The Lafayette Fellowship

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 encourages 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. Fellows will benefit from a mentorship program, each paired with a prominent French figure in business, government, culture, or academia aligned with their professional goals.