Deadline: November 30, 2025
Applications are open for the Villa Albertine Lafayette Fellowship 2026. 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.
Benefits
The Lafayette Fellowship provides:
- A €1,500 monthly stipend from mid-July 2026 through the end of June 2027 to cover living expenses
- 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
- Coverage of travel costs and activities related to the French-American Leadership Program
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution (completed between January 2023 and June 2026).
- Be 27 years old or younger as of July 1, 2026. There is no flexibility permitted with respect to the age requirement.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale, no rounding).
Application
The Lafayette Fellowship application form requires you to provide:
- French language certificates (with the date(s) of issue), only if you are applying for a program taught in French
- General Information: personal information, nationality, and contact details
- Proof of eligibility
- Education history, including university transcripts
- Academic institutions that you are applying to and the academic program or degree you intend to pursue in France
- A CV
- A cover letter
- A video personal statement
- At least three, but no more than four, letters of recommendation
For more information, visit Villa Albertine Lafayette Fellowship.
