British Council - Entente Cordiale scholarships

Benefit

If you are studying for a Master’s degree in France, you will receive a net grant of 900 EUR per month. You will also be provided with free health insurance and will not have to pay any visa fees or tuition fees at public universities. The scholarship runs for at least one semester and up to ten months (from 1 September 2026 to 30 June 2027). You cannot take a break from it or defer it to a later year. It is administered by the French Embassy in London. You will also become a member of the ‘Entente Cordiale’ alumni network, a group of former scholarship holders who now work for organisations such as the WHO and the IMF, as well as in the fields of law, banking, research and journalism.

Eligibility

• Nationality: You are a British national. You do not hold French nationality.
• Level: You are starting a Master’s degree 1 or 2 at a French university or a Grande École. Master’s programmes undertaken as part of vocational training or continuing professional development are not eligible.
• Field of study: Your project falls under one of the following 2026 priority areas: space (Earth observation), the energy transition (hydrogen), artificial intelligence (and its ethical aspects), or the humanities and social sciences relating to these fields.
• Grades: You have an outstanding academic and professional track record.
• Languages: You have a sound knowledge of French, English or both languages.
• Other funding: You are not currently receiving another scholarship from the French government or an international scholarship.

How to apply

Online applications must be submitted via Campus France UK between 15 January and 28 February 2026 (18:00 GMT). If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview in March or April. The results will be announced in mid-April 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is highly selective. Only British nationals who are studying for a Master’s degree in France and working on a project related to specific subject areas are eligible to apply; consequently, the pool of eligible applicants is small. If your study plan clearly corresponds to one of the priority areas and you can demonstrate excellent grades as well as a sound reason for choosing France, your chances are good. It is also helpful to contact the staff responsible for your chosen degree programme in advance.