Find Out Top 10 Universities in France and

The Scholarships They Offer

Table of Contents
 Université PSL
 École Polytechnique
 Sorbonne University
 CentraleSupélec
 École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
 Sciences Po
 Université Paris-Sud
 École des Ponts ParisTech
 Université Grenoble-Alpes
 Université Diderot Paris 7

France is one of the most ideal place to study abroad for you degree. Studying in France
gives you the opportunity to learn the language and gain cultural perspective. The
experience will give you the upper hand when pursuing an international career and give
your CV a competitive edge. France has numerous prestigious universities that have
been approved as the world‟s best universities. The quality of its higher education is
adapted to the students‟ needs. In addition, there are plenty of scholarship
opportunities offered by the French government and organizations to support both
local and international students in pursuing high-quality education in France.
 Photo: unsplash
1. Université PSL
Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) is a French collegiate university, currently
organized as a ComUE (university community). PSL was formed in 2010 and is located in
Paris, with its main sites in the Latin Quarter, at the Jourdan campus, at Porte Dauphine,
in northern Paris, and at Carré Richelieu. PSL offers Bachelor‟s, Master‟s and PhD degree
programs. Its education is based on research and interdisciplinary instruction, and its
20,000 students have access to a broad range of disciplines in science, engineering,
humanities and social science, and the arts.
PSL offers several scholarship opportunities as follows:
 Financial aid: calculated in accordance with your financial and family situation and the
geographic distance between your school and your place of residence. Level 0 is
equivalent to exemption from tuition and student social security contributions. Levels “0
bis” to “7” entitle students to scholarships of between €1,009 and €5,551 per year.
 Merit scholarships: offered to high school graduates who passed the baccalauréat with
high honors and to graduates of Bachelor‟s programs who would like to continue onto
 Master‟s degree programs. merit scholarships entitle students to €900 per year (3 years
max).
 Emergency aid: provided on an as-needed or annual basis, financial aid from the Fonds
National d‟Aide d‟Urgence (FNAU) is for students under the age of 35 who are
experiencing financial difficulty. Individual payouts cannot exceed €1,665, and total as-
needed assistance is capped at €3,330 per year. Annual payments can be made at up to
€4,768 maximum, and are renewable.
Learn more about PSL at www.psl.eu. Visit the Financial Aids page for further details on
the scholarship opportunities.
2. École Polytechnique
École Polytechnique is a French public institution of higher education and research
located in Palaiseau, a suburb southwest of Paris. It is one of the most prestigious and
selective French scientific and engineering schools, called „grandes écoles‟ in French.
École Polytechnique was established in 1794 during the French Revolution, and was a
military academy under Napoleon I in 1804. The School is ranked 65th on the QS World
University Rankings 2019.
École Polytechnique offers a number of scholarship opportunities for its students,
including:
 Financial support from the École Polytechnique Foundation
 Excellence Scholarship (merit-based financial aid for Bachelor students)
 Women in Science Scholarship (merit-based financial aid for Bachelor students)
 Tuition Fee Waivers (need-based financial aid for Bachelor students)
 Interest-free loan (need-based financial aid for Bachelor students)
 Living costs scholarships (need-based financial aid for Bachelor students)
 International Excellence Scholarships (for Ingénieur Polytechnicien students, 36 months
– during the first 3 years)
 École Polytechnique Foundation / DMRI Scholarship Program for Fourth-Year Project in
France (for Ingénieur Polytechnicien students, 11 to 12 months – 4th year only)
 Subsidized loans from the École Polytechnique Foundation (for Ingénieur Polytechnicien
students – during the 4 years of study)
 Scholarships and grants from the French government
 Scholarships and grants from French Embassies – contact the French Embassy in your
country for further details.
 Eiffel Excellence Scholarships
 Scholarships and grants from Foreign governments
 For Moroccan students: merit-based scholarship from the Ministry for National
Education and Vocational Training
 For Senegalese students: excellence scholarship from the Senegalese government,
awarded by the Republic of Senegal Ministry for Higher Education and Research
 For Tunisian students: national scholarship from the Tunisian government awarded by
the Academic and Educational Mission of Tunisian
 For Chinese students: national scholarship from the China Scholarship Council
International students may also be eligible for an Erasmus Plus grant (for European
students) or for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship (for non-European students).
