The Lafayette Fellowship: A New Opportunity for Graduate Studies in France 

• The program will support up to 30 outstanding American students under the age of 27 (as of July 1, 2026).    
• Applicants must be in possession of a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution (completed between August 2023 and June 2026) with a GPA of no lower than 3.7.   
• Knowledge of French is not required for acceptance into the program. 

This Fellowship is open to students in STEM, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts, with an interest in addressing global challenges – from sustainable transitions, health, and biotechnology, to peace, security, and AI – in a French-American context.

The Lafayette Fellowship provides unique access to internationally ranked programs within top French institutions across the country, including *:

• Aix-Marseille University (Marseille) 
• Côte d’Azur University (Nice) 
• Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (Lyon)  
• Ecole Polytechnique (Palaiseau) 
• ISAE-SUPAERO 
• HEC Paris (Jouy-en-Josas) 
• Paris Cité University (Paris) 
• Paris-Saclay University, including AgroParis Tech and CentraleSupélec (Plateau de Saclay) 
• PSL University, including Ecole Nationale des Chartes; Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs / School of Decorative Arts; Ecole Normale Supérieure; Paris-Malaquais School of Architecture; Paris School of Artificial Intelligence; and University Paris-Dauphine (Paris) 
• Sciences Po Paris – Paris Climate School (Paris)
• Sorbonne University (Paris) 
• Toulouse School of Economics (Toulouse)
• University of Bordeaux (Bordeaux) 
• University of Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble) 
• University of Strasbourg (Strasbourg) 

*The complete list of eligible programs will be made available in August 2025.

Alongside academic coursework, fellows will benefit from the French-American Leadership Program. This immersive experience includes the following opportunities:  

• 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. 

• The year-long program begins in July 2026 in Paris and southern France, includes a gathering in Strasbourg in December 2026, and concludes with an event in June 2027.
• Alumni events will be held annually in Washington, D.C., New York, and in other major cities across the U.S. 

• The Fellowship offers full funding for one year of master’s-level study in France.
• Funding covers tuition, living expenses, travel, program activities, and administrative costs.

• Applications will open in late August 2025.
• Candidates must apply for admission to one of the partner institutions as well as complete a separate Lafayette Fellowship program application. The awarding of the scholarship is conditional upon admission to one of the partner institutions.
• Application materials include a transcript, cover letter, resume, personal statement in a video format, and three letters of recommendation, including two academic letters and one extracurricular letter.  A full list of guidelines will be available on our website when applications open in late August.
• Candidates will be evaluated on their academic history, leadership potential, and dedication to and understanding of the French-American relationship.
• We strive for a representative cohort in terms of students’ backgrounds, academic disciplines, individual projects, and geographic representation across the United States.