How I Secured a Fully Funded Master's at ENSTA (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), France Through the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship

My name is Felipe Matheus Korn Meneghini Martins. I am 23 years old, and I am from Curitiba, Brazil. I am a Mechatronics Engineering student at the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), and I am currently enrolled in the double degree program at ENSTA (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), at the Brest campus in France, in the voie d'approfondissement Robotique Autonome (Autonomous Robotics). Since the beginning of my undergraduate studies, I have always loved developing projects, especially in the fields of automation and robotics, and it was this passion that led me to pursue advanced training in this area at one of France's grandes écoles of engineering.

France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Details

I was selected for the France Excellence Eiffel scholarship, an excellence program of the French government (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs), managed by Campus France. The scholarship provides a monthly allowance of €1,200, as well as an international flight ticket, health insurance, exemption from tuition fees and from the CVEC, housing support, and cultural activities. In my case, it covers up to 24 months of studies, corresponding to the two years of the double degree program.

Educational Background

I study Mechatronics Engineering at UTFPR, where I am ranked first in my class. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I took part in three research projects: metal additive manufacturing by arc welding (WAAM), developing a robotic prototype for layer-by-layer deposition; design and control of DC-DC power converters for battery-based energy storage systems; and capacitive electrical tomography for paraffin monitoring in oil pipelines, in partnership with Petrobras. I also worked as a teaching assistant in mathematics courses for two years, served as Events Director of the Mechatronics Engineering Student Council, and completed an engineering internship in automation and energy systems. In addition, I represented UTFPR in the Derivatives Olympiad, a national mathematics competition, achieving first place overall in the first phase. This combination of a solid theoretical foundation, applied research, and hands-on projects is what prepared me for a program in autonomous robotics.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to ENSTA (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), Brest Campus?

How Did You Find Information About France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship and ENSTA (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), Brest Campus?

I discovered the opportunity through UTFPR itself, which maintains the double degree agreement with ENSTA and recommended the program to me. From there, ENSTA submitted my application to the Eiffel scholarship, since in the Eiffel program it is the French institution that presents the student's application.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the DELF, obtaining the B1 level in French, and the IELTS Academic, obtaining 6.5 (B2 level). My preparation was largely self-taught, dedicating most of my day to studying both languages.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship?

The Eiffel scholarship application is submitted by the French institution, so my role was to build a strong application file: a CV, a motivation letter, and six recommendation letters from UTFPR professors, including the program coordinator and my research supervisor. I also went through an online interview with ENSTA covering my entire background; I could choose between French and English, and I chose English.

How is Your Experience at ENSTA (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), Brest Campus?

I arrived in France in July 2026 and completed the SIF, the intensive French program offered before the start of the academic year. Engineering classes begin in August at the Brest campus.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or French?

The Cycle Ingénieur classes are taught primarily in French, which is why the language preparation before the start of the program is so important.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe it was the combination of my academic ranking (first place in my class) with a consistent portfolio of hands-on and research projects in the field, together with teaching assistant and student leadership activities. This showed not only classroom performance, but initiative and real engineering experience.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would have started preparing from my very first day of university. The process is difficult and extensive, involving languages, academic records, projects, and documentation, and the earlier you start, the more natural each step becomes.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Prepare in advance: learn French and English, work on many hands-on projects in your field, and keep your overall GPA high from the start. These three pillars- languages, projects, and academic performance- are what sustain a strong application.