Are you a student that is in need of financial backing? Then this may be the saving grace you’ve been looking for!
The French embassy is inviting students from various countries, including South Africa to apply for its scholarship program.
An excellent aspect of this program is that it caters to students involved in any educational field.
However, you will still need to meet various requirements set by the embassy to be considered an ideal candidate for this scholarship.
If you think you are an ideal candidate for this program, then you need to apply right away. Below is a guide on how this works and what it will expect from you.
Closing Date
The France South Africa Scholarship application period will end on 16 October 2022.
Please make sure to submit your application and any other supporting materials by this date.
Your application won’t be taken into account by the bursary provider if you don’t do this.
What Is This Scholarship About?
The French Ministries of Higher Education and Research, as well as European and Foreign Affairs, oversee Campus France.
The organization’s mission is to promote French higher education and to foster scholarly exchange between French and international tertiary institutions.
Campus France in South Africa is dedicated to advancing French higher education and supports scholars who want to do postdoctoral research in France.
The French Embassy in South Africa offers scholarships each year for students wishing to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. in France.
They collaborate with South African organizations (namely, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), National Research Foundation (NRF), and Universities in South Africa) as well as French companies operating in South Africa.
Additionally, the scholarship may be used to pay for Master’s and Ph.D. programs in specific African higher education institutions.
Because they get additional financing, applicants should take into account the Master’s programs (M2 – second year) at the University of la Réunion in France.
Who Can Apply
This scholarship will cater to ANY field of study.
Before applying, candidates must meet the minimum entry requirements listed below (please note that if you do not meet all of the requirements, your application will not be considered):
- You must be a citizen of Malawi, Basotho, or South Africa.
- Your birthdate must be on or after January 1, 1992.
- To pursue a Master’s or Ph.D., you must be enrolled.
- To pursue studies at a French higher education institution, you must be enrolled.
- You must be planning to enroll in classes in September 2023.
- Students planning to major in science, engineering, or technology, as well as those interested in specialized programs not offered in South Africa, may be granted preference.
What Does This Scholarship Cover?
There are two different kinds of scholarships available:
1) A full scholarship, which covers all expenses including tuition (up to a maximum of 5000 euros per year), return airfare to France, a monthly stipend of about 700 euros for master’s students and 1400 euros for Ph.D. students, and specialized housing assistance from the French government worth about 150 euros per month. Additionally, scholars will get social security, first preference for student accommodation, a waiver of the visa fee, and support from Campus France Paris.
2) A cost-sharing scholarship, which comes with all the advantages of a full scholarship plus a monthly allowance paid entirely or in part by a spouse. Candidates are urged to look for alternate financial options, and students with established funding sources will receive special consideration.
How To Apply
Before you apply, you need to be aware of the following dates.
- 16 October 2022: scholarship applications close.
- November 2022: Eligible candidates will be interviewed.
- end of November 2022 to early December 2022: final candidates will be selected and results will be made available.
- February 2023 to July 2023: the specific program will commence in South Africa (online french courses and possibly internship).
- Early September 2023: departure to France.
Also, be aware of how selection works. The following criteria will be used by the advisory board to choose candidates: applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed based on their files.
- Skills and merit are based on the academic and professional backgrounds of the applicants.
- the caliber of the study proposal submitted by the applicant and how well it fits with their background.
- Ph.D. candidates: PhDs under joint supervision will be given preference, and the dedication of the South African and French supervisors will be considered.
- The level of foreign language skills and their suitability for the specified curriculum will also be considered.
Confirmed winners
- Will be expected to complete their enrollment in the study program of their choice
- Between February 2023 and June 2023, intense online French classes must be taken
- Candidates might need to finish an internship with a French business or organization with a South African base (depending on the opportunities and the profiles of the laureates)
- The scholar must commit to the research project they have been chosen for once they arrive in France. Any alterations to the study plan must be approved by the French Embassy.
- Will have to stay in France throughout their entire study period.
Candidates on the waiting list:
- Depending on the availability, students will be pushed up the waiting list, and they will each receive a unique notification.
- Candidates on the waiting list are urged to move through with the application process and enroll in French higher education institutions.
- Candidates on the waiting list must take online French classes and maybe do an internship (if they do not, they will be removed from the list).
Please note:
- Decision are final and cannot be disputed.
- Applicants are requested to not follow-up regarding the status of their application.
- No ranking on any of the lists will be communicated to the applicants.
- If studies are interrupted, the scholarship will automatically be suspended.
Applications can be submitted online here. You will first need to register on the site.
Please be aware:
- Although you can always save and restart working on your application, once it has been submitted, no changes can be made.
- Before submitting, double-check that all of the information on your application is accurate.
- Any platform can be used for applications, but a desktop computer is preferred.
- Make sure not to use special characters (like apostrophes) because the application does not recognize them.
The following supporting papers must be uploaded in clear copies to your profile; failing to do so will result in the disqualification of your application:
All applicants must submit the following:
- Filled out online application
- Passport
- Updated curriculum vitae and resume with the full academic transcript
- A letter of introduction outlining your goals and interests in the chosen academic project
- Degree transcripts (Bachelor or Master degrees)
- Transcripts from the last two academic years
Master’s Students must submit the following:
- List of the courses the applicant plans to apply for (as well as application dates and tuition fees)
- Evidence of enrollment in the study program for which you applied (between February and May/June 2023)
- Email exchanges with the French institution (to be submitted during the application process)
Ph.D. students must submit the following:
- Attestation from your supervisor, signed and pledging to oversee your thesis OR
- If under co-supervision, an attestation signed by the two supervisors (South African and French) confirming their intention to oversee in both France and South Africa (must state that a cotutelle agreement will be made)
- A signed cotutelle agreement, if co-supervision is involved, and a detailed schedule of the times that will be spent in France while conducting research
- A thorough outline of the study endeavor and a thorough work plan (2 to 3 pages long)
Optional documents students may submit:
- Academic or professional recommendation
- Language proficiency certificates
- Cost-sharing commitment letter from the corresponding organization
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this scholarship, then you can get in touch with French Embassy directly through the following means:
Contact page: https://southafrica-france-scholarships.com/contact-us
Good luck with your application!