Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

About the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is offered by Campus France (French Government). France's flagship award for international Master's and PhD students in science, engineering, economics, law and political science — a monthly allowance plus travel, insurance and cultural benefits (tuition not included). Scholarships like this are competitive and rule-bound: meeting every published eligibility criterion is what gets your application read, and missing even one usually means an automatic rejection regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.

Use the eligibility checker on this page for a quick, personalised read of whether you qualify before you invest hours in the application — then confirm the fine print on the official source, since awarding bodies revise criteria and amounts between cycles.

What the scholarship covers

This award typically covers: Monthly allowance (~€1,181 Master's / ~€1,700 PhD); International travel, local transport and insurance; Cultural activities support; Does not cover tuition (many programmes waive it for laureates). Read the value carefully — "full" funding can still leave gaps (visa fees, travel, or a partner/family), while a partial award may need topping up from savings or part-time work to satisfy a visa's proof-of-funds rule.

Who is eligible

The main requirements are strict gates rather than guidelines: A completed first degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) is required; Eiffel has strict age caps: 25 for the Master's track, 30 for the PhD track; Only French higher-education institutions can submit Eiffel applications — you cannot apply directly; Eiffel is reserved for non-French nationals. Check each against your own situation honestly before applying — the checker on this page does exactly this and flags where you may fall short.

Deadlines and how to apply well

Key dates: 2027 intake — institutions submit applications by early January 2027 — 2027-01-08. Always confirm the exact deadline on the official source, as cycles shift year to year and some awards close early once funds are committed.

Strong applications are specific and evidenced: tie your goals to what the scholarship is actually for, supply every requested document in the right format, and give referees plenty of notice. A late or incomplete submission is the most avoidable reason good candidates miss out.