Scholarships to Study in France for Indian Students
- Last Updated on: December 9, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
France is one of the most popular study abroad destinations for engineering, management, arts, human and social sciences and offers variety of Scholarships to Study in France for many international students. But you have to think clearly about tuition fees, accommodation costs and day-to-day living expenses.
At public universities, non-EU students usually pay around €2,770–€3,770 per year (about ₹2.9–₹3.9 lakh) for a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, while private institutions and business school programmes can charge between €8,000–€20,000 per year (roughly ₹8.4–₹20.9 lakh) depending on the study programme. On top of that, most international students need around €700–€1,200 per month (about ₹73,000–₹1.25 lakh) for rent, food, transport and other costs.
These France scholarships are open to all foreign students, but some are targeted specifically at Indian students through the French embassy in India, French companies, and the Franco Indian Education Trust. Their core scholarships aim is simple: reward academic excellence and reduce financial stress so that international students can focus on their higher education.
Types of Scholarships to Study in France for Indian Students
To understand scholarships offered in France, it helps to group them by who funds them and how they help foreign students and international students enrolled in French programmes.
| Type of funding body | Typical examples | Who it targets | What the scholarship covers* |
|---|---|---|---|
| National / Government | France Excellence Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, Excellence-Major, France Excellence Charpak | Best foreign students in master and PhD programs | Monthly stipend, partial tuition fees, travel, sometimes health cover |
| University-based | Emile Boutmy Scholarship (Sciences Po), EDHEC Business School Academic Excellence Scholarship | High-achieving international students in a specific master programme or bachelor’s degree | Fee waivers or reductions, sometimes small mobility scholarships |
| Joint / co-financed scholarship | Sciences Po–French embassy schemes, Rennes Business School schemes, ParisTech joint scholarships | Mostly Indian students in management, engineering, social sciences | Shared funding of fees and monthly stipend |
| EU / mobility programmes | Erasmus Mundus joint master’s programmes, Erasmus+ mobility scholarships | Top international students and young researchers | Full participation costs, monthly stipend, travel & visa help |
| Franco-Indian, arts & niche fields | Franco Indian Education Trust schemes, Film and New Media, French+Sciences | Indian students, film and television students, science, western classical music, gastronomy, etc. | Monthly stipend, fee waivers, overseas medical insurance coverage, housing support |
Many of these are managed or promoted through Campus France, the national agency that works closely with French higher education institutions, academic partners and regional authorities.
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Government Sponsored Scholarships
1. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (often called the Eiffel scholarship) is the flagship excellence scholarship run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to help French higher education institutions attract the best foreign students at master and doctoral level.
Key points (master & PhD students enrolled):
| Item | Master’s level | PhD level |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | About €1,200 (≈ ₹1.25 lakh) | About €2,100 (≈ ₹2.19 lakh) |
| Scholarship covers | Allowance, international & national travel support, health insurance, housing support, cultural activities | Same types of benefits, with higher allowance |
| Tuition fees | Usually not paid directly by the scheme; many French institutions offer separate fee reductions for Eiffel holders | Same |
The French ministry and the ministry of foreign affairs use this scholarship program to train future decision-makers in engineering, science, economics, law, social sciences and human and social sciences.
2. Excellence-Major & France Excellence Major
The Excellence-Major scholarship programme supports foreign students from French high schools abroad (AEFE network). These are usually the best foreign students who completed the French Baccalauréat in French high schools outside France and want to continue higher education up to the master programme level.
It is coordinated by the French government, the Foreign Affairs network and AEFE, and it typically provides a monthly stipend and structured mentoring for up to 5 years of study.
3. France Excellence Charpak – French Government Scholarship Programme in India
For Indian students, the key French government scholarship programme is France Excellence Charpak, run by the French embassy in India with Campus France. It includes different tracks: Bachelor, Master, Exchange, and a Summer Training scholarship programme.
Typical benefits for Charpak Master’s level:
- Monthly stipend of about €860 (≈ ₹89,800) for a master’s program
- Student visa fee waiver and Etudes en France fee waiver
- Social security and additional health cover (a kind of built-in overseas medical insurance coverage)
- Help with accommodation and low-cost university meals
There is also a Charpak Summer Training option with a monthly stipend of around €700 (≈ ₹73,000) for a short summer residency programme.
