PhilFrance Scholarship

PhilFrance scholarship is one of the programs of the French government to improve its intercultural ties and relations with the Philippines launched in 2016. Through the program, competitively-screened and selected Filipino students and professionals who have demonstrated strong academic, leadership and professional abilities may receive scholarships or grants to pursue a Master’s degree in any academic disciplines at a French higher education institutions.
On 26 June 1947, the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France were formally established. The Treaty of Friendship was signed in Paris, France by former Vice President and concurrent Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino, and the French Foreign Minister by then, Mr. Georges Bidault. The said relationship flourished through the years in the different political, economic and sociocultural fields.
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the French Republic and the Philippines, the Embassy of France in the Philippines launched the PhilFrance Scholarship Program in 2016 in order to provide Filipinos an opportunity to pursue their graduate studies in France. It aims to further develop their skills and expertise, and conduct research work in the country for the betterment and lasting contributions to the Philippines. Various Filipino scholars have already been sent to pursue their master's degrees in the field of public policy, business, literature, French language, engineering, biology, environmental sciences, chemistry, public health, law, sustainability and governance. 
The program is coordinated by the Embassy of France in the Philippines and Campus France, an agency created by the French Ministries of National Education and Foreign Affairs which has the primary role to promulgate French higher education abroad and provide the necessary tools for prospective students concerning about the different academic programs and French higher education institutions. 
In order to establish stronger relations between the two countries, the French Embassy in the Philippines usually partners with a Philippine government institution to offer a more diverse set of scholarships providing a wide range of options and benefits for the Filipino scholars. Every year, there are two separate calls for applications under the program. The first one is devoted to graduating bachelor's students and professionals who exemplify outstanding academic, leadership and professional credentials and would like to study in France for their Master's degree. The second type is usually within the framework of a cooperation agreement signed between an academic or scientific government agency in the Philippines and the Embassy of France. Since 2017, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has served as the partner agency for the program. By 2020, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) took charge and supported the program. It caters Filipino professionals in academic, government institutions and research who would like to study in France for their Master's or Doctorate degree in a French public education institutions within the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research of the French government.
Candidates chosen for the scholarship have excellent academic background and compelling leadership and professional experiences. Filipino scholars receive a partial tuition subsidy to Filipino students, a monthly stipend, round-trip travel expenses, a healthcare package and a priority access to public student housing and accommodations for the entire duration of their academic programs.
Furthermore, Campus France provides various orientations for students concerning their life in France, pre-departure preparations and facilitates alumni exchanges and relations. 
Category:2016 in the Philippines