France Scholarship for Indian Students & Tips to Get a Scholarship

Do you know French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has announced an ambitious plan for France to welcome 20,000 Indian students into the country by 2025? This initiative is expected to lead to a significant influx of Indian students studying in France. Besides being a tourist hotspot, it is equally known for its quality education and academic infrastructure. One can pursue higher studies in France at a lower price with hundreds of scholarship opportunities. The French embassy in India, French universities, business schools, and various organizations in France offer scholarships to almost 500 meritorious Indian students yearly who desire to pursue their post-graduation or PhD in France.

The French government believes that financial disadvantage must not be a barrier to education. That is why the nation invests yearly in education and research. The country has opened its door wide for Indian students to come and receive higher education in their chosen area of study with more than two hundred scholarship programs. Through this article let us better understand scholarships in France for Indian students.

Available France scholarship for Indian students

The French Foreign Ministry and the higher educational institutions in France award several deserving international students various prestigious scholarship opportunities. Almost every field of study has government and non-government scholarship programs for master's degrees, Ph.D., and internships. This means along with the typical streams like science, arts, engineering, and business, fields like law, films and new media, culinary studies, and many more, programs also award scholarships to students with excellent academic records. Special scholarships are available only for women pursuing higher education in some subjects. 

Scholarships are available for different subjects, degree programs, students with various social statuses, etc. Likewise, the number of France scholarships for Indian students and the competition for those scholarships are also very high. All of these competitive scholarships have different eligibility criteria and amount of facilities. Do proper research before choosing one to fund your studies in France. Given below is the list of France Scholarships available for Indian students: 

Eiffel Scholarships

• Merit-Based Scholarships are open to all International Students. 
• Masters and PhD courses across various universities.
• It usually opens in early October every year and closes by January next year.

The monthly allowance for PG programs is €1,181, and for research programs, the monthly allowance is €1,400. It includes health insurance, one return trip fare, and cultural activities. It may or may not have an accommodation allowance.

Ile-de-France Masters Scholarships

• Students of select French Universities in the Ile de France region apply for master's programs and are below 30 years.
• Master's degree in any field of study (except Specialized Masters and MBA)
• Opens in February and closes by the end of March

 A lump sum amount of up to €10,500 per student for the duration of the stay.

The Emile-Boutmy Scholarship / International Masters Mobility Scholarship

• Highly Meritorious students that apply for and get selected in Undergraduate and Master's programs in the universities that form the UPSC
• Bachelor's and Master's Degree
• Scholarship Applications for UG courses usually close by the end of April or the beginning of May. For PG courses, the applications close by March.
• At UG Level: Varies to about €7,300 per year for tuition and €5,000 per year towards living costs for the three years of study. It might also be given as a lump sum of €19,000 for the entire program. 
• For PG Level : Varies to about €10,000 per year to cover tuition fees and another €6,000 for living costs.

École Normale Supérieure

• Merit-Based Scholarships open to all International Students
• Master's Program at the University in either Sciences or Humanities
• Applications open in December and close by February of the following year

 Amount: €1000/month

Applications open in December and close by February of the following year.

Foundation of École Polytechnique Scholarships

The Ecole Polytechnique Foundation scholarships are awarded based on various factors, including financial need, academic merit, and diversity. The selection process involves a comprehensive assessment of the candidate's application, including a selection interview. The scholarships are deducted from the tuition fees, and candidates must be admitted to one of the master's programs to be eligible for the scholarship.

Ampere Scholarships of Excellence

• Exceptional international students applying to the university
• Master's Program in Exact Sciences, Arts, Human, and Social Sciences
• Applications open in December and close by February of the following year

Limited scholarships of  €1,000 per month for a 12-month duration.

Université de Lyon Masters Scholarships

• Exceptional international students applying to the university
• Master's Program at the university

The scholarship provides a monthly allowance of €1,000 for 10 months (from September to June).

All candidates admitted to the HEC Paris MBA program can apply for this scholarship based on merit, except those whose company or government sponsors over 50% of their tuition fees. The scholarship amount varies, and successful applicants can receive scholarships valued at up to 50% of the HEC Paris MBA's tuition fees. The awarded amount is subtracted from the final tuition fee payment made by the candidates. It is important to note that for Double Degree programs, the awarded amount will be calculated proportionally based on the specific arrangement.

INSEAD Scholarship

There are more than 150 available MBA scholarship funds. Students can apply for individual scholarships or specific scholarship groups when they access the portal. They can apply for a maximum of 5 scholarships, where applying for a scholarship group counts as a single application. Scholarship awards are deducted from the final tuition fee installment. For further details, please refer to the official website.

Popular France Scholarships for Indian Students

The government of France awards the Charpak Scholarship. This scholarship is for Indian students. It is named after the Nobel Prize winner, French physicist Georges Charpak. Public and private university students pursuing either under or post-graduation are eligible for this scholarship. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students involved in research projects on internships are also eligible for this scholarship.

Types of Charpak Scholarship:

• Charpak Lab Scholarship
• Charpak Master’s Scholarship
• Spring session Charpak Exchange Scholarship 
• Autumn session Charpak Exchange Scholarship 

Eiffel Scholarship Program of Excellence 

This is one of the most preferred scholarships to study in France for Indian students. The Eiffel Scholarship is a Master’s and Phd level scholarship program initiated by the French government to support diligent international students worldwide. Your university/institution will to apply on your behalf if you are eligible. Not only monthly stipends but awardees receive an additional allowance for other necessary expenses. A postgraduate student gets €1181 monthly, while a Phd student receives €1400 with an extra allowance. Ask your school for further information.

The Erasmus+ Scholarship

This France scholarship program for Indian students supports education and training programs and sports. It is a program to fund the studies of top international students to promote higher education in France.  Erasmus+ mobility scholarships also cover living expenses and accommodation expenditures.

Emile-Boutmy Scholarship

This scholarship is available for international students pursuing their Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in France. Emile-Boutmy Scholarship is an extremely competitive scholarship that Sciences Po Paris organizes. The scholarship program is named after Emile Boutmy, the founder of Sciences Po, a well-known university in Paris. The scholarship includes a tuition grant ranging from €3000 to €13000, depending on the academic year of the study program. Check the eligibility criteria from their official websites.

Tips on How to Get Scholarships to Study in France for Indian Students

The Embassy of France in India or French universities and special schools give most French scholarships to Indian students. You should aim to find the right one with maximum support and benefits. Here are some tips on how to get a scholarship to study in France.

1. When researching scholarship opportunities, it is important to consider various factors carefully. Start by examining the amount of remuneration the scholarships provide and the support they offer. Additionally, take note of the eligibility criteria to determine if you meet the requirements. Another crucial aspect to consider is the duration of the scholarship, specifically the period during which you would receive its benefits.
2. After completing your research, compile a list of the scholarship programs you believe would be a good fit for you. Consider factors such as the level of support provided and the scholarship duration. It is advisable to prioritize programs that offer substantial support for an extended period.
3. Once you have made your selection, proceed with the application process.
4. Take care to accurately complete the application form and ensure that you submit it along with all the required documents within the specified deadline. 
5. Pay attention to detail and avoid making mistakes that could negatively impact your chances of being considered for the scholarship.

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

• Fully Funded Scholarships in UK
• Fully Funded Scholarships in USA
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany
• Fully Funded Scholarships in New Zealand 
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Ireland
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Spain
• Fully Funded Scholarships in Singapore
• Fully Funded Scholarships in France