Government of France- Embassy of France in Vietnam - Excellence Scholarship Programme of the Embassy of France in Vietnam

What you get

For your studies in France, you will receive a monthly living allowance of 767 EUR. A PhD (a doctoral programme lasting up to three years) is funded for up to 36 months. A one-year Master’s degree 2, the final year of a French Master’s programme, is funded for 12 months. The scholarship also exempts you from tuition and enrolment fees at public French universities. It covers your health insurance. It grants you priority support in finding accommodation within France’s state-run student halls of residence system. The French Embassy in Hanoi runs the programme in conjunction with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Vietnamese national.
• Where you go: You are studying in France at a state university or a ‘Grande École’ (a French higher education institution with strict admission criteria).
• Level: To enrol on the 2 Master’s programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree or be in the final year of your Bachelor’s degree. To enrol on a PhD programme, you must have completed a Master’s degree.
• Field of study: Natural and environmental sciences, engineering and technology, economics and social sciences, or law and political science.
• Age: Under 30 on 1 January of the year in which you are applying. If your performance is outstanding, you can achieve up to 35.
• Language: You have a knowledge of French at DELF B level2. If your degree programme is taught in English, you will need a level of English equivalent to approximately IELTS 6.0 to 6.5.
• Grades: Excellent academic performance, with an average mark of around 8.0/10 or higher. Professional experience or publications may compensate for a lower average mark.

How to apply

Please send your complete application documents to the Scholarship Office at the French Embassy by 10 January, 18:00 local time. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Embassy in February or March for an interview, which will be conducted in the language of your chosen degree programme. The results will be announced from mid-April onwards.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very narrowly defined. Only Vietnamese nationals under the age of 30 who wish to study in France in a handful of priority subject areas are eligible to apply, so the pool of eligible candidates is small. If you clearly meet the requirements regarding academic level, age and language skills, and can demonstrate good grades and a well-reasoned study plan, your prospects are good. PhD projects carried out as part of an existing Franco-Vietnamese research partnership are given priority, so these candidates have an advantage.