France is more than just a popular tourist destination. It’s also a popular hub for international students. To date, 385,000 students (and counting) treat France as their second home. As a melting pot of people from around the globe, France promises a multicultural educational experience that many students love.
In addition to this experience, learners also get the chance to study in some of the world’s most esteemed institutions: PSL, Ecole Polytechnique, and Sorbonne University, to name a few.
The cost of education is also cheaper. Compared to its neighboring countries, France offers surprisingly affordable tuition fees. At public universities, students pay as low as EUR 2,770 to EUR 3,770 ($3,285 to $4,470) per year.
You may even give a wide berth to most (or part) of these fees by applying for any of these scholarship programs in France:
Top Scholarships in France for International Students
1. Ph.D. Program Funding (HEC Paris)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: 100% tuition waiver and a cost-of-living scholarship for up to 5 years
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
HEC Paris offers a 100% tuition waiver to all its students. Awardees may specialize in any of the seven programs the school provides– all of which are in English.
Apart from a full tuition subsidy, HEC Ph.D. students will also get an annual living stipend of €26,000 and funding for conferences and research visits. Scholars can also augment their income through the school’s research and teaching assistantship jobs.
To apply to any of HEC Paris’ selective Ph.D. programs, applicants must have a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree. Excellent academic records are required, apart from proven fluency in the English language. Applicants also need to submit their GRE or GMAT scores to be considered for this scholarship.
2. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount for Master’s: Full participation (tuition) costs, health insurance, and a monthly living allowance of about €1,400 for up to 24 months, plus contributions to travel and visa.
- Meet Erasmus Mundus Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Pedro from Brazil and Jay from Philippines
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) are EU-funded, highly competitive master’s programs run by university consortia that include many French institutions. Scholarships cover participation costs, insurance, and a monthly allowance (~€1,400) with additional support for travel/visa, typically for 1–2 academic years. Programs require mobility in at least two countries, and several are coordinated or hosted in France (e.g., Centrale Nantes, Université de Lorraine). Applications are managed by each consortium, with most deadlines falling between October and January for the following academic year.
Here is what Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scholars Say:
“Erasmus Mundus scholarships provide partial or full financial support, covering tuition fees, visa expenses, travel expenses to Europe as well as the mobility between the countries in the duration of 2 years, living expenses per month, and installation costs in each country, which made it feasible to live comfortably in Europe.”
Sandra Babu
“Regarding competitiveness, Erasmus Mundus is highly selective. Each program typically receives around 100 to 200 applications, but only about 20 to 25 students are awarded the scholarship.”
Udit Banerji
“My biggest piece of advice is to invest time and effort in your application essays. Write, edit, rewrite, and get feedback.”
Hareem Fatima
3. Émile Boutmy Scholarship (Science Po)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Up to €14,720/year (Bachelor’s) | €13,100/year (Master’s)
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
- Meet the Émile Boutmy Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Ujunwa Umeokeke from Nigeria
Named after the prolific Sciences Po founder, the Émile Boutmy scholarship is one of the best scholarships in France for international students. It is granted to select foreign learners according to their academic merit and covers the partial or total amount of tuition, including the cost of application as necessary.
No separate application is needed for this scholarship. Students just need to indicate their interest in the scholarship. They can do so by stating this in the ‘Financial Information’ section of the application form. Additionally, applicants will also need to upload certain requirements such as financial documents.
Here is what Émile Boutmy Scholarship Scholars Say:
“I’ve gotten the Digital Governance Scholarship at Hertie School and Emile Bounty Scholarship at Sciences Po. The former scholarship covered 75% of the tuition, and the latter covered around 21,000 euros.”
Ujunwa Umeokeke
“The best advice I got writing my application is to ‘own and tell your story’. It sounds oversimplified, but it’s the core of any good application.”
Ujunwa Umeokeke
4. International Master’s Scholarships (Université Paris-Saclay)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €10,000/year, €1,000 travel costs
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The International Master’s Scholarship program at Université Paris-Saclay was developed to ease the entry of international students into the university – especially those who wish to pursue a Ph.D.
International students who study at UPS – and are not older than 30 – are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Selection is based on the applicant’s academic records, personal projects, and motivation to pursue research (for M2 students).
Apart from the tuition subsidy, it also provides an additional €1,000 for travel and visa-related expenses.
All scholars are required to complete their internships in the UPS laboratory or any other French company.
