Charpak Scholarship: Benefits, Eligibility and How to Apply for Indian Students

The Charpak Scholarship is a French government scholarship, exclusively for Indian students, that funds study in France with a monthly stipend of about EUR 860. It also waives the visa fee. For Indian students, the Charpak Scholarship is one of the most valuable India-specific awards for studying in France. This guide covers the Charpak Scholarship benefits, eligibility, and how to apply.

• Exclusively for Indian citizens and OCI card holders.
• Master's stipend is EUR 860 a month, about INR 92,880.
• Applicants must be 30 years or younger, with a Bachelor's degree.
• It has four sub-programmes: Master's, Exchange, Summer Training and Bachelor's.

Read More:

• Fully funded scholarships for Indian students
• Scholarships to Study in France for International Students
• Study in France: Find Universities, Costs, Courses
• Popular Scholarships to Study in France

What Is the Charpak Scholarship

The Charpak Scholarship, formally the France Excellence Charpak Scholarship, is a French government programme named after physicist Georges Charpak, funding Indian students to study in France. Only Indians can apply.

Unlike Eiffel or Erasmus, where you compete globally, Charpak is reserved for Indian nationals, so your odds are better. It is one of the most valuable India-specific awards on offer, and being open only to Indians makes it far less competitive than global scholarships like Eiffel or Erasmus. Its four sub-programmes are below.

Charpak Scholarship Benefits

The Charpak Scholarship benefits include a monthly stipend of about EUR 860 for a Master's, a student visa fee waiver, health insurance help and housing assistance. It is a partial, high-value award. The total value reaches about EUR 25,000 to 30,000 over two years. Cost planning is easier with this guide on the average cost of studying abroad. The benefits are below.

Currency conversions use EUR 1 = INR 108 as of July 1, 2026, and move with the exchange rate.

Note: The Charpak Scholarship does not cover airfare or all personal costs, but the EUR 860 stipend is enough to live on in most French cities outside Paris. Scholars can also work up to 964 hours a year, adding around INR 21,500 a month.

Charpak Scholarship Eligibility

Charpak Scholarship eligibility requires you to be an Indian citizen or OCI holder, 30 years or younger, with a Bachelor's degree and admission or an application to a French institution. There is no fixed CGPA cut-off. Strong academics and a clear study plan improve your chances. A relevant document here is your study abroad plan for Indian students. The criteria are:

• Indian citizen or OCI holder, residing in India at the time of applying.
• Aged 30 or younger at the time of application.
• A Bachelor's degree or final year, from an Indian institution preferred.
• Applied to a French institution for a full-time Master's in France.
• Language proof, IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 for English programmes, or DELF B2 for French.

Note: There is no minimum CGPA officially, but strong marks help, with many scholars holding 70% and above. Knowledge of French is an asset but not required, since many Charpak scholars study English-taught programmes at French universities.

How to Apply for the Charpak Scholarship

To apply for the Charpak Scholarship, register on Campus France, apply to French universities, then submit the scholarship application on the official portal with your documents and SOP. One application per applicant only. Apply to universities and the scholarship in parallel, since an admission offer strengthens your case. The steps after selection are in this guide on applying for the September intake. The steps are:

1. Register on Campus France India and complete your profile.
2. Apply to French universities, ideally 3 to 5, for your Master's.
3. Submit the scholarship application on scholarship.institutfrancaisindia.in.
4. Upload your documents, passport, CV, mark sheets, acceptance letter and SOP.
5. Attend the online interview, held around April, on your motivation for France.
6. Receive the result in 4 to 6 weeks, then apply for your student visa.

Charpak Scholarship Deadlines and Tips

Charpak Scholarship applications for the Master's usually open in February and close around April each year, with results in 4 to 6 weeks after the April interview. Deadlines vary by sub-programme.

Always confirm exact dates on the Campus France India portal. The typical cycle and tips are below.

What the scholarship covers and what it does not:

• Covers: the monthly stipend, visa fee, health insurance and housing help.
• Does not cover: airfare, all personal expenses or dependants' costs.

If you want the strongest application, then tailor your SOP to specific French labs or modules. That means avoiding a generic essay, then naming exactly why that university fits you.

The Charpak Scholarship is one of the best funding routes for Indian students heading to France, offering an EUR 860 monthly stipend, a visa fee waiver and support with insurance and housing. Check that you meet the age and degree criteria, pick the right sub-programme, and apply to universities and the scholarship together through Campus France. Write a sharp, plagiarism-free SOP naming specific French labs, submit one clean application before the April deadline and prepare well for the online interview on your motivation for France. Get these right, and Charpak can make a French Master's genuinely affordable.