Is it realistic to pursue a fully funded PhD in France with my MSc grades?
I'm currently an MSc Biotechnology student. I scored a CGPA of 7.45 in my first semester and 7.1 in my second semester. The highest CGPAs in my class were around 8.4 and 8.2, while many students scored in the 7 range and several had backlogs. I cleared all my subjects without any backlogs, but I'm worried that my grades may not be competitive.
My goal is to pursue a fully funded PhD in France after completing my MSc, preferably with a scholarship.
I wanted to ask:
Is it realistic to get a fully funded PhD in France with an MSc CGPA in the 7-7.5 range?
How much do MSc grades matter compared to research experience, internships, publications, recommendation letters, and thesis work?
What CGPA should I aim for in my third and fourth semesters to improve my chances?
What can I start doing now to become a stronger PhD applicant? source