International Student Scholarships With Accommodation in France for BSc, Master’s and PhD: 2026 Guide

France remains one of the most attractive study destinations in Europe for international students. Every year, students from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other parts of the world look to France for affordable university education, internationally recognised degrees and access to European career opportunities.

But there is another reason France attracts so much attention: scholarships and funded study opportunities.

If you have been searching online for international student scholarships with accommodation in France, monthly stipends of €1,500 to €2,000, and opportunities for BSc, Master’s and PhD students, you have probably come across many different claims.

Some are accurate. Others are misleading.

The reality in 2026 is that France offers several excellent scholarship and funding routes, but the exact benefits depend heavily on your study level. A student applying for a Bachelor’s degree should not expect to find the same funding package available to a PhD researcher.

For example, the French government’s France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship now provides a monthly allowance of €1,200 for Master’s students and €2,000 for doctoral students from January 2026, together with several additional services, including international transportation, national transportation, insurance and help with accommodation

That makes the Eiffel programme particularly relevant to students looking for funding close to the €1,500–€2,000 monthly range.

So, what is actually available?

Let’s break it down.

Can International Students Study in France With a Scholarship and Accommodation?

Yes, but there is an important difference between free accommodation, accommodation assistance and a living stipend.

These terms are often mixed together on scholarship websites.

A scholarship may give you a monthly allowance and help you find student housing. Another may place you in a CROUS university residence while deducting part of the housing cost from your scholarship allowance. Another may simply give you enough funding to arrange your own accommodation.

Campus France confirms that scholarship holders can request help finding accommodation. Depending on availability, Campus France may offer a place in a university residence, particularly a CROUS residence, or arrange temporary accommodation when necessary. The student's contribution toward accommodation can be deducted from the scholarship allowance.

So, when you see the phrase “scholarship with accommodation in France,” read the funding conditions carefully.

It does not automatically mean that you receive a free private apartment.

The Most Important 2026 Scholarship: France Excellence Eiffel

If your main target is a scholarship offering a monthly payment around €1,500–€2,000, the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship should be near the top of your research list.

The programme is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and is designed to attract high-performing international students to French higher education institutions.

However, there is a major eligibility point you need to understand:

Eiffel is not a general Bachelor’s scholarship.

The programme primarily supports Master’s and doctoral-level study, including certain engineering programmes.

Eiffel Scholarship for Master’s Students

From January 2026, Eiffel Master’s scholarship holders receive a monthly allowance of €1,200.

In addition, the programme provides several services, including international transportation, national transportation, insurance, accommodation-search assistance and cultural activities.

The €1,200 monthly figure is slightly below the €1,500 target many students search for, but the total value of the package is larger because additional services are provided.

This is an important distinction.

You should not judge a scholarship solely by its monthly cash payment.

A scholarship paying €1,200 while also providing transportation, insurance and accommodation assistance may be more useful financially than a scholarship offering a higher headline allowance but requiring you to pay every other expense yourself.

Eiffel Scholarship for PhD Students

The doctoral version is even closer to the funding range mentioned in your search.

From January 2026, Campus France lists the Eiffel doctoral allowance at €2,000 per month. Additional services include international transportation, national transportation, insurance, accommodation-related assistance and cultural activities.

This means PhD applicants searching for France scholarships with €2,000 monthly stipends have a particularly relevant option.

However, do not confuse the scholarship with an ordinary salary.

A scholarship allowance is financial support for your study or research period. A doctoral employment contract, by contrast, is a paid employment arrangement.

Eiffel Scholarship and Accommodation

Accommodation is one of the strongest features of the Eiffel package for students who are worried about housing.

Campus France explains that Eiffel recipients can receive housing options through student residences managed by CROUS or private accommodation. The programme also encourages host institutions to assist recipients with suitable housing.

However, accommodation availability is not unlimited.

You should therefore begin the housing process as early as possible after receiving your award.

In practice, your university location matters enormously. Renting in central Paris can be significantly different from living in a smaller French city.

For a student with a fixed monthly allowance, choosing a university outside the most expensive areas can make your scholarship stretch considerably further.

Does the Eiffel Scholarship Pay Tuition Fees?

This is where many online articles become confusing.

The Eiffel programme itself states that its scholarship does not directly cover tuition fees in the usual sense. However, French government scholarship holders can receive exemptions from tuition charges for qualifying national diplomas and accredited engineering degrees in eligible public institutions under the applicable rules.

In other words, you should examine your university's exact fee arrangements rather than assuming that “Eiffel scholarship” automatically means every university expense is paid.

Your host institution also plays an important role.

You must first be accepted or supported by a French higher education institution, and the institution submits the Eiffel application.