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University Based Scholarships
French universities and grandes écoles award scholarships directly to admitted international students, especially at master level. Two well-known examples:
Emile Boutmy Scholarship – Sciences Po
The Emile Boutmy Scholarship at Sciences Po is an excellence scholarship for non European students with strong academic results and clear goals.
- For the bachelor’s degree, it can reduce tuition fees by several thousand euros per year.
- For the master’s degree, support can reach around €18,500 per year (≈ ₹19.3 lakh) in fee waivers.
Here the scholarship covers tuition more than living costs, so students enrolled still need other financial support or part-time work.
EDHEC Business School Scholarships
EDHEC Business School is a good case study of how a top French business school supports international students:
- The EDHEC Academic Excellence Scholarship offers up to 50% reduction in tuition fees for selected master programme candidates.
- EDHEC also offers mobility scholarships of up to €1,800 (≈ ₹1.88 lakh) for students going on exchange, which helps with travel and accommodation costs.
Other French higher education institutions use similar tools: merit-based excellence scholarship schemes, fee waivers for international students, and small grants to support a study in France semester with an academic partner.
Joint Scholarships
“Joint” or co financed scholarship schemes link the French embassy, schools, and sometimes a major European defence company or other industry partner. They are very important for Indian students.
Examples:
- Sciences Po – French Embassy in India co-financed scholarship: promotes higher education in social sciences, giving Indian students a mix of fee waivers and a monthly stipend during their master’s program.
- Rennes Business School – French Embassy co-financed scholarship: supports a management master programme for Indian students, sharing tuition and living support.
- ParisTech–French Embassy co-financed scholarships for engineering study programme at top institutes.
- Shikhar Thales Scholarship Program under the Franco Indian Education Trust, linked to Thales, a major European defence company. It supports engineering master’s degree students with about €700 per month (≈ ₹73,000) plus visa and Campus France fee waivers.
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These co financed scholarship schemes typically:
- Target Indian students in engineering, management, social sciences, arts or design
- Combine fee waivers from the school with a monthly stipend and student visa fee waiver from the embassy or trust
- Encourage strong links with French companies and sometimes a development institute based in France
For many students enrolled in these programmes, a joint scholarship program is what makes a high-cost business school or grande école truly accessible.
EU Mobility Programs
France is a major hub for EU mobility scholarships through Erasmus+.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programmes
Erasmus Mundus joint master’s programmes are international academic programmes where at least two universities in different countries act as academic partners. For many international students, these are all-inclusive international students scholarships:
- Scholarship covers full participation costs (including tuition fees)
- Monthly stipend of about €1,400 (≈ ₹1.46 lakh) for up to 24 months
- Contributions towards travel, visa and installation
Some of these master’s program consortia are led or co-led by French institutions, especially in engineering, environmental science, social sciences and human and social sciences.
Other Mobility Scholarships
- Erasmus+ mobility scholarships also support exchange semesters; some schemes give around €300–€400 per month as a top-up.
- French regional authorities (for example, certain regions in France) offer mobility scholarships to foreign students studying in their area, especially in strategic fields.
For international students enrolled in joint degrees, this reduces the pressure of living expenses while they study in France as part of a multi-country route.
Approach to Be a Scholarship Recipient
Most serious scholarships to study in France are competitive. To stand out, international students – especially Indian students – should think in terms of a clear approach, not just a quick application.
1. Match your profile to the scholarship aim
- Eiffel and similar schemes look for clear academic excellence, strong grades and a tight match between your study programme and the priority fields of the French government.
- Arts-focused schemes (film, music, television students, western classical music) care more about portfolios and creative work.
2. Understand the eligibility criteria early
- Age limits, previous degrees (for example, a completed bachelor’s degree before a master programme), language level (French language or English), and whether you must already have an offer from a higher education institution.
3. Show motivation for France, not only funding
- Committees at the French embassy, French embassies abroad, and universities want to see why you want to study in France, how you will use that degree, and how you will contribute as part of the international cohort of foreign students.
