France Excellence Scholarships for Palestinian Students (Master & PhD)

What you get

You will receive 1,690 EUR per month to cover your living expenses whilst undertaking your PhD in France, for a period of up to 3 years. In addition to the monthly stipend, the scholarship covers your return flight and travel costs within France, provides you with health and third-party liability insurance, exempts you from French visa fees and tuition fees at state-recognised French higher education institutions, and includes free online French lessons. Campus France will also help you find accommodation. The scholarship is funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administered by the French Consulate-General in Jerusalem. However, you will need to cover certain costs yourself, such as travel with your family or specific research expenses.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a PhD programme.
• Prior studies: You already hold a Master’s degree or are in the final year of a Master’s programme.
• Admission: You hold a firm or provisional place at a French doctoral school and have a clear research proposal that is in line with your career goals.
• Subject: Funding is available for any field of study. There are two funding streams: one open to all fields of study, and one for educational science and linguistics.
• Nationality and home: You are Palestinian and/or have studied at a Palestinian university and live permanently in the West Bank, Jerusalem or the Gaza Strip. If you hold both French and Palestinian nationality, you are not eligible to apply.
• Languages: You must have at least level B2 in French or English, depending on the language in which you are writing your dissertation.
• Women encouraged: The programme promotes gender equality and encourages women to apply. This is an advantage, but not a requirement.

How to apply

Please submit your application by email to Campus France Jerusalem. The application deadline is in early January. Applications will be assessed between January and March; shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews in April, and the results will be announced in May – in good time before the start of the academic year in France in October.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very specific: it is aimed exclusively at Palestinian PhD students who have already secured a place at a French doctoral school, meaning that only a small number of people meet the eligibility criteria. If you meet these criteria and submit a compelling research proposal with the required language skills, your prospects are good. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate co-funding or who are working on priority topics, so a well-tailored application will stand out particularly well.