France-South Africa Scholarship Programme 2024
Scholarship Provider: French Embassy in South Africa
Overview: The French Embassy in South Africa is offering scholarships to South African, Lesotho, and Malawi nationals who wish to pursue Master’s or Doctoral studies at public higher education institutions in France, starting in September 2024. This scholarship program aims to strengthen high-level academic exchanges between France and South Africa.
Degree Levels:
- Master’s
- PhD
Fields of Study: Applications are open to all fields of study. Priority may be given to science, engineering, technology fields, and niche courses not available in South Africa.
Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a South African, Mosotho, or Malawian national.
- Be born on or after January 1, 1994.
- Be eligible for admission to the chosen Master’s or Doctoral program.
- Be enrolled in a French higher education institution to pursue a Master’s degree or PhD. Some higher education institutions on the African continent are also eligible.
Scholarship Benefits: A full scholarship includes:
- For a Master’s degree, the scholarship duration ranges from 10 to 22 months.
- For PhDs, the scholarship duration is a maximum of 3 years. For PhDs under co-supervision/cotutelle, periods spent in France should be specified in a timeline.
Two schemes are possible under the France – South Africa Scholarship Programme:
- Full Scholarship: Includes social security, priority for accessing student housing, visa fee exemption and assistance by Campus France Paris, a return flight ticket to France, a monthly allowance towards living expenses (approximately 850 euros for Master’s students and 1400 euros for PhD students), and accommodation aid (approximately 150 euros/month).
- Cost-Sharing Scholarship: In this scheme, the monthly allowance may be provided fully or partially by a partner (e.g., Advisory Board, a company, a higher education institution, or another funding agency). All other benefits of a full scholarship will still be provided by the Embassy of France.
Application Process: Applications must be submitted online through the dedicated platform. Required documents include a complete application form, passport copy, résumé, cover letter, academic degree certificates, university transcripts, and additional documents depending on the level of study.
- For Master’s level candidates, proof of acceptance at a study program in France must also be provided during the application.
- For PhD applicants, a signed attestation from the supervisor(s) indicating their commitment to supervise the thesis is required. A detailed research project description and a plan for periods spent in France during the research work should also be included.
Deadlines: The application deadline is October 16, 2023. Final results will be announced in November/early December 2023. Specific programs in South Africa (online French courses and possibly internships) will take place from February 2024 to July 2024, with departure to France in early September 2024.
Contact Information: For inquiries and further information about the scholarship program, visit the France-South Africa Scholarship Programme website. Campus France South Africa will organize webinars to provide students with information and connect them with higher education institutions in France. Details on the webinars can be found on the Campus France South Africa website.
Note: This scholarship opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and applicants are responsible for ensuring the recognition of qualifications in South Africa. Additional financial support will not be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
