Funding and Fees
University and Specialised School Fees
France heavily subsidises its higher education system and it is one of the least expensive in terms of fees in all of Europe.
Most foreign students enrolled at public institutions pay the same fees as French students, unless they are enrolled as part of an exchange program (where for example you would pay fees to your Australian institution instead), or as part of a co-tutelle (a thesis jointly supervised and undertaken at an Australian, and European institution).
The fees you are likely to be liable for are therefore the same as those of French students and these consist primarily of “registration fees”. In 2006 the average annual fees were 211€ for a Master’s degree and €320 for a Doctorate, although at some public institutions, such as institutes of political science, the fee can be up to €6500. In another example Engineering Schools were charging €500.
Funding yourself – Scholarships and Financial aid
Scholarships are administered by Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, generally through French embassies, and are open to all international students.
In Australia, the email contact for higher education (study and scholarships) is education@ambafrance-au.org
By virtue of their nationality or status certain foreign students may also be eligible for financial assistance from the French Ministry of Education: travel grants, means-based scholarships, financial aid for doctoral studies (research grant). Refer here for more information, particularly if you hold joint-citizenship.
General Scholarship types
- Study scholarship. The “study scholarship” is granted to students registered in the regular curriculum of a French higher education institution in order to obtain a diploma granted by that institution.
- Training grants. The “training grant”, for 3 to 12 months, is awarded in view of a training program, further training, retraining or specialized studies related to a professional activity. It may also consist of a short-term language study grant or teacher-training grant for training programs recognized by the Ministry of Education.
- Visiting scholar fellowship. The “visiting scholar fellowship”, generally for three months, is awarded in the framework of high-level cultural, scientific, technical or industrial research and exchange programs.
Other Scholarships
- Eiffel Merit Scholarships. This program is addressed at top-ranking foreign students seeking to continue their higher education in France, at upper undergraduate or graduate level. They are available in three major fields: engineering, economics and management, law and political science. Candidates must be proposed by the French institutions which have already accepted them. For more information, please refer here
- Eiffel Doctorate Merit Fellowships. This program concerns doctoral candidates preparing dissertations jointly supervised by their home institution and a French higher education institution. It allows foreign doctoral candidates to spend one year in France (preferably the second or third year of their dissertations). For more information, please refer here
- Joint doctoral programs (new). These programs involving French and foreign take the form of student exchanges at doctoral level for the preparation of jointly supervised dissertations. In addition to their basic funding participants may receive an allowance from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For more information, please refer here
- Major Merit Scholarships. The Major program complements the merit scholarships which the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) offers foreign alumni of Lycées Français abroad. For more information please refer here
- Charcot program fellowships. It offers annual one-year training fellowships for clinical research in 5 hospital units (Strasbourg, Lyon, Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux). Candidates must be under 40 years old and French or English speaking; they should have research professor (or future research professor) status in their country of residence abroad. For more information please refer here
European programs
- Socrates/Erasmus and Leonardo programs. Permit mobility grants for students pursuing studies or training courses in another country of the European Union. For more information, please refer here
- Erasmus Mundus program. This program consists of top-quality integrated courses at Masters level which are offered by at least three higher-education institutions in three different European countries to third-country students (outside the EU). The courses involve a period of study in at least two of the three universities and lead to a recognized double, multiple or joint diploma. Each Erasmus Mundus master program offers scholarships for students coming from outside the European Union. The Australian students interested in applying for these scholarships have to contact the universities managing the Erasmus Mundus masters. The list of the programs selected and funded by the European Union and the contacts for the programs are on the following websites: Europa.eu or Delaus.cec
Related information on scholarships and financial assistance for Australians to study abroad.
For Australian students, the Australian government has created in 2005 the OS-HELP program which gives loans to finance semesters abroad study projects. For more information see here
The assistantship program can provide an opportunity for Australian students to live and work in France and New Caledonia, or for French students to live and work in Australia. If the applicant can show a proof of pre-enrolment in an university or if his/her home universities has a partnership with an university in the other country, the applicant may ask to get priority posting in the town where the university is located and should be able to follow some courses at this university. Applicants are normally language students, teaching students or teachers, and the successful candidate generally works as a language assistant in a French or New Caledonian school. For more information go here
In addition to all of the above you should also of course check the Joint Academic Scholarship Online Network
Joint scholarships and grants from the Embassy of France and Australian organizations
The AFAS-FEAST France fellowships in Victoria.
