France has quietly become one of the most affordable quality destinations for Indian students. Public university fees are capped by the state, the French government runs scholarships aimed directly at India, and Indian graduates of French master’s programmes get some of the most generous stay-back and travel arrangements France offers anywhere. Yet the phrase “fully funded” needs care, because French awards are built differently from the all-inclusive packages people imagine.
In this guide we look at how French government funding works for Indians, what each programme actually pays, how the fee system interacts with scholarships, and which costs remain on your side. We also explain the student visa money rules, health cover, work hours and the post-study options agreed between India and France. Wherever the official position could change, we flag it.
How French Funding Is Put Together
Most French government scholarships pay a monthly allowance and some extras, but they do not write a cheque for tuition. Instead, holders of a French government scholarship are generally exempted from the higher fees that non-EU students otherwise pay at public institutions. When the allowance and the fee exemption are combined, the result can come close to full funding, even though no single document says “tuition paid”.
This matters when you compare offers. A French award that looks smaller than a UK one may leave you with a similar or lower total bill, because the starting fee in France is so much lower. Always calculate what you will actually pay, not what the award is called.
The Eiffel Excellence Programme
Eiffel is the French foreign ministry’s flagship scholarship for international students, managed by Campus France. It supports master’s study for up to 24 months and doctoral study in the form of shorter research stays, usually under joint supervision with a home university. Indian students are eligible.
What It Covers
The scholarship pays a monthly allowance, recently described at around €1,200 for master’s students and a higher rate for doctoral candidates, along with international travel, health insurance and help with housing and cultural activities. Eiffel does not pay tuition directly, but as a French government scholar you are generally exempt from fees at public institutions for national diplomas. Check the amounts in the current call, as they are revised.
How You Apply
You cannot apply to Eiffel on your own. The French institution that admits you nominates you, so you first apply for admission and then ask the institution to put you forward. Each institution sets an internal deadline, often in November or December, before the national deadline, which for the 2027 cycle is listed as 6 January 2027. Age limits also apply: published rules have generally set about 25 for master’s applicants from developing countries and 30 for doctoral applicants.
Because of this design, your relationship with the admitting department is crucial. Ask early whether it nominates international students for Eiffel and what it expects from candidates.
Charpak Awards From the French Embassy in India
The Charpak programme, run by the French Embassy in India, is designed only for Indian citizens and, for some tracks, OCI holders. It has several strands.
- Charpak Master: a monthly allowance of about €860 for one year, renewable once, with an age limit of 30. It also grants French government scholarship status, which may exempt you from fees at public institutions, plus help with visa fees and priority for student housing.
- Charpak Exchange: support for one semester in France for students already enrolled in an Indian institution with a partnership in France.
- Charpak Summer Research: a short paid stay in a French laboratory, with a lower allowance.
Travel is generally not covered for the master track, and the fee exemption is not automatic at every institution, so confirm both in writing. The previous master round has closed, and dates for the next cycle had not been published at the time of writing; the embassy usually announces them in the first months of the year.
Joint European Masters and Doctoral Contracts
France takes part in many Erasmus Mundus joint master’s programmes, funded by the European Union. Students move between universities in at least two countries, and the EU scholarship covers participation costs, a monthly allowance and insurance. For Indian students this is often the most complete package available in France, though competition is intense and you apply to each programme’s consortium.
At doctoral level, French institutions offer paid doctoral contracts. These are employment contracts of about three years with a monthly gross pay set by national rules, social security and paid leave. They are advertised by doctoral schools and research labs, and international candidates can compete for them. For a PhD aspirant, a doctoral contract is effectively full funding, since you are a paid researcher rather than a fee-paying student.
Indian doctoral students may also find short research stays in France supported through Indo-French government partnerships in science, which are announced through Indian and French research bodies.
Fees, Funds and Rupee Estimates
Rupee figures assume roughly ₹100 to ₹110 per euro and are only indicative.
| Item | Amount in Euros | Approximate Rupees and Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s fee, non-EU | About €2,900 a year | About ₹2.9 lakh to ₹3.2 lakh; public institutions |
| Master’s fee, non-EU | About €3,950 a year | About ₹4 lakh to ₹4.3 lakh; often waived for scholars |
| Visa living funds | €615 a month | About ₹62,000 to ₹68,000 a month |
| Eiffel allowance (master’s) | Around €1,200 a month | About ₹1.2 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh; plus travel and insurance |
| Charpak Master allowance | About €860 a month | About ₹86,000 to ₹95,000; travel not covered |
| Student work limit | 964 hours a year | Roughly 20 hours a week on average |
We share these figures for general understanding and have no link with any French or Indian ministry, embassy, agency, portal or scholarship provider. Fees, allowances, eligibility and deadlines are reset each academic year, so confirm the latest numbers on the official programme page or the current call before applying.
Visa Money and Health Cover
For a long-stay student visa, France generally asks you to show at least €615 a month for living costs, the figure linked to the French government’s own scholarship rate. A Eiffel or Charpak award letter usually satisfies this, fully or partly. Otherwise, bank statements, a sponsor’s undertaking or a loan sanction letter are commonly used. Indian applicants normally go through the Campus France procedure before the visa appointment, which includes an academic interview.
