FRENCH EMBASSY: Entente Cordiale Scholarships

The French Embassy in the UK offers British postgraduate students three types of Entente Cordiale Scholarships.

The Entente Cordiale Scholarship Scheme is a prestigious bi-lateral awards scheme that funds British postgraduate students who want to study in France and French students who want to study in the UK. Funded for the most part by the private sector in both countries the scheme provides funding for around 25 French and British students each year.

The Entente Cordiale Alumni Association, numbering 350 alumni, is pleased to thank Sir Christopher Mallaby, founder and tireless fundraiser of the programme since 1995 and its chairman since 2002, who has retired from that function in April 2008. We all welcome our new chairman, Lord Janvrin, and wish him well in his new role.

French students wishing to study in the UK should visit the British Council website in France and call 33 (1) 49 55 73 43 for further information, if required.

Scholarships for British students are managed by the Cultural Department of the French Embassy in London and the information which follows applies to British students only.

What financial support does the scholarship offer?

Three types of scholarships are offered to suit the individual needs of students.

Long term scholarships cover a whole academic year and are best suited for students wishing to study for a Master 1 or a Master 2 in a French university or grande école. Scholars receive a maintenance award of £8000 (in Paris) pa or £7500 (outside Paris) pa and a maximum contribution of £3000 pa towards the payment of tuition fees. Please note that the scholarship is for one year only and is not renewable.

Short term scholarships cover a period of 3 to 6 months to carry out doctorate or post-doctorate research in a French research institution or laboratory.

Language scholarships cover a one-month French language intensive course in July or August in the Centre de Linguistique Appliquée (CLA) in Besançon (or other language centre of your choice within same budget). Language scholarships are awarded to students planning to register for a course in France and wishing to enhance their language skills. Courses during the academic year may be arranged in exceptional circumstances when a student is unable to attend a summer course due to other commitments.

Why should I choose an Entente Cordiale Scholarship?

The Entente Cordiale scholarship is a prestigious award that will provide you with the opportunity to experience life in France and widen your horizons. Once you become an Entente Cordiale scholar you will become part of an influential alumni network, the Entente Cordiale Alumni Association, which already numbers over 300 members, and through which you will find opportunities to develop your career.

Can I apply?

You can apply for an Entente Cordiale scholarship if you are a postgraduate student with a clear idea of your professional goals and an interest in consolidating Franco-British links.

To be eligible, you must fulfil all the following criteria :

• As the scheme is Franco-British you will be expected to be of British nationality. Students of other nationalities should apply at the French Embassy in their own country
• You will need an excellent track record illustrating your achievements, both academically and otherwise
• Language skills requirements for the one-year and the short term scholarships are as follows :
  Arts and humanities students : a good command of French
  Science, medicine and engineering students : a working or good command of French is a plus, but it is not a mandatory requirement
• Students applying for a language scholarship will be expected to have a basic knowledge of French. Their level will be assessed by the language centre so that they can be offered a course meeting their needs
• Students of all subjects - humanities, the arts, science, medicine, engineering, etc - are eligible to apply. Please note that there is no age limit
• One of the main aims of the scheme is to assist successful candidates in playing leading roles in the future of their country. British Entente Cordiale alumni are now pursuing careers in diverse fields in both the public and the private sectors.

You cannot apply for a scholarship for undergraduate study.

How do you apply?

You will need to download, complete and submit an application form with the required accompanying documents, listed at the end of the form:

 See further information about how to apply.