5. Scholarships of Fondation des Ponts (Ecole des Ponts ParisTech)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €10,000 over three semesters
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s Engineering program
Founded in 1747, the École des Ponts ParisTech is one of the oldest and most prestigious Grand Écoles in France. It specializes in science, technology, and engineering courses that are popular among foreign applicants.
To aid international students with their studies, the school has launched several scholarship programs. The Scholarship of Fondation des Ponts is an aid offered to engineering students. This has a scholarship value of €10,000.
6. International Excellence Scholarship (Télécom Paris)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €10,000 over the entire course of education
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
The International Excellence Scholarship is exclusive to foreigners who have been recruited during Télécom activities. This aid is funded by the Télécom alumni.
The total amount awarded to a student is €10,000– meant for the entirety of the scholar’s Engineering studies. This amount cannot exceed even if a student repeats a semester. Payments, however, are given as a single installment every September. This amount is conditional on fees, as stipulated in the scholarship contract.
Télécom Engineering scholars, as with every other student, must complete a multidisciplinary core curriculum during their first year. This is then followed by specializations, which are mostly conducted at either the Paris or Sophia-Antipolis campus.
7. Eiffel Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €1,181/monthly allowance (Master’s) | €1,800/monthly stipend (Ph.D.)
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D., students enrolled in an Engineering program
- Meet the Eiffel Excellence Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Anita Halnazarova from Turkmenistan and Aline Khoury from Brazil
Funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel Scholarship Program, one of the top scholarships in France, aims to attract top-notch graduate students from all over the world.
Scholarships are available for applicants studying law, economics & management, engineering, or political science. Before applying, students must be aware of its eligibility requirements. The program is rather strict with the age limit, as master’s students need to be under 25 – while Ph.D. students have to be under 30. Proficiency in the French language is also regarded as one of the selection components.
The program does not cover tuition, though it provides awardees with a monthly stipend, health insurance, and international airfare. The award will also shoulder the transportation cost from the airport to the university (and vice-versa). The Eiffel program may also shoulder the cost of housing outside student dormitories.
Here is what Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Scholars Say:
“This prestigious scholarship, awarded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, provides €1,181 per month and is specifically designed for top international students pursuing graduate studies in France.”
Duong
“In 2023, I was the only finalist from Turkmenistan. The competition is highly selective, with an admission rate of about 4–5% worldwide, and only one or two candidates are chosen per country annually.”
Anita Halnazarova
“My classes were conducted in English, but living in France encouraged me to practice French.”
KRY Kimhok
“I dedicated a lot of time to compiling a strong, well-organized application package, which included my CV, transcripts, ranking certificate, recommendation letters, and a compelling statement of purpose.”
Hoslin Zohou
8. Merit-Based Scholarships for Non-EU Students (Université Paris Dauphine – PSL)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: partial or full tuition fee
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
Paris Dauphine University has scholarships open to all students and exclusive to international students. One of which is the Merit-Based Scholarships for Non-EU students.
Applicants are assessed based on their academic performance and financial need. And those who will be awarded will awarded with either partial or full tuition waiver.
9. Solidarity Fund Scholarship (Rennes School of Business)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €5,000 (tuition fees)
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Rennes School of Business is an international business school in France that boasts a strong, healthy, and competitive learning environment fit for students from abroad. Various financial assistance and scholarship opportunities for international students are endorsed and offered at the university.
The Solidarity Fund Scholarship is especially intended for students from emerging countries. Students who will be taking their first year in a bachelor’s or master’s program are eligible to apply. The selection process will be based on the student’s country of origin, academic portfolio, and the statement of purpose submitted.
10. International PhD Programmes (University of Toulouse)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: partial or full tuition, monthly stipend, living expenses, travel costs, and health insurance
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
The University of Toulouse is considered one of the oldest and longest-running universities in Europe, upholding quality and competent education in one of the largest continents in the world. Part of their longevity is their success in providing international students a home for their postgraduate education.
International students are encouraged to further their postgraduate studies and thesis research at the University of Toulouse. It offers partnership scholarships signed and agreed to by universities, associations, and organizations from different countries totaling 900 PhDs every year. Only 15 doctoral programs are offered at the University of Toulouse, and only four countries are covered by international student-exclusive scholarships. The four are Chile, China, Colombia, and Mexico.
France offers a variety of scholarships to international students. With the wide array of scholarships and awards available, before submitting your scholarship application, it is best to conduct thorough research that best fits your program and educational goals.
We hope this article was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe and Guide to France pages for more informative articles on studies in Europe.
