Eiffel Scholarship 2027

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027: Eligibility, Dates and  How to Apply

Studying in France is expensive for many international students, and scholarships are rare. The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is one of the best, it pays a monthly allowance, covers your flight, and gives you health coverage and housing support while you do a Master's degree or PhD. 

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But the Eiffel works differently from most scholarships. You do not send an application to a scholarship office. A French university or school has to choose you and submit your file. That means the real deadline for you is your institution's internal deadline, which is often in November 2026, not January 2027. This guide explains the whole process in plain language, using the official Campus France documents and university calls published this autumn. 

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Important

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‍Many university deadlines for the 2027 session fall between 15 and 30 November 2026. If you are interested, start now. Always confirm every date on your chosen institution's page,  because they differ. 

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1. What is the Eiffel Scholarship? 

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The France Excellence Eiffel programme was created by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and is managed by Campus France. Its aim is to help French institutions attract the best international students to Master's and doctoral programmes, and to train future decision makers from the public and private sectors abroad (Campus France). 

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The 2027 session is for study starting in the academic year 2027/2028. 

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2. The Eiffel 2027 at a glance 

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‍3. What is new or different for 2027? 

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Campus France's 2027 pages do not publish a list of changes, so we only report differences we can document: 

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• PhD allowance. Campus France's September 2026 regulations list €2,000 per month for doctoral scholars, "from January 2026". A 2025–26 call from Avignon University listed €1,800. Campus France Algeria's 2027 call and the Toulon University call list €2,100. So the PhD amount has risen compared with last year's call, but the exact 2027 figure differs between sources. Confirm with your institution. 

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• Master's allowance unchanged. It remains €1,200 per month. 

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• Documents are labelled Session 2027. Campus France updated its call page on 4 October 2026, with a 2027 application guide, regulations, a submission form (bordereau) and a candidate commitment form. 

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• Arrival window. The regulations require your stay to begin between 1 September and 30 November of the award year, with no deferral. 

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• Institution level exclusions. Some universities exclude specific programmes. For example, Toulouse excludes a Plant Biology Master's this year, and Toulon excludes several Master's programmes and all work study Master's. Check your programme is eligible. 

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4. Key dates 

Dimensions France Tip

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‍Campus France's own English call page shows both 8 January 2027 and 6 January 2027.  Campus France Algeria and Toulouse confirm 6 January 2027, and the 8 January date appears to be last year's. Your university's internal deadline matters more, because it is earlier. 

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5. What the Eiffel gives you?

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• Monthly allowance: €1,200 (Master's) or about €2,000–2,100 (PhD). 

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• Travel: round-trip economy international ticket and some domestic transport. 

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• Health cover: social protection on arrival, then supplementary health insurance once you join the French social security system. 

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• Housing support: help finding accommodation, with possible CROUS or private residence placement.

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• Cultural and leisure activities at reduced cost. 

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• Language training: up to one month from August, if included in your file. 

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Important

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Tuition fees are NOT paid by the Eiffel. Scholarship holders at public institutions may be exempt from registration fees for national diplomas, under the regulations. Check what your institution charges before you apply, especially at private schools. 

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6. Who is eligible? 

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Master's:

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• You hold a foreign nationality only (no French dual nationals). 

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• Born after 31 March 1997 (under 30 at selection). 

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• You are not currently studying in France. 

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• You apply to a state accredited Master's, an engineering diploma, or a CGE-labelled MSc. Distance, apprenticeship and work-study programmes are excluded. 

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• You have never held an Eiffel Master's scholarship, and have not applied through an Eiffel campaign before and been rejected (Toulouse, Artois). 

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• You are nominated by only one institution. 

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PhD: 

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• Foreign nationality only; born after 31 March 1991 (35 or under at selection). 

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• Your thesis falls within an eligible field and is supported by a supervisor at the French institution.

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• You are enrolled as principal doctoral student at the nominating institution. 

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• Students already in France can be considered, but applicants studying abroad are prioritised. 

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• The 12- and 18-month awards require a cotutelle or co-supervision. The 36-month award is for first-year, first-time arrivals and is not compatible with a cotutelle. 

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Not combinable with Another French government scholarship (including ones that only cover social security), an Erasmus+ scholarship, or an AUF (Agence universitaire de la Francophonie) scholarship. An apprenticeship or professionalisation contract, or a salaried doctoral contract, ends the scholarship (Campus France regulations). 