A complete list of scholarships and grants is available on CampusBourses listing.
Additional scholarship opportunities can be found at CampusFrance website
Find a way to fund your studies and learn more about École Polytechnique
at www.polytechnique.edu.
3. Sorbonne University
Sorbonne University is a public research university located in Paris, France. It was
established by the merger in 2018 of Paris-Sorbonne University, Pierre et Marie Curies
University, and other smaller institutions. The date 1257 on its emblem refers to the
historical University of Paris, whose Collége de Sorbonne was founded in 1257 by
Robert de Sorbon, and eventually became the current Faculty of Humanities of
Sorbonne University.
Sorbonne University makes every effort to ensure that every student achieves
excellence. To promote equal opportunities, the Sorbonne University Foundation has
scholarship programs, financed through donor, both companies and individuals. Each
faculty has a financial aid office that has information on the types of scholarships
available depending on the student‟s situation:
 Financial aid based on the parent‟s revenue (called a BCS)
 Emergency aid
 Financial aid based on the student‟s revenue (FSDIE)
 Exemptions and exceptional refunds of registration fees
The available grants for international students include:
 Grants Awarded by the French Government: a limited number of grants are available for
overseas students in their first year. Priority is given to those in their 3rd year, often in the
field of science and technology.
Information: www.cnous.fr / www.egide.asso.fr
 Grants for International Students: grants awarded by the International Relations
Department of Sorbonne Université.
 Grants Awarded on Social Criteria: values €1,000 to €5,500 per year. Criteria correspond
to financial means, nationality (members of the EU or holders of a residency card + lived
in France for at least two years with parents who declare their taxes in France) and age
(students up to 28 years)
Further details can be found on the Campus Life tab > Financing Studies > Financial Aid
and Scholarships at the Sorbonne Université website.
4. CentraleSupélec
 CentraleSupélec is an internationally-reputed Higher Education and Research Institution
in engineering and science. It was established in 2015 as a result of a strategic merger
between two leading grandes écoles in France, Écoles Centrale Paris and Supélec.
CentraleSupélec has been a key school in defining the Université Paris-Saclay project,
the development of its Doctoral Schools, its Master‟s program, as well as creating the
label of an Excellence Initiative (IDEX). It is ranked among the top 10 universities in
France and ranks 137th on QS World University Rankings 2019.
The École Centrale Paris Foundation supports more than 450 students each year,
providing €600,000 in funding. The Foundation supports students‟ international mobility
by awarding them grants which fund international study, tuition fees, living and
transport costs, etc.
Other scholarships for studies at CentraleSupélec are offered by:
 CROUS
 Means-tested grants ranging from €1,008 to €5,545 (subject to change each year)
 Merit-based aid
 International mobility aid
 FNAU: National Emergency Aid Fund
 French government grants (for foreign students)
 Family Allowance Fund (CAF) – personalized housing benefit
 Emergency Funds – loans
Further details can be found on the Tuition Fees and Scholarship page
at www.centralsupelec.fr.
5. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (also known as ENS Lyon, ENSL or Normale Sup‟
Lyon) is a highly selective grande école located in Lyon, France. It is part of the
Université de Lyon, and is one of France‟s four École Normale Supérieures, training
researchers and teachers in the sciences and the humanities. ENS Lyon has been
recognized as one of the best public institutions in the world by Times Higher Education
and QS.
ENS Lyon supports its students on their studies by providing scholarship opportunities
such as:
 20 Ampère scholarships from the ENS de Lyon
 €1,000 per month for a year to integrate one of four Master‟s programs
 Scholarships from the Laboratoire d‟Excellence MILYON
 €1,000 per month for 10 months to integrate the Master‟s Advance Mathematics or
Fundamental Computer Science
 Erasmus Mundus Scholarships from the European Union to integrate the Master‟s
Atomic Scale modeling of physical, chemical and biomolecular systems – ATOSIM
 8 scholarships from the ENS de Lyon
 For citizens of the European Union: a status of trainee civil servant paid €1,500 per
month for 4 years by the French State and commitment to work for 10 years in the
public service, a higher education or French or International research institution
(including the period of study at the ENS de Lyon)
 For the best foreign normalien students (best candidate in each area of study who is not
a citizen of the European Union or from a country of the European economic area):
€1,000 per month for 4 years
 ENS de Lyon funding for international doctoral students
Further details can be found on the Scholarships page. Learn more about ENS Lyon
at www.ens-lyon.fr.
