French Scholarships for Indian Students: 10 Best Options for 2026–27

French scholarships for Indian students include government awards, university grants, European Union funding, tuition waivers, and research fellowships. The main options include France Excellence Charpak, France Excellence Eiffel, Erasmus Mundus, the Université Paris-Saclay Scholarship, the Émile Boutmy Scholarship, and the Raman–Charpak Fellowship.

Indian students can use these scholarships to fund bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, exchange semesters, laboratory internships, and doctoral research in France.

However, every scholarship follows a different application route. Some accept direct applications. Some require admission before scholarship consideration. Others require a French university to nominate the student.

Important update: Most major scholarships for the 2026 academic intake had closed by July 28, 2026. Students targeting the 2027 intake should use the current eligibility rules and previous deadlines to prepare early. Always verify the next call on the linked official scholarship page.

French Scholarships for Indian Students at a Glance

The following table compares the main scholarships available to Indian students.

All amounts are approximate USD conversions. The calculations use the European Central Bank reference rate for July 27, 2026, under which one euro equaled USD 1.1389. Actual amounts can change because the scholarships are officially paid or awarded in euros.

Scholarship	Study level	Approximate funding	Main coverage	Application route	2026 status
France Excellence Charpak Master	Master’s	USD 979 per month	Living allowance, insurance, visa and Campus France fee exemptions, housing assistance	Direct application	Results finalized
France Excellence Charpak Bachelor	Bachelor’s	USD 979 per month	Living allowance, insurance, administrative benefits, housing assistance	Direct application	No 2026 applications accepted
Charpak Exchange	Bachelor’s or master’s exchange	USD 979 per month	Living allowance, social security, visa and Campus France fee waivers	Direct application after institutional nomination	Spring closed; autumn not offered
Charpak Summer Training	Laboratory internship	USD 797 per month	Allowance for up to two months and fee waivers	Direct application	Closed
France Excellence Eiffel	Master’s and PhD	USD 1,345 per month for master’s; USD 2,050 for PhD	Allowance, travel, insurance and selected services	French university nomination	Closed
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Master’s	Up to USD 1,594 per month	Participation costs, living allowance, travel and visa support	Direct application to consortium	Programme-specific
Université Paris-Saclay Scholarship	Master’s	USD 11,389 per year plus up to USD 1,025 for travel and visa	Living grant and travel support	University identifies eligible candidates	Closed
Émile Boutmy Scholarship	Bachelor’s and master’s	Up to full undergraduate tuition or USD 21,070 annual master’s tuition exemption	Tuition waiver	Apply with Sciences Po admission	2026 deadlines passed
ENS International Selection	Bachelor’s-to-master’s pathway	USD 1,139 per month	Monthly grant and an ENS campus room	Direct competitive application	Closed
Raman–Charpak Fellowship	PhD research mobility	USD 1,948 per month	Living expenses, airfare, insurance and research mobility	Direct bilateral research application	Current listed call closed

Which French Scholarship Is Best for Your Profile?

The best scholarship depends on the student’s study level, admission status, academic field, and preferred application route.

Applicant profile	Best scholarship options
Indian student applying after Class 12	Charpak Bachelor, Émile Boutmy Scholarship and university tuition awards
Indian student applying for a master’s degree	Charpak Master, Eiffel, Erasmus Mundus and Paris-Saclay
Student applying to Sciences Po	Émile Boutmy Scholarship
Student seeking a joint European degree	Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Student seeking a semester exchange	Charpak Exchange
Student seeking a laboratory internship	Charpak Summer Training
Indian PhD scholar seeking short research mobility	Raman–Charpak Fellowship
Master’s or PhD applicant with institutional support	Eiffel Scholarship
Student seeking tuition reduction rather than a stipend	Émile Boutmy or institutional merit scholarships
Student who missed the main government deadlines	University scholarships, tuition waivers and the next annual cycle

Students should not select a scholarship only because it has the highest monthly amount. A tuition waiver can provide greater total value than a living stipend when the degree has high tuition fees.

Students must compare the award with the total cost of their specific degree.

Are French Scholarships Fully Funded?

