France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship 2027: Funding, Eligibility & Timeline

France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship 2027 at a Glance

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Programme was created by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and is administered by Campus France. Its purpose is to help French higher-education institutions attract high-performing international students for priority master’s, engineering and doctoral programmes.

2027 Eiffel Scholarship Timeline

Campus France’s latest 2027 guidance indicates that institution-level procedures will be available from around September–October 2026 and that French institutions must transmit selected nominations to Campus France by January 2027. The exact central deadline has not yet been published.

Who Is Eligible?

Nationality

The programme is for foreign nationals. Candidates who hold French nationality, including dual nationals where one nationality is French, are not eligible.

Age

Current Campus France programme information sets the upper age limit at 29 years for master’s-level applicants and 35 years for doctoral applicants. The precise date-of-birth cutoffs for the 2027 session should be checked once the 2027 regulations are formally issued.

Master’s-level applicants

French institutions may nominate candidates for eligible master’s programmes and accredited engineering degrees. Current rules generally exclude candidates already studying in France at master’s level.

Doctoral applicants

The doctoral component supports international doctoral mobility linked to a French institution. Current rules allow several formats, including joint supervision or cotutelle arrangements. The 36-month doctoral route is intended for new first-year doctoral candidates who are not already studying in France, while shorter 12- or 18-month support can apply in other eligible doctoral situations.

Previous Eiffel applications

Eiffel rules restrict repeat candidacies in certain situations, particularly where the candidate has previously been unsuccessful or already received an Eiffel award at the same level. The nominating institution should verify the current 2027 rules before submission.

Seven Eligible Fields of Study

The current programme covers seven priority fields grouped under two broad areas.

Funding and Benefits

Master’s level

The current Campus France programme page states a monthly allowance of €1,200 from January 2026.

Doctoral level

The main current Campus France programme page states a doctoral monthly allowance of €2,100 from January 2026.

Additional services

Current Eiffel support can include direct coverage or assistance for:

• international transportation;
• domestic transportation in France;
• insurance;
• housing-search assistance; and
• cultural activities.

Does Eiffel pay tuition?

The Eiffel programme itself does not pay tuition fees. However, French-government scholarship holders can qualify for registration-fee exemptions for eligible national master’s, doctoral and accredited engineering programmes at certain public institutions under French higher-education rules. Other programme charges or private-institution tuition may remain payable.

Scholarship Duration

Master’s and engineering

Doctorate

Current Eiffel rules allow doctoral support of up to 12, 18 or 36 months depending on the candidate’s doctoral stage and mobility arrangement.

A 36-month doctoral scholarship is intended for eligible new first-year doctoral entrants who are not already studying in France. Shorter periods can support candidates already engaged in doctoral research, including certain joint-supervision or cotutelle arrangements.

Application Documents

There is no single student-facing document checklist that applies identically at every French university because the institution controls preselection and prepares the official Eiffel nomination.

Depending on the institution and study level, candidates may be asked for:

• curriculum vitae;
• academic transcripts and degree certificates;
• academic or professional project statement;
• motivation statement;
• proof of language ability where required by the degree programme;
• master’s admission documents;
• doctoral research proposal;
• doctoral supervisor or host information;
• cotutelle or joint-supervision documentation where applicable; and
• other institution-specific supporting materials.

How to Apply for the Eiffel Scholarship 2027

1. Identify an eligible master’s, engineering or doctoral programme at a French higher-education institution.
2. Confirm that your field fits one of the seven Eiffel priority areas.
3. Check the institution’s own 2027 Eiffel page and internal deadline.
4. Apply for admission or complete any required pre-admission process.
5. Tell the institution’s international-relations office or relevant academic contact that you wish to be considered for an Eiffel nomination.
6. Submit the institution-specific documents before its internal deadline.
7. The institution evaluates candidates and decides whom to nominate.
8. If selected internally, the French institution prepares and submits the Eiffel file to Campus France.
9. Campus France and the French Ministry conduct the national-level selection.
10. Wait for the official result communication through the relevant institutional/Campus France process.

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

Start with the university, not Campus France

The institution is the gatekeeper. Your first priority should be finding a French programme that is academically appropriate and willing to consider you for Eiffel nomination.

Check internal deadlines in October and November

Several French institutions close Eiffel preselection well before the central January deadline. A candidate who starts in January may already be too late.

Build a nomination case, not just an admission case

Eiffel is an excellence programme. Strong grades help, but institutions also look for academic trajectory, leadership potential, coherence of study plans and the strategic value of nominating the candidate.

For PhD applications, clarify the French partnership

Doctoral applicants should establish the research relationship, supervision model and mobility structure early. The exact eligible duration depends on doctoral stage and the form of the France-linked research arrangement.

Applicants can also explore CareerAidHub’s scholarships, PhD opportunities, France opportunities, and research grants and funding.