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Dimensions France Tip

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‍Universities can add their own requirements. For example, Artois asks for an average of at  least 14/20 in each of the last three years. Always read your institution's call. 

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7. Eligible fields of study 

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8. How to apply: step by step 

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Official page: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/france-excellence-eiffel-scholarship-program 

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2027 call page: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/actu/call-for-france-excellence-eiffel-applications-2027 

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Regulations (PDF): https://www.campusfrance.org/system/files/medias/documents/2026-10/ reglementation_bourse_eiffel_2027.pdf 

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9. Documents you will probably need 

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The exact list is set by each institution. As a typical example, Avignon University asks for the following, so start preparing now: 

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Master's 

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• CV (maximum two pages) and cover letter. 

• Diplomas, and transcripts for the last three years. 

• A professional project (Avignon asks for it in French). 

• Language certificate if applicable. 

• Passport or ID copy. 

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PhD 

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• ID, CV, diplomas and ranking, transcripts for the last three years, language certificate. 

• Thesis project (maximum five pages, French or English) and career plan. 

• An expert opinion on the scientific quality of the topic, with the expert's short CV. 

• Funding plan, and a co-supervision agreement or certificate if your award is 12 or 18 months. 

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10. How selection works and how to stand out?

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Selection has two stages: your institution picks its candidates, then Campus France's expert panels select the laureates. Selection by your university does not guarantee the scholarship (Toulouse). Competition is high, and Avignon notes that only Master's candidates with an excellent academic average are considered. 

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Universities say they look at: academic results and class ranking, fit of your study or research project, career goals and academic recommendations (Artois), and coherence of your academic and professional project (Toulon). 

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• Show a clear link between your degree, your chosen French programme and your career plan. 

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• Explain how you will contribute to your home country or field after you graduate, because the programme targets future decision makers. 

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• Get strong recommendations and send complete documents before the internal deadline.

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• Apply to only one institution. Candidates can be nominated by one only. 

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11. Rules while you hold the scholarship 

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• Attend classes, sit exams and send proof to Campus France. Non-compliance can lead to repayment of money received. 

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• A repeated year (redoublement) ends the scholarship, except in an exceptional case for a 24-month award with a gap year. 

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• A gap year (césure) ends the scholarship and must be requested two months in advance. 

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• Stays abroad end the scholarship, except a compulsory internship or exchange in your curriculum (limited to one year). An internship in your home country ends it. 

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• Mention the support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in your publications.

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• The return ticket must be requested within 12 months of the scholarship's end. 

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Eiffel holders are French government scholarship holders. For context from our earlier coverage: from 1 July 2026, CAF housing aid (APL) is restricted to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and French government scholarship holders. We have not confirmed how this applies to Eiffel specifically, so check with CAF and your institution. 

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12. Where the sources disagree?

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We believe in showing you the uncertainty rather than hiding it. These points differ between official or university sources, so verify them with your institution: 

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Frequently asked questions 

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1. Can I apply directly to Campus France for the Eiffel? 

No. Only French higher-education institutions can submit applications. Applications sent by students or foreign institutions are declared ineligible. 

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2. Is the Eiffel scholarship fully funded? 

It covers a monthly allowance, travel, insurance and housing support, but not tuition. Public institution scholarship holders may be exempt from registration fees. Check with your institution. 

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3. What is the Eiffel deadline for 2027? 

Institutions must submit to Campus France by 6 January 2027, but your university's internal deadline comes earlier, often in November 2026. 

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4. Can I apply if I am already studying in France? 

Master's applicants cannot be studying in France. PhD applicants in France can be considered but applicants abroad are prioritised. 

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5. Can I combine it with Erasmus+ or another French scholarship? 

No. It is not combinable with other French government scholarships, Erasmus+ or AUF scholarships.

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6. Can I apply to several universities? 

No. You can be nominated by only one institution per campaign. 

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7. When will I know the result? 

Results are notified by email in the week of 12 April 2027. 

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8. Can I defer my scholarship? 

No. Your stay must begin between 1 September and 30 November 2027 with no deferral

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9. Does the Eiffel need French language skills? 

Not necessarily; it depends on the programme. A language certificate is required if applicable. Some institutions ask for the project in French, so check yours. 

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Final thoughts 

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The Eiffel is one of the strongest funding options for a Master's or PhD in France, but it rewards early preparation. Choose an eligible programme, find your university's Eiffel page this week, and prepare your documents before the November deadlines. We will update this guide as institutions publish their calls.