France ends APL housing aid for non‑EU, non‑scholarship students

From 1 July 2026 a French decree removes the personalised housing allowance (APL) – and related ALS and ALF benefits – for around 100,000 university students who are non‑European and do not receive a social‑criteria scholarship. The measure, enacted in the 2026 finance law and validated by the Constitutional Council in February 2026, is intended to save roughly €200 million a year (about €100 million in the first six months).

Students who hold a scholarship, apprentices, or those who work at least one hour per week retain eligibility. The housing ministry, led by Vincent Jeanbrun, frames the change as a fiscal‑justice decision, not a migration policy. Student unions (UNEF, FAGE) warn that the loss of aid will increase housing precarity, push many into emergency assistance, and could deter foreign students from studying in France.

The reform has sparked protests and criticism, with unions describing it as a preference for national students and a threat to intercultural diversity in higher education.