France
3 Fulbright-CY Initiative Award (CY Cergy Paris Université and ESSEC Business School)
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants
- Yes
Award Profile
Three awards of 10 months each are offered to pursue a master's degree program offered through the CY Initiative of Excellence.
CY Initiative of Excellence brings together CY Cergy Paris Université and ESSEC Business School, to create one of the 17 French Universities of Excellence, selected by the French government.
CY Cergy Paris Université is a multidisciplinary teaching and research university located just outside of Paris, created in January 2020. It is the result of a merger of several French academic institutions: the University of Cergy-Pontoise, EISTI School of Engineering, Paris Seine University, and the close partnership of ESSEC Business School.
CY Cergy Paris Université collectively has five graduate schools, focusing on: (1) sciences, engineering, economics; (2) arts and humanities; (3) education; (4) law and political science; and (5) business and management. Students may therefore find degree programs in a wide variety of fields. It has a student body of 27,000, with 1,773 teaching and research staff.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grants will generally begin on September 1 through June 30 for university attendance. They may be renewed for a second year of studies, conditional upon results.
Orientation
Grantees will be required to attend a mandatory 1- to 2-day in-country orientation in late September or early October, and a 2-day mid-year conference in February (organized by the Fulbright Commission in France).
Candidate Profile
Graduating college seniors, recent graduates, and current holders of bachelor's degrees interested in a master's degree offered through CY Cergy Paris Université or ESSEC Business School are eligible to apply. All master's programs that potentially lead to doctoral studies are eligible. (There is no expectation that students will continue on to the doctoral level, although they are more than welcome to explore that possibility.)
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Being a Fulbrighter in France is an unforgettable experience! When not engaged in their project, Fulbrighters enjoy the benefits of the French lifestyle: wonderful food, excellent life-work balance, and enthusiasm for lively debate and discussion. We encourage Fulbrighters to travel the country (and discover its many amazing heritage sites, museums, landscapes, and varied society), and to get involved in community service or other local activities. They are thus able to build strong cross cultural ties between France and the United States.
It is important to note, however, that while the Fulbright Commission is dedicated to assisting Fulbrighters as much as possible to make their transition to France as smooth as possible, Fulbrighters are responsible for securing their own housing and making other administrative arrangements themselves. We recommend that Fulbrighters prepare their stay well ahead of time.
For more information on daily life in France, see:https://www.usa.campusfrance.org/daily-life
Quotes from CY Initiative Award alumni:
"My Fulbright experience has been an absolute privilege, and it has made me a more well-rounded person. As someone with career goals in global governance, diplomacy, and human rights, I hope that this one-of-a-kind preparation gets me closer to these goals."
"The Fulbright Program has been instrumental in enhancing my academic and personal growth, providing invaluable support for my studies in environmental science at CY Cergy Paris Université. The program not only allowed me to improve my French language skills and immerse myself in French culture, but also offered opportunities to meet people from all corners of the world, experience an internship in France, and improve my self-confidence, resourcefullness, and independence. I am grateful for the Fulbright program for allowing me to benefit from such an enriching journey."
"The Fulbright Program provided me with an opportunity to further my education and gain hands-on experience that I never would have had otherwise. With Fulbright's support, I achieved a lifelong goal of pursuing studies while abroad, gaining firsthand experience of a new culture. The experiences I have had and the connections I have made as a Fulbrighter have profoundly enriched my professional, cultural, and social perspectives."
Eligibility
9 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
In the Fulbright online application, please select CY Initiative Award (CY Cergy Paris Université and ESSEC Business School) from the Award Name drop-down menu.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
French language proficiency is recommended, commensurate with the requirements of the project. Sponsored language courses are not offered by the Fulbright program in France. In the Fulbright online application, applicants should include the Language Self-Evaluation and a Foreign Language Evaluation by a professional language instructor in relation to their language proficiency.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Applicants must demonstrate the level of French required for the target degree program. For programs taught in French, this is generally an intermediate level. For programs taught in English, no particular level of French is expected.
Fulbright Proposal Types
No
Yes
Affiliation
Applicants must concurrently apply to a master's degree offered at CY Cergy Paris Université or ESSEC Business School. Any questions about eligible programs and application procedures may be addressed to elea.tremaudant@cyu.fr or Joelle.gury@cyu.fr. For questions related to programs at ESSEC specifically: b00818761@essec.edu.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
A full tuition waiver to the degree program is provided. Please note that, according to French law, all students are required to pay student fees ("contribution de vie étudiante et de campus" or CVEC) as part of enrollment. In 2024-2025, these fees were 103 euros.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
All Fulbright grantees receive 1200 Euros in travel allowance.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Find a detailed estimate of cost of living for students at CY Cergy Paris Université on their website.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
The Fulbright Commission provides grantees with a guide to life in France that includes resources and links on finding housing.
Portrait of an alumna
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
Degrees taught in English: https://www.cyu.fr/programs-taught-in-english
Programs at ESSEC: https://www.essec.edu/en/campus/paris-cergy/?tab=programs