Frequently Asked Questions

The Lafayette Fellowship is designed by the French Embassy in the United States, Villa Albertine, and France Science. The program is made possible thanks to generous support from our visionary sponsors and partners. Learn more about our program partners and sponsors here.

The Fellowship covers:

• One year of tuition fees at the French university or school where the Fellow is admitted.
• An annual stipend of €17,250 for 2026–2027, i.e. €1,500 paid monthly from mid-July 2026 to June 2027, to cover living expenses including accommodations.
• The application fee for a master’s program via the Études en France platform (if applicable).
• Visa-related fees (pre-consular application, student visa, TLScontact appointment).
• Full health insurance and supplementary insurance.
• One round-trip economy-class flight to and from France.

The Fellowship supports one year of study at the master’s level.

No, the Fellowship only covers one year. However, you can explore other sources of funding on the Campus France USA’s Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships page or on your future campus’ website.

Yes, but Fellows cannot receive a second monthly stipend.

To join in our efforts to build bridges between France and the United States in the field of higher education, please contact us at lafayettefellowship@villa-albertine.org.

Applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution (completed between January 2023 and June 2026).
• Be 27 years old or younger as of July 1, 2026. There is no flexibility permitted with respect to the age requirement.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale, no rounding).

If you hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution completed between January 2023 and June 2026, you are eligible to apply.

There is no language requirement for the Fellowship. However, if your academic program is taught partially or entirely in French, you must provide proof of French language proficiency.

The scholarship cannot be deferred to a later academic year.

No, a U.S. bachelor’s degree is required.

No, eligibility requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 for your bachelor’s degree. This GPA should take into account your major GPA and any other coursework conducted during your undergraduate studies.

Applicants must be in possession of a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution completed between January 2023 and June 2026.

However, if you graduated earlier than expected, you must upload a document confirming that you were enrolled in a program with a graduation timeline that aligns with the Fellowship’s requirements and attesting that you completed your degree ahead of schedule.

Eligibility requires a U.S. bachelor’s degree earned between January 2023 and June 2026. However, master’s students are eligible for the Fellowship if they completed their bachelor’s degree in accordance with the Fellowship’s eligibility criteria.

No, Master’s students who have already begun their graduate studies in France, including those currently enrolled in the first year (M1), are not eligible for the Fellowship to support their second year (M2), even if they meet the other eligibility criteria (age, GPA, U.S. bachelor’s degree).

Yes, this is possible if you are admitted directly into the second year of a French master’s program or if you are enrolled in a one-year master’s program. To be admitted directly into the second year of a French master’s program, the French university will determine whether your background meets the prerequisites for entry into the second year.  Please check the website of your chosen university for more information.

The programs eligible for the Fellowship cover a wide range of disciplines in STEM, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. A detailed list is available on the dedicated page of each institution.

Only designated partner institutions and programs are eligible.

The Fellowship is only for master’s-level study.

Yes, you may apply to up to two partner institutions.

The Lafayette Fellowship is open only to students in full-year programs in France at one of the schools or universities in the Lafayette network.  During the year you are a Lafayette Fellow, you will participate in a leadership program that lasts the entire year and is not compatible with studies in other countries.

Admission to one of the Lafayette Fellowship’s French partner institutions—either for a degree program or a visiting program approved by the institution—is required for ultimately receiving the Fellowship. Candidates must apply separately for admission to their selected French institution in parallel with their Fellowship application.

Fellows must be enrolled full-time, in-person, at a French partner institution for the full academic year.

• You must apply to both, in parallel. The admissions procedures and timelines are specified for each school on their dedicated pages.
• Most French universities open applications from October–January, while the Fellowship portal is open from September–November.  Certain schools and Grandes Ecoles have early application procedures, normally between October and November.  Please refer to the schools’ admissions calendars indicated on the respective university webpages on our Lafayette Fellowship website. When a specific admissions procedure has been established for Lafayette candidates, it will also be indicated.

Most programs require it, though some institutions have their own application process. Please refer to our dedicated university pages for details. If you have any doubts, check directly with your chosen institution.

No, endorsement is not required.

Applications must be submitted through the official Felllowship portal by no later than 11:59 PM ET on November 30, 2025. Email or postal applications will not be accepted.

• Application period: August 29 – November 30, 2025 (11:59 PM ET).
• Online interview period (for selected candidates): December 8, 2025 – January 15, 2026
• Selection results: Notifications sent by February 2026 (all applicants will be contacted).
• Departure to France: July 2026.

Yes, sign up for our webinar for fellowship advisors on Tuesday, September 30 at 2PM ET here. Sign up for our student webinars on Thursday, October 9 at 12PM ET here and on Tuesday, October 21 at 4PM ET here.

Documents attesting to French proficiency are required only if you are applying to a program taught partially or entirely in French. If it is the case, as part of your Lafayette Fellowship application, it is recommended that you submit the same document attesting to your French proficiency as required by the academic institution to which you are applying.

If this official document (such as a DELF/DALF certificate or other recognized language test result) is not available by the fellowship application deadline, you may instead include any other supporting material you believe relevant to demonstrate your language level. This could be, for example, a certificate from your university or a transcript showing coursework completed in French. You will be required to provide the official document later via email, once it becomes available.

Academic recommenders are not strictly limited to professors, but they should be individuals who can speak credibly about your academic performance since academic excellence is one of the key Lafayette selection criteria.

We encourage you to request at least one recommendation letter from faculty members (permanent or temporary). If you have worked as a research assistant for a Principal Investigator (PI), they can write a letter, which would normally be considered an extracurricular letter. However, if the PI can attest any academic skills demonstrated during the research experience, it can be accepted as an academic letter. To differentiate between academic and non-academic recommenders, you can ask each person to clearly state their job title and how they know you (teaching, supervision, extracurricular involvement, etc.).

Up to 30 students are selected annually.

The French-American Leadership Program includes lectures, masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship, offering a year-long immersion in European innovation, culture, and policy.

Employment is not recommended. The monthly allowance is sufficient to live in France and to devote oneself fully to one’s studies and fellowship experience.

Only if it is a required part of your degree program. Otherwise, internships are recommended after your fellowship year.

Yes, Fellows receive assistance with housing, health coverage, and integration through the host universities and partner organizations.

Partner universities and the Lafayette network offer strong support services, including international student offices, “Bienvenue en France” services, CROUS housing, and welcome desks.

Additionally, U.S. students have access to the French public health system (“sécurité sociale”), ensuring affordable healthcare during their stay.

In addition to the housing facilities offered by the universities, the French Embassy has partnerships with institutions in France to offer housing options to students in Paris as well as in the various cities where the partner universities are located.

The Leadership Program is designed to enhance your experience and maximize your success both academically and socially during your academic journey in France. It complements your master’s curriculum by offering a dedicated portion of your study period focused on developing key leadership skills through a year-long series of lectures, masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship opportunities. This program enriches your academic journey without replacing any part of your master’s coursework. Rather, it runs alongside your studies to help you acquire skills valuable for your academic, professional, and student life in France. The Leadership Program thus constitutes an integral but distinct element that supports your overall master’s experience and personal growth as a future leader.