6. Sciences Po
The Paris Institute of Political Studies (commonly referred to as Sciences Po) is the
primary institution of higher education for French political and administrative elite, and
one of the most prestigious and selective European schools in the social sciences.
Established in 1872, it is ranked as the world‟s 3rd best school for politics and
international relations. It has 7 campuses in France: the Paris Campus, Dijon Campus, Le
Havre Campus, Menton Campus, Nancy Campus, Poitiers Campus, and the Reims
Campus.
To ensure that all students admitted to Sciences Po successfully complete their studies,
Sciences Po offers bursaries and financial aid.
 CROUS Bursaries: need-based bursaries awarded by the French Ministry of Higher
Education and Research to French students and European students who have studied in
France for at least one year, under 28 years of age depending on family situation and
household income.
 The Emile-Boutmy Scholarship: awarded to students, first time applicants, from outside
the EU who demonstrate academic excellence and fulfill the profile requirements
 The Mastercard Foundation Scholarships: merit-based scholarships for students from
sub-Saharan African countries who face financial and other barriers to higher education
 Sallie Mae Private Loans: for American students or students with a Green card registered
as undergraduate or Master‟s level students.
 Other scholarships:
 Aulagnon-Bettan Prize
 Bourse David Gritz
 Campus France (Grant Search Engine)
 China Scholarship Council (CSC)
 Civil Society Leadership Award
 DAAD Merit Scholarship
 Diversity in the Civil Service bursary (ALDIV)
 Eiffel Scholarship
 Federal Direct Loans Program
 Foundation de France (scholarships guidebook)
 Franco-American Fulbright Commission
 French Government Scholarships (AEFE)
 Fundings from Sciences Po‟s Doctoral School
 Henri de Castries Scholarship
 Kuwait Excellence Scholarship
 L‟Oreal Excellence Award Africa
 L‟Oreal Excellence Award Asia
 L‟Oreal Excellence Award Latin America
 Michel David-Weill Scholarship
 National Administration School bursary (ENA)
 One-Year Master‟s Program Scholarship
 René Seydoux scholarship
 Scholarship from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED – Philippines)
 Sciences Po / King‟s College London Dual Master‟s Degree in International Affairs
Scholarship
 Sciences Po / LSE Dual Degree Scholarships
 Stephen M. Kellen Scholarship
 The Geneviève McMillan-Reba Stewart Foundation Scholarship
Visit www.sciencespo.fr for more information regarding Sciences Po, and download the
brochure to learn more about the offered bursaries and financial aids.
7. Université Paris-Sud
Université Paris-Sud (also known as University of Paris – XI) is a French university
distributed among several campuses in the southern suburbs of Paris including Orsay,
Cachan, Châtenay-Malabry, Sceaux and Kremlin-Bicêtre campuses. The main campus is
located in Orsay. This university is a member of the UniverSud Paris and a constituent
university of the federal University of Paris Saclay. Established in 1971, Paris-Sud is one
of the largest and most renowned French universities, particularly in science and
mathematics.
International students willing to study at Paris-Sud University can apply for the Paris-
Saclay scholarship and the Eiffel scholarship to cover their living costs while studying in
France.
 Université Paris-Saclay International Master‟s Scholarship Program: awarded 1 or 2
years, based on academic achievements, to students admitted to Université Paris-Saclay
Master‟s programs and enrolled at one of the following member institutions:
AgroParisTech, CentraleSupelec, ENS Paris-Clay, INSTN-CEA, IOGS, Université d‟Evry Val
d‟Essonne, Paris-Sud University, Université Versailles St-Quentin.
 Eiffel Scholarship Program: awarded to foreign students at both Master‟s and PhD levels,
based on academic records.
 Paris-Sud University‟s Top-Up: partial assistance granted to international students who
receive financial assistance for their studies abroad from their home institution or
government or a particular French Embassy.
