Eligibility Checker
Select a scholarship type to see exact requirements. Each has different age limits, nationality rules, and academic criteria.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship
Master's: born after March 1995 (under 30). PhD: born after March 1990 (under 35).
Non-French citizens only. EU citizens eligible but rarely selected. Priority: developing countries + emerging economies.
Master's (M1 or M2) or PhD. No licence/bachelor's level. Top 10% of cohort typically required.
Science, engineering, economics, management, law, political science only. No humanities or arts.
Cannot already be enrolled in a French institution at the same level. No prior Eiffel holders.
Rejected once at a degree level = permanently banned from reapplying at that level.
BGF (Bourse du Gouvernement Français)
Varies by embassy. Typically under 35, but some countries have no limit.
Must be a citizen of the country where the French embassy administers the BGF. Country-specific quotas.
All levels: licence, master's, PhD, and short courses. Depends on embassy programme.
Usually broader than Eiffel. Many embassies accept all fields. Some prioritize development-relevant sectors.
Excellence-Major
Top graduates of French high schools abroad (lycées français). Must have "mention Très Bien" at baccalauréat.
Non-French nationals who graduated from AEFE network schools abroad.
5 years: 3-year licence + 2-year master's. Renewed annually based on academic performance.
All fields accepted. No restrictions.
Regional Scholarships
Master's or PhD at institutions in the Paris region. Up to €10,500/year. Merit-based.
CMIRA programme for Master's and PhD. Must study in the region (Lyon, Grenoble, etc.).
Mobility grants for Master's students. Toulouse, Montpellier-based institutions.
Check Campus Bourses for region-specific programmes. Criteria vary widely.
Institutional Scholarships
HEC, ESSEC, Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec offer merit-based waivers (10–100% tuition).
Income-based tuition sliding scale (0–14,500/yr) plus Émile Boutmy merit scholarships.
Some offer EXOFI (tuition exemptions). Usually tied to bilateral agreements.
Check each institution's international admissions page. No centralized portal.
General Academic Requirements
Completed Bachelor's degree. Must be finished or provably near-completed by September start.
Completed Master's degree. No direct Bachelor's-to-PhD path in France.
Secondary diploma equivalent to French baccalauréat. Country-specific equivalency tables apply.
The GPA Question
France uses 0–20 scale (10 = passing, 14 = good, 16+ = exceptional). Your grades are converted via country-specific tables. For Eiffel, no published minimum GPA, but institutions nominate from the top 10%.
Quick Comparison
| Criteria | Eiffel | BGF | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Limit | 30 (M) / 35 (PhD) | Varies | Usually none |
| Fields | STEM + Social Sci | Usually all | Varies |
| Levels | M + PhD only | All levels | M + PhD |
| Reapply? | No (one-shot) | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Amount | €1,181–2,100 | ~€700 | Varies |
Common Disqualifiers
Eiffel: cannot be enrolled at a French institution at the same level you're applying for.
Dual nationals with French citizenship are ineligible for most Campus France scholarships.
Eiffel has strict age cutoffs. Check your birth year against the deadline year.
Humanities, arts, literature, and medical degrees are not eligible for Eiffel.
Eligible? Start Your Application
Check how to apply, then prepare your documents and motivation letter.