Student: scholarship on social criteria
Verified 07 September 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
You are a student (or are going to be a student) and meet material difficulties to pursue higher education?
You can request a higher education grant on social criteria (BCS)).
Please note that the scholarship complements family support and does not replace maintenance obligations at the parents' expense.
We present you with the information you need to know.
There's several conditions related to education, age, degree, nationality and resources.
Studies
You must complete all of the following conditions :
- You are enrolled in initial training in France or in another country of the European Union
- The institution is a public or private educational institution eligible to receive fellows
- You're in graduate school full-time
Warning
if you are not eligible for the scholarship, you may, subject to conditions, annual emergency aid.
Age
You must have under 28 during your 1re scholarship application (as of 1er September of the year of study).
From the age of 28, you must continue your studies to continue receiving the scholarship.
This age limit may be postponed if you are one of the following:
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Volunteering in the military
You are performing a military volunteering : the age limit of 28 years is reduced by 1 year.
Civic service
You perform civic service: the age limit of 28 years is lowered until the end of civic service.
Student parent of child
The age limit is reduced by 1 year per child raised.
Disabled student
If you are recognized as disabled by CDAPH: titleContentThere are no age requirements.
Diplomas
You must have a French baccalaureate (or a diploma/diploma admitted in equivalency or dispensation for enrollment in 1re graduate year).
Nationality
Additional conditions are required if you are not French.
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European student
If you are a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area, or if you are a Swiss or Andorran, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Have held a full or part-time job in France, as an employee or not
- Justify that one of your parents received income in France
Foreigner student (other country)
You must have the following 3 conditions:
- Have a residence permit
- Be domiciled in France for at least 2 years
- Proof of a tax home in France for at least 2 years
Refugee or under protection (Ofpra)
You must have refugee status recognized by theOfpra: titleContent or benefit from the subsidiary protection granted by Ofpra.
Resources
To qualify for the scholarship, your income must not exceed a certain limit.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, the revenues withheld are those collected in 2021 (2022 tax notice) by the family or legal guardian.
The income taken into account is shown in the line total gross income the notice of taxation or non-taxation.
You can calculate your grant entitlement with a simulator:
Student: calculate your grant entitlement based on social criteria
If you are married, past, or have a dependent child for tax purposes, your only resources (or those of the tax home to which you are attached) may be withheld.
In exceptional cases, 2022 (or even 2023) revenues can be taken into account.
Special provisions are provided for in the following situations:
- Lone parent
- Separation, divorce, remarriage or common-law partnership of the parents
- Parent living or working abroad
- Foreigner students
You can prepare the necessary documents to your file before completing it.
Please note
you have to do the process regardless of your nationality.
Filing of the application
You need to build your Student Social Record (SSR) online to apply for a scholarship.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, you must enter your application between 30 march 2023 and 31 may 2023.
In case of significant and lasting change your situation (marriage, divorce) or that of your family (divorce, death, unemployment, retirement, illness), your file can be studied even outside these deadlines. Then contact the DSE of the Academy's Crous where you are (or will be) attending school.
Request Validation
At the end of entering your FSD, you will receive an email confirming the submission of your application.
If your file is incomplete, an email is also sent to you. You will then need to deposit the missing documents by logging into your account.
Decision on conditional notification of award of the grant
You will receive, by email, a conditional notification of award or rejection of the grant, at the latest in July.
The final award or rejection decision will be notified only after you enroll in the university.
To do so, send the evidence proving your enrollment in a higher education institution to the Crous.
Final decision on the award of the fellowship
The final award decision must contain the reasons if it is less favorable than the conditional decision.
Reasons must also be given for any refusal to award grants, withdrawals or reductions in grants.
These decisions must indicate the means and time limits of appeal (administrative and litigation).
Please note
if your situation changes significantly and permanently, the file can be reviewed. Then contact your Crous.
Appeals
To challenge the decision of the Crous, send a ex gratia appeal to the rector of the academy.
Who shall I contact
If you have not been satisfied, contact the Minister of Higher Education. obligatory through the rector of the academy.
You can also bring a legal action before the administrative court within the jurisdiction of your academy within 2 months of notification.
Who shall I contact
The scholarship on social criteria includes 8 grant steps (0 bis to 7), each corresponds to an annual amount of grant.
The scholarship is paid to the student in 10 monthly installments, unless enjoy during the summer holidays.
You can calculate your grant entitlement:
Student: calculate your grant entitlement based on social criteria
Step | Annual amount |
|---|---|
0a | €1,454 |
1 | €2,163 |
2 | €3,071 |
3 | €3,828 |
4 | €4,587 |
5 | €5,212 |
6 | €5,506 |
7 | €6,335 |
FYI
If you are studying in overseas, the annual amounts indicated shall be increased by €300.
The scholarship is paid in 10 monthly installments and may be conditionally paid during the summer holidays.
The student can only receive it for 7 years, and its maintenance depends on the progression in the studies, attendance at the courses and presence at the exams.
Student: calculate your grant entitlement based on social criteria
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Order of 13 April 2023 fixing the maximum resources for the higher education scholarships of the Ministry of Higher Education for 2023-2024
- Order of 13 April 2023 on the rates of the higher education scholarships of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of the 2023-2024 academic year
- Circular of 17 July 2023 on scholarships for higher education on social criteria, merit grants and international mobility grants for 2023-2024
- Technical note of 3 August 2018 laying down the procedures for the management of social assistance for maritime higher education in maritime vocational schools for the year 2018-2019 (PDF - 219.6 KB)
FAQ
- DSE (Student Social Record): How to apply for a scholarship and/or accommodation?
- Can a student receive the scholarship during the summer holidays?
- What support can a student receive?
- Can a student combine the scholarship with a job or other assistance?
- How do I apply for student accommodation at the Crous?
- Can a student receive housing assistance (APL, ALS, ALF)?
- Scholarship and Student Housing: Build your Student Social Record (SSR)Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
- Income tax: the case of studentsMinistry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
