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The Lafayette Fellowship will fund one year of master’s level study in France.
Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the fellowship partners with top French higher education institutions that offer programs across STEM, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts, either in French or entirely in English.
In addition to their academic studies, fellows will take part in the French-American Leadership Program, a dynamic, year-long experience featuring lectures, masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship support, offering a 360-degree immersion into European innovation, culture, and policy.
This annual program aims to deepen academic and cultural exchange between France and the U.S. and nurture future leaders committed to strengthening the transatlantic relationship. It also strives to spread awareness about France’s many internationally ranked universities and academic excellence programs taught in English.
Scholarship Amount
Tuition, travel, program activities, administrative costs, and a monthly stipend to cover accommodations and basic living expensesEligibility
- Applicants must be 27 years old or younger as of July 1 of the award year
- Possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution within three years of the program start
- A GPA of no less than 3.7 on a 4.0 scale
- Knowledge of French is not required for acceptance into the Lafayette program. However, if applicants plan to enroll in a program taught partially or entirely in French, they must provide official proof of French language proficiency.
- Admission to one of the Lafayette Fellowship’s French partner institutions—either for a degree program or a visiting program approved by the institution—is a prerequisite for receiving the Fellowship.
Selection Criteria
- Academic excellence
- Leadership potential and commitment to helping society
- Dedication to developing the French-American relationship
Selection Process: In early December, select applicants will be notified and invited to participate in online interviews. These will take place in late-December/early January. Recipients will be announced in February.