France has been a popular study destination for international students. However, education and living expenditures in France are not always affordable. Although annual tuition fees at public colleges are low, ranging from €200 to €600, private universities can charge up to €10,000. Living expenses total approximately €10,000 per year. Fortunately, there are various French scholarships for international students accessible.
1. Eiffel Excellence Scholarships
The Eiffel scholarship program was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist French higher education institutions in attracting the best overseas students for master’s and PhD programs. Eiffel scholarship holders for Master’s studies receive €1,181, while PhD students receive €1,400. In addition, the program covers a wide range of expenses, including return airfare, health insurance, and cultural events. Scholarship holders may also be eligible for an additional lodging payment. The program does not cover tuition expenses.
2. Emile Boutmy Scholarships at Sciences Po University
Sciences Po established the Emile Boutmy Scholarship in honor of the university’s founder to recruit the best foreign students from outside the European Union who have applied and been admitted to Sciences Po. Scholarships might range from €5,000 to €10,000 for two years of postgraduate study and €3,000 to €12,300 for three years of undergraduate study.
3. Université Paris-Saclay provides international master’s scholarships
The Université Paris-Saclay would like to encourage overseas students to enroll in its master’s (nationally certified degree) programs, which are available at partner universities. The award is worth €10,000 each year and covers up to €1,000 in travel and visa expenses.
4. Ecole Normale Supérieure International Selection
Every year, the ENS has an international selection, allowing roughly thirty of the most promising international students, either in Science or Humanities, to pursue a two or three-year degree at the ENS. They receive a monthly stipend of approximately 1,000 Euros for a period of two to three years. Each year, about 30 foreign students receive awards.
5. Grenoble Institute of Technology Foundation Scholarships
The Grenoble Institute of Technology Foundation supports a scholarship program for international students wishing to pursue an international master’s degree at Grenoble INP. The stipend amounts to 5,000 euros per semester.
6. INSEAD MBA Scholarships
The INSEAD Scholarships are limited in number, and there is considerable competition for each one. These scholarships are offered based on a range of criteria, which are classified into two types: need-based and non-need-based. The scholarships range in value between $5,000 and $25,000.
7. The Ampere Scholarship for Excellence at ENS de Lyon
The ENS de Lyon and its partners provide Ampere Scholarships of Excellence to excellent international students pursuing Masters degrees in Exact Sciences, Arts, Human and Social Sciences (excluding Professional Masters in Teaching). The scholarships are worth €1000 per month for a year and can be renewed subject to certain limits.
8. HEC Paris MBA Scholarships
HEC Paris offers large scholarships to international students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. HEC scholarships fall into three categories: merit-based, need-based, and based on specific requirements. The scholarship value ranges between €6,000 and €24,000.