4. Demonstrate realistic budgeting
- Even when a scholarship covers many items, you may still have to pay part of the tuition fees or some accommodation costs yourself. Being honest about your plan (family support, part-time job, education loans, savings) makes your file stronger.
5. Use local guidance
- Visiting a Campus France office in India helps; they know current france scholarships calls, deadlines and document formats, and they can guide you on the right campus france portal steps.
Stepwise Application Procedure Guide (Phase Wise)
Below is a general roadmap for Indian students applying for France scholarships; adapt it to each scholarship programme.
Phase 1 – Research & Shortlisting
- List the programmes where you want to study in France (course, city, type of institution).
- Check each website plus Campus France and Campus France office announcements for linked scholarships offered.
- Separate options into:
- Government / French government schemes
- University-based
- Co financed scholarship and Erasmus mobility scholarships
Phase 2 – Course Admission
- Apply to the higher education institutions first; many scholarships require that you are already students enrolled or at least have a conditional offer.
- Prepare transcripts, CV, reference letters and language scores (English or French language, depending on the programme).
Phase 3 – Scholarship Applications
- Read the eligibility criteria very carefully; each scholarship programme has its own rules about degree level, age and subject.
- Collect specific documents (motivation letter, proof of income, portfolio, research plan for PhD students and young researchers).
- Submit online forms either via the university portal, the embassy, or the dedicated platform. Many applications for government scholarships are filed through the cultural wing of the French embassy or French embassy in India.
Phase 4 – Interviews & Selection
- Some schemes (for example, certain Franco Indian Education Trust awards) hold interviews or presentations.
- Be ready to explain your study in France plan, your career path, and why you chose that master’s program or PhD programs.
Phase 5 – Visa & Departure
- Once selected, use the scholarship letter to support your student visa application.
- Many schemes – including Charpak, some La Fémis film summer residency programme, and ENS Louis-Lumière – offer a student visa fee waiver and sometimes a Campus France fee waiver.
- Confirm what the scholarship covers on arrival: monthly stipend payment dates, housing help, and any local development institute based or alumni support.
Additional Financial Support for Indian Students
Even with strong scholarships to study in France, many Indian students still combine several sources of financial support.
1. Franco-Indian Education Trust & Partner Schemes
The Franco Indian Education Trust supports mobility of students, researchers and professionals in many fields, including arts, engineering, finance and social sciences.
Some examples give a good picture of how these France scholarships work in real life:
| Scheme (example) | Focus | Main benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Legrand Empowering Scholarship | Engineering & management | Co financed scholarship with a company; partial fees, monthly stipend, visa waiver |
| Shikhar Thales Scholarship | Engineering master programme | About €700 per month, visa and Campus France fee waivers |
| Amba Dalmia Scholarship | Arts (music, western classical music, cinema, theatre, sports) | Monthly support and visa fee waiver for Indian women |
There are also Film and New Media schemes with La Fémis and ENS Louis-Lumière, which support film and television students through a summer residency programme with monthly stipend, overseas medical insurance coverage, housing help and student visa fee waiver.
2. Local French & EU Support
- Regional authorities in France sometimes award scholarships or top-up mobility scholarships to foreign students, especially for specific sectors or for a study in France semester in their region.
- Certain cities and regions also provide discounts on student housing or transport for international students.
3. Education Loans and Loan Scholarships
Most Indian students still rely partly on education loans from Indian banks or NBFCs for remaining tuition fees and accommodation costs. Some Indian trusts and foundations also run loan scholarships, where part of the support is repayable after graduation. Combining these with a moderate monthly stipend from a scholarship can make your study abroad budget workable.
Wrapup
France has built a layered system of scholarships offered by the French government, universities, regional authorities, EU programmes and partners such as the Franco Indian Education Trust. Together they create a serious pool of international students scholarships for international students who want to study in France at higher education level – from bachelor’s degree to master’s program and PhD programs.
If you plan carefully, match the right scholarship program to your profile, and with the support of AOEC India, you can turn a complex funding puzzle into a clear, realistic plan to study in France with strong financial backing.
