Grants : 25 new beneficiaries for the Class of 2024

On Wednesday 17 July 2024, the 40th grant awards ceremony organised by CNES, the french space agency and the Local Education Authority was held at Europe’s spaceport. Of this year’s 25 beneficiaries, 10 received an excellence grant, 14 a study grant and 1 an apprenticeship grant.

Fifteen of them attended the ceremony and were able to meet with former beneficiaries of the scheme, which has now been running for 40 years.
 

From the 250 applications received, the grants committee, co-chaired by CNES, the french space agency and the Local Education Authority, selected 25 beneficiaries for the class of 2024. Criteria included applicants’ academic background and baccalaureate grades, the relevance of their career plan and social circumstances. The committee is also keen to ensure that all the region’s colleges are represented.

At the ceremony, former beneficiaries, who now work in a variety of sectors in French Guiana and mainland France, spoke of the importance of the grant to them. For all of them, having such major financial support enabled them to focus on their studies. The grants, like the ceremony, provide opportunities to build a network, obtain support during their studies or when they are looking for their first job.

One of the former beneficiaries present at the ceremony, Raymond Boyce, now Director of Operations at Europe’s spaceport, who oversaw the inaugural flight of Ariane 6, spoke to this year’s successful applicants: “There are more of you than there were in my day and, above all, you’re targeting fields other than space engineering. We need all professions and all levels here at Europe’s spaceport and in French Guiana. But don’t come back home too soon after your studies! Build up experience that you can share with us if you do decide to come back.” 

The grants scheme celebrates its 40th anniversary

Since 1984, the French Space Agency has provided funding to more than 300 students. In 2018, two other schemes were added to the excellence grants awarded to students planning to enrol on 5-year higher education courses: study grants and apprenticeship grants.
These last two grants are aimed at students enrolled on shorter courses in a variety of sectors that the region needs.
 

Find out more…

 
This support, which amounts to a total of €2.7 million over 7 years, is based on a close partnership between the French Space Agency and the French Guiana education authorities. The French Space Agency covers 100% of the financial cost of the three schemes, while the Local Education Authority handles the administrative processing of applications and monitors the students and their families.

Find all the practical information about the scheme on our web page for students.