Explore Courses

Fully Funded Scholarships in France for International Students

Updated on 19 September, 2024

Jyotsna Singh

Jyotsna Singh

Fully Funded Scholarships in France

Would you like to begin your academic journey in France? Good news! We have outlined the fully funded scholarships in France in this article.  In fact, there are many fully funded scholarships in France for Indian students. 

We will also go into great length in this article regarding the advantages of the scholarships provided by France's best colleges as well as the detailed application procedure.

For the academic year 2025–2026, numerous scholarships are offered to international students at prestigious French universities. 

These scholarships, which come with monthly stipends in addition to tuition, housing costs, health insurance, and travel expenses, are both fully and partially funded. 

International students are granted a wide range of scholarships by the French Foreign Ministry. Within the scope of Major programs (for the top overseas students who have graduated from French high schools abroad) or Eiffel (for Master's or Doctoral level studies), the Ministry directly finances 25% of these scholarships. 

What are the Types of Scholarships in France?

There are several scholarship options available to you that can assist with paying for your education. This is an extensive list of all the different kinds of scholarships available to students studying in France.

French Government Scholarships

Indian students can apply for many scholarships offered by the French embassy in India each year to study at both public and private universities in France. 

These scholarships support several doctorate-level programs in addition to funding education at all academic levels, from undergraduate to graduate. 

Doctorate contracts and research funds are also provided by some governmental agencies in France, such as the ADEME (Environmental and Energy Control Agency) and the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research), frequently in collaboration with educational institutions.

Joint-Scholarships or Co-Financed Scholarship

Co-financed scholarships are supported in part by public or commercial partners as well as the French government.

Co-joint scholarship recipients have advantages akin to those of government scholarships, including social security, help finding housing, and tuition discounts.

The academic merit, financial need, or any other particular requirements established by the co-financing partners are the basis for these scholarships.

University Scholarships

Direct scholarships are provided by several French universities to their enrolled foreign students. These may offer tuition fee exemptions in full or in part. 

However, the scholarships offered directly by universities are often competitive, and require students to meet a set of criteria. 

You must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program to avail university scholarships in France. International students can get several benefits from such scholarships, including exemptions of tuition and accommodation charges.

List of Fully Funded Scholarships in France for Indian Students 2024

Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships in France

France received 412,087 foreign students at its higher education institutions in the academic year 2022–2023. You can apply for partially funded and fully funded scholarships for international students in France.

Name of the Scholarship

Description

Benefits
France Excellence Charpak Bachelor’s Scholarship The Charpak Bachelor's Scholarships, as the name implies, are awarded to deserving Indian students who want to enroll full-time at a French university in order to pursue a bachelor's degree. This scholarship program's primary selling feature is that it covers the entirety of your bachelor's degree program. 

1. Fee waiver for French student visa

2. Social security

3. Help with lodging in France; first choice for student-only Crouse apartments, if any are available. 

4. An allowance of €860 per month is provided to Indian students to help with living expenses in France. 

5. A remission of fees for studying in France (if relevant). 
International Fashion Academy Undergraduate Scholarship There are three types of scholarships under the IFA undergraduate scholarship program. There is just one kind of scholarship that you may apply for. Whichever one you are applying for, you must specify. 

1. Full scholarship which includes 100% fee reduction. 
2. The Excellence scholarship allows a reduction of 40% of your tuition fees. 

3. The Distinction scholarship allows a reduction of 20% of your tuition fees. 
The Émile Boutmy scholarship Students who are starting their first year of study at Sciences Po are eligible to apply for the Émile Boutmy scholarship. The tuition fee award will not be withheld from scholarship applicants during their year abroad (the third year of the undergraduate degree). In the event that the recipient decides to pursue graduate studies at Sciences Po, the Émile Boutmy scholarship is automatically renewed.

1. A €14,720 annual tuition assistance for the three years of the bachelor's degree.

2. A €9,500 annual tuition subsidy for the three years of the undergraduate degree.

3. A three-year undergraduate program that provides €6,500 annual tuition assistance.
Chalhoub Scholarship Students who want to attend Sciences Po's undergraduate program at its Menton, Southern France campus may do so with the Chalhoub scholarship. Applicants must be citizens of one of the following nations: Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Oman, Iran, and Iraq. 1. A scholarship worth €14,600 per year will be awarded to a successful undergraduate student for the three years of their undergraduate study.

Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships in France

The following scholarships are awarded to international students who are currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at a university in France. Here is a list of the most popular partial and fully funded masters’ scholarships for international students in France. 

