Fondation de France/Conservatoire de Paris - L´Or du Rhin Foundation Grants

What you get

You will receive a scholarship to study music at the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP). The foundation does not publish exact amounts. It determines the amount of each scholarship on a case-by-case basis according to your circumstances; scholarships for outstanding talent or to support promising careers may be higher. The funding comes from the ‘L’Or du Rhin’ Foundation, a private funding organisation established in 2010 to support classical music. It covers three types of needs: living and study costs during the academic year (September to June); specific projects such as the purchase or repair of an instrument, participation in a masterclass or an international competition; and one-off emergency assistance following a sudden financial setback.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP).
• Field: You are studying music: an instrument (classical music, early music, contemporary music or jazz), singing, composition or conducting.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. One degree programme is aimed at first-year students from outside the European Economic Area who have passed the CNSMDP entrance examination.
• Financial need: You need the money from the study and emergency grants to be able to continue your studies.
• Not on exchange: If you are only attending the conservatoire as part of an exchange programme such as Erasmus+, you cannot apply here. Instead, please contact your home university for support.

How to apply

Applications are made via your student portal (ENT) in the ‘Aides privées’ section. Study grants can be applied for from mid-July, before the start of the semester. Project grants can be applied for after the Christmas holidays. You can apply for emergency financial assistance at any time. An internal panel decides on the allocation of grants; for some grants, an audition or an interview is also required. You will receive a response within 72 hours of the panel’s meeting.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is only available to a limited group of people. You must already be enrolled at a specific higher education institution, namely the CNSMDP, which admits only a small number of carefully selected musicians each year. If you are studying there and can demonstrate a genuine financial need or a well-founded project, your chances are good, as very few people meet the criteria. It is advisable to apply early, as soon as the application period begins.