Some French scholarships provide comprehensive funding, but not every scholarship described as “fully funded” pays every expense.

A genuinely comprehensive award may include:

• Tuition or programme participation costs
• A monthly living allowance
• International travel
• Visa expenses
• Health insurance
• Local transportation
• Accommodation support
• Registration expenses

Scholarships with broad funding coverage

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship provides one of the broadest funding packages. The award can cover participation costs and contribute toward travel, visa expenses, and living costs. The scholarship can provide approximately USD 1,594 per month for a maximum of 24 months, depending on programme duration.

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship provides a monthly allowance and several direct services. It can cover international transport, domestic transport within France, insurance and cultural activities. However, Eiffel does not automatically function as a universal tuition waiver. Students must ask the nominating university whether tuition will remain payable.

The Raman–Charpak Fellowship covers a monthly research allowance, return economy airfare, insurance and eligible mobility expenses. It is comprehensive for a short research visit, but it does not fund an entire PhD degree.

Scholarships that provide partial funding

The Charpak scholarships provide a monthly allowance and important administrative benefits. They do not automatically pay every tuition charge or international travel expense.

The Université Paris-Saclay award provides USD 11,389 per academic year and up to approximately USD 1,025 for travel and visa expenses. The university does not guarantee accommodation, although it supports recipients during the housing search.

The Émile Boutmy Scholarship primarily reduces or removes Sciences Po tuition. Students must separately budget for accommodation, food, travel, insurance and personal expenses.

France Excellence Charpak Scholarship

The France Excellence Charpak Scholarship programme is the principal French government scholarship programme designed for Indian students.

The Embassy of France in India administers the programme through the French Institute in India and Campus France India.

Charpak has four categories:

1. Charpak Bachelor
2. Charpak Master
3. Charpak Exchange
4. Charpak Summer Training

Charpak Master Scholarship

The Charpak Master Scholarship supports one or two years of master’s study in France.

The programme accepts applicants from all academic disciplines. Students can apply for Master 1 or Master 2 programmes at eligible French institutions.

Charpak Master benefits

Recipients can receive:

• Approximately USD 979 per month
• French government scholarship-holder status
• Student visa fee exemption when applying from India
• Campus France procedure fee exemption
• Student social security
• Additional health coverage
• Assistance with finding affordable accommodation
• Access to subsidized university meals
• Campus France social and cultural activities

The scholarship does not cover travel between India and France. It also does not guarantee a full tuition waiver.

French government scholarship holders enrolled in qualifying national-diploma programmes at public institutions may receive an exemption from differentiated registration fees. The institution decides whether the exemption applies.

Charpak Master eligibility

An applicant must generally:

• Be an Indian citizen or OCI card holder
• Be 30 years old or younger
• Apply for a full-time master’s programme in France
• Have studied at a recognized higher education institution
• Apply to a French institution before submitting the scholarship application
• Complete the relevant degree period in France

French language knowledge can strengthen an application, but it is not a universal scholarship requirement.

Campus France India does not publish a fixed minimum CGPA or percentage. The selection committee evaluates academic excellence, consistency, the statement of purpose, and the applicant’s overall profile. The 2026 selection process also included online interviews.

Charpak Bachelor Scholarship

The Charpak Bachelor Scholarship supports Indian students admitted to full-time undergraduate programmes in France.

Recipients can receive approximately USD 979 per month, insurance support, visa and Campus France fee exemptions, housing assistance and subsidized university meals.

Applicants must satisfy the nationality, age, admission and academic requirements stated in the annual call. The Embassy of France in India did not accept applications for the 2026 Charpak Bachelor session. Students should monitor the official page for a future call.

Charpak Exchange Scholarship

The Charpak Exchange Scholarship supports Indian bachelor’s and master’s students completing an academic exchange semester in France.

The applicant must study at an Indian institution that has a formal partnership with the French host institution. The home institution must nominate the student for the exchange.

Recipients can receive approximately USD 979 per month, social-security support, visa and Campus France fee waivers, and assistance with accommodation.

A thesis, research project or internship does not qualify as a study exchange under this programme.

