Université Paris-Saclay IDEX Scholarship: Complete Guide

Université Paris-Saclay aims to promote access for international students to its world-class Master’s programmes. Delivered by its distinguished member institutions, this scholarship makes it significantly easier for highly-qualified international students to join the University and focus entirely on their academics.

Financial Benefits & Support

The Université Paris-Saclay scholarship provides substantial funding to ensure students can comfortably live and study in the Paris region.

• Annual Stipend: The scholarship is valued at €10,000 per year. It is paid monthly by Université Paris-Saclay for the entire duration of the academic year (September to June).
• Travel Support: A yearly flat fee of up to €900 is paid to each laureate to support travel and visa costs. The exact amount depends on the candidate's country of origin.
• Administrative Assistance: Laureates receive dedicated support for administrative procedures and searching for accommodation. (Note: Reservation of accommodation is not guaranteed, so students must actively anticipate their housing search).

The stipend is subject to reductions during months spent abroad (e.g., compulsory international mobility, delocalized master’s programs) or during internships undertaken outside of Université Paris-Saclay affiliated labs.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the IDEX International Master's Scholarship, students must be of foreign nationality and meet the following cumulative criteria:

Academic Admission

You must be admitted into a master’s degree operated by Université Paris-Saclay or one of its member institutions, which include:

• AgroParisTech
• CentraleSupélec
• ENS Paris-Saclay
• INSTN-CEA
• IOGS
• Université Évry Paris-Saclay
• Université Paris-Saclay
• UVSQ

First-Time Enrollment in France

This scholarship is strictly for students who have never been registered in a French Higher Education Institution before. Exceptions are made for students who have previously participated in exchange programs, Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degrees (without obtaining a French degree), internships, and language programs.

Age & Funding Restrictions

• Age Limit: You must be under 30 years of age during the year of application.
• Double Funding: Students who are receiving any other funding above €600 per month will be declared ineligible. You cannot combine this scholarship with the France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship, the France Excellence Europa scholarship, or Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

Eligible Programs & Level of Studies

All academic fields are eligible. Furthermore, all master’s programs of Université Paris-Saclay are eligible except for vocational programs (formations en apprentissage).

You can be awarded the scholarship whether you are entering at the M1 level (first year) or the M2 level (second year). If you are awarded the scholarship in M1, it will automatically renew for your second year, provided you complete all required credits and are admitted into an M2 program at Université Paris-Saclay.

How to Apply: The 3-Step Process

Unlike many other scholarships, you cannot apply directly for the IDEX scholarship. The process is entirely dependent on being nominated by the faculty.

Step 1: Apply to a Master’s Degree

You must first apply and be admitted to a master's program at Université Paris-Saclay before the program's set deadline. Only students who have applied early and been admitted can be considered for nomination. Late applications are not accepted.

Step 2: Selection by Course Coordinators

Course coordinators review all admitted international students and select the most highly-qualified candidates. If you are selected, you will automatically receive an email with a link to an online scholarship application form.

If applicable, you will be requested to provide the names and contact details of two references (e.g., a former professor or internship supervisor). These references will receive an email inviting them to submit a recommendation online. You will be notified when they submit it, but you will not have access to read the recommendation itself.

Step 3: Jury Evaluation

Once your file is complete, it is evaluated by a formal jury composed of experts from the Graduate Schools of Université Paris-Saclay. The jury evaluates candidates based on:

• Academic background
• Personal project
• Motivation for pursuing a PhD thesis at Université Paris-Saclay (specifically for M2 candidates)

Annual Application Timeline

While specific calendar dates shift slightly from year to year, the scholarship selection operates on a strict annual schedule (all times based on the Paris time zone, GMT+1):

• Late March: Deadline for master's program coordinators to select and nominate candidates.
• End of March / Early April: Deadline for nominated students to complete the online scholarship form and for references to submit their recommendations.
• Mid-May: Official publication of the results. All applicants are informed by email.

Because the jury's decision is discretionary, all outcomes are final, confidential, and cannot be appealed.

Frequently Asked Questions