7 Ways to Finance Grad School in France

Sponsored by EDHEC

Is money (or lack thereof) the only thing keeping you from applying to a postgraduate course in France? If, like most young people starting out, you haven’t got the funds to self-finance your postgraduate studies abroad in France, all is not lost, so don’t bid adieu to your dream grade school just yet.

Provided you’re motivated and organized, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to cover the costs of grad school in France, thanks to the many funding options at your disposal (including grants, scholarships, benefits, loans etc.), but you need to know where to look.

Here are seven of the best ways to pay for grad school in France – courtesy of the world-leading French business school, EDHEC.

1. Contact us to apply for an Eiffel Scholarship 

The Eiffel Scholarship program, run by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is intended for deserving international students studying for a master’s degree at French schools.

To be eligible, you would need to be under the age of 30, hold a non-French citizenship (even dual), and complete your studies in France.

Applications are accepted from October 10 to January 6 every year, though universities usually stop accepting applications about a month prior to the January deadline, so they have enough time to process them. Results are announced on March 20.

2. Contact us to apply for an EDHEC Scholarship

Not all French schools offer scholarships to international students, but EDHEC does. In an effort to recruit the world’s brightest minds, the globally-renowned business school offers scholarships to international students on the basis of academic merit and financial need, covering between 15 percent and 30 percent of tuition fees. Deadlines for scholarships range between March 31 and June 30. Contact us to find out more about each scholarship and download your own copy of their financial aid form here.

3. Save on rent, thanks to the CROUS

The CROUS, a regional organization that offers bursaries, halls of residence and advice on most student matters is a great resource for information about affordable student housing, jobs and deals in France. If you’re looking to stay in a residence hall or a logement en ville (private housing), CROUS should also be able to help you with helpful tips and rental listings in your city here.

4. Receive housing benefits from the French government

All students at French universities are eligible for housing benefits, including international citizens – though the exact sum varies depending on your rent and income. To apply, you would need to have an address in France, be enrolled onto a student health insurance plan and have opened your own French bank account. Read a brochure in English here.

5. Work on campus through an assistantship

Whichever university you choose, it should, like EDHEC, be able to offer you an admin or research assistantship on top of your loan or scholarship. One of the main draws of these flexible schemes is that they only require you to clock in a few hours’ worth of work each week, but they do tend to fill up pretty quickly, so don’t miss out. EDHEC offers remunerated admin and research assistantships.

6. Search for grants and scholarships online on CampusBourses

It’s highly recommended that you search for postgraduate grants and scholarships which you may be eligible for on the website CampusBourses. At the time of writing, 292 grants were listed on the website, including ones offered through the Erasmus program, foreign governments, research bodies and international organizations. Depending on your nationality and subject, you may be eligible for at least one of them, so don’t miss out.

7. If all else fails, take out a student loan

Prodigy Finance supports international EDHEC students on an MBA or MSc course with loans of up to US$15,000, with monthly repayments lasting for a period of seven to 10 years, starting within six months after graduation. Find out more about EDHEC’s Prodigy Finance student loans here.

To discuss funding options at EDHEC, contact their admission manager here.  Download a program brochure here! 

This article was originally published on March 22, 2017.