How Viet Anh, a Vietnamese Scholar, Received the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship for a Master’s in Economics at ENS Paris-Saclay

Hello, my name is Viet Anh, and I come from Vietnam. I am currently pursuing a research-oriented Master's degree in Economics at ENS Paris-Saclay, France, supported by the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship awarded by the French government.

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Economics at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, where I developed a strong interest in understanding economic issues through both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Throughout my undergraduate studies, my academic and research experiences further strengthened my motivation to pursue advanced studies in Economics. I decided to continue my education at the Master's level to deepen my theoretical knowledge, enhance my analytical and quantitative skills, and build a stronger foundation for academic research.

France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Details

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship programme funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to attract outstanding international students to pursue higher education in France. For my two-year Master's degree in Economics at ENS Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, the scholarship provides a monthly allowance of €1,181, along with additional benefits such as a one-time round-trip flight ticket from my home country to France and back, health insurance, and accommodation assistance.

Other Offered Scholarships

I was also awarded the SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship, valued at €10,000, by Université Paris Cité for the Master's programme in Sustainability: Policies and Corporations (formerly Development and Sustainability: Policies, States and Corporations) for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Educational Background

Before receiving the Master's scholarship, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, graduating with distinction and ranking among the top 5% of my graduating cohort.

Throughout my four undergraduate years, I consistently maintained strong academic performance and received several scholarships from both my university and external organizations. Alongside my studies, I actively participated in student research competitions and academic exchanges, achieving several distinctions, including Third Prize in the National Student Scientific Research Competition organized by Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, First Prize in a university-level student research competition, and a top-five position in the Global Partnership of Asian Colleges (GPAC) competition. I also had opportunities to present at several academic conferences on sustainable development.

In addition, I participated in research projects with university professors, gaining practical experience in fieldwork and survey design across various economic topics, particularly sustainable agriculture and climate change adaptation.

These research experiences, ranging from international academic exchanges to my own involvement in research projects, helped me build a solid foundation for understanding the real-world challenges facing my home country. At the same time, they provided valuable opportunities to develop my research skills and deepen my academic knowledge.

I believe these experiences were among the strongest aspects of my scholarship application, as they allowed me to demonstrate not only my academic preparation but also my understanding of the practical challenges I hope to address. More importantly, they helped me explain how the academic programme and scholarship could support my future development and enable me to make meaningful contributions.

I have always believed that theory and practice should go hand in hand. From my perspective, it is particularly valuable when a scholarship committee can recognize the potential impact of its investment in a candidate, especially when that candidate can clearly demonstrate how the opportunities provided by the scholarship align with their previous experiences and future aspirations.

Therefore, based on my own experience, I believe that while maintaining strong academic performance is important, gaining relevant practical and research experience in one's field is equally valuable when preparing a scholarship application.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for ENS Paris-Saclay?

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

Yes. Before applying, I had to complete the required language proficiency tests, such as IELTS, to meet the admission requirements of my chosen programmes.

My advice is to plan ahead and establish a clear timeline to ensure that all required documents and test scores are ready before the application deadlines. In particular, I recommend completing standardized tests as early as possible in the application process, as some programmes have specific minimum score requirements. Taking these tests too close to the deadline can be risky if you do not achieve your target score. Preparing early gives you enough time to retake the test if necessary and helps avoid unexpected disruptions to your scholarship application plans.

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

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship application process generally consists of two main stages. First, applicants must be nominated by a French higher education institution. Once nominated, their applications are evaluated by the scholarship's selection committee, which makes the final decision.

Both stages are equally important. Without careful preparation from the very beginning, applicants may lose the opportunity to advance to the final selection stage. For this reason, I paid particular attention to preparing a comprehensive and well-structured application that met the requirements of both the universities and the scholarship programme.

I spent nearly a year preparing my applications. Throughout this period, my strategy was to establish a clear roadmap with specific deadlines, dividing the preparation process into two main phases: (1) building a strong foundation and (2) refining and strengthening my application.

During the first phase, I focused on completing essential requirements, such as language proficiency certificates, several months before the application deadlines. This allowed me to dedicate more time to improving my CV and preparing other important application documents.

In the second phase, rather than immediately starting to write my motivation letter and professional project, I carefully reviewed the curricula of my chosen Master's programmes, as well as the objectives, eligibility criteria, and selection requirements of the scholarships I intended to apply for.

I believe this is an important step that many applicants may overlook. Carefully reviewing a programme's curriculum not only helps you determine whether it genuinely aligns with your academic interests and whether you meet its admission requirements, but also allows you to identify key aspects of the programme and scholarship that are relevant to your application. This understanding is particularly valuable when writing your motivation letter, as it enables you to explain more convincingly why you are a suitable candidate for both the academic programme and the scholarship.

Perhaps the most important part of my preparation was the motivation letter and professional project, which I consider the heart of a scholarship application. This was also where I invested the most time and effort. Preparing these documents involved much more than simply writing and editing. It was a continuous process of revision, reflection, and seeking feedback from professors and people with previous scholarship application experience.

More importantly, I found that writing a motivation letter was also a process of understanding myself better. It required me to reflect on my academic journey, clarify my future aspirations, and develop a deeper understanding of my chosen field. This process takes time, particularly when you want to present a coherent and convincing connection between your past experiences, current motivations, and future goals.

I believe this preparation strategy proved effective in my own application process. Among the four French institutions to which I applied, three offered me admission and agreed to nominate me for the Eiffel Scholarship, including Paris-Sorbonne, ENS Paris-Saclay, and Clermont-Ferrand.

However, it is important to note that an applicant can only be officially nominated by one institution for the Eiffel Scholarship. Multiple nominations may result in disqualification. Therefore, although I received positive responses from several universities, I ultimately had to select one institution to submit my official scholarship nomination.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe what made my application stand out was not simply my academic achievements, but how I connected what I had learned with real-world experiences and translated that knowledge into meaningful contributions.

Throughout my academic journey, I have always tried to go beyond theoretical knowledge and engage directly with the issues I study. The examples I shared in my motivation letter and interviews were drawn from my own experiences and personal observations rather than abstract ideas.

For instance, during fieldwork in remote and mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, I witnessed firsthand how local communities struggled with the impacts of climate change on their agricultural livelihoods. I also observed how poverty limited educational opportunities, preventing many people from pursuing further education. These experiences encouraged me to engage in discussions with local communities, better understand the challenges they faced, and explore how I could contribute, particularly through sharing knowledge, discussing improvements in agricultural practices, and raising awareness. More importantly, these efforts were supported by tangible outcomes, including improvements in awareness among local communities and authorities, encouraging greater participation in addressing local challenges. From an academic perspective, the findings from these fieldwork experiences also contributed to research publications.

Looking back, I believe the strength of my application lay in the genuine connection between my academic background, personal experiences, and practical contributions. Rather than simply describing what I hoped to achieve in the future, I was able to draw on experiences that demonstrated how I had already begun applying my knowledge to real-world challenges.

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

My advice is to always remember one simple but important principle: universities and scholarship programmes are looking for candidates who are the best fit for their objectives, not necessarily those with the most outstanding academic records.

In today's world, where students have access to increasingly diverse learning platforms and educational opportunities, strong academic performance alone may no longer be enough to distinguish one applicant from another. I believe what truly makes a difference is your personal experiences, the perspectives you develop, and the mindset you build throughout your academic journey.

These qualities can help scholarship committees recognize not only your academic potential but also your ability to make meaningful use of the knowledge and opportunities provided by the programme, ultimately translating them into positive and lasting impact.