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 |
|---|
| 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 |
| Eiffel Excellence 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 |
| IDEX Scholarship | French Universities | Master’s | Varies by university; up to €10,000/year plus 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 |
| Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship | European Union | Ph.D. | Monthly living and mobility allowances, plus applicable family, long-term leave, and special-needs allowances |
| SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship | Université Paris Cité | Master’s | €10,000 for one academic year |
| HEC Foundation Excellence Scholarship | HEC Paris | Master’s | Up to €15,000 tuition fee reduction |
| France Excellence Charpak Master Scholarship | French Government | Master’s | €860/month, visa and Campus France fee waivers, health coverage, housing assistance, subsidized meals, and other benefits |
| Free Tuition | French Universities | Bachelor’s
Master’s
Ph.D. | Full or substantial tuition exemption, depending on the university and student category |
1. 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.
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
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.
One scholar’s journey: Ahmed Salah Abdelmawla Elsayed Mohamed earned an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for the MER2030 master’s program, becoming one of 23 scholarship recipients selected from 717 applicants. After applying to three Erasmus Mundus programs, he credits his successful MER2030 application to relevant experience and a tailored motivation letter that connected his marine-sustainability goals with the program. View More Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipients →
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
2. Eiffel Excellence 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
Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel Execllence 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.
One scholar’s journey: Aubeda Moussa earned the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship for his two-year Master’s in Geomechanics at CentraleSupélec and Université Paris-Saclay. Because candidates cannot apply for Eiffel directly, he first applied to CentraleSupélec, which supported and submitted his scholarship nomination after his admission; he credits his strong academic record and coherent specialization in geotechnics as key strengths. View More Eiffel Excellence Scholarship recipients →
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
3. IDEX Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- 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.
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
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.
One scholar’s journey: Jules Mvondo Edou earned the IDEX Scholarship to pursue his Master’s in Quantum Light, Materials and Nanosciences at Université Paris-Saclay. After admission, scholarship selection was by invitation and based on academic merit; he strengthened his candidacy with a well-organized CV reviewed by senior academic peers, direct communication with program coordinators, and two academic references. He later completed the master’s and progressed to a PhD at the PPrime Institute in Poitiers, France. View More IDEX Scholarship recipients →
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
4. 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
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.
One scholar’s journey: Vatsalya Sohu was awarded the Emile Boutmy Scholarship to support her Master’s in International Economic Policy at Sciences Po. She began researching scholarships more than a year in advance and strengthened her application by refining her essays with feedback from professors, peers, and family while emphasizing her academic merit, leadership experience, and motivation for international policy work. View More Emile Boutmy Scholarship recipients →
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
5. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Value: Monthly living allowance, mobility allowance, and, where applicable, family, long-term leave, and special-needs allowances
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship is available for doctoral positions hosted by eligible universities, research institutions, businesses, and other participating organizations in France, as France is an EU Member State and therefore eligible under MSCA Doctoral Networks. Candidates can be of any nationality, but generally must not have lived, worked, or studied primarily in France for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before recruitment.
The fellowship provides a living allowance and mobility allowance, with additional allowances available in applicable circumstances. Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree, must be enrolled in a doctoral program during the project, and apply directly to an MSCA-funded doctoral vacancy at a participating institution in France; available positions are advertised internationally, including through EURAXESS.
One scholar’s journey: Eamon McAndrew secured a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions-funded doctoral position through the LongTREC network to pursue his PhD at Université Côte d’Azur in France. He focused his applications on projects closely matching his genomics and computational-biology experience and says carefully tailored personal statements and cover letters helped him demonstrate that fit; for interviews, he recommends preparing specifically for why you want the particular project rather than simply why you want a PhD. View More Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship recipients →
Here is what Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship Recipients Say:
“I received a stipend equivalent to an early-stage engineering salary, which was really meaningful to me.”
CAMILA
“The scholarship amounts to approximately €70,000 (net) in salary support, in addition to a personal research, training, and mobility fund of €24,000.”
TERESA CIAVATTINI
6. SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship (Université Paris Cité)
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Value: €10,000 for one academic year
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship at Université Paris Cité supports high-achieving international students entering eligible Master’s programs within the university’s participating Graduate Schools. Applicants must not have French nationality and generally must not have previously obtained a French national higher-education diploma or be currently enrolled at a French higher-education institution.
