National Institute of Applied Sciences - Solidarity Funds

What the Solidarity Fund gives you

You will receive a one-off payment of up to 1,200 EUR if you are studying at INSA Lyon and find yourself in serious financial difficulty. This is emergency assistance, not a monthly grant. It is intended to buy you time to get your finances back on track if you are unable to meet your basic needs. The assistance is intended for students who have been experiencing ongoing financial difficulties over one or more semesters. Examples include a repeated inability to pay rent or the canteen bill, an overdraft that continues to increase each month, or not having enough money for food and hygiene products. The fund is managed by the Fondation INSA Lyon and the Institut Gaston Berger. It is financed by corporate donations as well as donations from alumni and parents.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled on an engineering degree programme at INSA Lyon and hold a valid certificate of enrolment for the current academic year.
• Financial need: You are facing genuine financial hardship, often following an unexpected event that has led to a reduction in your or your family’s income. Examples of this include a bereavement, illness, job loss, a separation, a divorce or a delay in the payment of means-tested benefits.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. There are no restrictions based on nationality, gender or religion.

How to apply

There is no set deadline and no application form. You should contact the Student Welfare Service by telephone, in person or by email to arrange an appointment. A social worker will assess your situation, help you compile your documents and forward them to a committee, which will decide whether to grant the allowance.

How realistic are your chances?

Only engineering students at INSA Lyon who are in genuine financial difficulty are eligible, so the pool of applicants is small. This is not a competitive process for a fixed number of scholarships. If you can clearly explain your financial difficulties to the social worker, your chances are good. The decision depends more on a well-documented, honest account of your situation than on your grades, and you can apply at any time of the year.