France is more than just a popular tourist destination. It is also a popular hub for international students. As of the 2024–2025 academic year, about 443,500 international students were enrolled in France, making the country a multicultural study destination for learners from around the world.
In addition to this experience, learners also get the chance to study at some of France’s leading institutions, including PSL, Ecole Polytechnique, and Sorbonne University, to name a few.
The cost of education is also comparatively affordable. At public universities, non-EU students generally pay differentiated tuition fees of €2,895 for bachelor’s programs and €3,941 for master’s programs per year for the 2025–2026 academic year, or about $3,300 to $4,500. Some students may qualify for exemptions or lower national tuition rates depending on their status.
You may even be able to reduce most or part of these costs by applying for scholarship programs in France:
Top Scholarships in France for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| Ph.D. Program Funding | HEC Paris | Ph.D. | 100% tuition waiver
Cost-of-living scholarship for up to 5 years |
| Erasmus Mundus Scholarships | European Union | Master’s | Participation costs, health insurance, and a monthly allowance of up to €1,400, plus possible travel and visa support |
| Émile Boutmy Scholarship | Sciences Po | Bachelor’s
Master’s | Bachelor’s: full tuition exemption or €9,500 tuition exemption
Master’s: €18,500 tuition exemption per year for 2 years |
| International Master’s Scholarships | Université Paris-Saclay | Master’s | €10,000/year
Up to €900 for travel and visa costs |
| Scholarships of Fondation des Ponts | École des Ponts ParisTech | Engineering degree program | About €11,000 over three semesters, or €7,200 over two semesters depending on the study track |
| International Excellence Scholarship | Télécom Paris | Engineering program | Up to €10,000 over the entire course of education |
| Eiffel Scholarship Program | French Government | Master’s
Ph.D.
Engineering program | €1,200 monthly allowance for master’s students
€2,100 monthly allowance for doctoral students |
| MIEM Excellence Scholarship / Current Université Paris Cité SMARTS-UP Funding | Université Paris Cité | Master’s | Current SMARTS-UP Graduate Schools scholarship: €10,000 for one academic year |
| IDEX Scholarship | French universities | Master’s | Varies by university; examples include €10,000/year at Université Paris-Saclay and €9,000 or €5,500 at Université Grenoble Alpes |
| International PhD Programmes | University of Toulouse | Ph.D. | Funding varies by thesis proposal and framework program; Université de Toulouse awards around 900 funded PhDs each year |
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 its Ph.D. students. Awardees may specialize in one of the eight areas of specialization offered by the school, and the doctoral program is taught in English.
Apart from full tuition coverage, HEC Ph.D. students also receive an annual living stipend of €26,000 and funding for conferences and research visits. Scholars can also supplement their income through the school’s research and teaching assistantship jobs.
To apply to HEC Paris’ selective Ph.D. program, applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, an excellent academic record, and proven fluency in English. Applicants generally need to submit GRE or GMAT scores, although some exemptions may apply depending on the specialization and previous degree.
2. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount for Master’s: Participation costs, health insurance, and a monthly living allowance of up to €1,400 for up to 24 months, plus possible contributions to travel and visa costs.
- Meet Erasmus Mundus Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Pedro from Brazil and Jay from the Philippines
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) are EU-funded, highly competitive master’s programs run by university consortia that include institutions in several countries, including France. Scholarships may cover participation costs, insurance, and a monthly allowance of up to €1,400, with additional support for travel and visa costs. EMJM programs usually last one to two academic years and require study periods in at least two countries. Applications are managed by each consortium, with many 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: Bachelor’s students may receive a full tuition exemption or a €9,500 tuition exemption; master’s students may receive an €18,500 tuition exemption per year for two years.
- 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-known scholarships in France for international students. It is granted to select foreign learners according to academic merit and may provide a full or partial tuition exemption, depending on the level of study and award decision.
No separate scholarship application is needed. Students must indicate their interest in the scholarship in the “Financial Information” section of the application form and upload the required supporting documents. Sciences Po notes that application fees are mandatory, although some applicants may qualify for an exemption depending on their situation.
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, plus up to €900 for travel and visa costs
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The International Master’s Scholarship program at Université Paris-Saclay was developed to help outstanding international students enter the university, especially those who wish to pursue doctoral studies after their master’s degree.
International students admitted to an eligible master’s program at Université Paris-Saclay may be considered if they meet the university’s eligibility criteria, including being newly enrolled in France and being under 30 during the selection year. Selection is based on the applicant’s academic record, personal project, and motivation to pursue research, especially for M2 applicants.
Apart from the annual scholarship, the program may also provide up to €900 for travel and visa-related expenses. The scholarship is paid only after the student arrives in France and completes registration at Université Paris-Saclay.
5. Scholarships of Fondation des Ponts (Ecole des Ponts ParisTech)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: About €11,000 over three semesters, or €7,200 over two semesters depending on the study track
- Eligible Degree/s: Engineering degree program
Founded in 1747, the École des Ponts ParisTech is one of the oldest and most prestigious Grandes Écoles in France. It specializes in science, technology, and engineering programs that are popular among international applicants.