The scholarship provides €10,000 for one academic year and is intended to help with study and living expenses in France. Candidates are assessed on academic merit, motivation, and their suitability for the selected Master’s program.
One scholar’s journey: Lizeth Chávez from Mexico was offered the SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship for the BME Paris master’s program at Université Paris Cité and Arts et Métiers, with €8,000 in funding for her first year. She approached her applications with a clear long-term career plan, emphasizing how the master’s would fill an important gap in her training and help her reach her professional goals. She recommends clearly showing why the specific program is necessary for your future and how it connects with your previous experiences.
Here is what SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship Scholar Says:
“Universities need to know that you’re fully committed, so having a well-thought-out future plan and being able to explain how their program fits into it really helps convince them that you’re serious and that investing in you is worth it.”
LIZETH CHÁVEZ
7. HEC Foundation Excellence Scholarship (HEC Paris)
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Value: Up to €15,000 tuition fee reduction
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The HEC Foundation Excellence Scholarship at HEC Paris supports outstanding candidates who hold a non-French Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma and are admitted to an eligible HEC Paris Master’s program. All admitted candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are automatically considered, with no separate scholarship application or additional documents required.
The scholarship provides a tuition fee reduction of up to €15,000. Selection is based on academic excellence, the overall strength of the application, interview performance, and, where applicable, GMAT, GRE, or TAGE-MAGE performance.
Here is what the HEC Foundation Excellence Scholarship Scholar Says:
“Present a coherent and authentic narrative that connects your academic background, professional experience, and long-term goals to the values of the scholarship and the host country.”
MONASH TANEJA
8. France Excellence Charpak Master Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Value: €860 monthly living allowance, visa and Campus France procedure fee waivers, health coverage, housing assistance, subsidized meals, and other French government scholarship-holder benefits
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The France Excellence Charpak Master Scholarship is a French government scholarship offered through the Embassy of France in India, Campus France India, and Institut Français India. It supports Indian citizens and OCI card holders pursuing one- or two-year full-time Master’s programs in France across all fields of study.
Recipients currently receive a €860 monthly living allowance, visa and Campus France procedure fee exemptions, social security and supplementary health insurance, assistance with affordable accommodation, and access to subsidized university meals and cultural activities. Applicants must be 30 or younger, meet the applicable Indian education requirements, and apply for admission to a French institution before applying for the scholarship; selection considers academic excellence, the consistency and quality of the statement of purpose, and the applicant’s overall profile, followed by an online interview for shortlisted candidates.
One scholar’s journey: Snehadeep Kayet received the France Charpak Full Master’s Scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po in Paris. Coming from a civil engineering background, he strengthened his transition into international affairs through policy-related experience and spent months refining his statement of purpose with feedback from friends and colleagues, focusing on how his engineering perspective would add value to the program. His experience also highlights persistence: Charpak was his 17th scholarship application after 16 previous rejections. View More France Excellence Charpak Master Scholarship recipients →
Here is what France Excellence Charpak Master Scholarship Scholar Says:
“I think perseverance stood out the most in my application now that I think of it. My narrative was clear – I was a civil engineering undergrad with some real-time policy-making experiences, wanting to study it formally.”
Snehadeep Kayet
9. Free Tuition at French Universities
France’s public universities provide affordable study opportunities for international students, with some institutions offering tuition exemptions that allow eligible students to pay substantially reduced registration fees. Two notable options are Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and Sorbonne University, both of which welcome international students across multiple degree levels.
At Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, eligible international students can benefit from an exemption from differentiated tuition fees, while Sorbonne University does not charge tuition fees under its public-university fee structure, although registration fees apply. These arrangements make both institutions attractive options for international students seeking to reduce the cost of studying in France.
One scholar’s journey: Rodrigo Tadeu Guimarães Jales from Brazil completed a Master’s in Human Rights Law at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, paying only €330 per year through the university’s tuition reduction for non-EU students. He prepared for studying in France by researching the application process extensively, seeking advice from other international students, and obtaining DALF C1 French proficiency. View More Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University recipients →
Here is what Free Tuition Recipient Says:
“As a non-EU student, I learned that my tuition would be only €330 per year.”
Rodrigo Tadeu Guimarães Jales
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, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
