Government of France-CNOUS - National Fund for Emergency Grants

National Fund for Emergency Grants (FNAU)

You are entitled to emergency financial assistance from the French state if, as a student, you are facing serious financial difficulties. This is paid out by the CROUS, the state body responsible for student welfare in France. There are two types of this assistance. The one-off emergency grant covers sudden, temporary financial emergencies: up to approximately 3,071 euros per payment and up to 6,142 euros per academic year. The annual grant covers long-term financial hardship if you do not receive a regular means-tested grant (bourse sur critères sociaux): between approximately 1,454 EUR and 6,335 EUR per year, paid monthly, for a total of up to 7 years. The annual grant also exempts you from paying enrolment fees.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled as a student at a state-recognised higher education institution in France (university, BTS, preparatory class, recognised private school or similar).
• Age: You are subject to the upper limit of 35 on 1 September of the academic year for which you are applying. This upper limit does not apply if you have a disability recognised by the CDAPH (the French authority responsible for assessing disability rights).
• Financial need: You can provide evidence of serious financial difficulties, such as a family breakdown, losing your home, high healthcare costs, unexpected expenses or living independently from your parents.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities. Students from non-EU countries require a valid residence permit.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Extra for the annual grant: You are not yet eligible for the standard means-tested grant. You must meet the same eligibility criteria regarding qualifications, studies and nationality as those required for this grant, and you must attend classes regularly.

How to apply

Contact the social services department of the CROUS responsible for your higher education institution by telephone or online at dae.lescrous.fr. Please have documents to hand that show your income, expenditure and financial hardship. There is no fixed deadline, so you can submit your application at any time during the academic year. An anonymous panel will assess your application, often within one to two weeks, and the CROUS director will determine the amount of the grant.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a means-tested grant, but rather needs-based financial support. The committee assesses whether your hardship is genuine and substantiated – not your grades or your academic profile. If you clearly meet the eligibility criteria regarding your student status and age, and can demonstrate a genuine hardship or ongoing financial difficulties, your chances are good. The most important thing is to present a clear, well-documented case.