Scholarships in France for International Students 2026

By | February 4, 2026
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Scholarships in France for International Students 2026: Your Complete Guide

Scholarships in France for International Students 2026. France continues to attract students from around the world with its world-class education, rich culture, and vibrant student life. For international learners, tuition and living expenses can be a worry – but the good news is that France offers many scholarships, grants, and funding opportunities for the 2026 academic year.

Whether you’re eyeing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, there’s likely a scholarship that matches your goals and profile. Fortunately, various scholarships come with a target for certain profiles. This will be beneficial especially for African international students coming from Afro-francophone nations.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top scholarship options, how to apply, eligibility criteria, and tips to boost your chances of success.

Why Study in France?

France consistently ranks among the most desirable destinations for international students. With strong academic institutions, cutting-edge research, and globally recognized degrees, it’s a destination worth considering. Studying here exposes you to diverse cultures, exceptional academic networks, and potential career opportunities across Europe.

But quality education often comes with costs – which is why scholarships play a key role in making French education accessible to international students.

Top Scholarships to Consider in 2026

Below is an overview of some of the most sought-after scholarships available in France in 2026. These are suitable for different levels of study and often cover tuition, living expenses, travel costs, and more.

1. Émile Boutmy Scholarship (Sciences Po University)

The Émile Boutmy Scholarship is one of France’s most prestigious scholarships for international students. Offered by Sciences Po in Paris, this award is designed to attract outstanding students from outside the EU at both undergraduate and master’s levels. It provides a merit-based financial award that can cover tuition fees and sometimes living allowances.

👉 Best for: Bachelor’s & Master’s students
👉 Benefits: Tuition waivers + possible stipend
👉 Where: Sciences Po, Paris

2. Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarships

Université Paris-Saclay offers scholarships to international master’s students that typically include a financial allowance of around €10,000 per year, with additional travel and visa support in some cases.

👉 Best for: Master’s degree applicants
👉 Benefits: Annual stipend + travel assistance
👉 Where: Université Paris-Saclay

3. Ampère Excellence Scholarships (ENS de Lyon)

The Ampère Excellence Scholarship supports talented international students pursuing master’s degrees in sciences, arts, or humanities at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon. It generally includes a monthly stipend and tuition support.

👉 Best for: Master’s students in arts/sciences
👉 Benefits: Monthly stipend + tuition benefits
👉 Where: ENS de Lyon

4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

While not exclusive to France, the Erasmus Mundus scholarships fund international students studying integrated master’s programs across Europe — including those hosted partially in France. These prestigious scholarships cover tuition, travel, and living expenses.

👉 Best for: Master’s students seeking a multisite European experience
👉 Benefits: Full funding + travel and accommodation
👉 Where: Multiple European institutions

5. SMARTS-UP Scholarships (Université Paris Cité)

This scholarship focuses on master’s level candidates and comes with a lump sum financial grant (about €10,000) to support living costs and academic fees.

👉 Best for: Master’s students (various fields)
👉 Benefits: €10,000 stipend
👉 Where: Université Paris Cité

6. ENS International Selection Scholarships

The École Normale Supérieure also offers international selection scholarships that include tuition coverage and monthly stipends for both bachelor’s and master’s students.

👉 Best for: Bachelor’s & Master’s students
👉 Benefits: Tuition + stipend
👉 Where: ENS Paris

7. Other Notable Scholarships

There are additional funding opportunities worth exploring:

University-specific awards: Many French universities such as Grenoble Alpes University and Université Côte d’Azur offer scholarships and excellence funding programs.

Foundation and research grants: Programs like the Franco Nordic Programme may support research study, sometimes with sizeable funding.

International fellowships: Some advanced fellowships and themed programs (e.g., arts, leadership) provide fully funded study or professional development experiences.

How to Choose the Right Scholarship

With many options available, making the right choice comes down to aligning your academic goals with the scholarship’s focus:

1. Level of Study

Bachelor’s: Émile Boutmy and some university scholarships

Master’s: Paris-Saclay, Ampère Excellence, Erasmus Mundus, SMARTS-UP

Doctoral: Government programs like Eiffel Excellence and other research grants (often through Campus France)

Tip: Doctoral funding like the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship often focuses on fields like science, economics, law, and social sciences, and may include monthly allowances, health insurance, and travel costs.

