The Facebook page of the Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University has reminded TU students that they have until 19 February to apply for the Franco-Thai Scholarship Program (Full Cost-sharing Scholarship).
The Franco-Thai scholarship is granted for the time necessary to obtain a degree: one or two years for a master’s degree and three years for a Ph.D.
The Thammasat University Library collection includes many books about different aspects of Franco-Thai cooperation and exchange.
According to its website, the Franco–Thai Scholarship Program
- aims to support Thai students under the age of 35 who intend to study in French universities or Higher Education Institutions, at Master’s degree or PhD level.
- This call for applications is open to all fields of studies.
- Launch of the 2021 Franco-Thai Scholarship Program: November 2020
- Preparation workshops by Campus France: January 2021
- Deadline for online submission: February 19th, 2021
- Interview of the shortlisted candidates: March 2021
- Publication of the first list of recipients: May 2021
- Departure to France: Early September 2021
Scholarship laureates will be contacted individually. Final result will be published online on the Franco-Thai Scholarship Program website by July 2021. Committee’s deliberations are beyond dispute.
Among the frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the scholarship website include the following:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I apply for a scholarship from a Franco–Thai program if I am enrolling in a program taught in English?
A: Yes, if you enrol in a program offered by any French Higher Education Institution and if your application meets eligibility criteria.
Q: Is there any set quota on number of scholarships granted?
A: No, there is no specific quota. For the 2020 program around 22 new scholarships were granted.
Q: Is there any set distribution of scholarships by field of studies?
A: No, only the best applications are selected, regardless of the field of studies. All fields of studies are encouraged. Every application and project will benefit from a specific attention.
Q: How can I find Master programs or advisors in France?
A: The database of Campus France provides a large number of programs and PhD thesis topics through the following link: https://www.thailande.campusfrance.org/th/finding-a-university-programme-France
Campus France team can also help you figure out which programs might be more coherent with your study and career plans.
Q: Under the scholarship program, is it possible to apply for more than one university in France?
A: Yes, in condition that their curriculum is the same. For example, when the applicant of the Franco-Thai scholarship Program uses the proof of contact with University A and B for Master program in Education, it is necessary to explain the similarity of their program and identify his/her first choice of University in the motivation letter.
Q: May I apply for the Franco – Thai scholarship program even if I am not a graduate yet?
A: Yes, but only if you are currently in your last year of Bachelor at university for a Master scholarship or in your last year of Master level for a PhD scholarship. You will just need to enclose the attestation of your current enrolment in your university; and if possible your latest semester academic records.
Q: Among the criteria mentioned, which are the most decisive in the awarding of the scholarship?
A: Every criterion (excellence of the candidate, quality of the study plan, motivation of the candidate, level of proficiency in foreign languages) is decisive.
Q: What is included in a full scholarship?
A: The scholarship provides a monthly allowance to pursue studies in France. It also includes social protection coverage for the whole stay in France, priority for student housing and a round trip to France…
Q: What is the amount of the monthly allowance provided?
A: The maximum allowance granted is 700 Euros per month for Master’s degree and 1 060 euros per month for PhD.
Q: Does the Franco-Thai Scholarship Program cover tuition fees?
A: No. Tuition fees are not covered by the Franco-Thai Scholarship Program. Nevertheless, the status of scholar of the French Government entails that tuition fees for some master taught in French and some PhD in public universities are defrayed.
Q: What is a cost-sharing agreement?
A: A scholarship can be co-financed by a private company or a foreign or local institution for both Master’s degree and PhD. Different patterns of cost-sharing can be put into place depending on the nature of the relationship between the student and the co-funding institution. Local and foreign universities can participate in this scheme in funding fully or partly the monthly allowance…
Q: If I receive some financial support from my employer to pursue my study in France, is it possible to apply for Franco-Thai Scholarship to get the additional funding?
A: Yes, it is possible to apply for this scholarship. The cost-sharing scheme can be discussed later.
Q: Which level of proficiency in foreign languages is required in order to obtain a scholarship from the French Embassy?
A: The level of proficiency required should be consistent with the program to be followed.
Q: May I submit an application if the enrolment or selection process in France is not completed yet?
A: Yes. If the enrolment attestation cannot be provided for the submission of the application to the scholarship program, the applicant can include proofs of contact such as mails or e-mails between the university in France and the candidate instead.
Q: May I submit an application when the university in France requires the obtaining of the graduate degree before carrying out the enrolment procedure?
A: If an enrolment attestation cannot be provided for the submission, the application file must include e-mail exchange between the host university in France and the candidate. The university in France could also send an enrolment attestation conditional to the success of the candidate in his/her examinations.
Q: Should I apply to the first or the second year of the Master Degree?
A: Due to the difference between French and Thai academic frame regarding the length of the Bachelor Degree, Thai students who got their Bachelor degree in Thailand can apply directly to the second year of a Master Degree in France (M2). Admission to the second year of a Master Degree is under the authority of the selected Higher Education institution.
In some cases, an admission to the first year of the Master Degree may be more appropriate due to various reasons: global level of the training, content of the classes to be attended, specialities of the program etc.
Q: What form should the presentation of the personal project take?
A: The presentation of the personal project should supply the selection committee with key elements in order to help assessing the candidate’s choices in terms of university, curriculum, research subject with regards to his/her previous studies. Besides, this presentation should clearly highlight the candidate’s motivation. There are no specific requirements regarding the format of this presentation.
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)