7. Student Financial Assistance in France

The system of student financial support is a maze of different grants and loans that cannot be summarised in these pages.

There are over 30 difference types of grants, awarded by different public bodies, with over 100 different income criterion! Many grants are also not paid until well into the academic calendar. It is a complete nightmare for students and their families.

The government has announced its intent to rationalise the whole system and their proposals are awaited.

The main student grant is available on a means tested basis, with the amount per year ranging from about €1400 to around €4000, depending on the test of parent resources and other related criteria. The grant is available to families from the EU who have been resident in France at least two years.

In the calculation of test of resources many families would find they are eligible for, at least, some level of assistance.

However, it is not normally possible to accumulate the main grant with other grants, except for grants awarded by the county and regional councils.

Students are also eligible for support with housing costs up to circa €100 per month available through the Caisses d'Allocations Familiales - CAF.

As if the system was not complicated enough the Government have introduced a new grant called l'allocation de rentrée universitaire. The annual sum is €300 available to those students moving away from home to attend university.

We shall be providing more information on student grants in due course, but maybe not before the system has been changed!

For the time being, the best advice that can be given is to make contact with the main body responsible for student support called Centre National des Œuvres Universitaires (CNOUS) .

You should also contact the higher education institution you propose to attend or go through their web site. In addition, many county and regional councils also offer assistance, in the form of both grants and loans.