Scholarships and Part-Time Work for Students in France

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

France keeps the price of a public degree low: €178 a year for a bachelor's degree plus the €105 campus life contribution in 2026/27, or €2,902 for non-EU students where the university applies the differentiated fee. The country has a large grant system, but it is built for students whose families live and pay tax in France. For an international bachelor's student the realistic sources of help are fee exemptions, a few institutional scholarships and part-time work. This guide sets out who qualifies for what.

The CROUS grant on social criteria

The main state grant is the *bourse sur critères sociaux*, paid by the ministry of higher education through the CROUS network. It is means-tested on the income of the household the student belongs to. The conditions for 2026/27 are in a circular published in the ministry's official bulletin of 26 February 2026. To be eligible you must study full time in initial education at an institution approved for grant holders, and be under 28 on 1 January of the year of your first application.

The nationality rules are what matter for international students:

French citizens are eligible.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens must show one of these: that they have worked in France, as an employee or self-employed; that a parent or guardian has had income in France; or five years of continuous legal residence. By exception, an EU student without these can qualify with at least one year of residence in France, schooling in France the year before applying, or family ties in France.
Other foreign nationals need a residence permit, at least two years of residence in France and a parent or guardian whose tax household has been in France for at least two years, assessed on 1 September of the year concerned. Recognised refugees, stateless people and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are also eligible.

A non-EU student arriving from abroad to start a degree therefore does not qualify.

You apply with the student social file (DSE) on messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr. For 2026/27 the window ran from 1 March to 31 May 2026. The same file is used to apply for a CROUS room, so EU students often fill it in even if they expect no grant.

Government scholarships and the Eiffel programme

The French foreign ministry's Eiffel scholarship is for master's and PhD students only. French government scholarships are also awarded through French embassies, under conditions that differ by country; ask the cultural service of the embassy or Campus France in your country whether anything is open at bachelor's level.

Fee exemptions and university scholarships

Exemption from the differentiated fee. Universities may exempt part of their foreign students from the €2,902 fee, and many charge non-EU students the national fee. The policy differs by university and year, so check the fee page of each one. See how much it costs to study in France.
Sciences Po's Émile Boutmy scholarship is for first-time applicants whose household does not file taxes in the EU. What counts is the parents' tax residence, not nationality. It gives a full exemption from tuition or a reduction of €9,500, on merit, and you select it in the admission application. For applicants from foreign secondary schools the deadline for the 2027 intake is 13 January 2027.
Schools with their own fees, such as private business schools, often have merit or social scholarships with deadlines tied to the application.

Working while you study

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in France without restriction.

Non-EU students with a student visa (VLS-TS) or student residence permit can work up to 964 hours a year, 60% of the legal working year, without a separate work authorisation. Going over the limit can lead to the withdrawal or non-renewal of your permit. For work beyond 964 hours the employer must obtain a work authorisation before you start. Algerian students are under a separate agreement: the employer needs a work authorisation first, and the limit is 50% of the annual working time.

Student jobs are covered by French social security like any other job, and the employer deducts contributions from your pay. Students also register for health cover free of charge; see health insurance for students in Europe.

Minimum wage

The gross minimum wage (SMIC) rose on 1 June 2026 to €12.31 an hour, or €1,867.02 a month for a 35-hour week. Since August 2026 the money a non-EU student must show for the visa is tied to it: 47% of the gross monthly SMIC. See student visa for France.

Where to find work

Jobaviz, the CROUS job platform, lists student jobs from universities, CROUS and private employers. You sign in with the same account as for the DSE.
Your university's careers office. Every university has a service that helps students with internships and jobs, often with its own job board.

Most jobs outside tourism expect working French.

Where to look next

Official sources

Official bulletin no. 9 of 26 February 2026: grant conditions for 2026/27 (in French)
Service-Public: can a non-European student work in France? (in French)
etudiant.gouv.fr: Jobaviz (in French)
Campus France: Eiffel scholarship
Sciences Po: the Émile Boutmy scholarship

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.