Starting February 2025, the government will implement new financial assistance for students, including a prepaid card for meals costing just 1 euro, aimed at those facing food insecurity. The initiative will provide funds to approximately 100,000 students, with additional support for those in need. Other financial aids include the “Mobili-Jeune” program for housing assistance, driving license subsidies, and various resources to alleviate financial pressures, addressing a significant increase in living costs for students.
New Financial Support for Students Starting February 2025
In an effort to combat student financial struggles, the government has announced several new forms of assistance aimed at reducing the cost of education. Beginning in February 2025, a prepaid card will be introduced to help students pay for meals. This initiative comes amid alarming statistics, with over one-third of young individuals (36%) indicating they frequently skip meals due to financial constraints, according to an Ifop survey.
The initiative, unveiled by the Minister of Higher Education, Patrick Hetzel, during a visit to Metz, aims to provide meals for just 1 euro for students who lack access to university dining services. The prepaid card will offer 20 euros to non-scholarship students and 40 euros to scholarship recipients, benefiting an estimated 100,000 young people. Additionally, overseas students will receive an extra 10 euros. This support will specifically target students living in areas where affordable dining options are over 20 minutes away by foot or public transport.
Additional Financial Aids Available to Students
Students have access to a variety of other financial aids, including the “Mobili-Jeune” program, which is available to young people under 30 engaged in work-study arrangements. This initiative, managed by Action logement, has recently adjusted its eligibility criteria, raising the income ceiling from 80% to 120% of the minimum wage. As of November, this means a gross monthly salary limit of 2,162.16 euros. Moreover, students now have five months post-contract commencement to submit their aid applications, an extension of two months compared to previous regulations.
The financial support for housing can range from 10 euros to 100 euros monthly, with an annual cap of 1,100 euros, distributed across 11 payments. This amount is calculated after considering any personalized housing assistance a student may already receive. For instance, if a student pays 350 euros in rent and receives 280 euros through APL, they would be eligible for an additional 70 euros in aid.
Another significant financial burden for young individuals is obtaining a driving license. To alleviate this cost, apprentices aged 18 and older can receive a 500 euro subsidy by applying through their training center. Additionally, those under 25 with signed training contracts can obtain their driving license for just one euro per day.
Students are also eligible for various other forms of assistance, such as free supplementary health insurance, mobility aid for master’s programs, support for obtaining the Bafa, cultural passes, discounted regional train fares, and complimentary museum access. These resources collectively aim to ease the financial pressure of student life, which has seen an increase of 40 euros per month this year, as reported by the student union Unef.