Scholarships and Financial Aid for Students in France — Complete Guide
From CROUS social scholarship (€100-600/month) to Eiffel Excellence (€1,181/month) — a comprehensive overview
France offers a wide range of scholarships and financial support for both French and international students. This guide presents the main programs, their eligibility conditions, and how to apply.
Main scholarships compared
| Scholarship | Amount | Who | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| CROUS scholarship (boursier) | €109 – €599/month | All enrolled students (income conditions) | Financial need |
| Eiffel Excellence | €1,181 – €1,400/month | International students nominated by institution | Academic merit |
| French Government BGF | Variable | Students from partner countries | Bilateral agreements |
| Erasmus+ | €300 – €700/month | EU exchange students | Programme |
| Regional grants | €300 – €3,000/year | Varies by region | Varies |
| Home country grants | Variable | Specific nationalities | Country-specific |
CROUS scholarship — the core of French student support
The bourse sur criteres sociaux (CROUS social scholarship) is the main French student financial aid. It is based on financial need (not academic merit). As a CROUS scholarship holder (boursier), you get:
- Monthly scholarship (€109 to €599/month, paid over 10 months)
- Free CVEC (no €105 fee)
- CROUS restaurant meals at €1 (instead of €3.30)
- Priority CROUS housing allocation
- Automatic merit aid if you had Mention Tres Bien on the baccalaureat (+€900/year)
DSE Application: submit between January and May on messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr for the following academic year. Strict deadline — no late applications.
For international students specifically
If you are applying from abroad
- Contact your country's Campus France office (if applicable)
- Check your home country's government scholarships (Algeria: PNE, Morocco: AMCI, Senegal: AMES, Brazil: CNPq, China: CSC, India: ICCR, etc.)
- Apply for the Eiffel Scholarship via your target French institution's international office
If you are already enrolled in France
- Apply for CROUS scholarship via the DSE (January-May each year)
- Apply for regional grants via the regional council
- Check bilateral scholarship programs via the French embassy in your home country