Name of the Scholarship

Description

Benefits
France Excellence Charpak Master Scholarship This scholarship is offered for French master's degree programs. If you wish to work on your research project, training program, or master's thesis, you are not eligible to apply. A strong command of French is advantageous, but it is not required to apply for the scholarship. You have to be an Indian citizen or possess an OCI card. 

1. A living stipend of 860 Euros per month

2. Waiver of student visa application fees

3. Reimbursement or remission of fees for studies in France

4. Social Security

5. Accommodation support (first preference admission to CROUS residences, contingent upon availability)
Université Paris-Saclay Scholarships By making it simpler for highly qualified international students to enroll at Université Paris-Saclay, particularly for those hoping to pursue doctoral-level research on an academic project, the university hopes to increase international students' access to its Master's programs offered by its faculties, component-institutions, and associated universities. Scholarships for the academic year 2024–2025 will be given out. 

1. The annual UpSaclay scholarship is worth 10,000 Euros.

2. Depending on the candidate's place of origin, a maximum of 1,000€ may also be given for travel and visa costs.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree FIPDes – Food Innovation and Product Design This program, which is a joint master's that combines four universities, is truly unique and integrated. The universities, which are some of the most prestigious and established in Europe, take a cross-disciplinary and holistic approach, covering everything from raw materials to packaged goods and from initial conception to prototypes to consumption. 

1. A contribution to the cost of the student's travel and installation

2. A subsistence allowance for the duration of the EMJMD study program

3. Student participation costs (including tuition fees, full insurance coverage, and any other mandatory costs related to the student's participation in the course) are all covered by the EMJMD scholarships.
Émile Boutmy Masters' Scholarship Students who are starting their first year of study at Sciences Po are eligible to apply for the Émile Boutmy Masters' scholarship. Holders of the Émile Boutmy scholarship who are currently enrolled at Sciences Po: the scholarship's grant amount is decided at the time of acceptance. When relevant, it may be updated annually to reflect increases in tuition fees.  

1. An annual tuition stipend of €13,100 is provided by the Émile Boutmy program to partially offset the costs of tuition for the two years of the Master's degree program.

 

Fully Funded PhD Scholarships in France

Every year, more than 15,000 doctorates are awarded in France. Therefore, it is accurate to state that enrolling in PhD programs in France is a smart choice. Here is a list of some of the most popular partial and fully funded PhD scholarships in France.

Facebook Fellowship PhD Program

International students can apply for the fully funded Facebook Fellowship Program 2024–2025. This fellowship is available to support research for doctorates. The fellowship pays for conference travel assistance, an annual stipend, and two years of tuition and fees.

The Emile Boutmy Scholarship

This is a fully-funded scholarship. Science Po in France is offering this scholarship. International applicants are welcome from anywhere in the globe. This award is applicable to doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs. The Emile Boutmy Scholarship offers up to €19,000 annually.

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program

 For overseas students, this scholarship program offers fully supported scholarships. This award offers up to $42,750 net per fellow for an eight-month fellowship, and it is eligible for PhD study.

IIE-SRF Fellowship

For overseas students, this is a fully financed fellowship. This fellowship is available to support research for doctorates. An individual health insurance policy and a stipend of up to US$25,000 are provided by the IIE-SRF Fellowship to support a visiting academic position for a maximum of one year.

IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Program 

International students can apply for PhD fully funded scholarships in France with this program. The annual value of the International Mathematical Union Scholarship is up to USD 10,000 and covers living expenses, travel costs, tuition, and housing.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship 

International students can apply for this sponsored program. This scholarship may be extended up to the point at which studies are completed. The maximum annual value for a PhD candidate is USD 50,000, and the maximum annual value for a postdoc is USD 40,000.

Explore: Popular PhD Scholarships for Indian Students

How to Apply for a Fully Funded Scholarship in France

The procedures for applying for scholarships in France are as follows:

Research: 

Start by looking for scholarships that align with your field of study and hobbies. A few useful resources include the scholarship database maintained by the French Government and other relevant websites. You might also look at websites of universities.

Eligibility: 

Verify that you meet the prerequisites by reviewing the eligibility conditions for each scholarship. These prerequisites might be reaching certain language proficiency criteria or reaching a specific degree of academic performance.

Records: 

Academic transcripts, a statement of intent, letters of recommendation, and documentation demonstrating your proficiency in English are among the documents you'll need to send in. You could also want evidence of finances.

Application process: 

Follow each scholarship source's requirements to submit an application. Remind yourself of the deadlines for submissions and any additional essays or papers that may be required.

Submit your application: 

Fill out the application completely, and send in the necessary supporting files before the deadline. If you miss the dates, your application could not be taken into consideration.  

