Rulebook

The France - South Africa Scholarship Programme is directed to students with South African, Lesotho or Malawian citizenship. who intend to study in universities or higher education institutions in France for their Master’s degree or PhD. 

The call for applications is launched every year. The upcoming call for applications will open on 17th June 2025 for students who intend to start their studies in France in September 2026.

This call for applications is open to all fields of study.

The France-South Africa Scholarship Programme of the French Embassy to South Africa is based on a highly selective call for candidates in order to strengthen high level exchanges between France and South Africa. An Advisory Board Committee, set by the French Embassy, will monitor the programme and the selection process. The Advisory Board involves representatives from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI) as well as well-known and high-level academics from France and South Africa.

The study programmes eligible for the France South Africa scholarship programme are masters or PhD programmes in a French higher education institution located in France. Make sure that your programme is actually recognised by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research: SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) only validates diplomas once you return to South Africa. Also note, that many of Master of Science (MSc), unless otherly stated, are not considered Master's degrees, and are not recognised in France.

To be eligible for the France-South Africa Scholarship Programme, applicants must be:

— Born on or after 1 January 1996.

— A citizen of South Africa, Lesotho or Malawi. Dual French citizens are not eligible.

— Enrolled in a French Higher Education institution (in due time) to pursue a Master’s degree or PhD.

The scholarship is granted for a given period to be spent in France, corresponding to the time required to complete the degree:

For a Master’s degree, the scholarship will be granted for the duration of the degree. Master’s degree programmes are two years long. In some specific cases (Bachelor degree with Honours, for example), students may consider applying directly to M2 (second-year of the Master Programme). Only the hosting higher education institution is responsible for the admission. At the end of the first academic year, the Embassy of France will verify the success of the student to continue her/his studies in the second year of the Master’s programme.

For PhDs, the scholarship will be granted for a maximum duration of 3 years. However, at the end of each academic year, in order to get the renewal of his/her grant, the recipient will have to justify the progress of their research work.

In case of a PhD under co-supervision/cotutelle, periods of stay in France should be specified in a timeline. The scholarship will only be granted for the periods spent in France.

For PhD and Master Degrees, if the curriculum requires course work which will take place outside of France, then applicants must specify all the details and his/her intentions, during the application process.

Two schemes are possible under the France - South Africa Scholarship Programme:

1.  A full scholarship by the Embassy of France. It includes:

— The status of a France Excellence scholarship holder which includes :

 –social coverage and supplementary health care insurance;

 –priority for accessing student housing;

 –visa fee exemption;

 –assistance offered by Campus France Paris;

 –exemption from student and campus life contribution (CVEC);

 –conditional exemption from registration fees, provided that the chosen program takes place in a public university under the supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education AND that no additional training fees are required by the program.

— A return flight ticket to France.

— A monthly allowance (approximately 850 euros for Master students and 1700 euros for PhD students, amounts subject to annual review).

— An additional individualised accommodation aid (approximately 150 euros/month) can be obtained from the French Government via the Familly allocations (CAF).

Please, note that the scholarship does not include the tuition fees, unless specific conditions apply (see above). France has a large choice of options, and you may find a very good programme with almost no tuition fees. If you need help, you can contact Campus France. 

2. In the second scheme of a cost sharing scholarship, the monthly allowance will be provided fully or partially by a partner (a partner among the Advisory Board, a company, a higher education institution or any other funding agency). All the other benefits of a full scholarship will still be provided by the Embassy of France. This scheme can be proposed by the candidate during the application process or by the Advisory Board for some of the laureates. In this last case, preselected applicants must comply with the instructions by the French Embassy in order to secure the co-funding.

Applicants are highly encouraged to look for other sources of financing from his/her own local or French higher education institution but also from private sector companies. Specific attention will be given to applicants who have found other sources of financing for their academic project, especially when the tuition fees are high. Nevertheless, the commitment of the parents or a family business is not considered as a co-funding.

Applicants or laureates must always inform the Embassy of France if they obtain any additional funding.

The application file is to be submitted online only and must include:

For all applicants

—A complete application form (online).

—A passport copy.

—An up-to-date CV that also states the candidate’s entire academic history.

—A cover letter explaining motivations and interests in the planned academic project.

—Copies of all previous academic degree certificates.

—University transcripts (academic marks) of at least two years of studies.

For Master's level candidates

Candidates will need to provide proof of acceptance for one of the study programmes indicated during their application. Proof of acceptance must be provided between February and July 2026. During the application process, candidates are encouraged to submit their email exchanges with their chosen higher education institutions in France in place of the acceptance letter.

List of identified study programmes that the student intends on applying to, including link to the programmes webpages, the application dates for these courses and the tuition fees. A maximum of 3 study programmes is permitted, and should be entered by order of preference.

For PhD applicants

A supervisor commitment letter (or by the two supervisors, South African and French in case of a co-tutelle) indicating their commitment to supervise in France and in South Africa.

In the case of co-supervision, this attestation needs to indicate that a cotutelle agreement (unless it has already been signed) will be established, that enrolment will be at both universities and that a degree will be awarded by the French higher education institution.

A detailed description of the research project (2/3 pages) including a detailed work plan.

In case of co-supervision, a detailed plan of the various periods to be spent in France during the research work and, if it is already signed, a co-tutelle agreement.

Optional documents

Cost-sharing commitment letter from the corresponding organisation.

Academic and/or professional recommendation.

Language proficiency certificates: French (TCF, DELF, DALF, academic degree…).

All candidates will need to register on the website to apply online. They can connect any time before the deadline. It is compulsory to review and select "final submission" before the deadline. After the final submission, it will no longer be possible to modify the application. A delivery status notification will be sent by e-mail to the applicants after the final online submission of application. Incomplete applications or applications which fail to meet the deadline will be automatically rejected.

Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of their files. Candidates whose applications have been pre-selected will be interviewed. In order to identify grant recipients, the Advisory board will consider:

— The candidate's skills and merit as indicated by his/her academic record and professional background.

— The quality of his/her studies project and its coherence with his/her background.

— For PhD applicants, the Advisory Board will favour PhDs under co-supervision and commitment of South African and French supervisors will be decisive.

— The level of proficiency in foreign languages and its adequacy with the chosen study programmes.

Deliberations and final decisions are beyond dispute.