Eligibility criteria
I have previously applied to the PhilFrance Scholarships, but was I not selected. Can I apply again?
Yes, we encourage previous applicants to submit a new application (with updated documents) through this website
Is there an age limit in applying for the PhilFrance-DOST Scholarships?
- Yes, there is, as stated in the Eligibility criteria.
I am a Filipino citizen living/studying/working abroad, can I apply?
No. Applicants must be currently residing in the Philippines at the time of application.
Eligible programs
Are all graduate programs eligible for this scholarship?
- There are several priority fields of study that have been jointly-selected by the French Embassy and the DOST-SEI
- Certificate programs are ineligible because they are not sanctioned by a degree.
May I apply to several graduate programs prior to applying for the scholarship?
Yes, you are free to apply to as many graduate programs as you wish — provided that you complete one new scholarship application for each program, even if you will submit similar or identical documents (1 program = 1 online scholarship application)
What do you mean by French public higher education institutions/universities?
- Frais d’inscription à l'université (University registration fees) at public universities are regulated by the French state at the following annual rates (as of the 2021 academic year) for students from outside the European Union:
- Master: €3 770
- Doctorate: €380
- It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify that registration fees of the graduate program they are interested in are within this parameter. Kindly confirm this with the french public university of your choice.
- Please visit the Other resources section of the site which contains links to program search engines, institutional profiles, and additional information concerning the the French public university system.
NB: It is essential to understand and not to confuse the distinction between these two terms to be able to identify eligible programs:
- Registration fees (public universities)= frais d’inscription à l'université
- Tuition fees (usually for specialized schools and institutes, private higher education institutions = frais de scolarité
Are graduate programs offered in private French HEIs eligible for the PhilFrance-DOST Scholarships?
No, only graduate programs (Master's and PhD) taught at French public universities are eligible for application. Please visit the Other Resources section for detailed information on French public higher education institutions
The program I wish to apply for will not have opened its application procedure by the deadline. What should I do?
In this (unlikely) case, please contact us before submitting your scholarship application, stating clearly the programs and HEIs you wish to apply for.
Application material and process
Can I receive help from the Embassy regarding my application?
- Due to the high volume of applications and our policy to treat each candidate fairly, the French Embassy will not be able to provide individual assistance in completing the scholarship application.
- Campus France Manille is available for inquiries and assistance in selecting programs and applying to French HEIs
How do I apply to French higher education institutions?
- Some French HEIs may ask applicants to contact their local Campus France office to begin the application process under the CEF/Study in France/Étudier en France online procedure — these procedures are not applicable to the Philippines
- Filipino applicants should send applications directly (almost always online) to the French HEIs of their choice
- Campus France Manille explains the general procedure for Filipino applicants, including guidelines for Master's and PhD applicants
- Keep in mind that applications to HEIs must be done before applying for the PhilFrance Scholarships. However, it is not a requirement to be accepted or granted admission at the time of application
How do I submit my application?
Only applications that are submitted through this website will be accepted. Other means (e-mail, paper, etc) will not be received.
Can I submit an application to this scholarship before applying to a graduate program in France?
- No. Applications submitted without a letter of acceptance OR an acknowledgment of application (see below) will not be considered.
- Additionally, it is the applicant's responsibility to contact French HEIs regarding their application and admission procedures.
Do I need to have been accepted into the program of my choice before applying for the scholarship?
- No, you may apply prior to acceptance, as long as you submit an acknowledgment of application (see question below).
- Should there be any change in your admission status during the application period, it is of utmost importance that you inform us.
- For PhD candidates: it is not required to be accepted to the program at the moment of submitting your scholarship application. However, it is essential to provide us with supporting documents from a professor (email exchanges, formal letter, etc) expressing their interest in supervising your research work/dissertation.
What should I write about in the essay?
Some points to consider when writing your essay:
- You are free to choose the format and topics covered in the essay, just as long as they respect the word limit and other instructions specified in the application material
- We are looking for essays that are well-thought of, convincing, and are able to demonstrate your scholarly writing abilities
- The academic essay should be able to express how your experience of studying in France will bring value to Philippine society and the country's scientific and technological capacities
What do you mean by letter of acceptance and acknowledgment/proof of a completed application?
- Acknowledgment/proof of a completed application
- For Master’s programs:
- Most applications are done online through the French HEI’s website.
- Once the process is completed, the HEI will usually acknowledge receipt of your application through an email (automated or not).
- For PhD programs:
- In applying to Doctoral schools, it is common for candidates to contact a department or a professor directly through email.
- As proof of application, we accept PDF copies of your correspondences provided that it states their interest in your proposal or approval in supervising your research work.
- For Master’s programs:
- Letter of acceptance
- When admitted to a graduate program, you will receive an email or a posted letter from the French HEI stating your conditional or unconditional acceptance.
- In either case, you will need to provide us with the documents that are available to you. If you’ve finished with the application process, but did not receive any acknowledgment of this, you will need to ask the French HEI for an email confirming the receipt of your completed application.
Do I need to speak French or to apply to a program where French is the language of instruction?
- Applicants do not need to speak French to apply for this scholarship.
- An exception to this is if the academic program applied to requires candidates to be proficient in the French language.
- There are hundreds of graduate programs that are partially or completely taught in English, available for all fields and levels of study
- Most Doctoral schools, especially in the natural sciences have English as a working language.
- Visit the Other resources section for information on how to use Campus France's search engine for English-taught programs (both Master's and Doctoral levels)
- Note: Information found in the search results may not always be updated. We encourage applicants to contact the French HEIs directly to have the most recent and correct application requirements.
How will I find out if I’ve been selected? When will the results be released?
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified (by email) by the scholarship committee, around one month and a half (around 6 weeks) after the 4 April deadline.
If you do not receive an email by the week of 16 May, this means that your application was not selected.
Please refer to the detailed application calendar here