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 21 July 2026 for students who intend to start their studies in France in September 2027.

This call for applications is open to all fields of study. However, particular priority will be given to applications in the areas of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, health, environmental sciences, energy, low-carbon mobility, space, food systems, and information and communication technologies. Humanities and social sciences projects related to these fields are also eligible.

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. A Scholarship Panel, set by the French Embassy, will monitor the programme and the selection process. The Panel consists of representatives from the French Embassy, 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 academics from France and South Africa.

The France–South Africa Scholarship Programme supports studies at Master's and PhD level in French higher education institutions located in France. Joint or international degree programmes are eligible, provided that at least one of the partner institutions is located in France. However, scholarship funding will only cover the period of study and research undertaken in France.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their chosen programme leads to a qualification officially recognised by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. As the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) only evaluates qualifications once studies have been completed, it is important to verify the status of the qualification before applying.

Please note that many programmes labelled as Master of Science (MSc) are not nationally recognised Master's degrees in France unless explicitly stated otherwise. Applicants should therefore carefully check the accreditation and recognition status of their chosen programme.

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

- Born on or after 1 January 1997.

- A citizen of South Africa, Lesotho or Malawi. 

- Dual French citizens are not eligible.

- Have achieved a minimum average of 60% in their most recently completed degree.

- For Master's applicants: plan to enrol in a French higher education institution to pursue a Master's degree. Applicants are not required to have secured admission at the time of submitting their scholarship application.

- For PhD applicants: plan to pursue a PhD at a French higher education institution and have identified a prospective supervisor or research laboratory in France. Applicants are not required to have a formal admission offer at the time of submitting their scholarship application.

The scholarship covers the period of study in France 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’s 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.

France Excellence scholarship holder status, includes:

          - Social security coverage and health insurance;

          - Priority access to student housing;

          - Exemption from visa fees;

          - Support services provided by Campus France Paris;

          - Exemption from the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC);

          - Conditional exemption from registration fees for programmes offered by public universities under the supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, provided that no additional tuition fees apply.

- One return flight ticket between the recipient's country of residence and France.

- A monthly living allowance (900€ per month for Master's students and 1850€ per month for PhD students, subject to reassessment).

- Eligibility to apply for additional housing support from the French Family Allowance Fund (CAF), which may provide approximately 150€ per month depending on individual circumstances.

Please note that tuition fees are not covered by the scholarship. Applicants are therefore encouraged to consider tuition costs when selecting a programme. 

Scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees at public higher education institutions that apply the standard national tuition rates for non-European students. Applicants who require assistance identifying suitable programmes may contact Campus France for guidance.

Applicants may seek additional funding from other sources to help cover these expenses and must 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 (or ID if passport is not yet available).

- 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 three years of studies.

For Master's level candidates

- List of identified study programmes that the student intends on applying to, including 

          - links to the programme 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. 

- Candidates do not have to be accepted into a study programme at time of application. However, for the scholarship to be confirmed, 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 2027. 

- During the scholarship application process, candidates are encouraged to submit their email exchanges with their chosen higher education institutions in France in place of the acceptance letter.

For PhD applicants

- A supervisor commitment letter (from the supervisor or two supervisors, South African and French in the case of a co-tutelle) confirming their commitment.

   In the case of co-supervision, this letter must indicate that a cotutelle agreement 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 work plan.

   In the case of co-supervision, include a schedule of the periods to be spent in France during the research, and the co-tutelle agreement if it has already been signed.

Optional documents

- Cost-sharing commitment letter from the corresponding organisation.

- Academic and/or professional recommendation.

- Language proficiency certificates: French (TCF, DELF, DALF, etc.).

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 are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute to submit their application, in order to ensure sufficient time to prepare a complete and high-quality application and to gather all required documents.

Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of the quality of their file. 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 study project, its coherence with his/her background, as well as the clarity and quality of his/her future career plans.

— 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 by the Panel are beyond dispute.

Applicants must not initiate follow-up enquiries regarding the status of their application. Candidates and laureates will be contacted directly if necessary. Final results will be announced in December 2026.

The results announced in December will consist of a shortlist of candidates selected for consideration for the France–South Africa Scholarship Programme. The final award of scholarships will be confirmed in four waves between May and July 2027. 

The final selection will depend on candidates being accepted into their chosen study programmes by French higher education institutions, as well as a final deliberation according to the priorities of the Scholarship Panel. No ranking on any of the lists is communicated to the applicants. Candidates on the main list need to comply with all the administrative requirements and rules of the scholarship programme.