Master’s International Economic Policy Student Michael from Austria Shares His Journey of Studying at Sciences Po Paris, France

My name is Michael Gillesberger, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in International Economic Policy at Sciences Po Paris. I chose this program because it combines analytical and quantitative rigor with a strong applied policy lens. What particularly attracted me to Sciences Po was not only its international and interdisciplinary environment, but also the flexibility to shape the program according to my own interests and goals. In my case, this means focusing on climate and environmental economics and international trade. I was also really excited to immerse myself in a new language environment, and of course, to live in Paris - a city that offers so many opportunities and a unique flair.

France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Details

I received the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship, awarded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to support my Master’s studies. The scholarship provides a monthly stipend of €1,200 along with additional benefits such as international travel support, supplementary health insurance, and administrative assistance for housing through Campus France.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I completed my undergraduate studies in Austria, where higher education is basically tuition-free. To support my living expenses, I received the Austrian national student grant (Studienbeihilfe) throughout my studies. As a first-generation university student, this support played an important role in enabling me to pursue higher education in the first place. In addition, I was awarded several merit-based scholarships by WU Vienna between 2020 and 2024.

After being admitted to Sciences Po, I would have continued to receive Austrian financial support. However, receiving the Eiffel Scholarship required choosing between funding schemes. I chose the Eiffel Scholarship as it provided a higher monthly stipend, and because of the complementary benefits I would have otherwise not received, e.g., supplementary health insurance.

Educational Background

I completed Bachelor's degrees in Business and Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia.

At WU, I graduated with a GPA of 1.0 (1: Excellent, 5: Fail).

At QUT, I graduated with a GPA of 7.0 (7: High Distinction, 1: Low Fail), ranking among the top 1% of students in both my programs.

My undergraduate studies provided me with a solid foundation in economics and quantitative methods, and allowed me to specialize in environmental economics and applied econometrics. This academic background, combined with international exposure, prepared me well for graduate studies in International Economic Policy at Sciences Po.

How Did You Find Information About the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship and Sciences Po Paris?

I mainly relied on the official Sciences Po website to get an overview of the various scholarship possibilities, application processes, and requirements.

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

No, I did not take any standardized tests. Since my undergraduate degree was taught entirely in English, I was able to meet the language requirements through my previous studies.

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

In my case, the first step was applying for a Master at Sciences Po, which conducts an internal pre-selection before nominating candidates to Campus France for the Eiffel Scholarship.

To be considered for the Eiffel Scholarship, I had to apply by the earliest application deadline (in October). I received confirmation of my admission and scholarship pre-selection by Sciences Po in mid-December. After that, I had to prepare additional documents for the scholarship application - as the final decision is made by Campus France rather than the university - including a more detailed motivation statement, a so-called "professional project".

The timeline for this second stage was relatively short - around one week. Since there was limited detailed guidance available, I mainly relied on available online resources, including videos and past experiences shared by other applicants via YouTube or blogs.

Overall, it is difficult to say which stage was more selective - the university pre-selection or the final evaluation by Campus France.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

It is difficult to assess one's own application, but I approached it by trying to answer a few key questions as clearly as possible when writing the professional project.

First, I focused on explaining why I wanted to pursue this particular Master’s degree in Paris, and specifically at Sciences Po, rather than in Austria or elsewhere in the world.

Second, I tried to show how the program fits into my longer-term professional goals, and how it would help me develop the skills needed to pursue this path. I also shared my interest in potentially pursuing further academic or professional opportunities in France after my degree.

Third, I laid out why the Eiffel Scholarship was relevant for enabling me to follow this trajectory. In my case, this meant showing concretely how the financial support through the scholarship would matter, and how various services provided by the scholarship would enable me to follow my ambitions.

Throughout the application, I tried to ensure that my academic and professional background supported this overall narrative. Rather than focusing on individual achievements, I aimed to present a coherent story, connecting past experiences, future ambitions, and most of all my motivation to study in France at Sciences Po.

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

If I were going through the process again, I would try to reach out to alumni or previous scholarship recipients to better understand what is expected, especially for the professional project component.

While I found some helpful resources online, the available guidance felt relatively limited. Speaking directly with people who had already gone through the process would likely have provided more concrete insights and helped me approach this part of the application with more clarity - especially since I only had one week between the pre-selection confirmation and submission of additional documents to Campus France.

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

My main advice would be to be very specific and clear when outlining your motivation and future aspirations in your application. Why - out of all the other possible places and programs - this one? What makes it unique, or particularly fitting? How is it connected to your academic or professional goals?

Even if you have many interests and ideas for the future - many of us do - it is important to focus your application on one clear direction. If you are unsure about it, go with one of the possible futures that seem most appealing or plausible - and describe this one in detail (no one will later check whether or not the aspiration you laid out actually materialized in the world). This will make your overall story more coherent and easier to follow.

For the professional project, I would recommend asking people you trust for feedback (friends, colleagues, professors etc.). Revisiting and re-reading the document several times is in my experience the best way to improve clarity and structure of the text.

Best of luck!