New Delhi. 28 June 2023. The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Emmanuel Lenain, today felicitated the recipients of the 2023 Charpak scholarship programme of excellence and the Franco-Indian Education Trust in a special ceremony at the French Embassy. These scholarship awardees from India will study at reputed French institutions in the fall.
The event gathered more than 50 scholars from around the country, representatives of companies, and Indian institutions. The scholarship winners, aged between 18 and 25 years, were chosen for their academic excellence as well as the coherence and quality of their study projects. For the academic year 2023, more than 150 Charpak scholarships in various categories were given to students in the fields of engineering, science, arts and design, social studies, business management, film, journalism, and the French language. They will soon set out on their journey to France to pursue a variety of programmes, ranging from a semester-long exchange programme with a partner university there, to two to three academic years to finish a specialised Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. They will receive internationally recognised degrees once they successfully complete their programmes.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said: “My warmest congratulations to the recipients of this year’s awards. The French government awards scholarships worth 15 crore rupees to over 500 Indian students every year. It shows France’s commitment to increasing exchanges between French and Indian youths, and creating more and more opportunities for talented young Indians to come to France. I would also like to express my deep appreciation to Mr Prshant Lahoti, who leads the Franco-Indian Education Trust, as well as all our partners who contribute to additional scholarships”.
Ambassador Lenain also congratulated the five winners of the “Legrand Empowering Scholarship,” an innovative CSR initiative of the France-based Legrand Group to support Indian students opting for top-notch higher education in France. Every year, Legrand, a global specialist of electrical and digital infrastructure, offers financial aid to students from socially and economically disadvantaged families seeking quality education in engineering, management, and social sciences. Along with offering the opportunity of an internship at the company headquarters in Limoges, France, it contributes to their living expenses. Under the umbrella of the Franco-Indian Education Trust, which has also received financial support from Dassault Aircraft Services India Private Limited, and Dr Gun Nidhi Dalmia, this is the fourth group of students headed for France.
The Amba Dalmia scholarship programme, set up by the Trust, is funded by a generous donation from Dr Gun Nidhi Dalmia. The programme supports Indian women desirous of pursuing their studies in music, theatre, sports, arts, cinema, ballet, opera, philosophy, gastronomy, design, painting or photography in France. The four young women selected this year will pursue their higher studies at various reputed French institutions, such as École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Toulouse (architecture), EICAR The International Film and Television School, and Gobelins l’école de l’image (film-making), L’Institut Agro Montpellier (oenology/viticulture), and l’Ecole nationale supérieure de création industrielle (design).
Mr Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Counsellor for Education, Science, and Culture at the French Embassy, welcomed the students and their families, and congratulated them on their accomplishments. Dr Fabien Chareix, Attaché for University and Scientific Cooperation, gave an overview of the higher education system in France as well as the prospects this offered. The academic cooperation team from the French Institute in India addressed all the queries about the educational, social, and cultural opportunities young students in France could avail of.
The elated students expressed unanimously that they were motivated to succeed in their individual fields and that they were excited to learn and work in an international setting. The proud parents who accompanied their children to the event appreciated the Embassy’s close attention to students’ welfare, from counsellors in India helping plan their study in France to making it a reality.
The recipients given the title of “Boursier du gouvernement français” (French Government Scholarship Holder) receive benefits such as a monthly stipend to cover everyday expenses, a free student visa and “Etudes en France” application process, health insurance coverage, and assistance in finding affordable student accommodation in France. The institutions where they study also grant substantial tuition fee waivers to meritorious students.
About the scholarship programmes supported by the Embassy of France in India
The Embassy of France in India runs several scholarship programmes at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD levels for Indian students in France. Under its flagship programme, the Charpak scholarship, Indian students receive substantial financial assistance to study in France as research interns, exchange students, or full-time degree students. The funding of the yearly scholarship programmes is on the rise (1.4 million euros in 2022) and shows that more and more Indian students are choosing France as their higher education destination.
Every year, over 500 scholarships are offered to the best Indian students, with the number set to increase. The French Embassy is proud to join efforts with corporate and institutional partners, such as Legrand India Private Limited, Dassault Aviation, Dalmia group, ISAE-MBDA, The Neemarana Music Foundation, to encourage Indian students to enrol in the best French institutions.