Eiffel excellence scholarship 2024 – PhD level

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship for Doctoral programs is awarded for research stays for 12, 18 or 36 months in France:
- the 36-month scholarship is conditional on enrolment in the 1st year of PhD and for newcomers students only, and cannot be used to sign a cotutelle agreement
- scholarship of 12 or 18 months depending on the year of registration and are available for candidates already enrolled on a PhD under a co-directorship or cotutelle agreement:

• 12 months maximum for registration in 2nd or 3rd year of doctoral studies
• 18 months maximum for registration in 1st year or 2nd year of doctoral studies

The research stay can be spaced. However, the stay financed by the scholarship may not be less than 6 months and may not be extended beyond 36 months.

For more details, please consult the regulation.

Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria :

• Be of a foreign nationality. Binational students with French as one of their nationalities are not eligible.
• Be a student age 30 or younger at the time of the application deadline (Must have been born after March 31st 1993).
• Should not benefit from another French government scholarship at the time of the application deadline.
• Must apply to the Eiffel Scholarship program for the first time. Applications rejected by Campus France during a previous selection cannot be represented. However, students who have already been awarded the scholarship for the Master level are eligible to apply for the Doctoral level.
• Apply for entry into first year of PhD. Be under joint supervision or dual enrolment in partnership with a foreign higher education institution.
• Language proficiency : a minimum of C1 in French or in English is required depending on the field of study.
• Must apply for an eligible field of study (see list below).

Sciences and techniques

• Biology and health
• Ecological transition
• Mathematics and digital
• Engineering sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

• History, language and French civilization
• Law and Political Science
• Economics and Management

The European and International Affairs office centralizes all applications and sends the files directly to Campus France.
 

Step 1

Carefully read the regulation and check your eligibility.

Step 2

Contact your PhD supervisor(s) at Nantes Université to obtain the following information:

• Number of the doctoral school
• Date of last HCERES assessment
• Access link to the latest HCERES assessment of the host laboratory
• Access link to the latest HCERES evaluation of the doctoral school of affiliation
• A brief letter by the thesis director explaining why the candidate meets the excellence requirements as well as the relevance, coherence and innovative character of the thesis project.
• A precise assessment notice from the host laboratory and doctoral school directors. For the three reference letters, you will have to specify the first and last name, position, telephone number and e-mail address of each person in charge.

Step 3

While waiting for the call for applications to open, prepare the following documents
 

• Resumé / Curriculum vitae, written in French or English, explaining your academic and professional background (1-2 pages).
• Rankings: any document evaluating the candidate's excellence: mention, rank within the class, number of students in the class, diplomas with the major/minor information, graduation dates, mentions and final grades certified by the home institution.
• The candidate's professional project / personal essay, written in French or English. This document should explain the choice of studying in France in relation to the academic background and future professional career. This presentation may be supported by a professional reference letter from someone from outside the institution (1-2 pages).
• A presentation of the thesis project and the progress of the research, written in French or English (1 to 5 pages). This document must explain the subject of the thesis, the research objectives and assumptions - the innovative nature, impact and benefits of the project. If possible, justify at least one communication in a conference (cite references, attach an extract).
• The thesis’ global funding plan.
• The joint supervision agreement or dual enrolment certificate signed by the French and foreign parties. In case of dual enrollment, attach a letter co-signed by both directors.
• A photocopy of your passport showing the following information: surname, first name, date of birth and passport number.
• Language certificate or diploma if needed. Students from countries where French is the official language are not concerned by this certificate.