Bachelor Scholarships in France for International Students: What Is Really Open in 2027

Looking for a scholarship to fund a bachelor’s in France? Which awards are really open at bachelor level, which famous ones are not, what international students can and cannot claim once in France, and how to plan your budget so a scholarship helps without replacing your proof of funds.

Are there scholarships for a bachelor’s in France?

They exist, but there are fewer of them than for master’s studies, and most are partial.

Many lists of “scholarships in France” are really lists of master’s and PhD awards. That is not a detail: several of the best-known programmes target graduate students only. As a bachelor’s applicant, you need to filter every award by level before you spend time on the file.

In practice, funding for a bachelor’s in France comes from five places: French government scholarships, scholarships from your own government or from foundations, awards and fee reductions from the institution you apply to, the Erasmus+ programme if you are already enrolled at a partner university, and French social support, which is mostly out of reach in your first years. Our wider guide to scholarships in France for international students covers the master’s-level programmes in detail; this page stays on what works for undergraduates.

Which funding sources can bachelor’s students use?

Six funding routes, compared on the point that matters most: are you eligible at bachelor level?

Why can’t you use the Eiffel scholarship for a bachelor’s?

The France Excellence Eiffel programme is the scholarship most students hear about first. Campus France describes its purpose clearly: it lets French higher education institutions attract top foreign students to their master’s and PhD programmes. Students do not apply directly; only applications submitted by French institutions are accepted, for candidates up to 29 years old at master’s level and 35 at PhD level. For the 2027 campaign, applications opened in October 2026, the deadline for receipt by Campus France is 6 January 2027, and results are published from 12 April 2027.

For a bachelor’s applicant, the practical conclusion is simple: do not build your plan on Eiffel. Keep it in mind for later. If you finish a bachelor’s with a strong record, it becomes one of the options for your master’s.

Government scholarships and the Campus Bourses directory

French government scholarships through the embassy

French government scholarships are listed in the Campus Bourses directory alongside other programmes. Campus France itself does not pay scholarships directly to students, and awards differ by funding body, target audience, nationality, amount and duration. Levels and deadlines therefore vary, so rely on the current call for your country, published by the French embassy or the local Campus France office. One advantage is confirmed by Campus France: holders of French government scholarships receive an automatic full waiver of tuition fees at public institutions.

Your own government and private foundations

Many countries fund undergraduate study abroad through a ministry, a scholarship board or a public company. Such schemes may come with conditions, for example a list of approved countries or institutions, a priority field of study, or a commitment to return and work at home. Read the official rules before choosing your programme, not after.

Campus Bourses, the official search engine

Campus France runs Campus Bourses, an online catalogue of scholarship programmes for international students and researchers. It lists French government scholarships, foreign government scholarships, and programmes offered by French higher education institutions, foundations and companies. You can filter by criteria including your nationality and your level of study, which is the fastest way to remove master’s-only awards from the list.

Can international students get Crous grants or housing aid?

Short answer: rarely in the first two years, because of residence conditions.

The Crous social-criteria grant (bourse sur critères sociaux) is France’s main grant for students with limited income. In 2026-27 it has eight levels, from about €1,454 to €6,335 a year, according to Service-Public. But for a student from outside the EU, three conditions apply together: hold a residence permit, have lived in France for at least two years, and belong to a tax household (foyer fiscal) in France for at least two years. A student who arrives from abroad to start a bachelor’s does not meet them.

This now also affects housing support. Since 1 July 2026, Service-Public (F12006) states that students from outside the EU holding a residence permit for studies can receive the APL housing allowance only in one of three cases: they receive a social-criteria grant, they have a professional activity, or they are under an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract. Plan your rent without assuming the allowance, and read our guide to student accommodation near Paris for realistic options.

What about Erasmus+ and tuition waivers?

Erasmus+ is often quoted as a scholarship to study in France, but it funds study periods, not full degrees. The European Commission explains that students at short-cycle, bachelor’s and master’s levels enrolled at a participating institution can spend between 2 and 12 months abroad, and that the grant is a contribution to travel and living costs. Both institutions must hold the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education. If your home university has a French partner, a semester in France through Erasmus+ is a good first step, but it will not pay for a three-year bachelor’s.

At public institutions, the main saving is the regulated fee itself. Campus France gives €2,902 a year for a bachelor’s for non-EU students in 2026-27. Beyond the automatic waiver for government scholarship holders and students covered by reciprocal agreements, institutions can grant waivers on request in individual situations such as crisis or conflict, refugee status, disability or financial hardship. Some students are exempt from the differentiated fees, for example holders of a long-term resident permit or those with French tax residence for more than two years.

How do scholarships at private institutions work?

Schools and private institutions set their own fees and their own awards. Before you count on one, ask five questions and get the answers in writing:

1. 1
   How much, exactly?

   A fixed amount or a percentage, written in your admission letter.
2. 2
   For how long?

   First year only, or every year of the programme, and under which conditions it is renewed.
3. 3
   On what criteria?

   Academic record, interview, early application, payment in full, or an application through a partner.
4. 4
   Can it be combined?

   With an early-payment discount or another award.
5. 5
   What happens if your visa is refused?

   The refund rules for the deposit and tuition, stated in the admission letter.

AI2 scholarships for bachelor’s students

AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, teaches its Bachelor in Applied AI 100% in English on its Écouen campus, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord by Transilien line H. Every international applicant is assessed automatically for the AI2 international scholarship: there is no separate form and no extra fee.

Each AI2 final year awards the AI2 diploma and prepares a professional title recognised by the French State and registered in the RNCP at level 6 (RNCP37873 or RNCP41370). Intakes run in February, May and September 2027, with a priority deadline of 30 November 2026; applying early also counts for the scholarship. Full details are on the AI2 scholarships page and the tuition fees page. For the rest of the budget, our cost of studying AI in France guide lists every item, and the guide to a bachelor’s in France in English compares the routes.

A funding timeline for a 2027 start

📘 Related guides: Scholarships in France for Sri Lankan students · Scholarships in France for UAE residents.

Frequently asked questions

Apply to the Bachelor in Applied AI or a final-year top-up: your file is assessed for the AI2 international scholarship automatically, with no extra form or fee. Priority deadline 30 November 2026 for the February 2027 intake.

Apply nowSee AI2 scholarships