The French government has opened applications for the 2027 France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship, offering international students opportunities to pursue master’s and PhD degrees in France.
The scholarship offers master’s students a monthly allowance of €1,200 (approximately KSh180,000) and doctoral students €2,000 (approximately KSh300,000).
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship helps French higher education institutions attract outstanding international students and prepare future leaders in the public and private sectors.
According to Campus France, the agency managing the programme, the 2027 application round opened on October 2, 2026. French higher education institutions must submit their candidates’ applications by January 6, 2027.
However, students must check the individual deadlines set by their preferred universities because institutions may require applications before the final submission date.
Who Can Apply for the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship?
The programme targets international students seeking master’s or doctoral-level education in France.
Applicants must be nominated by a French higher education institution. Students cannot apply directly through Campus France, and applications sent by foreign institutions are not accepted.
Prospective applicants should identify a suitable French university and contact its international relations office or the department offering their preferred course to establish the admission and scholarship application requirements.
The programme is intended for foreign nationals. Campus France lists an upper age limit of 29 for master’s applicants and 35 for doctoral applicants.
The Eiffel Scholarship supports eligible master’s and doctoral programmes in seven areas grouped under science and technology, and humanities and social sciences.
The eligible fields of study are Biology and Health, Ecological Transition, Mathematics and Digital Technology, Engineering Sciences, French History, Language and Civilization, Law and Political Science, and Economics and Management.
Applicants must choose a programme that falls within the scholarship’s eligible fields and is offered by a participating French higher education institution.
Also Read: Margaret Kenyatta Nursing Scholarships: Requirements, Eligibility and How Students Can Apply
Duration of the Scholarship
The duration of funding depends on the course and the level of study.
Students entering the first year of a master’s programme can receive funding for up to 24 months, while those joining the second year can receive support for up to 12 months.
Students pursuing eligible engineering programmes may receive funding for up to 36 months.
At doctoral level, scholarships are awarded for 12, 18 or 36 months, depending on the candidate’s year of study and the programme’s conditions. The 36-month option is reserved for eligible new doctoral candidates entering their first year.
The scholarship is awarded for the academic year corresponding to the application round. For the 2027 campaign, funded studies must begin between September 1 and November 30, 2027. The start date cannot be postponed.
What the Scholarship Covers
Beyond the monthly allowance, successful applicants will access several support services during their studies in France.
These include international airfare in the least expensive available class, eligible domestic transport costs, temporary medical insurance while awaiting enrolment in France’s national health insurance system, and supplementary medical coverage under the programme’s conditions.
Campus France also helps recipients find accommodation in student residences or private homes. Scholars may choose to arrange their own housing.
The programme offers cultural activities, excursions and short trips intended to help recipients experience France and meet other scholarship holders.
The scholarship does not automatically cover tuition and course fees. Certain tuition exemptions may apply to eligible national degrees and engineering qualifications at public institutions under French regulations, but students should confirm the costs with their chosen university.
Also Read: DAAD Opens Fully Funded Scholarships With KSh58K Monthly Allowance at Two Kenyan Universities
Conditions Scholarship Recipients Must Meet
Successful applicants must enrol at the French institution that nominated them and follow the specific academic programme approved under their application.
Changing courses is permitted only under restricted conditions, including remaining in the same field of study and at the original institution. Failure to meet the conditions can lead to the suspension of payments.
Students who fail to meet academic requirements and have to repeat a year may also have their scholarship suspended.
The award cannot be combined with another French government scholarship, an Erasmus+ scholarship or funding from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.
Recipients must also provide proof of academic enrolment and comply with the programme’s health insurance requirements. Scholarship payments and related services may be suspended if required documents are not submitted on time.
How to Apply for the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship
Students interested in the 2027 France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship should first identify a suitable master’s or doctoral programme at a French higher education institution.
They can contact Campus France in their country of origin or the French Embassy’s Cooperation and Cultural Action Department for guidance on their study plans, eligible courses and the application process.
Prospective applicants should then approach their preferred French university to establish whether it participates in the Eiffel Scholarship programme, the documents required and its internal application deadline.
The scholarship application must be submitted by a French higher education institution. Students cannot apply directly to Campus France, and their applications must be supported by the institution offering their chosen programme.
Applicants should therefore contact universities early, as their internal deadlines may fall before the official programme deadline.
For the 2027 scholarship round, French institutions must submit applications to Campus France by January 6, 2027.
Further details are available on the official Campus France Eiffel Scholarship website.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
