Student precariousness: an increase of 37 euros per month for all scholarship students

The Minister of Higher Education and Research Sylvie Retailleau unveiled on Wednesday March 29 the first measures of the reform of scholarships for students which will be applied from the start of the school year in September 2023.

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One of the first announcements concerns the revaluation of aid for the 700,000 scholarship students, corresponding to an increase for all levels of 37 euros per month. In addition, one of the measures targets students from the “middle classes”. Thus, 35,000 new students will be able to become scholarship holders, according to the ministry, which gives the example of a child of two employees who receive 1,801 euros net each and who will be eligible for the first level. These new entrants will receive aid of 145 euros per month, over ten months.

500 million euros released

In addition, one scholarship student in five will switch to a higher level. For this population, this represents an increase in their scholarship amount of between 66 euros per month and 127 euros per month. An envelope of 500 million euros has been released for this first part of the measures. The consultations will continue until the summer for a structural reform of the system of student grants, indicates the ministry.

This reform is part of the government roadmap of the National Council for Refoundation (CNR) for youth, led by the Prime Minister as part of the “Matignon Youth Meetings”. In the summer of 2022, the government had already announced the revaluation of grants based on social criteria by 4% and housing aid (APL) by 3.5%. Also, the executive had extended the university restaurant voucher to one euro for the most precarious students, already in place for the 2023-2024 academic year.