The AFAS-FEAST-France fellowships are offered in conjunction with the Victoria government. The A$ 5000 grants are aimed at post-graduate students who have included France in their program of study and/or research. For more information contact the higher education section of the French Embassy.
Marine Sciences Fellowships.
In conjunction with the Tasmanian Government and UTAS The Tasmanian Government, the University of Tasmania and the Embassy of France in Australia have jointly created an Award in the field of Marine and Antarctic Sciences. This program enables early career researchers to travel to France to undertake study missions to acquire a specific training or qualification, strengthen cooperation and expand international networks and gain recognition for their work. For more information contact the higher education section of the French Embassy. |
Bilateral agreements / Scholarships and grants from the Embassy of France in Australia
Baudin grants
Baudin grants are travel grants designed to encourage Australian students to study for a semester or a full academic year at a French university at postgraduate level. The grant comprises A$2000 of bursary money and social security cover for the duration of your studies in France. It also gives the successful applicant the status of "French government grant-holder". Applicants must present a study project at postgraduate level (honours students may also apply). The study projects could be : full registration for one year to a French university at Master 1 or Master 2 or 1st year of PhD (the students will obtain a French diploma at the end of his/her studies); or study abroad programs in France for a semester or a full Academic year (the student is selected by his/her Australian university for a study abroad program in a French partner university at honours, master or PhD level. The student will obtain an Australian diploma at the end of his/her studies). Candidates must demonstrate a sufficient working knowledge of French to participate in this program, and provide evidence of acceptance into a French university or specialist school (grande ecole) or into an Australian university’s study abroad program.
"n + i" scholarship: Master program in engineering
The « n + i » scholarship is a two years scholarship designed to support an Australian students selected to the international « n + i » program in a French engineering school. The « n + i » program regroups more than 75 French engineering schools and offers a complete package of personalized services. The application is made online and the selected students participate to a two years program which includes a transition semester and a full master program leading to the prestigious Diplôme d’ingénieur. The Embassy of France in Australia offers to an Australian national one scholarship for the full program. This scholarship includes a monthly living allowance or 600 euros (750 euros) and a full health insurance. The cost of travel between Australia and France and the tuition fees for the program are not covered by the scholarship. (Note that this scholarship is not offered 2008-10)
Cotutelle grants
The cotutelle grants are designed to support the travel cost between France and Australia for French or Australian students involved in a cotutelle program (doctoral level). Cotutelle students are PhD students who have their doctoral studies supervised jointly by academics from an Australian University and a French University. If successful, the student will be awarded a joint doctoral degree by the two institutions, stating that the award was made as a consequence of a Cotutelle agreement with the partner institution. Cotutelle is possible in all French universities, under French national regulations, with any foreign country. Cotutelle is at present possible only in certain Australian universities, each university having its own regulations. Applications are available here.
ENA Scholarships
The Embassy of France in Australia will offer one full Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) scholarship for the 2008-2008 international cycles, including the Long International Cycle, the Short International Cycle and International Cycle for Public Administration. The full description of the programs is available on The ENA website. The ENA - (Ecole Nationale d’Administration) is the leading school in public administration in France. The School provides its students with pluri-disciplinary, high-level, polyvalent training in the following : Public Law, Economics, Budgetary and Financial Issues, Public Policy, International and European Issues, and foreign languages. This curriculum prepares them for a multi-faceted career. Candidates must be a civil servant or a public agent, must have finished his or her under-graduate or graduate studies and have adequate professional experience; be at least 25 years of age; must have an excellent command of the French language, both oral and written; must have broad knowledge on the French and European societies and institutions, and a solid international background. Candidates are then chosen following their performance in three exams. Applications and further information are available here
« Sciences Po » scholarship.
The Embassy of France offers a scholarship for an Australian national selected for any masters program of Sciences Po (the institute for political studies in Paris). The scholarship will given for 2 years and includes a monthly allowance of 600 euros (750 euros the second year), payment of the tuition fees and a health coverage. It does not include the cost of travel between Australia and France. This program is open to any Australian citizen who has already received a bachelor in a related field and would like to register for a full master program at Sciences Po. The Master of Public Affairs, taught in English, is not covered by this grant. Information on the scholarship is available here.
