Scholarships for Studying in France

The French government offers numerous loans and scholarships for students wishing to pursue higher education in the country. French Embassy provides INCENTIVE scholarships, i.e. co-financing of expenses connected to studying in France. These” incentives” can be health insurance fees, or air flight tickets, or monthly allowances for living expenses. Problems that may arise due to lack of finance may be overcome by various trusts and grants available. Many organizations are ready to finance you if you have some extra talent or you are good on your studies. These grants will be very helpful for continuing your higher studies in France.

French Government Grants

Grant applications are handled by the cultural service of French embassies abroad. For more information, contact the cultural service of the French embassy in your country, as well as the web site of the French ministry of foreign affairs.
Grants by your own country’s government for study abroad or for study in France in particular. In some countries, private foundations and educational institutions offer financial aid for study abroad. 

Grants from International and Non-Governmental Organizations

UNESCO publishes a directory of grants in its publication, Study abroad.

As a student, there are several scholarships you could choose from:

• THE INCENTIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY
  The French Embassy provides INCENTIVE scholarships, i.e. co-financing of expenses connected to studying in France. These” incentives” can be health insurance fees, or air flight tickets, or monthly allowances for living expenses.

  Eligibility: Students regularly enrolled in an academic institution providing higher education in France, with no reservations concerning the level of study or particular disciplines.

  Selection Based on:Quality of professional project and profile of the applicant

  Documents to be provided:

  1. Letter of admission (photocopy)
  2. Research plan/training which the applicant wishes to pursue in France
  3. Birth certificate or school leaving certificate (photocopy)
  4. Degrees/diplomas obtained (photocopy)
  5. Curriculum Vitae
  6. Letter of motivation giving details of the expenses along with the part financed by the candidate.

  Contact:
  Ashok CHAROTH
  Embassy of France
  2, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi 110 011,
  Fax: (011) 301 64 41
  e-mail: [email protected]

  Processing-November to June

  Please note that these scholarships do not include tuition fees.

• THE EIFFEL EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME OF THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris offers EIFFEL scholarships, i.e. full-fledged scholarships (travel expenses, health insurance, living expenses and tuition fees).

  The program targets excellent candidates pre-selected by the institutions in France which compete between each other with the applicants they sponsor.

  Eligibility: Students in the fields of engineering, management, political science and law.
  Graduates (2èmecycle), and post graduates (3èmecycle).

  Age limit: 30.

  Selection based on-Quality of professional project and profile of the applicant

  Form to be downloaded from-www.egide.asso.fr/uk/programme/eiffel/index.html, and to be send to the sponsoring institution for approval and forwarding to EGIDE.

  Contact:
  EGIDE, Programme Eiffel
  28, rue de la Grange-aux-Belles
  75010 Paris, France
  Fax : (00.33) 1 42 41 85 90 ; e-mail : [email protected]

  Deadline for submission:15thFebruary of the year for which the scholarship is applied.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES

Other agencies, foundations and institutions (CNRS, Ministry of Research, INSERM, INRIA, Foundations like Rotary, and others) offer special scholarships for students and for doctoral and post-doctoral projects.

Information available on the following sites:
www.edufrance.fr;www.onisep.fr
www.egide.asso.fr;www.cnous.fr
www.recherche.gouv.fr
www.cnrs.fr
www.inserm.fr
www.inria.fr
www.rotary.belux.org/le_rotary/rf/ambassadorial_scholarships/index.shtml
www.france-in-india.org

INCENTIVES

The French Embassy provides incentives to students who desire to complete their academics in France in various disciplines. The principle of this’ incentive’ support is based on the student co-financing his or her own education.

The Embassy selects candidates on basis of the interest of their professional project and on the profile of the applicant. Different levels of support are offered.

Documents to be provided to apply for the scholarship:

1. Letter of admission (photocopy)
2. Research plan/training which the applicant wishes to pursue in France 
3. Birth certificate or school leaving certificate (photocopy)
4. Degrees/diplomas obtained (photocopy)
5. Curriculum Vitae
6. Letter of motivation giving details of the expenses along with the part financed by the candidate.

These documents to be sent to:
M.Ashok CHAROTH,
Embassy of France,
2, Aurangzeb Road,
New Delhi – 110 011
Fax: (011) 301 64 41
e-mail:[email protected]

The Process:

1. The applications should mention:
   The exact date of the beginning of the session and the tentative date of departure.

   The exact duration of the session. Extension of the scholarship cannot be considered (no exceptions).

2. Once the selection of the candidates is done by the French Embassy:
   • The selected applicants are informed.
     They are requested to send back to the Embassy (addressed to M. Ashok CHAROTH) the forms in acceptance of the financial aid proposed. Candidates will then receive a letter of confirmation called”letter of Presentation” directly from the Embassy within 4 to 6 weeks. This leaflet also gives details about the procedure.
   • The Embassy informs the visa section of the respective consulates in order to facilitate the visa delivery.
   • In case, the travel expenses are sponsored by the French Government, the candidates will receive a pre-paid ticket after obtaining the reservation number from the Embassy about one week before departure. (Changes of dates will lead to delays in the process).
   • On the students’ arrival in France, they will be received by EGIDE. They must then produce the letter of presentation.

Kindly note that following would not be considered for the scholarships:

• students who are already in France cannot avail this scholarship.
• Incomplete files will neither be looked into nor considered.

Also note that these scholarships do not include tuition fees.