The Eiffel Tower rising above Paris rooftops at sunset.

France Open for September 2026 entry — International Master's Scholarship applications typically close in January 2026

Université Paris-Saclay International Master's Scholarship (IDEX)

Université Paris-Saclay's International Master's Scholarship (funded through its IDEX excellence initiative) offers €10,000 per year — around LKR 3.45 million annually — as a living allowance to outstanding international Master's students. As a French public university, its tuition is already very low, so this stipend essentially funds your living costs at the world's #12-ranked university (ARWU 2024) and France's top research institution. Paris-Saclay runs a large catalogue of two-year Master's programmes, many taught fully in English, across mathematics, physics, life sciences, computer science, economics, and engineering. For a Sri Lankan first-class graduate aiming at a research-intensive European Master's, the mix of elite ranking, near-free tuition, and a real living stipend is exceptional value.

Université Paris-Saclay

University-funded

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Value

€10,000/yr (LKR 3.45M, Living)

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Duration

Up to 2 Years (M1 + M2)

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Basis

Academic Merit (IDEX)

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Apply to a Paris-Saclay Master's

You must apply to an eligible two-year Master's at Université Paris-Saclay for September 2026 entry. The scholarship covers a defined list of Master's programmes — check the IDEX scholarship list for the year. Sri Lankan applicants with a first-class or upper-second honours degree in a relevant field are competitive.

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Strong Academic Record

Selection is competitive and merit-based. A first-class undergraduate degree, relevant research or project experience, and strong references materially improve your chances against the international applicant pool.

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International Student

The scholarship targets international students who have not previously studied in France and are not French / EU residents. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka qualify. Age and recent-graduation conditions sometimes apply — verify against the current year's call.

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Language Requirement

Many eligible Master's are taught fully in English (IELTS 6.5+ typical); French-taught programmes require French B2. Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees usually meet the English requirement via MOI waiver where the programme permits it.

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Apply to the Master's programme

Submit your Master's application through Paris-Saclay's admissions portal with transcripts (certified translation), degree certificate, motivation letter, references, CV, and proof of language proficiency.

Submit the IDEX scholarship application

Complete the separate International Master's Scholarship application within the same window, indicating the eligible programme you've applied to. This is usually a short additional form plus a scholarship motivation statement.

Merit selection

A university committee ranks eligible applicants on academic excellence and awards the scholarships. Results are typically released in spring, after Master's admission decisions.

Enrol and apply for a French visa

Accept your offer and scholarship, enrol, then apply for the French long-stay student visa via Campus France Sri Lanka. The €10,000 annual stipend is disbursed in instalments after registration.

Why Université Paris-Saclay?

Paris-Saclay is France's #1 university and a global top-15 research institution, particularly dominant in mathematics (multiple Fields Medallists), physics, and the life sciences. Its English-taught Master's catalogue is unusually broad for a French university, and the surrounding science cluster offers strong internship and research links — a powerful launchpad for a Sri Lankan graduate aiming at a research or industry career in Europe.