000 per month at PhD level. These rates have been updated from earlier figures (the rate was previously €1,181 for Master’s and €2,100 for PhD in older sources). The 2027 rates will be confirmed when the 2027 Call for Applications is officially published. Always verify at campusfrance.org.

4. What is the age limit for the Eiffel Scholarship?

For Master’s level: must be under 29 years old at the time of application. For PhD level: must be under 35 years old at the time of application. These are the correct ages confirmed from the official Campus France Eiffel page (fetched live September 2, 2026). Note: some older or non-official sources incorrectly state the age limits as 25/30 — these are wrong.

5. Does the Eiffel Scholarship cover tuition fees?

No — tuition fees are NOT covered by the Eiffel programme. The official Campus France page states explicitly: “For both elements of the program, tuition fees are not covered by the France Excellence Eiffel program.” The Eiffel scholarship provides a monthly stipend (€1,200 for Master’s, €2,100 for PhD), airfare, health insurance, housing support, and cultural activities — but tuition is not included. Some French host universities may separately waive or subsidise tuition fees for their international students — you should confirm this directly with your chosen institution’s International Relations Department.

6. When is the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 deadline?

The Campus France deadline for the 2027 campaign is expected to be approximately 8 January 2027 — based on the consistent annual pattern (the 2026 deadline was January 8, 2026). However, French universities have their own internal deadlines — typically October to December 2026 — which are significantly earlier. You must contact your chosen French university’s International Relations Department as soon as possible, as many institutions’ internal deadlines will fall in October or November 2026. Monitor the official announcement at campusfrance.org/en/france-excellence-eiffel-scholarship-program.

7. What happens if I fail an exam during my Eiffel scholarship?

If you are required to repeat a year owing to failure to meet academic requirements, the scholarship is suspended. The scholarship is granted for a specific, predetermined number of months — you must meet the academic requirements of each year to continue receiving the allowance. The French Ministry also reserves the right to cease scholarship payments if a recipient engages in activities inconsistent with the programme’s objectives.

Final Thoughts

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 is one of France’s most prestigious and comprehensive scholarships for international students — offering a monthly allowance of €1,200 (Master’s) or €2,000 (PhD), tuition waiver at eligible public institutions, round-trip airfare, health insurance, housing support, and access to Campus France’s cultural programme. France’s universities and Grandes Écoles are world-class institutions at the forefront of engineering, mathematics, economics, life sciences, law, and the humanities. The one critical step that students must take immediately is to contact French universities NOW — every institution has its own internal deadline for Eiffel nominations, and many will close their internal selection in October or November 2026. Do not wait for the official Campus France 2027 announcement before contacting universities. Contact the International Relations Department of your chosen French institution today, ask about their Eiffel nomination process, and submit your admission application as soon as possible. For all official information, visit campusfrance.org/en/france-excellence-eiffel-scholarship-program or email candidatures.eiffel@campusfrance.org.