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French students face a tightening financial landscape as recently approved legislation eliminates housing assistance for non-EU, non-European Economic Area (EEA) students beginning in July 2026. The measure, adopted by the National Assembly on February 2nd, removes the *Aide Personnelle au Logement* (APL), a crucial allowance ranging from 100 to 250 euros per month, for students from outside the EU and EEA.
The change impacts students from countries including Morocco, and other nations not within the EU/EEA (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). Students originating from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, as well as scholarship recipients of all nationalities, will remain eligible for the APL. Those eligible for housing assistance will see their benefits indexed to inflation starting in the autumn of 2026, partially offsetting rising living costs.
The move is projected to save approximately 200 million euros, representing nearly 1% of the total APL budget, according to the Senate’s finance commission. Alongside the APL cuts, Article 30 of the finance bill introduces increased taxes and fees for foreign nationals in France. These include a significant rise in fees associated with residency permit applications and renewals.
The cost of applying for French nationality will increase from 55 euros to 255 euros. Residence permits and visas will see a 100 euro increase, and a new 40 euro tax will be levied for exchanging a foreign driver’s license for a French one. These changes come shortly after the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne announced a substantial increase in tuition fees for non-EU students, effective December 1st, 2025.
License-level students at the Sorbonne will now face annual fees of 2,895 euros, up from 178 euros, while Master’s students will see their fees jump from 254 euros to 3,941 euros – a sixteen-fold increase. This decision particularly affects students from Morocco and other non-European countries not listed among the 44 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) designated by the United Nations.
The CROUS residences, which provide student housing, have also implemented new conditions for international student applications, adding further complexity to the process. The French government continues to welcome foreign scientists and researchers, with specific pathways for their integration into the French academic system.
