Are you dreaming of studying in France but worried about the expenses?

The France Excellence Charpak Scholarship might be your golden ticket. This prestigious scholarship offers financial support to international students pursuing higher education in France, covering a range of expenses from tuition fees to living costs.

This blog will explain everything about the France Excellence Charpak Scholarship, including eligibility criteria, application process, and benefits.

Let’s start!

What is the Charpak Scholarship?

The Raman Charpak Scholarship is a prestigious program funded by the French Embassy in India. It supports Indian students who dream of pursuing their education in France.

Named after the Nobel-prize-winning physicist Georges Charpak, this scholarship aims to promote academic exchange and foster closer ties between India and France.

This scholarship provides financial assistance by covering various expenses, such as tuition fees, living costs, and health insurance. This scholarship in France is available for both bachelor’s and master’s courses.

Types of Charpak scholarship

The Raman Charpak scholarship program offers three types of funding for both bachelor’s and master’s levels; here are:

France Excellence Charpak Masters Scholarship

This scholarship is for international students from Asian countries who will study in France for one to two years and want to pursue a master’s in humanities and social sciences, economic and political sciences, or engineering sciences.

Benefits of this scholarship

It covers your monthly allowance of 860 euros.
You will get a waiver on your student visa fee.
Etudes en France fee waiver or reimbursement
Social security
It also provides accommodation assistance (priority access to CROUS residences, subject to availability).

Note: This scholarship cannot be combined with any other scholarship funded by the French government, like the Erasmus scholarship or any other scholarship offered by any institution or organisation in France that covers your living expenses in France.

France Excellence Charpak Masters scholarship eligibility

Before you apply for this scholarship, make sure that you fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

You must be an Indian citizen or an OCI card holder.
You must be a maximum of 30 years old at the time of the application.
You must be a student currently enrolled in or have studied at an Indian institution of higher learning.
First, you must apply for admission to a French institution. For details on the admission process, please get in touch with your nearest Campus France office in India or visit the website of your chosen institution.
The course must be conducted in France. If you spend one semester or more studying in another country, the scholarship will not cover that period.
Proficiency in French is beneficial but optional when applying for the scholarship.
The scholarship is available for master’s degree programs in France. However, you are not eligible to apply if you intend to work solely on your master’s thesis, a training program, or a research project.

Documents required for this scholarship

Passport-sized photograph (make sure that you upload your formal photograph, not a casual one)
A copy of the first page of your passport (including your photo and expiry date). If you will obtain your passport after the deadline, please attach proof of your passport application.
Your curriculum Vitae of a maximum of two pages
A copy of your admission or acceptance letter from the French higher education institution.
Copies of mark sheets and degrees from Higher Secondary School (XII), Bachelor’s, and Master’s programs (including those from completed semesters of any ongoing degree).
French language certificate, if any (DELF /DALF)
Employment or internship record documentation, if applicable
Letters of recommendation from the current Indian university or employer or the last attended institution are required.

Timeline for this scholarship

Applications open in December every year.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is in March every year.
Results are announced at the end of April each year.

Charpak Exchange Scholarship-Spring Session (January-June)

The scholarship caters to Indian students across all disciplines enrolled at either the bachelor’s or master’s level in an Indian institution.

It is intended for those interested in participating in a study exchange semester program in France, which typically lasts one to six months.

Benefits of this scholarship

It provides you with a monthly stipend of 860 euros.
Social security
You will get a waiver on your student visa and campus France fee
It also assists in finding an affordable accommodation for you (subject to availability)

Eligibility criteria

To apply for this Charpak exchange scholarship, make sure that you fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

You must be an Indian citizen or an OCI card holder.
You must be under 30 years of age at the time of application.
You must be currently enrolled in an Indian higher education institution that has an established partnership with the French institution where they intend to undertake an exchange semester. This requirement is mandatory.

Note: Students in their final semester engaged in research projects or thesis work are ineligible to apply.

Documents required to apply for this scholarship

Passport-sized photograph (make sure that you upload your formal photograph, not a casual one)
A copy of the first page of your passport (including your photo and expiry date). If you will obtain your passport after the deadline, please attach proof of your passport application.
Your curriculum Vitae of a maximum of two pages
NOC (No objection certificate) from an Indian institution
A scanned copy of the admission or acceptance letter from the French higher education institution is required. If you have not received the acceptance letter by the deadline, please attach email correspondence indicating that you are actively pursuing it.
Scanned copies of transcripts from Higher Secondary School (XII), Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees (including those from completed semesters or the current degree program) must be submitted. If you have enrolled in Master’s programs, you should also provide your Bachelor’s Degree transcripts and graduation certificate.
French language certificate, if any (DELF /DALF)
Employment or internship record documentation, if applicable
Letters of recommendation from the current Indian university or employer or the last attended institution are required.

France Excellence Charpak Lab Scholarship

This type of charpak scholarship is for Indian students currently enrolled in Bachelor’s or Master’s programs at institutions in India.

It enables them to participate in an internship or research project at a French laboratory or institution during their academic break, typically from May to August.

Benefits of this scholarship

This scholarship in France provides a monthly stipend of 700 euros for a maximum of 2 months (preferably between May and August) provided by the French institute in India.
Student visa
Etudes en France fee waiver (if applicable)

Note: The scholarship excludes coverage for medical expenses, travel insurance, or accommodation assistance. While you can pursue internships exceeding two months, the Embassy will only provide benefits for a maximum of two months. The scholarship recipient must cover any additional expenses during this period.

Eligibility criteria

To apply for this type of Charpak scholarship, you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

You must be an Indian citizen or an OCI card holder.
You must be under 30 years of age at the time of application.
You should be enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program at an Indian institution of higher education when submitting your application.
You must have an admission or acceptance letter from a French laboratory or institution where they intend to conduct their research internship or project.
The research internship or project must span at least one month and should not surpass two months.

Documents required

Passport-sized photograph (make sure that you upload your formal photograph, not a casual one)
A copy of the first page of your passport (including your photo and expiry date). If you will obtain your passport after the deadline, please attach proof of your passport application.
Your curriculum Vitae of a maximum of two pages
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by your Indian university confirming your student status and stating its approval for your internship or research project in France.
Scanned copies of transcripts and certificates for Higher Secondary School (XII), Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees (including those from completed semesters of the current degree program).
French language certificate, if any (DELF /DALF)
A scanned copy of your invitation letter from the French higher education institution or laboratory is required. The letter must specify the duration of your internship or research project. If you have yet to receive the letter by the deadline, you may attach email correspondence demonstrating that you will obtain it subsequently.
Employment or internship record documentation, if applicable
Letters of recommendation from the current Indian university or employer or the last attended institution are required.

Timeline for this scholarship

Applications open in December every year.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is in February every year.
Results are announced at the end of March each year.

Conclusion

The Charpak Scholarship offers Indian students valuable financial support for studying and researching in France. Whether pursuing master’s scholarships, exchange programs, or lab internships, this initiative fosters academic excellence and opens doors to international educational experiences.