French Government - Assistance to independent young persons

What you get

You will receive an annual grant of 1,454 EUR to 6,335 EUR per year (up to 7,602 EUR if payments continue beyond the summer). The exact amount corresponds to a band of the French means-tested student grant (bourse sur critères sociaux), and a CROUS committee will determine your band based on your circumstances. The money is usually paid in 10 monthly instalments from September to June over a period of at least 6 months. You are also exempt from enrolment fees and the CVEC (contribution towards student life and the campus). The grant is paid by the CROUS, the regional French student services authority, on behalf of the Ministry of Higher Education. It is intended for students who no longer receive financial support from their parents.

Who can apply

• You support yourself: Your parents no longer provide you with financial support. You must prove this by providing your own address, your own tax assessment notice (or your own tax return) and evidence of a regular income of at least 3 times the net minimum monthly wage (SMIC), which you earned in the 12 months prior to submitting your application. A court-ordered maintenance payment does not result in exclusion.
• Age: You are on 35 of 1 September of the year in which you submit your application, under 1. There is no age limit for recognised disabilities.
• Where you study: You are studying at an institution under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research or the Ministry of Culture.
• Field of study: All fields are permitted.
• Attendance: The same rules apply to you as to recipients of means-tested grants, including attendance at your courses.
• No double funding: This grant cannot be combined with the standard needs-based scholarship. However, it can be combined with the international mobility grant, a one-off emergency grant and the merit-based scholarship.

How to apply

You apply for the grant online via the ‘Dossier Social Étudiant’ (DSE) at messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr, where you describe your circumstances. The main application period runs from the start of March until 31 May. Applications submitted after this date will still be accepted, but will be processed last. A CROUS social worker will review your case, and a committee will then decide whether you are eligible for the grant and, if so, the amount.

How realistic are your chances?

Your grades are not a deciding factor for this grant. What matters is whether you actually meet the strict criteria for financial independence: you must provide evidence of having your own household, your own tax return and at least 3 months’ income at the minimum wage level over the past year. If your documents clearly show that you are supporting yourself without your parents’ help, your chances are good, as only a few students need this grant and are able to prove it. Apply between March and May, as applications submitted later will be processed last.