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Description
Designed to support the next generation of young leaders with a strong interest in the transatlantic relationship, the Lafayette Fellowship will fund one year of master’s-level study in France for up to 30 outstanding American students. Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the program partners with leading French academic institutions across STEM, humanities, social sciences, and the arts, with courses taught in French or entirely in English. In addition to their academic studies, fellows will also join the French-American Leadership Program—a year-long series of lectures, masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship—offering full immersion in European innovation, culture, and policy. The program aims to deepen academic and cultural exchange between France and the U.S. and nurture future leaders. The Fellowship will encourage reflection on major global challenges, such as environmental challenges and sustainability; health and biotechnology; peace and security; social equity and democratic issues; digital technologies; and artificial intelligence.
Alongside their academic coursework, fellows will participate in the French-American Leadership Program, an immersive leadership development experience offering leadership development opportunities in France and a mentorship program.
The fellowship provides
- a monthly stipend to cover living expenese for one year;
- one year of tuition at a partner French institution for eligible programs;
- application fee waivers for French academic institutions and master’s programs;
- student visa fee waivers for one academic year;
- a round-trip flight to and from France at the start and end of the program;c
- overage of travel costs and activities related to the French-American Leadership Program.
The Lafayette Fellowship is offered by the French Embassy in the United States, and its inaugural application year was in 2025.
Eligibility
Applicants must
- have an undergraduate GPA of no less than 3.7 on a 4.0 scale;
- be 27 years old or younger as of July 1 in the year after the application deadline;
- be graduating seniors, or be in possession of a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution completed in the last 2–3 years (see for exact dates).
Knowledge of French is not required for acceptance into the Lafayette program.
Candidates must apply for admission to one of the French partner universities in addition to completing a Lafayette Fellowship application. The awarding of the scholarship is conditional upon admission to one of the partner institutions.
Selection Criteria
The fellowship will evaluate applicants based on
- academic excellence;
- leadership potential;
- commitment to the French-American relationship.