To support international students with their studies, the school offers several scholarship programs. The Scholarships of Fondation des Ponts support international students admitted to the engineering degree program. The average award is about €11,000 over three semesters for eligible double-degree students, or €7,200 over two semesters for students following the long-internship study track.
6. International Excellence Scholarship (Télécom Paris)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Up to €10,000 over the entire course of education
- Eligible Degree/s: Full-time engineering program
The International Excellence Scholarship is reserved for international students recruited during Télécom Paris international recruitment activities and enrolled full-time in the school’s engineering program. This aid is funded by Télécom Paris alumni.
The total amount awarded to a student may be up to €10,000 for the entire course of the scholar’s engineering studies. The amount cannot be increased if a student repeats a semester. Payments are made in a single installment every September and are conditional on payment of the required fees, as stipulated in the scholarship contract.
Télécom Paris engineering students, like other students at the school, complete a multidisciplinary core curriculum before moving into specializations, which are mostly conducted at the Paris or Sophia-Antipolis campus.
7. Eiffel Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €1,200 monthly allowance for master’s students and €2,100 monthly allowance for doctoral students
- 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 for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel Scholarship Program, one of the top scholarships in France, aims to attract top international graduate students to French higher education institutions.
Scholarships are available in several broad fields, including science and technology, biology and health, ecological transition, mathematics and digital technology, engineering sciences, history, French language and civilization, law and political science, and economics and management. Applicants must also meet strict eligibility rules. For the 2026 campaign, candidates must be up to 29 years old at the master’s level and up to 35 years old at the doctoral level.
The Eiffel program provides a monthly allowance, health insurance, and support such as international transportation. It does not generally cover tuition. However, recipients enrolled in French public institutions are exempt from tuition charges for programs leading to a national diploma or an accredited engineering degree, under the conditions stated by Campus France.
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. MIEM Excellence Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount for Master’s: Current Université Paris Cité SMARTS-UP Graduate Schools scholarship funding is €10,000 for one academic year.
- Meet the MIEM Excellence Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Eden Haseeb from Pakistan and Ademola Toheeb Adeniji from Nigeria
The MIEM Excellence Scholarship appears to be an older Université de Paris or Université Paris Cité master’s scholarship. For current applicants, Université Paris Cité lists the SMARTS-UP Graduate Schools program among its international scholarship opportunities. The 2026–2027 SMARTS-UP call offers up to 200 scholarships of €10,000 for one academic year to eligible international students admitted to selected master’s programs in Université Paris Cité’s Graduate Schools. The scholarship is not a monthly stipend and cannot be combined with another scholarship.
Here is what MIEM Excellence Scholarship Scholars Say:
“MIEM Excellence Scholar (University of Paris, France) – (8,000 €)”
Ademola Toheeb Adeniji
“Focus on scholarships and programs that closely match your academic profile and career goals.”
Eden Haseeb
9. IDEX Scholarship
- Scholarship Amount for Master’s: Varies by university. For example, Université Paris-Saclay offers €10,000 per year plus up to €900 for travel and visa costs, while Université Grenoble Alpes lists €9,000 for M1 or engineering year 2 students and €5,500 for M2 or engineering year 3 students for 2026–2027.
- Meet the IDEX Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Zeinab Hoteit from Lebanon and Jules Mvondo Edou from Cameroon
The IDEX Scholarship is an excellence-based master’s award offered by some French universities, such as Université Paris-Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes, to attract outstanding international students. Award amounts and eligibility rules vary by institution. Selection is usually based on academic excellence, research potential, and fit with the host master’s program, and applications are often made after admission or through the relevant program coordinator.
Here is what IDEX Scholarship Scholars Say:
“The scholarship provides €10,000 for one academic year, paid over ten months, along with an additional allowance of up to €1,000 to help cover travel and visa expenses.”
Jules Mvondo Edou
“This scholarship was awarded for my first year (M1) and was successfully renewed for my second year (M2), as the renewal was dependent on maintaining high academic results each year.”
Zeinab Hoteit
“By highlighting my strong academic performance, previous projects, industrial internships, and clear motivation for advanced studies in aerospace.”
Jean Al Am
10. International PhD Programmes (University of Toulouse)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Funding varies by thesis proposal and framework program; Université de Toulouse awards around 900 funded PhDs each year.
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
The University of Toulouse brings together a major higher education and research network in Toulouse. It supports international doctoral mobility through thesis proposals, doctoral schools, research laboratories, and framework programs with partner countries and organizations.
International students are encouraged to explore doctoral thesis opportunities through the University of Toulouse’s International PhD Office. Current international PhD proposal listings include opportunities connected to countries such as China, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico, as well as proposals open to applicants from all countries. Funding and benefits depend on the thesis proposal, doctoral school, and specific framework program.
France offers a variety of scholarships to international students. With the wide range of scholarships and awards available, it is best to conduct thorough research before submitting your scholarship application so you can find the opportunity that best fits your program and educational goals.
We hope this article was helpful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe and Guide to France!
