Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 in France (Funded)

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 provides monthly funding, travel, insurance and housing help for eligible international master's and doctoral students in France. Tuition is not covered by the Eiffel program, and a French institution must nominate you.

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 is funded by the French government. It pays a monthly allowance of €1,200 for master’s students or €2,100 for doctoral students, and it includes international travel, travel within France, insurance, help with housing, and cultural activities.

The Eiffel program itself does not pay tuition fees. A French university must choose and nominate you. You cannot submit an Eiffel application directly to Campus France.

Detail Information
Host country France
Provider French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, managed by Campus France
Study level Master’s, engineering degree, and doctorate under joint supervision or a dual degree
Funding €1,200 per month for master’s students or €2,100 per month for doctoral students, plus travel, insurance, housing help, and cultural activities
Tuition Not covered by the Eiffel scholarship program. Ask your chosen institution what fees or exemptions apply to your program.
Who can apply International students nominated by a French higher education institution
Age limit Up to 29 for master’s applicants and up to 35 for doctoral applicants
How to apply Through a French institution. Direct applications from students are not accepted.
Institution submission deadline 6 January 2027. Your university’s internal deadline will be earlier.

What is the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship?

The Eiffel scholarship helps French universities bring strong international students into master’s, engineering, and doctoral programs. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs funds it, and Campus France manages it.

Your French institution is the gatekeeper. It decides whether to nominate you and sends the application to Campus France. This means you need to choose your program and contact the institution early.

What the Eiffel scholarship covers

For the 2027 round, the support includes:

  • €1,200 per month for master’s students
  • €2,100 per month for doctoral students
  • International transport
  • Travel support within France
  • Insurance
  • Help finding housing
  • Cultural activities

The exact travel arrangements and services follow the Eiffel rules for the year you receive the award.

Does Eiffel pay your tuition?

No. Campus France states that tuition fees are not covered by the Eiffel program.

This is important because “funded” does not mean every university cost disappears. A French institution may have its own fee policy or exemption for a particular national diploma, but you must confirm that with the institution before accepting an offer. Do not build your budget on a tuition exemption unless the university gives it to you in writing.

Fields of study

Eiffel supports seven priority areas.

Science and technology

  • Biology and health
  • Ecological transition
  • Mathematics and digital sciences
  • Engineering sciences

Humanities and social sciences

  • History, French language, and civilization
  • Law and political science
  • Economics and management

Your course must fit one of these areas. If the course title is broad, ask the university whether it is eligible before preparing a nomination file.

Who can apply?

  • You are an international student. French nationals are not eligible.
  • You want to study an eligible master’s, engineering, or doctoral program in France.
  • A French higher education institution is willing to nominate you.
  • You are no older than 29 for the master’s part or 35 for the doctoral part.
  • Your subject falls within an Eiffel priority field.

For doctoral funding, the program is intended for a doctorate under joint supervision or a dual degree with a partner institution outside France.

Am I too old to apply?

The current maximum age is 29 for master’s applicants and 35 for doctoral applicants. If you are above the limit for your level, you will need a different scholarship. We publish other fully funded master’s and PhD opportunities every week, including programs without the same age rule.

Can I apply with average grades?

Eiffel is competitive because each French institution chooses the students it wants to nominate. Strong grades help, but the university will also look at your fit with the course, your academic direction, and what you plan to do with the degree.

If one semester was weak, explain the reason briefly and show what improved after it. Your application should give the institution a clear reason to put your name forward.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

Eiffel does not set one language test for every course. The requirement comes from the French university and the program you choose. An English-taught course may ask for IELTS, TOEFL, or another accepted proof. A French-taught course may require proof of French.

Do not book a test simply because another university asks for it. Check the exact course requirement first.

Documents you may need

Your institution controls the nomination process, so its list is the one that matters. It may ask for:

  • Your CV
  • Academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • A motivation letter or study plan
  • Recommendation letters
  • Proof of language level, if required by the course
  • A passport or other identity document
  • A research proposal and supervision information for a doctorate

Prepare these early, but follow the institution’s instructions if its list is different.

How to write your motivation letter

Write the letter for the university that must nominate you. Name the course, explain why it fits your previous study, and show what you plan to do after graduation.

A general letter sent to many universities is easy to spot. Use details from the course and explain why that department is the right place for your next step. If your goal is to work on a problem in your home country, name the problem and the work you want to do.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Choose an eligible master’s, engineering, or doctoral program at a French institution.
  2. Check the institution’s admission requirements and its Eiffel nomination process.
  3. Ask for the institution’s internal Eiffel deadline.
  4. Submit the documents the institution requests.
  5. If the institution selects you, it sends your nomination to Campus France.
  6. Wait for the official result from the institution or Campus France.

Do not try to submit directly to Campus France. Applications sent by students or by institutions outside France are not accepted.

Deadline

6 January 2027 is the deadline for French institutions to send nominations to Campus France.

This is not your personal application deadline. Each university sets an earlier internal date so it has time to review candidates and prepare nominations. Some may close weeks before January, so check the university’s instructions now.

Have a question?

Leave your question in the comments and tell us the French university and course you are considering. That makes it easier to point you to the right application route.

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Official Eiffel information

Read the Official Eiffel Scholarship Details

Komme Sjinkwe Karin
Komme Sjinkwe Karin

Founder of Links for Scholarship and director of NK Consultancy, helping students across West and Central Africa access higher education abroad. MBA holder. Posts a new verified opportunity every day.

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