France Excellence-Major Scholarship
The France Excellence Major scholarship enables recent international graduates from French high schools around the world to pursue higher education in France.
The France Excellence-Major scheme supports around 800 international students throughout five years of study in France (Bac+5: Master’s 2 degree or equivalent).
Application process
Terminale students wishing to apply must first be shortlisted by the headteacher of their French international high school. The application, submitted online by the pupil via a dedicated portal, will be assessed by the cooperation and cultural action services of the French Embassy in the relevant country. It will then be examined by the AEFE, which will submit it to a committee comprising higher education specialists and representatives from institutions of excellence (preparatory classes for the grandes écoles – grandes écoles – universities), as well as representatives from the AEFE and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Selection criteria
- Academic achievement
- A coherent career plan
- Involvement in school life or extracurricular activities
- Motivation to pursue a demanding higher education programme in France.
- The selection committee for France Excellence Major scholarships is organised by the AEFE every year in May.
- The final decision to award a scholarship to candidates selected by the committee is conditional upon obtaining the baccalaureate with the distinction ‘très bien’ and confirmation of enrolment in the course of study specified in the application.
Scholarship amount
For scholarship recipients selected from 2023 onwards:
Three levels of scholarship are awarded depending on family circumstances:
- the social security scholarship (supplementary health insurance),
- the France Excellence Major scholarship (Level 1) (monthly allowance of €280 per month),
- the France Excellence Major scholarship (Level 2) (monthly allowance of €860 per month).
All France Excellence Major scholarship recipients are automatically enrolled in the mutual insurance scheme offered by Campus France, which supplements the reimbursement of healthcare costs.
Scholarship recipients at rates 1 or 2 are also eligible for specific additional benefits (coverage of return travel costs, booking of university accommodation through the CROUS, etc.).