Applications for 2022 French government scholarships now open to Filipinos

The Embassy of France to the Philippines and Campus France Philippines are now accepting applications for two French government scholarship programs for the academic year 2022-2023.

According to the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the PhilFrance Scholarship is awarded to qualified candidates who have demonstrated strong academic and leadership qualities in their scholarly and professional activities, and who intend to pursue a master’s degree taught at French higher education institutions (public or private) in all academic disciplines.

The PhilFrance-DOST Scholarship Program, meanwhile, is jointly administered by the French Embassy and Department of Science and Technology’s Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). It aims to encourage Filipino professionals working in academic, research, or government institutions to pursue a master’s or doctorate degree at French public universities, as well as strengthen scientific cooperation and exchanges between France and the Philippines.

It prioritizes the following fields of study: agriculture, bioengineering, bioinformatics (medical), biological sciences, climate change, forestry, health and medical research, material sciences, medical chemistry, natural resources and environment, nuclear application on health, nuclear medicine, veterinary sciences, and virology.

Awardees of both scholarships will be granted the status of boursier du gouvernement franc?ais (French government scholar) and receive the following benefits: one round trip ticket from Manila to France, an exemption from visa application fees, a monthly living allowance covering the duration of their studies, a health care package, and priority access to public student accommodations.

PhilFrance Scholarship recipients are also entitled to a tuition subsidy, while PhilFrance-DOST Scholarship grantees will be given an exemption from public university registration fees, a relocation allowance, and coverage of pre-travel expenses.

Selected candidates of the PhilFrance-DOST Scholarships must return to the Philippines immediately after the completion of their graduate degree to render return service or a period equivalent to twice the length of time that they spent in France for their degree.

Details and guidelines on eligibility, benefits, requirements, the application calendar and the evaluation guidelines for both scholarship programs are available through the PhilFrance Scholarships website.

The website also contains useful information for applicants to learn more about higher education institutions and graduate programs offered in France.

Interested candidates must submit their applications through the PhilFrance Scholarships site no later than April 4, 2022, at 12 noon.

The Embassy of France to the Philippines said since 2016, the PhilFrance Scholarship Program had funded the studies of over 65 Filipinos who had pursued graduate degrees in French language and literature, business, public policy and international development, engineering, mathematics, marine biology, applied chemistry, environmental and ecological sciences, physics, computer science, and public health in several of France’s most prestigious higher education institutions, including Aix-Marseille Université, École des hautes études en santé publique (EHESP), École Polytechnique, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) de Toulouse, Sciences Po, Université Paris-Saclay. – RC, GMA News