Scholarships to study abroad in France
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France is one of the few study destinations where Indian students get dedicated government funding at every level, from bachelor’s degrees to summer research internships. Combined with already low public tuition fees, the right scholarship can make a world-class French degree remarkably affordable, as long as you plan early, prepare strong documents and meet every deadline.
Maximising Funding Opportunities
Whether you’re applying for government awards or university merit scholarships, financial aid in France can cover your living costs and, in many cases, remove the higher non-EU tuition fees altogether. Understanding the scholarship landscape helps you plan a sustainable, low-debt international degree.
Key Facts: Funding Your Education in France
- Scholarship Status Brings Fee Waivers: Students receiving a French government scholarship get a full, automatic tuition fee waiver at public institutions. (Source: Campus France)
- India-Exclusive Funding: The Charpak programme is open only to Indian citizens and OCI cardholders, which makes the applicant pool far smaller than for global scholarships. (Source: Campus France India)
- Merit-Based, Not Income-Based: Most French scholarships reward academic excellence and the quality of your statement of purpose. Charpak, for example, has no minimum CGPA. (Source: Campus France India)
Principal Scholarship Channels in France
- France Excellence Charpak Scholarship (for Indian Students)
The Charpak programme is the French government’s flagship scholarship in India, run by the Embassy of France. It has four tracks: Bachelor, Master, Summer Training and Exchange. (Source: Campus France India)
- What the Master’s track covers: (Source: Campus France India)
- €860 a month (≈ ₹94,600)
- Exemption from visa and Campus France fees
- Student social security plus top-up health insurance
- Priority access to CROUS residences and €1 meals at university restaurants
- Tuition Bonus: Charpak recipients have French government scholarship-holder status, so they may be exempt from the higher non-EU fees at public institutions. Confirm this with your university.
- Eligibility: You must be an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder aged 30 or under, and you must have applied to a French institution before applying for the scholarship.
- Other tracks:
- The Bachelor track is for students aged 23 or under. (Source: Campus France India)
- Summer Training pays €700 a month for up to two months for research internships between May and August. (Source: Campus France India)
- France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship
The Eiffel programme is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to attract top international students to master’s, engineering and joint PhD programmes. (Source: Campus France)
- What it covers: €1,200 a month for master’s students (≈ ₹1.32 Lakhs) and €2,100 a month for PhD students since January 2026, plus international and domestic travel, insurance, help finding housing, and cultural activities. Tuition fees are not covered.
- Priority Fields: Biology and health, ecological transition, mathematics and digital science, engineering, law and political science, economics and management, and French history, language and civilisation.
- How to Apply: You cannot apply yourself. Your French institution must nominate you through Campus France, and applications sent directly by students are rejected.
- University Merit Scholarships
Leading French universities and Grandes Écoles run their own scholarships to attract outstanding international students.
- Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarship:
- €10,000 a year (≈ ₹11 Lakhs), paid monthly from September to June. (Source: Université Paris-Saclay)
- Up to €900 extra for travel and visa costs. You can only apply after admission, by invitation from your programme coordinator. (Source: tn)
- Sciences Po Émile Boutmy Scholarship:
- For top non-EU first-time applicants admitted to bachelor’s or master’s programmes. You apply through the financial section of your Sciences Po admission form.
- For master’s students it can cover tuition of up to €18,500 a year, and it is renewed each year as long as you pass your academic year. (Source: IndiaScholarships)
- Business School Awards: Grandes Écoles such as HEC Paris offer merit- and need-based scholarships and tuition reductions. Check each school’s funding page when you apply.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships
These EU-funded master’s programmes are taught across universities in several European countries, and many include French partner institutions.
- What it covers: Full scholarships pay your participation costs and a contribution to travel, visa, settlement and living costs. They are calculated on a monthly rate of €1,400 (≈ ₹1.54 Lakhs), up to €33,600 for 24 months. You apply directly to the programme. (Source: European Union – EEAS)
2026–27 Scholarship Quick Reference
| Scholarship | Primary Focus & Audience | Key Benefit | Typical Application Window* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charpak Master | Indian students, any master's programme | €860/month + fee exemptions | Early in the year (interviews in April) |
| Charpak Bachelor | Indian students aged 23 or under | Government scholarship-holder benefits | Early in the year (interviews in April) |
| Charpak Summer Training | Indian bachelor's/master's students, research internships | €700/month (max 2 months) | Before the May–August internship period |
| Eiffel Excellence | Master's, engineering & joint PhD (nominated by institution) | €1,200/month (master's) | Institution nominates by early January |
| Paris-Saclay International Master's | Admitted master's students (by invitation) | €10,000/year | February – March |
| Erasmus Mundus | Joint European master's programmes | ~€1,400/month + tuition | October – January |
(*Application windows are indicative and change each year. Always check the official scholarship or university website for current eligibility criteria and deadlines.)
The Eleevate Advantage: Winning Scholarship Applications
France’s top scholarships are decided on merit, so the quality of your application matters most. Charpak selection depends on academic consistency, a strong statement of purpose and an online interview, and SOPs are checked for plagiarism and AI-generated content. (Source: Campus France India)
At Eleevate Overseas, our scholarship teams help you write authentic, compelling SOPs, prepare for Charpak interviews with mock sessions, and position you with the right universities for Eiffel nominations. We also track every deadline so you never miss a funding window.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I combine more than one scholarship in France?
Usually not with major awards. The Charpak Master's Scholarship can be withdrawn if you also receive another French government scholarship, an Erasmus scholarship or an AUF scholarship. (Source: Campus France India) Paris-Saclay's scholarship also cannot be combined with Eiffel, Erasmus Mundus or other funding above €600 a month. (Source: ScholarshipsAds) You can apply to several, but you will usually need to choose one main award.
2. What documents are required for the Charpak Master's Scholarship?
You need a formal photo, passport copy, CV of up to two pages, admission letter or proof of application, mark sheets for Class XII and your degrees, recommendation letters, and a statement of purpose. Add a French language certificate or employment records if you have them. (Source: Campus France India)
3. Is there an age limit for French government scholarships?
Yes, for Charpak. You must be 30 or under for the Master's track (source: Campus France India) and 23 or under for the Bachelor track (source: Campus France India). Always check the current call for each programme.
4. Do scholarships in France cover the entire degree?
It depends on the award. The Charpak Master's Scholarship can be renewed once for the second year, based on your first-year results. (Source: Campus France India) Eiffel funds up to 24 months for first-year master's students, 12 months for second-year students and 36 months for engineering degrees. (Source: Campus France)
5. Can I apply for the Eiffel Scholarship directly?
No. Only French higher education institutions can submit Eiffel applications on behalf of students, and applications sent directly by students are declared ineligible. (Source: Campus France) Tell your target university early that you want to be nominated.
6. What if I don't win a major scholarship?
You still have options. Universities can grant tuition fee waivers, although these are now capped at 30% of non-EU students in 2026–27 and 20% from 2028. (Source: French Ministry of Higher Education) You can also apply for school-specific merit awards and search Campus France's CampusBourses directory. (Source: Campus France) Legally working up to 964 hours a year can also help with living costs. (Source: Campus France India)