What is the Role of Scholarships for Studying in France?

Foreign students can fund their studies in France and around Europe with the support of several scholarships provided by French public institutes and the Erasmus+ program. 

There are a wide range of fully funded masters’ scholarships for international students in France. If you are enrolled in undergraduate programs, you can find many scholarships sponsored by the government or private organizations. 

The fully funded scholarships in France pay for all associated costs, including travel, lodging, food, health insurance, and other fees, in addition to the full cost of tuition. 

In France, the average yearly cost of attending university is above 10,000 Euros. For those who live in developing nations like India, this might be frightening. 

However, you can pursue your academic goals overseas with the help of completely or even partially supported scholarships. Your financial worries are all taken care of if you receive a scholarship. 

As a result, you will have more time to study, learn, and get better grades.

Which are the Top Universities Offering Scholarships in France?

Here is a list of the popular universities in France which offer scholarships to international students. 

Sciences Po

This university awards the popular Emily Boutmy Scholarship and the Stephen M. Kellen Scholarship to international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and postdoctoral programs. 

École Normale Supérieure (ENS) 

Eligible students pursuing master’s degree and diploma programs are awarded the ENS International Selection Scholarships and the Ampère Excellence Scholarships for International Students.

INSEAD

This university grants the INSEAD Africa Leadership Fund Scholarship for African Students. You can apply for masters fully funded scholarship in France at this university. 

Université Paris-Saclay

160 master's scholarships are available from Université Paris-Saclay to foreign students enrolling in its programs. The annual value of each scholarship is 10,000 Euros.

HEC Paris

This university awards the Foundation Rainbow Bridge MBA Scholarships for African and Asian Women. You may apply for fully funded MBA scholarships in France if you study here.

Conclusion

As an international student, you can apply for fully funded scholarships in France. These scholarships will likely compensate your tuition fees fully, and some will even cover additional costs related to housing, relocation, transport, and health. 

Make sure you apply in advance of the application date. If you fail to apply for a scholarship within its deadline, your application might be rejected. However, you will be automatically selected for some scholarships, especially those that are directly awarded by French universities. 

Here are some detailed articles on Fully Funded Scholarships for top Study Abroad Destination:

FAQs

What is the difference between fully funded and partially funded scholarships?

The entire cost of tuition for the duration of the course is covered by fully funded scholarships. Only a portion of the tuition is covered by partial scholarships, which can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total cost. 

Can I get a 100% scholarship to study in France?

Direct scholarships are provided by several French universities to their enrolled foreign students. These may provide tuition waivers in full. International Fashion Academy Undergraduate Scholarship is one such scholarship.

How can an Indian student get a scholarship to study in France?

International students are granted a wide range of scholarships by the French Foreign Ministry. Indian students can apply for these scholarships.

Can I get a scholarship in France without IELTS?

Unlike most other nations, France offers students a special chance to study without having to take the IELTS exam.

Is France a good option for Indian students?

France is ranked fifth in Europe and eighth globally among the world's top study locations. In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his willingness to welcome 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030.

What is a full-ride scholarship?

A full ride scholarship covers all of the expenditures associated with attending school. This includes living costs, lodging and board, books, fees, and tuition. The goal of these scholarships is to eliminate the need for further financial aid.

How can I increase my chances of getting a scholarship in France?

The applicant must have a strong academic record from their native country in order for their scholarship application to be taken seriously.

Did you find this article helpful?

Jyotsna Singh

With over a decade of expertise in international education, Jyotsna has held impactful roles at the British Council, Unilodgers, a prominent UK university, and IDP Education, empowering countless students by not only enhancing their educational experiences but also by offering them guidance in securing essential scholarships and financial aid. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals through tailored guidance and financial support.

See More

Exams to Study Abroad

IELTS ExamGRE ExamGMAT ExamSAT ExamTOEFL ExamDuolingo Exam

Top Study Abroad Destinations

USAGermanyUKCanadaAustralia

Important Resources

LOR for Master'sSOP for Master'sCost of Living in CanadaHow to Write a Motivation LetterConvert GPA to PercentageDifference Between SDS and Non-SDS Visa ApplicationsTop Free Countries for Free Education Fully-Funded PhD. Programs In the USAPopular Study Abroad Courses after BCom Study in Canada after 12th

Free Study Abroad Counselling

Verify Your Number for a Free Session with Experts !

+91

By submitting this form, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Refer Your Friend & Earn upto ₹40000

Help your friend upgrade to a Global Career and earn rewards together.

Similar Articles

upGrad
Study Abroad Important Blogs