The spring 2026 application cycle is closed. The autumn 2026 competition was not offered.

Charpak Summer Training Scholarship

The Charpak Summer Training Scholarship supports short laboratory internships or research projects in France.

Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s programme at an Indian higher education institution. They must independently obtain an invitation from a French laboratory or institution.

The scholarship provides approximately USD 797 per month for a maximum of two months. It also includes a student visa fee waiver and a Campus France procedure fee waiver when applicable.

The award does not cover travel, medical expenses, travel insurance or accommodation assistance. The 2026 application cycle is closed.

France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship

The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is a French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs programme for high-achieving international students.

It supports selected master’s and doctoral candidates in priority academic fields.

Can Indian students apply directly for Eiffel?

No. A student cannot submit an Eiffel application directly to Campus France.

The French university or higher education institution must select and nominate the candidate. Applications submitted directly by students are not accepted.

Students should first identify French institutions offering their preferred programme. They should then ask each institution about its internal Eiffel nomination process.

University deadlines are normally earlier than the final Campus France deadline.

Eiffel Scholarship funding

Master’s recipients can receive approximately USD 1,345 per month.

Doctoral recipients can receive approximately USD 2,050 per month.

The programme can also provide:

• Round-trip international transportation
• Transportation to the first study location
• Transportation from the final study location to the departure airport
• Insurance coverage
• Assistance with housing
• Cultural activities

The Eiffel Scholarship does not automatically pay all tuition fees. Applicants must confirm the institution’s tuition policy before accepting an offer.

The final institutional deadline for the 2026 campaign was January 8, 2026. Individual universities imposed earlier internal deadlines.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme supports integrated master’s degrees delivered by international university consortia.

A programme can include a French university and institutions in one or more additional countries.

Erasmus Mundus funding

A full Erasmus Mundus scholarship can provide approximately USD 1,594 per month for up to 24 months.

It can also cover or contribute toward:

• Programme participation costs
• Tuition-related costs
• Travel
• Visa expenses
• Installation expenses
• Living expenses

Applicants apply directly to the consortium offering the joint master’s programme. They do not submit one general scholarship application to France or the European Commission.

Most student application periods take place between October and January, although every consortium sets its own deadline.

Who should apply?

Erasmus Mundus suits students who:

• Want an internationally integrated master’s degree
• Can study in more than one country
• Have a strong academic profile
• Can explain their interest in the consortium’s specialization
• Can prepare applications well before January

Students should confirm that the selected programme includes study in France when France is a personal requirement.

Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarship

The Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarship supports outstanding international students admitted to eligible master’s programmes.

The university particularly targets students who may later pursue doctoral research.

Paris-Saclay funding

The scholarship provides:

• Approximately USD 11,389 per academic year
• Payment across ten months
• Up to approximately USD 1,025 for travel and visa expenses
• Administrative support
• Accommodation-search assistance

The award does not provide an advance payment. Recipients receive funding after arriving in France and completing registration.

Paris-Saclay eligibility

Applicants must generally:

• Hold a foreign nationality
• Be admitted to an eligible Paris-Saclay master’s programme
• Be under 30 during the application year
• Be entering French higher education for the first time, subject to stated exceptions
• Not receive incompatible funding

Both Master 1 and Master 2 programmes can qualify. An award granted in Master 1 can renew automatically for Master 2 when the recipient earns the required credits and enters an eligible Paris-Saclay M2 programme.

Students do not initiate a standard open scholarship application. Programme coordinators identify eligible admitted candidates. Selected students then receive an invitation to complete the scholarship form.

The 2026 scholarship application deadline for invited candidates was March 31, 2026.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship at Sciences Po

The Émile Boutmy Scholarship supports high-achieving students from outside the European Union.

Indian students can qualify when their family’s tax residence is outside the European Union and they meet the admission requirements.

Émile Boutmy Scholarship amount

Undergraduate recipients can receive:

• A full Sciences Po tuition exemption, or
• A tuition exemption worth approximately USD 10,820

Master’s recipients can receive a tuition exemption of approximately USD 21,070 per year for each of the two master’s years.

