Scholarships in France for Indian Students (2026-27 Guide)

Indian students can access several scholarships for studying in France, including the France Excellence Charpak Scholarship, the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, Erasmus Mundus awards, and merit scholarships from individual grandes écoles, with the Charpak offering up to €860 a month in living costs exclusively to Indian nationals. This guide walks you through how each scholarship works, when to apply, and how to make your Statement of Purpose stand out.

France offers Indian students funding opportunities that most other nationalities can’t access, including the Charpak Scholarship. These awards don’t just cover living expenses; they often include visa fee waivers, health insurance, and housing assistance too.

Whether you’re aiming for a master’s in engineering or an MBA at a top business school, knowing when and how to apply gives you a genuine competitive edge. If you’re still weighing up the destination itself, our guide on why Indian students choose France is worth reading alongside this one.

What Scholarships Are Available to Indian Students in France?

The French Embassy in India funds the France Excellence Charpak Scholarship, the flagship financial aid programme designed exclusively for Indian nationals. It supports academic mobility between the two countries across several levels of study, provided you meet the standard entry requirements for studying in France for your chosen level.

Unlike university-specific waivers, this is an external grant that covers living costs and administrative benefits rather than tuition fees directly.

Charpak Master’s Scholarship

The Charpak Master’s track is awarded to Indian students admitted to a full-time master’s programme in France. Recipients receive a monthly living allowance of €860, roughly ₹95,571, along with a student visa fee waiver, a Campus France procedure fee waiver, and health insurance. Scholars also get priority access to affordable student housing through CROUS, the French public organisation that manages student housing and dining.

To be eligible, applicants must be 30 years old or younger, and the scholarship can’t be used for a semester exchange or a pure research project. There’s no strict minimum CGPA, but selection is highly competitive and based on academic excellence and a strong Statement of Purpose.

Charpak Bachelor’s Scholarship

This track is open to Indian students aged 23 or younger who are admitted to a full-time undergraduate programme in France, offering the same €860 monthly stipend and administrative fee waivers as the master’s track.

The bachelor’s session doesn’t open every year, so it’s worth checking the official Campus France India portal for an active call before relying on this award in your financial planning.

Charpak Exchange and Summer Training

The Charpak Exchange and Lab programmes offer short-term support for students enrolled at Indian institutions who want to spend a short stint in France. The Charpak Lab, or Summer Training track, provides €700 a month for short research internships, usually running from May to August for one to two months.

For this track, you’ll need an invitation letter from a French laboratory or institution before applying.

What Government-Funded Scholarships Can Indian Students Apply For?

If you don’t secure the Charpak scholarship, there are other prestigious French government awards worth considering.

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is a premier, merit-based award designed to attract top international students to master’s and PhD programmes. You can’t apply for it directly, you must be nominated by the French institution where you’ve secured admission.

From January 2026, the monthly allowance is €1,200 for master’s students and €2,000 for PhD candidates, covering tuition fees and living expenses alongside return airfare, health insurance, and cultural outings. Master’s candidates must be 29 or younger, while PhD applicants must be 35 or younger.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees

While not exclusive to France or to Indian students, Erasmus Mundus is worth considering if you’re open to France as part of a wider European study experience. These fully funded scholarships cover tuition, travel, and a monthly living allowance for master’s programmes delivered across multiple European universities.

Since they’re broader EU-wide awards, they’re highly competitive and require an exceptional academic profile.

What University-Specific Scholarships Are Available?

Beyond government funding, French institutions offer substantial financial aid of their own to attract diverse, high-calibre international students. Most grandes écoles and top business schools run their own merit scholarships, typically assessed automatically during admissions or through a supplementary application essay.

University-specific awards often come as partial tuition fee reductions rather than cash stipends. Since exact amounts and eligibility criteria change every academic year, it’s worth checking directly with the institution before relying on these figures. It’s also worth reviewing the full cost of studying in France so you know exactly how far a partial award actually stretches.

When Do France Scholarship Deadlines Fall?

Scholarship deadlines in France don’t follow one single calendar, and several major awards close well before the September intake itself, so it’s worth working backwards from these dates rather than your university deadline alone.

These dates are indicative and shift slightly each year, so always confirm current deadlines on the Campus France India website before finalising your plans.

How Do You Apply for a Scholarship in France, Step by Step?

1. Confirm your entry requirements and shortlist universities. StudyIn helps you match your academic profile to programmes with genuine scholarship potential before you apply.
2. Apply to the university first. Most scholarships, including Charpak and Eiffel, require an active admission offer or an in-progress application, and our counsellors help you time this correctly against scholarship deadlines.
3. Build your scholarship case into your Statement of Purpose. StudyIn reviews your SOP specifically for the narrative selection committees look for, not just general application polish.
4. Submit your scholarship application through the right channel, whether that’s Campus France India, Études en France, or a university-managed nomination. We help you track which route applies to your specific award.
5. Prepare for your visa application in parallel. Once you’re confirmed, our France student visa guide covers the next steps, and a confirmed scholarship can genuinely strengthen your visa file.

What Happens if You Don’t Get a Scholarship?

Not winning a scholarship is a common outcome, given how competitive government funding is. Studying in France still remains genuinely accessible if you have a strategic backup plan in place.

• Part-time work rights: international students in France can legally work up to 964 hours a year, around 20 hours a week, which can meaningfully offset monthly living expenses, particularly in cities outside Paris.
• Education loans: many Indian students finance their studies through dedicated education loans, and French degrees, especially in STEM and business, tend to have strong employability outcomes that support this investment.
• Family sponsorship: you can use personal savings or family sponsorship to meet the financial requirements for your student visa, since you’ll need to show sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, as outlined in our France student visa guide.
• Paid internships (alternance): certain courses offer an alternance track, letting you alternate between studying and working for a company that pays your tuition and a monthly salary, provided the internship runs beyond two months.

Find France Scholarships

Navigating scholarships and alternative funding options is easier with the right guidance.

StudyIn provides full-cycle application support, helping you position your profile for admissions, funding, and visa success together, rather than treating them as separate steps.

FAQs

Can I apply for Charpak and Eiffel at the same time?

Yes, Indian students can apply for both scholarships simultaneously. However, you can’t hold both awards at once, so if selected for both, you’ll need to choose one and decline the other.

Is there a minimum percentage required for the Charpak scholarship?

There’s no strict minimum percentage or CGPA required. The selection committee evaluates your overall profile, prioritising academic consistency and the strength of your Statement of Purpose.

Do scholarships cover the entire cost of studying in France?

Most scholarships, including Charpak and Eiffel, provide a monthly living stipend and administrative benefits but don’t cover tuition fees. You’ll need to budget separately for tuition, especially at a private business school or engineering college.

What happens if I don’t win a scholarship?

You can fund your studies through education loans, family sponsorship, or part-time work. International students can work up to 964 hours a year to help cover living expenses.

Can I use AI tools to write my scholarship Statement of Purpose?

No. The French Embassy uses plagiarism and AI-detection checks, and an AI-generated essay can lead to immediate disqualification.