Conseil départemental de l'Orne - Higher Education Grants for Study Abroad

Orne study-abroad grant

You will receive a grant of means-tested grant from the Orne Departmental Council. This is a means-tested grant designed to help you fund a compulsory period of study abroad that forms part of your degree programme. The period abroad must last at least 4 months. The amount depends on your family’s income and the duration of your stay, and is up to approximately 1,068 EUR. A separate scheme applies to a compulsory unpaid work placement abroad lasting at least 6 weeks. You will receive the money retrospectively, once you have provided evidence that you have completed the placement by passing an exam or earning credits.

Who can apply

• Where your family lives: Your family lives in the Orne department in France.
• Where you study now: You are studying in France and are spending time abroad as part of your studies, for example through Erasmus or another exchange programme.
• Compulsory stay: The period of study abroad must be a compulsory part of your degree programme. Your university must confirm this by means of a signed declaration. A period of study that you could also have undertaken in France does not count as a qualifying period.
• Financial need: Your household income, divided by the number of people, must not exceed 1,058 EUR per person per month.
• Field of study: All fields of study are eligible, with the exception of degree programmes in the field of health and social care.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are studying in France and their family lives in the Orne department.
• No double funding: This grant cannot be combined with any other Orne higher education grant in the same year.

How to apply

You should submit your application to the Education Office of the Orne Departmental Council. Please enclose a document from your educational institution confirming that the stay is compulsory. In the case of a work placement, please enclose written confirmation from your supervisor stating that it is an unpaid placement. The deadline is 29 November.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is aimed at a limited target group. Your family must live in the Orne department, the stay abroad must be absolutely essential, and your income must be below the income threshold. As a result, the number of people eligible for the grant remains small. If you clearly meet these conditions and can provide evidence that your stay abroad is essential, your chances are good. The income ceiling for studying abroad is higher than for studying in France (1,058 EUR compared with 570 EUR), meaning that more students qualify than for the domestic grant.