Government of France - French Government Master Scholarships

France Excellence Master scholarship

You receive 860 EUR per month for 10 months to study for a master's degree at any higher education institution in France. The money comes in two parts: 560 EUR from Georgia's International Education Center (IEC) and 300 EUR from the Institut français de Géorgie. On top of the monthly money you get:

• Health and social insurance in France.
• Exemption from the CVEC student services fee and from university registration fees.
• Priority help finding a place in a CROUS student residence (state-run student housing).
• A covered second-class train ticket from the airport to your university city.
• Support with your visa.

If you study a STEM subject and rank among the top two winners, the IEC also reimburses up to 5,000 EUR in tuition fees. For master's programmes that run longer than one year, the funding can be extended. The programme is run jointly by the IEC (Georgia's education authority) and the French Institute in Georgia.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a citizen of Georgia or hold a neutral Georgian ID or travel document.
• Where you study: You go to France for a full-time master's degree at any higher education institution. Part-time, online, distance and "executive" programmes do not count.
• Degree: You hold a bachelor's degree, or you are in your final undergraduate year, or you are already in a first-year master's in France and applying for the next year.
• Age: You are 30 or younger.
• Grades: You have at least a GPA of 3.0 (81-90 out of 100, or grade B or equivalent).
• Language: You speak French or English at B2 level, so you can follow a degree taught in that language.
• Field of study: All subjects can apply. Priority goes to education, engineering, IT, natural sciences, agriculture, law, management and public administration.
• No double funding: You do not hold another European grant (such as Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus) or a national scholarship at the same time.
• Return commitment: After graduating you return to Georgia within one month and work there in your field for at least three years within the following five years.

How to apply

You apply through the IEC's online system at app.iec.gov.ge. At the same time, register on the French "Etudes en France" platform to get your university admission letter. The deadline is 31 January. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by a joint Georgian-French selection committee. The scholarship is confirmed once you hold an unconditional admission letter from a French university.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly: only Georgian citizens under 30 with strong grades who are heading to France for a master's can apply, and up to 17 people are funded each year, including those already in multi-year programmes. If you clearly meet the criteria, especially in a priority field, your prospects are solid. Sort out your admission on the French platform early, since the money is only paid once you hold an unconditional offer.