Visit the Financial Assistance page for further details. Learn more about Université Paris-
Sud at www.u-psud.fr.
8. École des Ponts ParisTech
École des Ponts ParisTech is a university-level institution of higher education and
research in the field of science, engineering and technology. Founded in 1747, it is one
of the oldest and one of the most prestigious French Grandes Écoles. École des Ponts
ParisTech is headquartered in Marne-la-Vallée (suburb of Paris), France, and is a
founding member of ParisTech (Paris Institute of Technology) and the Paris School of
Economics.
École des Ponts ParisTech offers scholarships on social criteria to students admitted in
engineering studies, regardless of their nationalities. The scholarships cover registration
fees, social security, housing, transport, food and clothing.
Foreign students can also apply for the Erasmus+ program (international credit
mobility), granted by the European Commission, which supports exchange programs at
École des Ponts ParisTech. This project involves 4 partner countries outside Europe
(Canada, Iran, Russia and Tunisia) and provides support for students in the Master‟s
program and faculty in all disciplines to move to and from those countries.
Other scholarships offered to study at École des Ponts ParisTech are:
 Master Ile de France scholarship
 Eiffel Scholarships (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
 French government scholarship
 Scholarships from the French Embassy in Japan
 Bilateral Franco-Moroccan Cooperation Scholarships
 French Minsitry of Education Scholarships
 Franco-German University scholarships (exclusively for students in the double-degree
program with Technische Universität München)
 BRAFITEC scholarships (Brazil)
 AGAUR scholarships for Catalan students (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Visit www.enpc.fr/en/node/146614 for further details. Learn more about École des Ponts
ParisTech at www.enpc.fr.
9. Université Grenoble-Alpes
The Université Grenoble-Alpes (formerly named as the University of Grenoble) is a
public research university located in Grenoble, France. Founded in 1339, it is the third
largest university in France with around 45,000 students and over 3,000 researchers. The
University is renowned for its academic research in humanities and political sciences,
hosting some of the largest research centers in France in fields such as political science,
 urban planning or the sociology or organizations. It is ranked among the top 300
universities worldwide, according to QS.
Because the Université Grenoble-Alpes does its level-best to ensure you a trouble-free
time as a student and your well-being matters, financial support is available (study
grants, housing benefits as well as other financial aids). At the Université Grenoble-
Alpes, there are various benefits and grants you can receive through a number of
organizations, depending on your situation.
 CROUS Grenoble-Aples
 French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research: means-tested
grants and additional assistance, rent deposits, benefits and State-guaranteed loans.
 Eiffel Excellence Scholarship: merit-based grants for international students studying
Economics and Management, Engineering (Master level) / Sciences (PhD level), Law, or
Political Science. Value: €1,181 per month.
Means-tested benefits are granted on the basis of 3 criteria:
 Taxable household income
 Number of dependent children for tax purposes
 Distance from study location
Learn more about the Financial Assistance offered at the Université Grenoble-Alpes
at www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr.
10. Université Diderot Paris 7
Paris Diderot University, also known as Paris 7, is a French University located in Paris,
France. It was one of the heirs of the University of Paris, which ceased to exist in 1970.
Paris 7 is well-known for its great quality of teaching in science, especially in
mathematics. The University has 2,300 educators and researchers, 1,100 administrative
personnel and 26,000 students studying humanities, science and medicine. Paris 7 is
listed on QS World University Rankings 2019 as one of the top 300 universities
worldwide, and top 10 French universities.
Paris 7 offers scholarships and housing accommodation to students admitted to the
University, through the www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr portal. You can apply for the
CROUS scholarship if you are registered in a full-time course at the Paris Diderot
University. The CROUS scholarship is available if you meet these conditions:
 If you are a European student (from one of the 28 countries of the EU or Norway,
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra)
 You have worked full-time or part-time in France, or
 You can prove that you parent have incomes in France
 If you are a student from another country
 You have the status of refugee or subsidiary protected person, or
 You have a temporary resident card and you have lived in France for at least 2 years
Refer to the Scholarship page at the University‟s website (www.univ-paris-diderot.fr) for
further details.