This scholarship is a tuition award. It does not automatically provide a monthly living stipend.

How to apply

Applicants must indicate their interest in the Émile Boutmy Scholarship within the financial-information section of the Sciences Po admission application.

Students cannot apply after admission or after beginning their studies.

The scholarship is based on merit and the type of academic profile sought by Sciences Po. Applicants must first receive admission before Sciences Po makes a final scholarship decision.

For the 2026 intake, the foreign-secondary-school undergraduate deadline was January 20, 2026. Master’s applications were assessed through the institution’s stated committee deadlines.

ENS International Selection Scholarship

The ENS International Selection is a highly competitive pathway for international students in science or arts and humanities.

Successful candidates receive:

• Approximately USD 1,139 per month
• Funding for 36 months
• A room on an ENS campus
• Access to the ENS academic and research environment

Applicants must satisfy age, prior-study and international-enrolment conditions. The selection process can include document screening, written assessments and interviews.

Applications for the 2026 selection ran from October 1 to December 3, 2025. Students interested in the next competition should begin preparing transcripts, academic work, recommendations and subject-specific materials before the next annual application window.

Raman–Charpak Fellowship

The Raman–Charpak Fellowship is a bilateral research-mobility programme administered by the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research.

The fellowship allows Indian doctoral researchers to complete part of their research at a French university or research institute.

Raman–Charpak funding

Indian fellows can receive:

• Approximately USD 1,948 per month
• Return economy airfare
• Travel and health insurance
• Social-security support
• Eligible conference or workshop assistance

The research visit normally lasts between two and five months.

Raman–Charpak eligibility

An Indian applicant must generally:

• Be an Indian citizen residing in India
• Be in the second or third year of a PhD
• Be registered at a recognized Indian institution
• Be no older than 30 on the annual reference date
• Obtain institutional authorization
• Develop a project with a suitable French research host

Eligible fields include engineering, physical sciences, chemistry, life sciences, medicine, environmental sciences, agriculture, mathematics and computational sciences.

The official CEFIPRA page currently lists the Indian doctoral call as closed.

Other Scholarships and Tuition Waivers

Indian students should not limit their search to nationally recognized programmes.

French universities, engineering schools and business schools regularly provide institutional awards.

Examples can include:

• Academic excellence scholarships
• Early-application tuition reductions
• Women-in-science fellowships
• Subject-specific grants
• Partner-university scholarships
• Alumni-funded awards
• Corporate scholarships
• Embassy co-financed awards

Campus France India maintains an institutional scholarship directory with examples from French universities and schools.

Students can also search the official Campus Bourses scholarship database. The database allows applicants to filter awards by nationality, level of study, subject and funding organisation.

Co-financed French Embassy scholarships

The Embassy of France in India partners with selected universities, foundations and companies.

Depending on the programme, a co-financed award can provide:

• A tuition reduction
• A monthly stipend
• French government scholarship-holder status
• Social-security coverage
• Visa fee exemption
• Campus France fee exemption
• Assistance with CROUS accommodation

The EDHEC–French Embassy co-financed scholarship, for example, has included a 50% tuition waiver and administrative benefits for selected students. Availability can change with each intake.

Eligibility Requirements for Scholarships in France

Every scholarship has separate rules. However, French scholarship committees commonly evaluate the following attributes.

Nationality

Some programmes are created specifically for Indian citizens and OCI card holders. Other programmes accept applicants from all non-European or international countries.

Applicants must check whether eligibility depends on citizenship, residence or household tax status.

Age

Charpak programmes commonly use a maximum age of 30.

Eiffel, ENS, Paris-Saclay and research fellowships apply separate age conditions. The reference date can be the application year, campaign opening date or another date stated in the regulations.

Academic performance

Scholarship committees evaluate grades, subject performance and academic consistency.

A programme may not publish a minimum CGPA. This does not mean grades are unimportant.

For example, Charpak states that it has no fixed CGPA or percentage cut-off. Academic excellence, consistency, the SOP and the applicant’s overall profile still influence selection.