You cannot simply submit an Eiffel application independently as an individual student.

Campus France states that applications must be submitted by eligible French higher education institutions. Applications sent directly by students are declared ineligible. CCampus France+1

That makes your university application extremely important.

What About Bachelor’s or BSc Scholarships in France?

This is where you need to lower your expectations about the €1,500–€2,000 monthly figure.

There are scholarships for international undergraduate students in France, but a €1,500–€2,000 monthly stipend with free accommodation is not a standard Bachelor’s funding package.

One example is the Émile Boutmy Scholarship at Sciences Po.

For international students from outside the European Union, the scholarship can be available for eligible undergraduate and Master's applicants.

For the Bachelor's programme, the current scholarship can provide either a full tuition exemption or a €9,500 tuition-fee exemption. SSciences Po

Notice what is missing: this is not a €1,500 monthly living stipend.

That does not make it useless. Far from it.

Reducing tuition by €9,500 can significantly lower the overall cost of your degree. But you would still need to plan separately for accommodation, food, transportation, insurance and other expenses.

This is why Bachelor’s applicants should search for tuition scholarships, university grants, government scholarships and external funding rather than focusing exclusively on monthly stipends.

France Excellence Major and Other Funding Routes

International students should also investigate other French government and institutional funding programmes.

Campus France maintains a scholarship database called Campus Bourses, which allows students to search funding opportunities by nationality, study field and academic level. The database includes scholarships offered by governments, local authorities, companies, foundations and higher education institutions.

This is particularly useful for Bachelor’s applicants.

Instead of searching for one mythical scholarship that pays everything, you can combine several legitimate sources of funding.

For example, you might find:

• A university tuition reduction

• A government scholarship

• A housing subsidy or affordable CROUS residence

• A foundation grant

• A mobility scholarship

• Part-time work where legally permitted

Together, these sources can make studying in France considerably more affordable.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships

Another excellent route for international students is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme.

These are international Master's programmes involving multiple universities, often in different European countries.

The 2026 Erasmus+ Programme Guide specifies an Erasmus Mundus scholarship calculation of €1,400 per month, with scholarship duration depending on the Master's programme. The maximum duration can reach 24 months.

This is below the €1,500–€2,000 target, but it is still a substantial monthly scholarship.

And because Erasmus Mundus programmes can involve study in multiple countries, accommodation arrangements vary by programme.

You should therefore look at the individual Master's programme rather than assuming every Erasmus Mundus scholarship has identical housing arrangements.

Some programmes may cover tuition and provide substantial financial support, while the student's housing arrangements can change as they move between partner universities.

PhD Students: France Offers Another Important Route

If you are planning a PhD, don't limit your search to scholarships.

France also has doctoral contracts, which are employment contracts rather than ordinary scholarships.

This distinction could be extremely important for students looking for monthly income.

According to the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the minimum remuneration for a public doctoral contract for research-only activity increased to €2,300 gross per month from 1 January 2026.

That figure falls directly within the range many international students are searching for.

However, it is gross remuneration, not necessarily the amount deposited into your bank account after deductions.

A doctoral contract may therefore be a better fit for someone searching for a paid PhD position rather than a traditional scholarship.

You should search university laboratories, doctoral schools and research projects for funded PhD positions.

Look for phrases such as:

“doctoral contract,” “PhD position,” “funded PhD,” “doctoral researcher,” “contrat doctoral” and “fully funded PhD.”

France 2026 Tuition Fees for International Students

Funding your monthly living expenses is only one part of the equation.

You also need to understand tuition fees.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Campus France lists differentiated tuition fees for certain non-EU students at public higher education institutions under the French Ministry of Higher Education.

The published amounts are:

• Bachelor's: €2,902 per year

• Master's: €3,950 per year

• Doctorate: €398 per year

Doctoral programmes are therefore treated very differently from Bachelor's and Master's programmes in this fee structure.

There are also exemptions.

Campus France states that full automatic tuition-fee waivers apply to students receiving French government higher education scholarships, among other categories. Universities may also provide additional exemptions under certain circumstances. CCampus France

This is another reason you should check your individual university and scholarship conditions.

How to Find Accommodation in France

Accommodation can be one of the biggest expenses for an international student.

Fortunately, France has the CROUS university-residence system, which provides student accommodation in many cities.

Campus France explains that long-stay scholarship holders can be offered university or student residences, depending on availability and their circumstances. These can include traditional small rooms with shared facilities or more comfortable rooms resembling studios.

Do not wait until you arrive in France before thinking about housing.

Once you know your university and funding status, begin researching:

• CROUS residences

• University residences

• Private student residences

• Shared apartments

• Student housing platforms

• University accommodation services

Your choice of city can also affect your budget dramatically.

