Villa Albertine Launches Lafayette Fellowship Funding Graduate Study in France in STEM, Humanities, and the Arts
By Villa Albertine
A new graduate fellowship in France for tomorrow’s leaders.
New York, September 19, 2025 – Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, proudly announces the launch of its Lafayette Fellowship, a new program that allows students of exceptional caliber to advance their academic pursuits through graduate study in France.
Launching on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and celebrating the French-American friendship, the Lafayette Fellowship will fund one year of master’s level study in France for up to 30 outstanding American students. The call for applications was opened on August 29, 2025 and will accept applications until November 30, 2025. The first cohort of Lafayette Fellowship laureates will be welcomed in Paris on July 4, 2026.
The Program
Designed by the French Embassy in the United States, Villa Albertine, and France Science, the Lafayette Fellowship is intended to support the next generation of young leaders with a strong interest in relations between the U.S. and France. Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the program partners with leading French academic institutions across Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, with courses taught in French or entirely in English.
The Lafayette Fellowship aims to deepen academic and cultural exchange between France and the U.S. and to nurture future leaders. In addition to their academic studies, fellows will benefit from a year-long series of activities including masterclasses, site visits, and opportunities for mentorship.
“I believe that the future of cooperation between France and the United States lies in the hands of a new generation of young leaders who are invested in exploring and expanding the deep roots that link our two countries,” stated Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Counselor of France in the United States and Director of Villa Albertine. “The Lafayette Fellowship was designed for these visionary students who wish to immerse themselves in French culture through work, studies, and travel. Modeled after the most prestigious Fellowships globally, the Lafayette Fellowship strives to uphold the highest standards of academic excellence and nurture exemplary leadership skills, while cultivating an interest in France.”
Applications for the Lafayette Fellowship will be accepted until Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.
Learn more about the Lafayette Fellowship on our website.
In partnership with
Embassy of France in the United States
To learn more about the French Embassy in the United States, click here.
France Science
The Office for Science and Technology (OST) of the Embassy of France in the United States is a network of 22 staff members spread across the entire U.S. In close collaboration with the main French research organizations represented at the Embassy, it addresses key scientific topics identified by joint French-American committees, and supports and promotes transatlantic research and innovation in these areas.