Admission status

Admission requirements differ by scholarship:

Scholarship	Admission relationship
Charpak Master	Student applies to a French institution before applying for the scholarship
Eiffel	French institution admits or selects the student and submits the nomination
Erasmus Mundus	Student applies to the degree consortium and scholarship together
Paris-Saclay	Programme coordinator identifies eligible admitted applicants
Émile Boutmy	Student requests consideration within the Sciences Po application
Raman–Charpak	Student establishes a research project with a French host

Language proficiency

French is not universally required.

Students can obtain scholarships for English-taught programmes when the degree accepts English-language evidence. The university may request IELTS, TOEFL or another approved test.

A French-taught programme may require DELF, DALF, TCF or institution-specific evidence.

The scholarship’s language rules do not replace the degree programme’s admission requirements.

Documents Required

Students should prepare a master document folder before applications open.

Commonly required documents include:

Document	Why it matters
Passport	Confirms identity, nationality and passport validity
OCI card	Establishes OCI eligibility where accepted
Class 10 and Class 12 records	Shows the student’s academic foundation
University transcripts	Demonstrates performance and subject preparation
Degree or provisional certificate	Confirms the required prior qualification
Curriculum vitae	Summarizes education, employment, research and activities
Statement of purpose	Explains academic purpose and scholarship fit
Motivation letter	Connects the applicant with the specific programme
Admission letter	Confirms an eligible place at a French institution
Recommendation letters	Provide independent evidence of academic potential
Language certificate	Proves the required study-language ability
Employment records	Support claims about professional experience
Research proposal	Defines the question, method and host collaboration
Invitation letter	Confirms a laboratory, internship or research host
No-objection certificate	Confirms approval from the Indian institution
Income documents	Establish financial need where relevant

Applicants should use clear scans and consistent names, dates and degree titles.

Campus France India specifies that Charpak applications must use accepted PDF or image formats. Screenshots, compressed folders and unsupported document formats can cause rejection.

How to Apply for a French Scholarship from India

Step 1: Select the degree before the scholarship

Choose the academic programme first.

A scholarship application is stronger when the student can clearly explain why the degree, university and country support a defined academic or career objective.

Step 2: Identify the correct application route

Determine whether the scholarship uses:

• Direct application
• University nomination
• Admission-linked consideration
• Consortium application
• Bilateral research-host application

Applying through the wrong route can make an otherwise strong candidate ineligible.

Step 3: Check the current official call

Review:

• Opening date
• Closing date
• Time zone
• Age reference date
• Eligible degree level
• Eligible disciplines
• Required admission status
• Coverage and exclusions
• Document formats
• Result date

Do not rely only on scholarship-listing websites. Use the official link for the current campaign.

Step 4: Apply for admission early

Many scholarships require an admission offer or an active admission application.

Eiffel candidates must contact universities even earlier because the institution must complete an internal selection before the Campus France deadline.

Step 5: Prepare a scholarship-specific SOP

The SOP should explain:

1. The applicant’s academic foundation
2. The reason for selecting the programme
3. The reason for studying in France
4. The relevance of the scholarship
5. The applicant’s career plan
6. The potential France–India impact
7. The applicant’s evidence of merit

Do not submit one generic SOP to every scholarship.

Charpak currently states that applications undergo plagiarism checks. The official page also warns that applications containing significant AI-generated content can be disqualified. Applicants should therefore write an authentic statement based on their own experience.

Step 6: Request recommendations early

Select referees who can discuss specific academic, professional or research achievements.

A detailed letter from a professor or supervisor usually provides more value than a generic letter from a senior person who knows little about the applicant’s work.

Step 7: Submit before the final day

Scholarship platforms can experience technical problems near the deadline.

Students should submit early enough to identify missing files, incorrect formats or incomplete recommendation forms.

Step 8: Prepare for selection interviews

An interview can evaluate:

• Academic preparation
• Programme knowledge
• Motivation for France
• Career planning
• Communication
• Scholarship need
• Evidence behind the SOP
• Understanding of the selected subject

Answers should remain consistent with the written application.

French Scholarship Application Timeline

Indian students should begin preparation 10 to 14 months before the intended start of study.

