As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the deep bond between France and America continues to inspire new opportunities for exchange, learning, and leadership.
Two landmark educational programs – The Lafayette Fellowship and Generation 250 – stand at the heart of this transatlantic celebration, reaffirming a shared commitment to knowledge, innovation, and cultural understanding.
The Lafayette Fellowship: Empowering American Students to Study in France
Launched by the French Embassy in the United States, the Lafayette Fellowship celebrates the enduring friendship between France and America by offering a transformative academic experience for up to 30 outstanding American students each year.
Over one year of master-level study at leading French institutions, Fellows will explore disciplines across STEM, the humanities, the social sciences, and the arts, with courses taught in French or English. Beyond the classroom, participants will join the French-American Leadership Program – a year-long series of lectures, masterclasses, mentorships, and cultural visits that provide full immersion in European innovation and policy.
The fellowship also aims to advance reflection on today’s most pressing global challenges: sustainability, health and biotechnology, digital transformation, social equity, peace and security, and artificial intelligence.
Developed in partnership with Villa Albertine, France Science, and 15 of France’s top universities and specialized schools, the Lafayette Fellowship embodies the shared spirit of progress, curiosity, and cooperation that has long defined Franco-American relations.
Fellowship benefits include tuition coverage, a €1,500 monthly stipend, visa and application fee waivers, round-trip airfare, and funding for leadership programming and travel throughout France and Europe. Fellows will also be paired with French mentors in academia, culture, business, or government to support their professional growth.
Applications for the inaugural cohort close November 30, 2025. Programs begin in July 2026, with academic study spanning through June 2027.
Generation 250: Welcoming French Students to Study in the United States
In a reciprocal gesture, the U.S. Embassy in Paris has launched Generation 250, a transatlantic scholarship program that will bring 250 French students to study at American universities beginning in Fall 2026.
Announced by President Joseph R. Biden and President Emmanuel Macron in December 2022, Generation 250 seeks to strengthen educational ties and empower the next generation of global citizens. The program will provide scholarships for one semester of study at participating U.S. universities, with support coordinated through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and MICEFA (Mission Interuniversitaire de Coordination des Échanges Franco-Américains).
By expanding opportunities for French students – especially as only 5.6% currently study in the United States – the initiative underscores a mutual dedication to accessibility and academic collaboration. In doing so, Generation 250 honors a 250-year legacy of diplomacy and shared ideals that began with Lafayette’s voyage to America and continues to this day.
Together, the Lafayette Fellowship and Generation 250 represent a renewed chapter in the enduring story of Franco-American partnership. Both programs celebrate the power of education to bridge cultures, strengthen alliances, and prepare young leaders to address the global challenges of the future.
As we look toward 2026 and beyond, these initiatives reaffirm a timeless truth: the friendship between France and the United States is not only rooted in history – it is a living, evolving bond shaped by every new generation of thinkers, creators, and changemakers.