French Government Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2021/2022 for Developing Countries

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract top foreign students to enroll in their masters and PhD programs.

It gives opportunity to the future foreign decision-makers of the private and public sectors, in priority areas of study, and encourages applicants up to 30 years old from developing countries at master’s level, and applicants up to 35 years old from developing and industrialized countries at PhD level.

French Government Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program is awarded to two types of studies:

• Masters level, for a duration between 12 and 36 months;
• Doctorate or PhD level, for research periods in France of up to 12 months, as part of a cotutelle or joint doctoral thesis supervision (preferably in 2nd year of PhD)

Fields of study
Eiffel scholarships are available in four main fields:

• engineering science at master’s level,
• science in the broadest sense at PhD level (engineering science; exact sciences: mathematics, physics, chemistry and life sciences, nano- and biotechnology, earth sciences, sciences of the universe, environmental sciences, information and communication science and technology);
• economics and management;
• law and political sciences.

Levels of Study

French higher education institutions nominating candidates for the Eiffel Program commit to enrol them:

• in a master’s degree program;
• in an engineering program;
• or in a PhD program in a cotutelle or joint doctoral thesis supervision, in partnership with a foreign higher education institution.

French Government Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Eligibility

• Only foreign nationals are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the French Government.
• In the case of dual nationality applicants, those with French nationality are ineligible.
• for master’s courses, candidates must be no older than 30 on the date of the selection committee meeting,March 2020; at PhD level, candidates must be no older than 35 on the date of the selection committee meeting, March 2020.
• only applications submitted by French educational establishments are accepted. These establishments undertake to enrol scholarship holders on the course for which they have been selected. Applications submitted by any other means shall not be considered. Furthermore, any candidate nominated by more than one establishment shall be disqualified.
• scholarships are for students wishing to enrol on a master’s course, including at an engineering school, and for PhD students. The Eiffel Programme does not apply to French-run master’s courses abroad, as non-PhD scholarship holders must complete at least 75% of their course in France. It does not apply to training under an apprenticeship contract or a professional training contract either.
• Educational establishments that shortlist non-French speaking applicants must ensure that their level of French is sufficient to enable them to integrate satisfactorily into the anticipated course
• Combination with other scholarships: foreign students who, at the time of application, have already been awarded a French government scholarship under another programme are not eligible, even if the scholarship in question does not include social security cover.
• Eiffel PhD scholarships: Establishments may nominate a candidate who was previously awarded an Eiffel scholarship at master’s level for a scholarship at PhD level. Candidates who have already been awarded an Eiffel scholarship once during their PhD cannot be awarded it for a second time. No application will be accepted for any student who applied previously but was rejected, even if the application is submitted by a different establishment or in another field of study.
• Eiffel master’s scholarships: no application will be accepted for any student who applied previously but was rejected, even if the application is submitted by a different establishment or in another field of study. Students who have already been awarded an Eiffel scholarship at master’s level are not eligible to re-apply at master’s level.
• Language skills: when pre-selecting non-French-speaking candidates, establishments must make sure that their language skills meet the requirements of the relevant course of study.

Benefits of the scholarship

Master’s level

The Eiffel scholarship consist of a monthly allowance of €1,181 (a maintenance allowance of €1,031 and a monthly stipend of €150). In addition, the following benefits are covered:

• International transport2: a round-trip international ticket Country of origin – France;
• National transport: a train ticket to the first study location; a train ticket from the last study location to the airport for the return to the country of origin;
• Local transport: reimbursement of up to a maximum of €50 of the trip between the airport or train station and the first study location (taxi or public transport);
• Health insurance by Campus France, for the time needed to register to French Social Security, for students from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA);
• Mutual health insurance (mutuelle);
• Cultural activities.

PhD level
The Eiffel scholarship includes a monthly allowance of €1,400. In addition, the following benefits are covered:

•  International transport: a round-trip international ticket Country of origin – France;
• National transport: a train ticket to the first study location; a train ticket from the last study location to the airport for the return to the country of origin;
• Local transport: reimbursement of up to a maximum of €50 of the trip between the airport or train station and the first study location (taxi or public transport);
• Health insurance by Campus France, for the time needed to register to French Social Security, for students from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA);
• Mutual health insurance (mutuelle);
• Cultural activities.
  Subject to certain conditions, students may also benefit from a housing allowance, within the 3 months following signature of the housing contract.

For both master’s and PhD levels

• In order to receive the first instalment of the monthly allowance, students must have started their academic program at the host institution in France. An interruption of the scholarship implies an interruption of all benefits.
  Tuition fees are not covered by the Eiffel Program.
• The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs expects the educational institutions, whose international influence is enhanced by this program, make sure students receive the best financial support.
  Students admitted to public educational institutions are, as French government scholarship holders, exempted from enrolment fees.

Timeline

• Opening of the call for applications: week of September 28, 2020
• Deadline for the reception of applications by Campus France:  January 8th 2021.
• Publication of results: week of March 22, 2021