France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship

What it is

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and managed by Campus France. It helps French universities and engineering schools attract top international students to their master's and PhD programmes. Its eligible fields include Mathematics and Digital Technology and Engineering, which is where computer science and software engineering applicants fit.

The most important thing to understand: you do not apply to Campus France yourself. Only applications submitted by French higher education institutions are accepted. You apply for admission to a programme, and the institution decides whether to put you forward.

What it covers

From the programme rules published by Campus France:

• A monthly allowance: EUR 1,200 at master's level and EUR 2,000 at doctoral level (rates from January 2026).
• International travel to France and home again, in the cheapest class, with conditions on reimbursement.
• Health insurance: a temporary plan on arrival, then supplementary cover once you join the French national scheme.
• Housing help: Campus France offers student residences or private housing, which you can decline.
• Visa fees waived where applicable.

Tuition is the subtle part. French government scholarship holders are exempt from tuition for national diplomas (master's, doctorate) and accredited engineering degrees at public institutions. Beyond that, programme costs are not covered by Eiffel, so a private business or engineering school may still charge you. Ask the school directly.

Can you apply from Pakistan or India?

Yes. The programme is reserved for international students, with no restriction on nationality other than excluding French and dual French nationals. The age limits are up to 29 at master's level and up to 35 at PhD level. At master's level, candidates already studying in France are not eligible; at PhD level, students currently abroad get priority.

How selection works

1. Apply for admission to an eligible French master's or PhD programme.
2. Ask the programme about Eiffel. The institution pre-selects whom to put forward, so make sure it knows you want to be considered.
3. The institution submits your file to Campus France before the deadline.
4. A selection commission of seven expert panels, one per field, judges your track record of excellence, alongside the institution's reputation and its partnership with the ministry.

Typical timeline

For the 2026 campaign, the call opened on 1 October 2025, institutions had to send applications to Campus France by 8 January 2026, and results were published from 30 March 2026. The general pattern is a call at the end of September, an institutional deadline in the first week of January and results in March. Your school's internal deadline will be earlier, so ask the programme for it. Exact dates change every year, so check both the official page and your target programme.

What makes a strong CS application

• Apply to programmes early so the school has time to consider you for nomination.
• Lead with excellence: grades, rankings, publications, competitive programming results or a substantial engineering project with measurable outcomes.
• Explain why France and why this programme, for example a lab, an industry partnership or a specialisation you cannot find at home.
• Ask the admissions office directly whether they nominate for Eiffel and what they need from you.

Common mistakes

• Trying to apply to Campus France directly.
• Missing the school's internal Eiffel deadline because you only watched the national one.
• Assuming every tuition fee is covered.
• Applying after your 30th birthday for a master's, or after 35 for a PhD.

Where to go next on Sefism

• Put the dates into a plan with the Masters and scholarships abroad roadmap and its cheat sheet.
• Search French programmes on Mastersportal or PhD openings on FindAPhD.
• Check English requirements with IELTS or TOEFL iBT.
• Want help choosing between Eiffel and other European options? Ask Tauseef.