EIFFEL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE 2019

Deadline: 11 January 2019
Publication of results: week of March 25th 2019

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program is awarded to two types of studies:
– Masters level, for a duration between 12 and 36 months;
– Doctorate or PhD level, for research periods in France of up to 12 months, as part of a cotutelle or joint doctoral thesis supervision (preferably in 2nd year of PhD).

PRESENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
1. Objectives of the Eiffel Program
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract top foreign students to enrol in their masters and PhD programs.
It gives opportunity to the future foreign decision-makers of the private and public sectors, in priority areas of study, and encourages applicants from developing countries at master’s level, and from developing and industrialized countries at PhD level.

2. Fields of study
Eiffel scholarships are available in four main fields:
– Law studies;
– Economics and management;
– Engineering sciences at master’s level, Science in a broad sense at PhD level
(engineering sciences; exact sciences: mathematics, physics, chemistry and life
sciences, nano and biotechnology, earth sciences, sciences of the universe,
environmental sciences, information and communication science and technology);
– Political sciences.

Duration of the scholarship
 Master’s level
The scholarship is awarded for:
– a maximum of 12 months for entry at Master 2 level,
– a maximum of 24 months for entry at Master 1 level,
– a maximum of 36 months for an engineering degree

It is awarded on the condition that the student complies with the academic requirements of each academic year.
Should the student wish to take an intensive language course beforehand, the Eiffel scholarship duration can be extended by a maximum of two months, if this is clearly indicated in the application. The Eiffel scholarship does not cover the cost of such language courses.

PhD level
The Eiffel scholarship is awarded for a maximum of 12 months. With the approval of the Selection Commission, the scholarship can be divided into 2 or 3 periods in France of 3 or 4 months each. The scholarship can be divided over a maximum of 3 calendar years.
Only law students can take French language courses alongside their studies. This must be clearly requested in the application. If the language course is not clearly requested in the application, it will not be granted afterwards.

Benefits of the scholarship
Master’s level

The Eiffel scholarship consist of a monthly allowance of €1,181 (a maintenance allowance of €1,031 and a monthly stipend of €150). In addition, the following benefits are covered:
– International transport2
: a round-trip international ticket Country of origin – France;
– National transport: a train ticket to the first study location; a train ticket from the last study location to the airport for the return to the country of origin;
– Local transport: reimbursement of up to a maximum of €50 of the trip between the airport or train station and the first study location (taxi or public transport);
– Health insurance by Campus France, for the time needed to register to French Social Security, for students from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA);
– Mutual health insurance (mutuelle);
– Cultural activities.
Subject to certain conditions, students may also benefit from a housing allowance, within the 3 months following signature of the housing contract.

 PhD level
The Eiffel scholarship includes a monthly allowance of €1,400. In addition, the following benefits are covered:

– International transport: a round-trip international ticket Country of origin – France;
– National transport: a train ticket to the first study location; a train ticket from the last study location to the airport for the return to the country of origin;
– Local transport: reimbursement of up to a maximum of €50 of the trip between the airport or train station and the first study location (taxi or public transport);
– Health insurance by Campus France, for the time needed to register to French Social Security, for students from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA);
– Mutual health insurance (mutuelle);
– Cultural activities.

SELECTION PROCESS
6. Eligibility
– Nationality: this program is reserved for non-French nationals. Candidates with two nationalities, one of which is French, are not eligible.
– Age: for master’s level, candidates must be no older than 30 on the date of the 2019 Campaign, that is, students born after March 1988. At PhD level, candidates must be  Page 5 of 8 no older than 35 on the date of the 2019 Campaign, that is, students born after March 1983.
– Origin of applications: only applications submitted by French educational institutions are accepted. These institutions commit to enrolling scholarship holders on the academic program for which they have been selected. Applications submitted by any other means shall not be considered. Furthermore, any candidate nominated by more than one institution shall be disqualified.
– Levels of study: scholarships are granted to candidates wishing to enrol on a master’s program, including at an engineering school, and for PhD students. The Eiffel Program does not apply to French-run master’s programs abroad.
The Eiffel scholarship does not apply to training under an apprenticeship contract or a professional training contract.
– Scholarship incompatibilities: foreign students who, at the time of application, have already been awarded a French government scholarship from another Program, are not eligible, even if the scholarship only covers health insurance.

Participation of French embassies
The Services of Cooperation and Cultural Action (SCAC) of the French embassies may be requested by institutions to help them identify and pre-select the best candidates from their respective countries.
For the master degree, they give their opinion on the applications of candidates from the country in which they are located.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has assigned the management of the Eiffel Program to Campus France.
For more information, please go to: http://www.campusfrance.org/en/eiffel Any question on practical issues can be addressed to:candidatures.eiffel@campusfrance.org