Once enrolled, most international students can register with the French public health insurance system, which covers a large part of medical costs, and many add a top-up policy for the remainder. Government scholars may receive insurance as part of the award. Check what your award includes, and arrange travel cover for the first weeks before your French registration is active.
Working, Staying and Travelling Later
During Your Course
A student residence permit allows work of up to 964 hours a year, which averages about 20 hours a week. Some scholarships set their own limits on paid work, so read your award terms.
After a Master’s Degree
India has a migration and mobility arrangement with France, which gives Indian graduates several useful options:
- A temporary residence permit to stay in France for job search after a master’s-level degree, generally for one year, with India listed among the countries covered by a bilateral agreement.
- A post-study long-stay visa for Indian master’s graduates, valid for one year and renewable once, which can be requested from India within four years of graduating.
- A short-stay Schengen visa valid for five years for Indian alumni who hold a master’s degree and studied at least one semester in France; this visa is for visits and does not allow work.
These rules are set by the French authorities and can be revised, so check the current terms with Campus France India before relying on them.
Living Costs Beyond the Visa Minimum
The €615 monthly figure is a legal minimum, not a comfortable budget. In Paris, rent alone can take most of it, and many students spend well above that level once food, transport and a phone plan are added. Smaller university cities are usually cheaper, and subsidised student housing and university restaurants help a lot where you can get them.
Plan for the first month in particular. You may need to pay a deposit, the first rent, a home insurance policy that landlords often ask for, and basic items for your room, all before any allowance arrives. Many students also apply for the French housing assistance paid to tenants, which international students can often claim; it takes some weeks to start, so do not count on it in the first month.
Writing a Strong Nomination File
Because Eiffel nominations come from the institution, your admission file doubles as your scholarship file. Selection committees look for academic excellence, a clear professional plan and a good match between your background and the programme. A consistent record of high marks matters, but so does the story you tell.
- Explain in your statement why this particular programme in France suits your goals, not just why France is attractive.
- Show how the course links to concrete work you want to do in India or internationally.
- Choose referees who know your work well and can give specific examples.
- Keep your CV to one or two pages, focused on results rather than lists of duties.
For Charpak, the embassy also looks at academic merit and the coherence of your plan. A short, honest answer about your career aims usually works better than broad statements about cultural exchange.
Language and Course Choice
Many master’s programmes in France are taught fully in English, especially in engineering, management, data science and international relations. Undergraduate programmes are more often in French. Even on an English programme, learning everyday French will make housing, banking and part-time work much easier. Some scholarships give extra weight to applicants who show language effort, and French certificates can strengthen a Charpak or Eiffel file.
Money From India and Tax Points
Because French fees are moderate, families often need a smaller loan than for other Western destinations. Interest on an education loan from a recognised lender may be deducted under Section 80E for up to eight years; confirm the equivalent provision under the Income-tax Act, 2025, which took effect on 1 April 2026. Tax collected at source on education remittances above ₹10 lakh in a year is 2 percent from 1 April 2026 and can be adjusted when the family files its return. Scholarships for education are generally tax exempt in India.
Compare exchange rates carefully when paying fees or sending living money, and keep every remittance receipt for visa renewals and tax records.
A Practical Calendar for France
Most French master’s programmes start in September. Working backwards, shortlist programmes about a year ahead, apply for admission in the autumn or winter, ask your department about an Eiffel nomination before its internal deadline, and watch the embassy for the Charpak call early in the year. Results for the major awards generally arrive in spring, leaving the summer for the Campus France interview, the visa and housing. Joint European master’s programmes often close between December and February, so keep a separate column for them in your planning sheet.
Warning Signs of Fake French Awards
French government awards are free to apply for. Be careful of messages offering a “guaranteed Eiffel” or “embassy-approved Charpak seat” for a fee, sites that imitate official pages, or anyone asking for OTPs and card details. Check every programme on its official page and report cyber fraud on the national helpline 1930.
Turning a French Plan Into Reality
France rarely hands Indian students a single all-inclusive cheque, but its combination of low public fees, government fee exemptions, monthly allowances and paid doctoral contracts can add up to near-full funding. Target an admitting department that nominates for Eiffel, apply for Charpak in the same year, consider Erasmus Mundus programmes with a French leg, and budget carefully for travel and the first month. Add the India-specific stay-back options, and France becomes a strong, realistic choice.
France Funding Questions
Does the Eiffel scholarship pay tuition fees?
Not directly. It pays an allowance and extras such as travel and insurance, but government scholars are generally exempt from fees at public institutions for national diplomas. Private institutions may still charge fees.
Can I hold Charpak and Eiffel together?
Generally you can accept only one French government scholarship for the same study period. You may apply for both, but read each programme’s rules on combining awards.
Is learning French compulsory for these scholarships?
Not for English-taught programmes. However, basic French helps a great deal in daily life, and some selection panels view language preparation favourably.
