France - South Africa Scholarship Programme 2025 For Graduate South Africans: Apply Now!

About the South Africa-France Scholarship Programme 2025

The France-South Africa Scholarship Programme is now accepting applications from students who are interested in pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD at universities or higher education institutions in France.

If you’re planning to start your studies in France in September 2025, this opportunity is for you. Please note that the current call for applications is open, and successful applicants will be contacted individually. The list of the selected students and the waiting list will be announced as per the indicated timeline. Kindly refrain from making follow-up requests as they will not be answered.

It’s important to note that due to differences in the academic calendars between the Southern and Northern hemispheres, selected students will undergo a specific program in South Africa from February 2025 to July 2025. This program will feature online French courses organized by the network of the Alliances Françaises. Additionally, depending on individual profiles and available opportunities, students may have the chance to participate in internships with French companies and organizations based in South Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the France – South Africa Scholarship Program, applicants must be:

Under the age of 33 years old on 1st January 2025.
A South African and Lesothan national.
Enrolled in a French Higher Education institution (in due time) to pursue a Master’s degree or PhD.

The scholarship is granted for a given period to be spent in France, matching the necessary time required to obtain the degree:

For a Master’s degree, the scholarship will be granted for a duration between 10 and 22 months. Master’s degree programmes are two years long. In some specific cases (Bachelor’s degree with Honours, for example), students may consider applying directly to M2 (second year of the Master’s Programme). Only the hosting higher education institution is responsible for the admission. At the end of the first academic year, the Embassy of France will verify the success of the student to continue her/his studies in the second year of the Master’s programme.
For PhDs, the scholarship will be granted for a maximum duration of 3 years. However, at the end of each academic year, in order to get the renewal of his/her grant, the recipient will have to justify the progress of their research work.

In the case of a PhD under co-supervision, periods of stay in France should be specified. The scholarship will only be granted for the periods spent in France.
For PhD and Master’s Degrees, if the curriculum requires coursework which will take place outside France, then the applicant must specify all the details and his/her intentions, in the application process.

Benefits of the South Africa-France Scholarship Programme 2025

There are two scholarship schemes available under the France South Africa Scholarship Programme:

A full scholarship by the Embassy of France. It includes:

The status of scholarship holder of the French Government which includes social security, priority for accessing student housing, visa fee exemption and assistance offered by Campus France Paris.
The payment of tuition fees, not exceeding 5000€ per year.

A return flight ticket to France.
A monthly allowance (approximately 700 euros for master students and 1400 euros for PhD students).
It is possible to obtain additional accommodation assistance from the French government (approximately 150 euros/month).

As a PhD student, it is important to note that certain doctoral schools have a minimum monthly income requirement. Students who are interested in these schools must establish communication and collaboration with the French higher education institution and research laboratory where they will be based, in order to secure additional funding.

In the second type of scholarship, there is a cost-sharing arrangement in which the monthly allowance may be fully or partially provided by a partner, such as a member of the Advisory Board, a company, a higher education institution, or another funding agency. Despite the source of the allowance, all other benefits of a complete scholarship will still be provided by the Embassy of France. Candidates may propose this scheme during the application process, or the Advisory Board may suggest it to selected recipients.

Applicants are strongly advised to seek alternate sources of funding from their local or French higher education institutions as well as from private sector companies. Priority will be given to candidates who have secured additional funding for their academic projects.

It is crucial for applicants and scholarship recipients to promptly inform the Embassy of France about any supplementary funding they obtain.

Scholarship Timeline

The scholarship is granted for a given period to be spent in France, matching the necessary time required to obtain the degree:

A webinar will be organized in June 2024 to provide students with useful information to prepare their applications. Follow Campus France South Africa on social media for webinar information.

Interview of the eligible candidates: November 2024.
Results: end of November/early December 2024.
Specific programme in South Africa (online French courses and possibly an internship): February 2025 – July 2025.

Departure to France: Early September 2025.

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the rulebook for the France – South Africa Scholarship Programme along with the frequently asked questions to gain a comprehensive understanding of the application process and eligibility criteria. Additionally, it is advisable to visit the Campus France South Africa website for detailed information regarding higher education institutions and study programs available in France. Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is October 14, 2024.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY