University of Bordeaux IdEx International Master's Scholarship
The University of Bordeaux holds France's prestigious IdEx (Initiative of Excellence) label, awarded to a small group of research-intensive French universities. Through its IdEx international scholarship scheme it offers merit awards — typically up to around EUR 10,000 per year (LKR 3.45m+) — to outstanding international students admitted to selected English-taught and international Master's programmes, in fields such as public health, neuroscience, environmental science, data science, law and economics. Selection is merit-based and tied to admission to a participating programme. For Sri Lankan students, Bordeaux combines a top French research environment with a lower cost of living than Paris and a strong record in health and life sciences. Exact award values, eligible programmes and deadlines are set each year, so confirm the current call on the University of Bordeaux website.
2026/27 intake: IdEx international scholarship applications usually align with Master's admission, closing in the first months of 2026 — confirm on u-bordeaux.fr
University of Bordeaux
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Up to EUR 10,000/yr
Level
Master's (M1/M2)
Basis
Merit / IdEx Excellence
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
University of Bordeaux — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
Up to EUR 10,000/yr Merit Scholarship. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
International Applicant
Open to international students holding a non-French qualification who meet the call's criteria. Sri Lankan applicants applying from Sri Lanka are eligible; check the annual call for precise nationality and residence conditions.
Strong Bachelor's Degree
A relevant Bachelor's degree, ideally first-class or upper-second from a recognised Sri Lankan university, with strong grades in the discipline of the chosen Master's.
Admission to an Eligible Master's
You must be admitted to a participating University of Bordeaux Master's programme. The scholarship attaches to admission to an eligible, often English-taught, programme.
Language Proficiency
English-taught Master's require IELTS ~6.5 / TOEFL equivalent; French-taught programmes require French proficiency. Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees may qualify via an MOI/exemption route — confirm with admissions.
account_tree Application Process
Apply for admission to a Bordeaux Master's
Submit your admission application for an eligible programme via the University of Bordeaux platform (or Campus France where required), with transcripts, degree certificate, CV and language evidence.
Apply for the IdEx scholarship
Complete the IdEx international scholarship application indicated for your programme, attaching the documents the call specifies, before the deadline.
Merit-based selection
The university ranks applicants on academic merit and the call's criteria and awards a limited number of scholarships for the intake.
Accept and apply for the French visa
Accept your place and scholarship, then apply for the French student visa (VLS-TS) through Campus France / the French consular service covering Sri Lanka, using your offer, scholarship confirmation and financial evidence.
Why University of Bordeaux?
One of France's IdEx 'Initiative of Excellence' universities, Bordeaux is a large research-intensive institution particularly strong in health, life and environmental sciences. The elegant, UNESCO-listed city offers a high quality of life at costs well below Paris, making funded study there attractive for Sri Lankan students.
IdEx
Initiative of Excellence Label
~55k
Students
EUR 10k
Max Annual Scholarship
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat FR actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for FR, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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