France
French students build their budget on the Crous bourse sur critères sociaux — €1,454 to €6,335 a year across eight échelons — topped up by merit and mobility grants, Caf housing aid, the free Visale rent guarantee, €1 university meals and a state-guaranteed loan. Every entry lists its sources; amounts are academic-year 2025/26 rates, with announced 2026 changes flagged.
Every amount carries a last-verified date and official sources.
Start here
Bourse sur critères sociaux (means-tested student grant)· Bourse sur critères sociaux (BCS)
€1,454 – €6,335 per month
France's main means-tested student grant, paid by the Crous: €1,454 to €6,335 per year across échelons 0bis–7, in 10 monthly installments, with tuition-fee and CVEC exemption on top.
Housing aid (APL / ALS)· Aides au logement de la Caf (APL / ALS)
Monthly rent support from the Caf that only counts the student's own income — APL for conventioned housing (incl. Crous residences), ALS otherwise; amount depends on rent, city and resources.
€1 Crous meal· Repas Crous à 1 €
A full meal for €1 in Crous university restaurants — reserved for scholarship and hardship students during 2025/26, extended to every student from 4 May 2026 (social rate: €3.30).