Top 20 Scholarships in France for International Students (2026/2027)

France is one of the world’s most popular study destinations, attracting over 400,000 international students each year. Home to globally renowned universities such as Sorbonne University, Sciences Po, École Polytechnique, HEC Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, and École Normale Supérieure (ENS), France offers world-class education at affordable tuition fees. To support talented students from around the world, the French Government, universities, and international organizations provide numerous fully funded and partially funded scholarships for undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral studies.

If you are planning to study in France during the 2026–2027 academic year, here are the Top 20 Scholarships in France for International Students.

1. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is the French Government’s flagship scholarship for outstanding international students pursuing Master’s and PhD degrees.

Benefits

• Monthly stipend
• International airfare
• Accommodation allowance
• Health insurance
• Cultural activities

Degree: Master’s & PhD

Official Website: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/eiffel-scholarship-program-of-excellence

2. Émile Boutmy Scholarship – Sciences Po

Designed for outstanding international students applying to Sciences Po.

Benefits

• Tuition fee waiver
• Annual scholarship
• Living support (selected students)

Degree: Bachelor’s & Master’s

Official Website: https://www.sciencespo.fr/students/en/fees-funding/boutmy-scholarship/

3. ENS International Selection Scholarship

The École Normale Supérieure offers scholarships to exceptional international students.

Benefits

• Monthly stipend
• Accommodation assistance
• Tuition support

Degree: Master’s

Official Website: https://www.ens.psl.eu/en/academics/admissions/international-selection

4. Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarship

One of France’s most prestigious university scholarships.

Benefits

• €10,000 annual scholarship
• Travel allowance
• Visa support

Degree: Master’s

Official Website: https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/admission/scholarships-and-financial-aid

5. Ampère Excellence Scholarship – ENS de Lyon

Awarded to outstanding international applicants.

Benefits

• €1,000 monthly stipend

Degree: Master’s

Official Website: https://www.ens-lyon.fr/en/studies/financial-support/ampere-scholarships-excellence

6. Grenoble Alpes University IDEX Scholarship

Supports talented international Master’s students.

Benefits

• Tuition support
• Living stipend

Official Website: https://www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

7. INSEAD Scholarships

INSEAD offers numerous scholarships for MBA students from around the world.

Benefits

• Partial to full tuition funding

Degree: MBA

Official Website: https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/financing

8. HEC Paris Excellence Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships for international Master’s students.

Benefits

• Up to 100% tuition waiver

Official Website: https://www.hec.edu/en/master-s-programs

9. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships (France Partner Universities)

Many Erasmus Mundus programs are coordinated by French universities.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Monthly stipend
• Airfare
• Insurance

Official Website: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu

10. France Excellence Scholarship

Offered through French Embassies in various countries.

Benefits

• Tuition
• Living expenses
• Travel
• Insurance

Official Website: https://www.campusfrance.org

11. Emile Boutmy Graduate Scholarship

Additional funding opportunities for graduate students at Sciences Po.

Official Website: https://www.sciencespo.fr

12. École Polytechnique International Scholarships

Financial assistance for engineering and science students.

Official Website: https://programmes.polytechnique.edu

13. Fondation Rainbow Bridge MBA Scholarship

Supports women pursuing MBA studies at HEC Paris.

Official Website: https://www.hec.edu

14. Excellence-Major Scholarship

Awarded to outstanding international high school graduates by the French Government.

Official Website: https://www.aefe.fr

15. MOPGA Visiting Fellowship Program

Make Our Planet Great Again Fellowship supports climate researchers.

Benefits

• Monthly stipend
• Research funding
• Travel support

Official Website: https://www.campusfrance.org

16. Sophie Germain Scholarship

Scholarships in Mathematics and Applied Sciences.

Official Website: https://www.fsmp.fr

17. ENS Paris-Saclay International Scholarship

Funding for international Master’s students.

Official Website: https://ens-paris-saclay.fr

18. ISAE-SUPAERO Scholarships

Scholarships for aerospace engineering students.

Official Website: https://www.isae-supaero.fr

19. ESSEC Business School Scholarships

Merit scholarships for international business students.

Official Website: https://www.essec.edu

20. Université de Lyon Scholarships

Various institutional scholarships for international students.

Official Website: https://www.universite-lyon.fr

Why Study in France?

Studying in France offers numerous advantages:

• World-class universities and Grandes Écoles
• Affordable tuition compared to many other countries
• Hundreds of English-taught programs
• Rich culture and history
• Access to the Schengen Area
• Excellent research opportunities
• Strong employment prospects across Europe

Tips for Winning a Scholarship in France

• Maintain excellent academic performance.
• Prepare a compelling motivation letter.
• Obtain strong recommendation letters.
• Demonstrate leadership and extracurricular involvement.
• Meet language requirements (English or French, depending on the program).
• Apply well before the deadline.

Final Thoughts

France offers a wide range of fully funded and partially funded scholarships for international students across all academic levels. Whether you are interested in engineering, business, public policy, science, humanities, or social sciences, these scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of studying abroad while providing access to some of the world’s leading institutions.

Start preparing your application early, gather all required documents, and regularly check the official scholarship websites for the latest eligibility criteria and application deadlines for the 2026–2027 academic year.