The Lafayette Fellowship

Objectives

Designed to support the next generation of young leaders with a strong interest in the transatlantic relationship, the Lafayette Fellowship funds one year of master’s-level study in France for up to 30 outstanding American students.

Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the program partners with leading French academic institutions across STEM, humanities, social sciences, and the arts, with courses taught in French or entirely in English.

In addition to their academic studies, fellows will also join the French-American Leadership Program – a year-long series of lectures, masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship – offering full immersion in European innovation, culture, and policy.

The program aims to deepen academic and cultural exchange between France and the U.S. and nurture future leaders. The Fellowship will encourage reflection on major global challenges, such as environmental challenges and sustainability; health and biotechnology; peace and security; social equity and democratic issues; digital technologies; and artificial intelligence.

Fellowship Benefits and Funding

The Lafayette Fellowship provides selected students with:

• A €1,500 monthly stipend from July through the end of the academic year to cover living expenses
• One year of tuition at a partner French institution for eligible programs
• Application fee reimbursement for French academic institutions and master’s programs
• Student visa fee waivers for one academic year
• A round-trip flight between the U.S. and France at the start and end of the program
• Coverage of travel costs and activities related to the French-American Leadership Program

The Leadership Program 

Alongside their academic coursework, fellows will participate in the French-American Leadership Program, an immersive leadership development experience offering opportunities to:

• Attend conferences and masterclasses in fields where France is at the forefront
• Meet world-renowned French leaders and top researchers
• Visit leading labs and scientific facilities to explore innovative solutions to global challenges
• Take part in a rich cultural itinerary, including internationally renowned events, such as the Avignon Theater Festival
• Travel to Strasbourg, the seat of European institutions, and to Paris to gain insights into Europe’s role on the global stage  

Fellows will also benefit from a mentorship program, each paired with a prominent French figure in business, government, culture, or academia aligned with their professional goals.

Jury Selection & Evaluation

The selection process includes four stages, facilitating the screening of candidates and culminating in the National Jury’s selection of 30 Fellows and 30 waitlisted candidates. For the 2026-2027 Laureates, the National Jury was chaired by Nobel Laureate Dr. Esther Duflo, and featured President Emeritus of the International Institute for Education Dr. Allan Goodman; President of the Posse Foundation Deborah Bial; Samuel W. Morris University Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University Dr. Catherine Dulac; and Political Scientist and Research Fellow at CNRS Dr. Patrick Weil.  

Applications submitted are classified into four zones (East, Midwest, South, and West) according to the location of the candidate’s undergraduate institution, to ensure equal geographical representation of the United States among the final cohort. 

Key Dates for the 2027-28 Cycle

• September 4, 2026, 9:00am (EST) – Applications open
• December 1, 2026, 11:59pm (EST) – Applications close 
• December 1, 2026 – January 29, 2026 – Local selection and virtual interviews 
• March 2027 – National Jury and announcement of laureates
• July 4 – 25, 2027 – French-American Leadership Program (Paris and Southern France) 
• Mid-December 2027 – One-week program in Strasbourg
• Spring & June 2028 – French-American Leadership Program – Spring sessions & Lafayette closing event in Paris  

For more information, download the program’s one-pager and presentation below.