Information on the Master’s at Sciences Po is availabe here, Note: no scholarship is offered 2008-10
Charcot Scholarships for medical researchers.
The “charcot” scholarships are open to young researchers and academics in the field of medical studies. They have been created to enable foreign applicants to come for one year in France to conduct a medical research. The applicant needs to be already an academic or researcher, up to 40 years of age. It is not compulsory for the applicant to speak French, the program is also open to English speaking applicants. The length of the scholarship is a maximum of 12 months from November 2007 up to October 2008 (shorter stays are possible, but the scholarship has to finish on 30 October 2008 at the latest). The amount of the scholarship is 1400 euros per month. The return trip to France is not included in the scholarship. Applications are made to the French Embassy around May most years. More information is available here
Scholarships and grants from French institutions of Higher Education
ENS -ULM grants
Three years scholarships for foreign students (including Australian students) to do a program in humanities or sciences at the ENS (Ecole normale supérieure, rue d’Ulm, Paris). The applicants should be in their final year of undergraduate studies for the humanities program or the 2nd or final year of undergraduate studies for the sciences program.
ENS - CACHAN Grants
Postgraduate scholarships to do a master or Phd at the ENS (école normale supérieure) in Cachan.
ENS - Lyon Grants
Postgraduate scholarships for studying at master’s level at the ENS in Lyon.
Theological Studies Scholarship. For students wishing to theological courses at French higher education institutions. Scholarships are offered to French speaking students, with priority given to religious students, at PhD level, or in limited circumstances, to Masters level students. For more information (in French) or to access application forms (you will need to scroll down)
Grants/scholarships by other organisations
Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.
The University Agency of the French- Speaking World (AUF) offers a number of scholarships and grants for students and academics.has action programs for students, professors and researchers. More information
Business–education agreements for training through research (CIFRE).
The CIFRE program of business–education partnerships enables young scholars to do their dissertation research in cooperation with a firm. The scholar performs research and development within the firm with support from a research team operating outside the firm. Scholars must be doctoral candidates who already hold a masters or bachelors degree in engineering. More information
Dissertation or post-doc fellowships in the sciences:
The French Association of French Doctorate-Holders in the Sciences (Andès) regularly offers, or provides information about, scholarships and mobility grants for graduate, post-graduate and post-doctoral students and researchers. Up-to-date list (in French)
Fellowships for Foreign Resident Doctors of the Paris Hospitals Medical College.
In partnership with the Paris Hospitals Public Assistance (AP-HP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers annual one-year fellowships for foreign medical doctors under 35 years of age. Candidates should have a qualification level in their own country at least equivalent to that of a fourth-year internship in the Paris Hospitals. More information (in French)
Grant for studies in law schools.
Three grants given annually to students for a study program in economic law. Further information
Medicine scholarships (Collège de Médecine des Hôpitaux de Paris)
Scholarships for young doctors or medical students (after at least 4 years of studies) to study in France. Further information (in French)
"Fondation de la Résistance" scholarships
Two scholarships for French or foreign doctoral students who plans to do research at PhD level on Resistance during WWII. Further Information
"Ville de Paris" Master scholarships
Scholarships at Master level for Parisian students who wants to study abroad or foreign students interested in studying in Paris. Priority is given to student studying Paris the city, or a related topic, in the following fields (science, literature, technical studies, humanties. More information (in French)
General Sir John Monash Postgraduate Student Awards
Awards (up to A$ 150 000 per award) for outstanding Australian citizens graduating from Australian Universities to enable them to undertake postgraduate study abroad at the world’s best Universities, appropriate to their field of study. More Information
Kelver Hartley scholarships in French.
These programmes (graduate and honours scholarships) are open to students or recent graduates from the University of Newcastle. More information
Elizabeth and Nicholas Slezak scholarship.
A scholarship for University of Melbourne women graduates to study French language and Literature in France. More information
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Churchill Fellowships for permanent residents of Australia with an overseas study project of value to the community, aged 18 and above. For any country. More Information
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