Embassy of France to South Africa - France - South Africa Scholarship Programme

France - South Africa Scholarship Programme

You get a monthly grant to study for a Master's or PhD in France: 900 EUR per month for Master's students and 1,850 EUR per month for PhD students. Funding runs for the length of your degree: 2 years for a Master's and up to 3 years for a PhD. On top of the cash you get health and social insurance for your whole stay, one return flight between your home country and France, and priority access to student housing in state-run (CROUS) residences. You also pay no visa fees and no CVEC student charge, and you can get an optional housing top-up (CAF) of about 150 EUR per month. At public universities that charge the standard non-EU rate, your tuition fees can also be waived. The programme is run by the Embassy of France to South Africa. Private or fee-paying programmes are not covered.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a citizen of South Africa, Lesotho or Malawi. If you also hold French citizenship, you cannot apply.
• Degree level: You are applying for a Master's or a PhD in France.
• Where you study: You study at a French university or college, public or private.
• Age: For the 2027 cycle, you were born on or after 1 January 1997.
• Grades: You have at least a 60% average in your most recently completed degree.
• Study phase: You can apply in your final year: the last year of a Bachelor's or Honours if you want to do a Master's, or the last year of a Master's if you want to do a PhD. You do not need an admission offer from a French institution when you apply.
• Field of study: All subjects can apply. At least 60% of awards go to STEM fields (such as AI, biotechnology, health, energy, environmental sciences and ICT) and related humanities and social sciences, so applicants in those areas have better chances.
• Language: You can study in English or French. For a French-taught programme, you need DELF B2 level, an intermediate French certificate.

How to apply

You apply through the programme's online portal. For the 2027 cycle, applications open on 21 July 2026 and close on 8 October 2026 at 23:59 (South Africa time). Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in November 2026, and winners are announced in early December 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

Only citizens of three countries heading to France can apply, which keeps the field narrower than a fully open scholarship. The programme is well known, and the panel calls it highly selective. Strong grades plus a clear, coherent study plan matter most, and STEM applicants have an edge since most awards go to priority fields. Women, people with disabilities and applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply.