The France Excellence Eiffel scholarship programme
Context and objectives
The Eiffel programme is a tool provided by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to French institutions to help them attract the best foreign students. Applications are submitted exclusively by French institutions. French higher education institutions pre-select, from among the best foreign students they wish to welcome onto their courses, the candidates they will put forward for Eiffel scholarships. Institutions that put forward candidates undertake to enrol them on the course applied for if they are awarded the Eiffel scholarship.
Specific conditions
This programme is reserved for candidates of foreign nationality. Their stay in the laboratory may therefore take place under a research stay agreement. Candidates with dual nationality, one of which is French, are not eligible.
Candidates must be no older than 35 at the time of the 2026 application selection process.
The Eiffel doctoral scholarship is awarded for a period of 12, 18 or 36 months.
36-month scholarship: access is conditional on enrolment in the first year of a doctorate in France and is for first-time arrivals only (no prior enrolment in France). The doctorate may not be undertaken as part of an international joint supervision (cotutelle) arrangement.
12- or 18-month scholarship: open to candidates currently studying in France, although students currently studying abroad are given priority over those already resident in France. Doctoral projects involving joint supervision or international cotutelle arrangements are given priority, with a duration of
- a maximum of 12 months for arrival in France in the 2nd or 3rd year of the doctorate,
- a maximum of 18 months for arrival in France in the 1st or 2nd year of the doctorate.
Scholarship amount: From January 2026, Eiffel scholarship doctoral students receive a monthly allowance of €2,100, in addition to direct cover for a number of benefits. Return flights may be covered in the most economical class available, within limits set by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Scholarship holders also benefit from cover for a second-class train ticket or coach ticket for the journey between the airport and their city of residence in France.
Selection criteria
A panel made up of three colleges of academics (one per field of study) assesses applications. Applications are evaluated on the basis of three criteria:
- the student's academic excellence;
- the international policy of the institution putting them forward;
- the geographical priorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which include major emerging countries and countries in transition.