A €2,000 monthly doctoral income can feel very different in an expensive central neighbourhood than in a smaller city with lower rent.

Who Can Apply for These Scholarships?

Eligibility depends on the specific programme.

Generally, international applicants should expect to demonstrate strong academic performance.

For competitive scholarships, universities and scholarship providers may also consider:

• Academic achievements

• Leadership experience

• Research potential

• Professional experience

• Community involvement

• Career objectives

• Quality of the proposed study or research project

• Language ability

• Fit with the scholarship's objectives

For Eiffel, applicants normally work through a French institution rather than applying independently.

For Sciences Po's Émile Boutmy Scholarship, applicants must first apply for the eligible degree programme and meet the scholarship's international-student conditions.

Documents You Should Prepare

If you want to apply for French scholarships in 2026, start preparing your documents early.

You may need:

• International passport

• Academic certificates

• Academic transcripts

• Curriculum vitae

• Motivation letter

• Research proposal for PhD applications

• Recommendation letters

• Proof of language proficiency

• University admission documents

• Previous employment documents

• Evidence of academic achievements

• Financial documents where required

For doctoral applicants, your research proposal can be particularly important.

Do not submit a generic proposal that could be sent to any university.

Show that you understand the research area, explain the problem you want to investigate and demonstrate why the proposed research matters.

How to Improve Your Scholarship Application

The most competitive scholarships receive applications from academically strong students.

Simply having good grades may not be enough.

Start by building a coherent application.

Your degree choice should make sense alongside your academic background and future career.

If you studied computer science and want to pursue artificial intelligence, for example, explain how your previous education prepared you for the programme and what you intend to accomplish after graduation.

For PhD applications, go deeper.

Explain your research problem, methodology, expected contribution and why the selected laboratory or supervisor is appropriate.

Your motivation letter should sound like you, not like an AI-generated collection of impressive words.

Be specific.

Instead of writing, “I want to contribute to the development of my country,” explain exactly what problem you want to address and how your French education will help you work on it.

Common Mistakes International Students Should Avoid

One major mistake is believing every website advertising “€2,000 monthly scholarship in France for everyone.”

There is no universal French scholarship that automatically gives every international student €2,000 per month.

The €2,000 Eiffel figure applies to eligible doctoral scholarship recipients under the 2026 rate.

Another mistake is assuming accommodation is always free.

Campus France's own guidance makes it clear that accommodation can involve a student contribution, with housing costs potentially deducted from the scholarship allowance.

A third mistake is applying directly for scholarships that require university nomination.

Eiffel is a good example. The French institution submits the application, not the student independently.

Finally, be careful with unofficial agents promising guaranteed scholarships.

Legitimate scholarships are competitive.

Nobody should guarantee that you will receive an award simply because you pay a processing fee.

2026 France Scholarship Strategy for BSc, Master's and PhD Applicants

If you are applying for a Bachelor's degree, focus on tuition reductions, university scholarships, government schemes available to your nationality and affordable accommodation. Émile Boutmy is one example worth investigating, although it does not provide a €1,500–€2,000 monthly living stipend.

If you are applying for a Master's degree, investigate Eiffel, Erasmus Mundus, university scholarships and other France Excellence programmes. Eiffel provides €1,200 per month from January 2026 plus additional services.

If you are applying for a PhD, expand your search beyond scholarships and investigate funded doctoral contracts. The French Ministry lists a €2,300 gross monthly minimum for a public doctoral contract for research-only activity from January 2026

That distinction can completely change your funding strategy.

Conclusion

Studying in France with substantial financial support is possible in 2026, but students need to separate genuine scholarship benefits from exaggerated online claims. For master's applicants, the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship provides a €1,200 monthly allowance from January 2026 alongside services such as transportation, insurance, and accommodation assistance. For doctoral applicants, the Eiffel allowance rises to €2,000 per month, making it one of the clearest matches for students searching for funding in the €1,500–€2,000 range.PhD candidates should also investigate French doctoral contracts, where the minimum gross remuneration for a public research-only doctoral contract reaches €2,300 per month from January 2026.Bachelor’s students face a different funding landscape, with opportunities such as Sciences Po's Émile Boutmy Scholarship providing significant tuition reductions rather than a €1,500–€2,000 monthly stipend. The smartest approach is therefore to choose your degree level first, identify legitimate funding programs, check the exact 2026 eligibility rules, investigate accommodation through CROUS and Campus France, and apply directly through the official university or scholarship channel. With early preparation, strong academic documents, and a realistic budget, France can be a financially manageable destination for international students at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels.