If you have a Bachelor’s degree from an American university, are under the age of 27, and have always wanted to study in France, you may want to apply for the Lafayette Fellowship. Organized through Villa Albertine and the French Embassy, the fellowship aims to promote Franco-American relations, in honor of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, and named for the famed Frenchman who helped bring it about.
Up to 30 eligible applicants will earn free tuition for their first year of a Master’s program in France, a monthly stipend of €1,500, round-trip flights to and from France, and waivers for admission fees and student visa fees.
Winners will also spend the first year of their French Master’s participating in the French-American Leadership Program, which will provide opportunities to take part in masterclasses and conferences, visit top scientific facilities, attend notable cultural events, and engage with French leaders and innovators.
The 15 participating universities, across eight French cities, include Aix-Marseille Université, University of Bordeaux, Université Grenoble Alpes, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Côte d’Azur, University of Strasbourg, Toulouse School of Economics, the Sorbonne University, and more. Programs are available to study everything from business, to architecture, to computer science.
Both French-speaking and non-French-speaking applicants are welcome to apply, though language skills may affect eligibility for certain Master’s programs.
Applications are open through November 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and can be submitted here.
Catherine Rickman is a writer, professional Francophile, and host of the Expat Horror Stories podcast. She is currently somewhere in Brooklyn with a fork in one hand and a pen in the other, and you can follow her adventures on Instagram @catrickman.