2. Field of Study

Some scholarships are discipline-specific (e.g., sciences or engineering), while others are broader. For example:

Engineering & Science: Ampère Excellence, Erasmus Mundus

Social Sciences & Leadership: Émile Boutmy

Multidisciplinary: Universal programs like Erasmus Mundus

3. Funding Coverage

Scholarships vary in what they cover:

Scholarship Type Tuition Living Costs Travel Costs Health Insurance
Fully Funded (e.g., Erasmus) ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Partial (e.g., university grants) ✔️ Partial ❌ ❌
Specific Stipends (e.g., Paris-Saclay) ✔️ / allowances Partial Possible Varies

Eligibility & Application Tips

1. Check Language Requirements

Many programs accept English-taught degrees, and some don’t require IELTS/TOEFL — but this varies by institution.

2. Academic Excellence Matters

Most scholarships have competitive requirements, so strong transcripts, recommendations, and a compelling statement of purpose make a difference.

3. Start Early

Deadlines for the 2026 academic year often fall between late 2025 and early 2026, so begin preparations months in advance.

4. Use Campus France

Campus France often lists government and university scholarships and helps with the centralized application process in many countries.

Here are the official application links and deadlines for key scholarships in France for international students (2026/2027 academic year), so you can plan and apply with confidence:

Since these scholarships are date bound and have deadlines, it is very important to be abreast with the various scholarships and their deadlines. In the next phase of this article, you will be taken through the various scholarships and their appropriate deadlines together with their official sites where all available assistance can be gotten from.

As you navigate these, ensure to be vigilant enough to know which one is most appropriate for your profile.

Selecting the right type of scholarship for your profile increases your chances of success.

🎓 1. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarships (Master’s & PhD)

📍 What it is

A prestigious French government scholarship for international students in priority fields (science, humanities, engineering, law & economics) at Master’s and doctoral levels.

📅 Key Dates (2026 Cycle)

  • Application opens: 1 October 2025

  • Internal university deadlines: typically October–November 2025* (varies by institution)

  • Campus France final deadline: 8 January 2026 (23:59 CET)

  • Results announced: approx. 30 March 2026

*Many universities set internal cut-offs earlier (e.g., Paris-Saclay: 9 Nov 2025).

🔗 Official Application / Info

🎓 2. Émile Boutmy Scholarship — Sciences Po

📍 What it is

A merit-based scholarship by Sciences Po for outstanding international (non-EU) students applying to undergraduate or Master’s programmes.

📅 2026 Deadlines

  • Undergraduate (for non-French secondary school applicants): 20 January 2026

  • Master’s programme committees:
    • 1st committee: 19 October (2025) approx.
    • 2nd committee: 30 November 2025

Both scholarship deadlines are tied to the main application to the university — you must apply for admission first and indicate on the application that you are requesting the Émile Boutmy scholarship.

🔗 Official Application / Info

🎓 3. Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarships

📍 What it is

University-level scholarships for international Master’s applicants — these can include tuition funding and allowances.

📅 2026 Deadlines

  • Deadline to be admitted to a Master’s programme: 25 March 2026 (to be eligible for scholarship invitation)

  • Deadline for receipt of scholarship applications (invited students only): 31 March 2026 (23:59)

  • Results expected by mid-May 2026.

🔗 Official Application / Info

You must first receive an email invitation from the university to complete the scholarship application form after admission.

🎓 4. Ampère Excellence & Other Scholarships (ENS de Lyon)

📍 What it is

International excellence scholarships offered by ENS de Lyon for outstanding Master’s applicants (often merit-based awards).

📅 Typical Deadline (2026 Cycle)

  • Application deadline: 23 January 2026 (for applications to ENS & scholarship combined)

🔗 Official Application / Info

Note: ENS de Lyon scholarships are linked directly with the admissions application — your scholarship request is part of applying to the programme.

📌 Tips for All Scholarship Applications

  • Start early: Most French scholarships require admission to a degree programme first, and scholarship options are often chosen during that application.

  • Check university instructions: Specific deadlines can vary by department/institution — visit the official university pages closely linked above for the most accurate, up-to-date details.

  • Prepare documents: Commonly required items are transcripts, letters of recommendation, a strong motivation letter, and proof of language proficiency (English/French).

  • Use Campus France tools: For government-level scholarships like Eiffel, many processes are routed through Campus France platforms.

Conclusion

Securing a scholarship to study in France in 2026 can be a life-changing opportunity. From fully funded awards that cover all essentials to partial scholarships that reduce your financial burden, France offers diverse funding avenues for international students.

Whether your passion lies in engineering, social sciences, business, or the arts, there’s likely a scholarship that fits your academic path and ambitions. The key is to research available options early, understand eligibility criteria, and prepare strong application materials well ahead of deadlines.

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