Period before enrolment	Recommended action
14–12 months	Research degrees, universities and funding options
12–10 months	Take language tests and prepare the CV
10–8 months	Apply to universities and contact Eiffel coordinators
8–6 months	Complete early Erasmus Mundus and institutional applications
6–4 months	Submit Charpak or university scholarship applications
4–3 months	Attend interviews and monitor results
3–2 months	Accept admission, arrange remaining funds and find housing
2–1 months	Complete Campus France and student visa procedures
Before departure	Confirm registration, insurance, travel and accommodation

Dates vary every year. Students should create a separate deadline calendar for each university and scholarship.

Scholarship Funding Gap

A scholarship award does not automatically prove that a student can afford the entire degree.

Students must calculate:

Total available funding – tuition – accommodation – food – travel – insurance – deposits – personal expenses = remaining balance

Typical funding gaps

Scholarship type	Possible remaining expenses
Monthly stipend without tuition waiver	Tuition, travel and initial housing deposit
Tuition waiver without stipend	Rent, food, insurance, travel and personal expenses
Short research fellowship	Degree tuition and expenses outside the mobility period
Travel allowance paid after arrival	Flight and visa expenses that must initially be paid by the student
Accommodation assistance	Rent remains payable and housing is not guaranteed

Students should ask the university whether the scholarship can be combined with another award.

Paris-Saclay, for example, restricts recipients from holding specified incompatible scholarships or receiving other funding above the stated threshold. Sciences Po applies its own combination rules to the Émile Boutmy Scholarship.

Campus France and Student Visa Process

A scholarship and a university admission are separate from the legal permission to study in France.

Indian students must follow the applicable Campus France and France-Visas student procedure.

For a programme longer than three months, a student generally needs a long-stay visa that functions as a residence permit, subject to post-arrival validation.

The visa file normally requires proof of enrolment, accommodation information and evidence of sufficient financial resources.

A scholarship certificate can support the financial file. It does not automatically remove every documentary requirement. Students must use the France-Visas assistant to identify the exact documents for their circumstances.

Certain scholarship holders can receive Campus France and visa fee exemptions. Campus France India lists Charpak, Eiffel, Erasmus Mundus, selected co-financed scholarships and other French government awards among the relevant categories. VFS service charges may still apply.

Can Scholarship Students Work in France?

Eligible non-European students with the correct student residence status can generally work up to 964 hours per year.

The limit corresponds to approximately 60% of standard annual working time in France.

Employment should remain a secondary source of income. France-Visas warns that part-time work is not sufficient to cover all student expenses.

Scholarship recipients must also review the conditions of their specific award.

Some scholarships restrict apprenticeships, professional training contracts, long absences or activities that conflict with the funded academic programme.

What to Do If the Scholarship Deadline Has Passed

A missed deadline does not end every funding option.

Students can:

• Search Campus Bourses for programme-specific awards
• Contact the university’s international office
• Request information about tuition exemptions
• Compare public universities with lower fees
• Apply for co-financed scholarships
• Check business-school merit awards
• Search for funded doctoral contracts
• Consider an education loan or loan scholarship
• Prepare for the next annual Charpak, Eiffel or Erasmus Mundus cycle
• Apply to universities outside Paris to reduce living costs

Students should label each funding source correctly.

A scholarship does not require repayment. An education loan must be repaid. A tuition waiver only reduces fees. A fellowship may fund research rather than a complete degree.

How to Avoid Scholarship Scams

A legitimate French scholarship should be traceable to a government, university, European Union programme, foundation or recognized organisation.

Use this verification checklist:

• Confirm the scholarship on an official website
• Verify the current application year
• Check the official eligibility rules
• Confirm the correct application portal
• Compare the deadline across official documents
• Avoid agents promising guaranteed selection
• Do not pay an unofficial scholarship-processing fee
• Check the sender’s email domain
• Read the scholarship’s exclusions
• Save a copy of the official call
• Contact the university or funding organisation when uncertain

No legitimate organisation can guarantee that an applicant will receive a competitive scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which French scholarship is best for Indian students?

