Full Program Details
The Eiffel Scholarship is the French government's flagship award for international students, and it works differently from almost every other scholarship you will apply for this season. You do not send your application to the scholarship office. A French university or engineering school has to choose you first and put your name forward. Miss that school's internal deadline, which often falls weeks before the official one, and you are out before the race begins.
The 2027 call opened on 2 October 2026. French institutions must submit their candidates to Campus France by Wednesday 6 January 2027, but many universities collect student applications in October and November so they can rank them in time.
Eiffel scholars receive €1,200 a month at master's level or €2,000 a month at PhD level, and Campus France also pays for international and domestic travel, health insurance and help finding housing.
Details at a glance:
- Funder: French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, managed by Campus France
- Levels: master's (including engineering degrees) and PhD
- Monthly allowance: €1,200 for master's, €2,000 for PhD (rates from January 2026)
- Age limit: 29 or under for master's, 35 or under for PhD
- Call opened: 2 October 2026
- Institution deadline at Campus France: 6 January 2027
- Results: emailed during the week of 12 April 2027
What the Scholarship Covers
- A monthly living allowance of €1,200 for master's students or €2,000 for PhD students
- An economy flight to France at the start and a return flight at the end, plus a train or bus ticket to your host city
- Health cover: temporary protection on arrival, then a free complementary health insurance plan once you join French Social Security
- Help finding housing, with possible rooms in CROUS or private residences
- Cultural trips and activities organised by Campus France
On fees, be careful. As French government scholarship holders, Eiffel scholars are exempt from registration fees for national diplomas at public universities and engineering schools under the Ministry of Higher Education. Other registration fees and training fees are not covered by the programme, so check what your chosen school charges.
How Long the Award Lasts
- Master's: up to 12 months for a second-year master's (M2), up to 24 months for a first-year master's (M1), or up to 36 months for an engineering degree
- PhD: 12 or 18 months depending on your year of doctoral study, usually for a PhD co-supervised with a partner university abroad, or 36 months for students who are new to France and starting the first year of their PhD
- Your stay must begin between 1 September and 30 November 2027, and the award cannot be deferred
Who Can Apply
- International students who are not French nationals
- Master's applicants aged 29 or under, and PhD applicants aged 35 or under
- Students in one of seven fields: biology and health; ecological transition; mathematics and digital sciences; engineering sciences; history, French language and civilisation; law and political science; or economics and management
- Candidates nominated by a French higher education institution for an accredited master's, an engineering degree or a PhD
The Eiffel cannot be combined with another French government scholarship, an Erasmus+ grant or a scholarship from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie. Individual universities add their own rules. For example, Université Paris Cité says master's candidates must not already be living in France.
How to Apply
- Pick a master's or PhD programme at a French university or engineering school in one of the seven eligible fields.
- Apply for admission to that programme, then check the school's Eiffel page or contact its international relations office for its internal deadline.
- Prepare the documents your school asks for and follow its own Eiffel procedure exactly. Late or incomplete files are usually rejected without review.
- Submit to the school before its internal deadline. As an example, Université Paris Cité closes on 29 October 2026 for master's and 2 November 2026 for PhD candidates.
- If the school pre-selects you, it submits your file to Campus France by 6 January 2027, along with a commitment form signed by you.
- Watch your inbox during the week of 12 April 2027 for the result.
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: High-achieving students from Africa and around the world who already have a French master's or PhD programme in mind and strong grades to back them up. The monthly allowance and travel cover make France one of the most affordable places to study abroad for winners.
Who should pause: Do not expect the Eiffel to cover every cost at a private business school. Training fees are not paid by the programme, so check tuition first. Students over the age limits and those outside the seven fields should look elsewhere.
One tip to stand out: Treat the university as your first selection panel. Email the programme director early, explain why their course fits your career plan back home, and ask about the internal Eiffel deadline before you do anything else.
Read the official call and calendar on the Campus France Eiffel 2027 page.
