France university fees and student financial aid updates

Starting in the 2026 academic year, non-EU students in France face significant financial challenges due to differentiated tuition fees. Fees for undergraduate programs are expected to reach approximately 3,000 euros, while Master's programs may climb to 3,940 euros per year. This represents a cost up to sixteen times higher than the rates applied to French or European citizens.

These increases pose a risk to the administrative stability of international students, as failure to officially re-enroll can lead to the refusal of residence permit renewals by prefectures. While universities have the regulatory option to grant exemptions to 20% of non-EU students, student collectives have described this measure as insufficient.

In parallel, the CROUS scholarship system for the 2026-2027 academic year will maintain its current structure. Based on household income levels, annual scholarship amounts will range from approximately 1,454 euros at the lowest tier to over 6,335 euros at the highest tier, potentially exceeding 7,600 euros if extended through summer breaks. The scholarship scales and resource ceilings remain unchanged from the previous year.