PRREL – Programme Régional de Réussite en Etudes Longues (Hauts-de-France)

What PRREL AMBITION gives you

You get free study support to help you move from school into higher education and succeed there. It is not money. The programme runs from September to May and includes three things. First, a teacher acts as your mentor and gives you personal academic guidance. Second, a tutor (a student in the region) gives you one-to-one coaching on study methods. Third, discovery days let you visit universities and top schools to see how they work. The Hauts-de-France region runs and fully funds it for young people from families with modest incomes. Places are limited.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a school pupil from Seconde to Terminale (the last three years of French upper secondary school), or a student in a BTS, DEUST, or the 2nd or 3rd year of a BUT (short vocational or technical higher-education courses).
• Financial background: You come from a family with a modest income. If you are a pupil, you either hold a grant (boursier) or attend a school that serves less advantaged families (social index IPS below the national average plus three points). If you are a higher-education student, priority goes to those who hold a student grant.
• Region: You study in Hauts-de-France, the region covering Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Aisne, Oise and Somme.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects. Partner schools range from engineering and architecture to political science and communication.

How to apply

Register on the online platform at prrel.hautsdefrance.fr and request your application file there. The teacher who supports you at school can add a recommendation through the same platform. Places are filled while they last, so apply early.

How realistic are your chances?

This support targets pupils and students from lower-income families in one region, so the eligible group is small and you do not compete against the whole country. If you clearly meet the income and school criteria, your prospects are good. Places are limited and filled as they come in, so apply early in the school year.