The best option depends on the applicant’s level and funding needs. Charpak Master is a strong India-specific option for master’s students. Eiffel suits university-nominated candidates. Erasmus Mundus provides broad funding for joint degrees. Émile Boutmy is valuable for students seeking a Sciences Po tuition waiver.

2. Can Indian students study in France on a fully funded scholarship?

Yes. Indian students can receive comprehensive funding through programmes such as Erasmus Mundus, Eiffel and selected research fellowships. However, coverage differs. Students must check whether the award pays tuition, travel, accommodation and insurance rather than assuming that a monthly stipend covers every study expense.

3. Is the Charpak Scholarship fully funded?

Charpak provides substantial financial and administrative support, but it does not automatically cover every cost. The main degree and exchange categories provide a monthly allowance, insurance, fee exemptions and housing assistance. International travel and some tuition expenses can remain the student’s responsibility.

4. Who is eligible for the Charpak Master Scholarship?

An applicant generally must be an Indian citizen or OCI card holder, be 30 or younger and pursue a full-time master’s programme in France. Applicants must apply to a French institution before the scholarship application. Academic quality, consistency, the SOP and the overall profile affect selection.

5. Can Indian students receive a France scholarship after Class 12?

Yes. Indian students can apply for undergraduate funding through Charpak Bachelor, the Sciences Po Émile Boutmy Scholarship and university-specific tuition awards. Availability changes annually. Students should confirm admission rules, age limits, language requirements and whether the scholarship is open for the intended intake.

6. Can students apply directly for the Eiffel Scholarship?

No. Students cannot submit an Eiffel application directly to Campus France. A French higher education institution must select and nominate each candidate. Students should apply to eligible universities early and contact their programme coordinator or international office to ask about the institution’s internal nomination process.

7. Is IELTS required for scholarships in France?

IELTS is not required by every scholarship. The degree programme determines the main language requirement. An English-taught programme may accept IELTS, TOEFL or another form of evidence. A French-taught programme may require DELF, DALF or TCF. Applicants must satisfy both admission and scholarship conditions.

8. Can I receive a French scholarship without speaking French?

Yes. Many French universities offer English-taught degrees, and several scholarships do not make French proficiency mandatory. French knowledge can still strengthen integration and daily life. Applicants must confirm the teaching language and provide the language evidence requested by the university offering the degree.

9. What GPA is required for a scholarship in France?

There is no single GPA requirement for all French scholarships. Some programmes publish a minimum. Others, including Charpak, state that no fixed CGPA or percentage cut-off applies. Selection committees still compare academic performance, consistency, programme fit, recommendations, motivation and the quality of the application.

10. Do I need an admission letter before applying for a scholarship?

The requirement depends on the award. Charpak normally expects an admission letter or evidence that admission is being processed. Eiffel requires university nomination. Paris-Saclay identifies candidates through admission. Erasmus Mundus combines degree and scholarship consideration through the consortium. Students must check the official sequence.

11. Does a French scholarship remove the visa proof-of-funds requirement?

Not automatically. A scholarship certificate can establish part or all of the student’s available financial resources. The visa authority can still request supporting documents related to funding, enrolment and accommodation. Students should use the official France-Visas assistant for a personalized document list.

12. Can scholarship students work part-time in France?

Eligible non-European students can generally work up to 964 hours per year with the appropriate student residence status. Scholarship conditions may impose additional restrictions. Students should not rely on employment as their main financial plan because part-time earnings may not cover tuition, rent and living expenses.

Conclusion

French scholarships for Indian students cover several forms of academic mobility.

The France Excellence Charpak programme provides India-specific support for bachelor’s, master’s, exchange and laboratory-training applicants. The Eiffel Scholarship supports university-nominated master’s and doctoral candidates. Erasmus Mundus provides broad support for international joint master’s degrees.

Université Paris-Saclay, Sciences Po and ENS offer competitive institutional awards. The Raman–Charpak Fellowship supports Indian doctoral researchers undertaking short research visits in France.

Students should begin with the degree, identify the correct scholarship application route and verify every deadline on the official website.