AAgence pour l'enseignement francais a l'etranger (AEFE) with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; managed by Campus France
Partially funded
France Excellence-Major Scholarship (AEFE)
Agence pour l'enseignement francais a l'etranger (AEFE) with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; managed by Campus France, France
Scholarship overview
France Excellence-Major is a French government scholarship for the best non-French graduates of French schools abroad who want to continue in French higher education. It finances studies in France up to Master 2 level or equivalent, for a maximum of five years of allowances, and gives holders the status of French Government Scholarship holder (BGF), which helps with visas and exempts them from university registration fees.
Applications are proposed by the teaching team and submitted by the head of the school abroad through the Cascade online application. The pre-selected pupil fills in the file, and the local embassy's cultural cooperation service ranks and reviews it before the AEFE national selection commission decides.
The programme targets long, demanding study paths in state-recognised degrees (university, preparatory classes and similar), so it suits pupils aiming at a French university, grande ecole or business school route that leads to a state-recognised degree.
Award Information
- Hold a non-French nationality; dual French and third-country nationals cannot be proposed.
- Be enrolled in a French school abroad whose final cycle is accredited (list set by the order of 16 June 2025).
- Have excellent results aiming at a Tres bien (distinction) at the baccalaureat.
- Present a study plan in French higher education in a course leading to a state-recognised diploma, up to Master 2 level.
- Be ready to commit to demanding studies from the baccalaureat and show real motivation and ability to adapt to life in France.
- Enter the same wishes on Parcoursup (or the specific institution procedures) as in the application file.
- The award is confirmed only after obtaining the Tres bien at the baccalaureat and admission to a French higher education programme.
- The scholarship cannot be combined with other government scholarships, Erasmus or scholarships from international bodies.
- Up to five years of allowances, financing studies up to Master 2 or equivalent.
- Three rates according to family income: social-coverage scholarship (no monthly allowance; health protection each year, university registration exemption and BGF status), rate 1 at EUR 280 per month, and rate 2 at EUR 860 per month.
- Rates 1 and 2: travel costs to France reimbursed on a country scale (one-way ticket in full, round trip at half), and train travel to the city of study up to EUR 80.
- Supplementary health insurance subscribed by the programme for all rates.
- Exemption from the student life and campus contribution (CVEC), a welcome meeting and a mentoring system.
- Paid seasonal work allowed up to 964 hours a year.
- Scholarship period abroad or exchange: allowances kept for at most one year; one gap year possible between the first and fourth year; deferral up to one year after selection, or up to three years as a conservatory scholarship for study in a delocalised French programme abroad.
2026 campaign: online entry by candidates on Cascade from 16 February to 12 March 2026 (23:59 Paris time); head-of-school evaluation 13 to 31 March 2026; cultural cooperation service ranking until 22 April 2026; AEFE and national commission evaluation 27 April to 15 May 2026. Files validated after 20 April 2026 are not admissible. The scholarship takes effect on arrival in France, no earlier than 1 September of the intake year. Later campaigns follow a similar yearly circular.
- Ask your school head whether you can be pre-selected; only schools in the AEFE accredited list can propose candidates.
- Enter your application on the Cascade application: pedagogical file, individual video of presentation and motivation, answers to two open questions, and proof of identity.
- Add your family income declaration (or equivalent proof) so the cooperation service can set your scholarship rate.
- The school head prints the file, has it signed by your parents, ranks and rates it, then the cultural cooperation service validates it.
- If selected, accept the programme's general conditions in Cascade by the deadline, and send your admission certificate, passport pages and arrival information.
- Obtain the Tres bien at the baccalaureat and confirm admission to a French higher education programme.
Official circular and annexes
Official links
Documents you will need
- Anticipated French test results (1ere) and school reports for 1ere (three terms or two semesters) and terminale (first term or semester).
- Individual presentation and motivation video.
- Online answers to two open questions.
- Passport or identity card.
- Family income declaration of the previous year or equivalent proof.
- After selection: baccalaureat transcript showing the distinction, admission letter from a French higher education institution, passport pages and a translated or apostilled birth certificate extract.
How selection works
The AEFE ranks files using the head of school's opinion, the embassy's ranking and the pupil's school record. A national selection commission chaired by the AEFE director general, with representatives of French higher education and the ministry, selects winners within country quotas. Criteria in order: school level, motivation, study project, embassy score, scholarship rate, priority geographic zone, engagement and initiative. The 2026 campaign fixed the number of winners at 100. The commission's decision is final.
