Aid for non-scholarship students: your complete guide to financial assistance in 2025

Are you worried about your student budget ? Do you need a financial boost for your school year but don’t have a scholarship ? Let me tell you something: you’re not alone in this struggle! The cost of tuition, rent, groceries… all of this can quickly add up and make your head spin.

Fortunately, not being a scholarship student absolutely does not mean you’re not entitled to a helping hand. The state, the crous, and even private organizations have thought of you.

Housing assistance: an essential for all students

Housing is often the biggest expense. But there are solutions to lower your rent. You probably know about the apl, but there are other great options!

Personalized housing assistance (APL) and social housing allowance (ALS)

These allowances, paid by the caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF), are a classic. They are available to all students, scholarship recipients or not, based on income criteria. The amount of the apl depends on your rent, your situation, and your income, and it varies from 50 to 250 euros per month for a student.

✔️ Eligibility criteria: you must be a tenant of a conventional housing unit and not exceed the income ceilings. Do a simulation on the caf website to get a precise idea of the amount you could receive.

🤔 How to apply ? Go to the official caf website (www.caf.fr) to create your account and fill out your application online. Prepare your lease agreement, personal information, and that of your parents.

💡Did you know ? Even in a private student residence, like at uxco student, you can benefit from the APL.

The Visale guarantee

Finding a guarantor is often a real struggle. Especially if your parents can’t help you. This is where Visale comes in! It is a free guarantee managed by action logement, which acts as a surety for you with your landlord. Once your file is validated, you receive a “visa” to present to your landlord.

✔️ Eligibility criterion: you must be between 18 and 30 years old.

🤔 How to apply ? Everything is done online on the official visale website (www.visale.fr). The response is generally very fast.

💡Did you know ? If you don’t have a physical guarantor, you also have the option of using Garantme, another moral guarantor used by uxco student.

Crous aid and emergency funds

The Crous is not only a friend to scholarship recipients. It has levers to help you if you are going through a difficult period.

Specific one-time aid (ASAP)

This is emergency aid, a safety net if you have a serious and unforeseen situation. Family breakdown, health problems… if your studies are threatened by a financial problem, the crous can pay you exceptional aid. The amount of this specific one-time aid can be up to 3,000 euros.

✔️ Eligibility criterion: your situation must be judged “serious” and “unforeseen” by a commission. It’s a case-by-case basis, but it’s worth trying.

🤔 How to apply ? Make an appointment with a crous social worker. They will help you put together your application. You can find their contact information on the website of the crous in your academy.

Annual aid (annual specific allowance)

If your financial difficulties are long-lasting, this allowance is for you. It replaces the scholarship for students who do not meet the classic criteria but have a persistent need. It also allows you to be exempt from university registration fees. The amount of this allowance is equivalent to that of a scholarship, which is between 1,450 and 6,335 euros per year.

✔️ Eligibility criteria : being in a financial situation comparable to that of a scholarship recipient, without being able to benefit from one.

🤔 How to apply ? Contact the crous social services for an interview. This is the only way to access this aid.

H2 The state-guaranteed student loan

Do you need a more substantial sum to finance your training or an internship? This loan is guaranteed by the state, up to 20,000 euros, and the coolest thing is that it does not require a guarantor. Repayment can be deferred, which means you only start paying after you have finished your studies and found a job.

✔️ Eligibility criterion : be under 28 years old and enrolled in a higher education institution.

🤔 How to apply ? Go to a partner bank (société générale, caisse d’épargne, banque populaire, crédit mutuel, cic) to present your project.

Scholarships and other specific aid

Outside of the classic circuit, there are other forms of aid that target very specific situations. Check out all the options, you might be surprised!

Merit aid : when your efforts are rewarded

Did you get a “very good” mention on your baccalaureate? This is not only a source of pride, but also a good plan for your finances. The merit allowance is a supplement of 900 euros paid to scholarship students who have received this mention.

L’Étudiant.fr reminds us: “a large number of high school students don’t think about it… but this allowance, amounting to 900 euros, can be granted if the student is a future scholarship recipient based on social criteria.” So even if you were not a scholarship student during the year you obtained the baccalaureate, review your situation, you may be entitled to it.

International mobility aid

It is for students who go on a trip of at least 2 months abroad, either for studies or an internship. The application is made with your institution. It is a concrete boost to finance part of your trip.

✔️ Eligibility criterion : you must benefit from an annual crous aid, and your stay abroad must be for a duration of at least 2 months.

🤔 How to apply ? Contact the international relations service of your university or school.

Master’s mobility aid

If you have validated your license and you are continuing your studies in a master’s degree in another region, you can receive aid of 1,000 euros from the Crous to encourage your mobility.

✔️ Eligibility criteria : as a non-scholarship student, you must benefit from the annual specific aid from the Crous.

🤔 How to apply ? This is often automatic if you already have an active crous file. If this is not the case, contact the crous of your host academy.

Local government aid: a boost close to home

The state and the Crous are not the only ones to support you. Think of local governments! Regions, departments and even some cities can offer scholarships or discounts for transport and culture. Find out on the site of your regional council.

Key steps and mistakes to avoid

Step 1: assess your situation.

Take a piece of paper and a pen. What are your needs? Housing? Tuition fees? Ask yourself the right questions to target the aids that suit you.

Step 2: put together your file carefully.

Most aid applications require specific documents: parents’ tax notices, proof of schooling… a single missing document can block your file! Be prepared.

Step 3: respect deadlines.

For allowances and scholarships, there are deadlines that you absolutely must not miss. This is the golden rule for your file to be studied.

💡Tip: above all, don’t be intimidated! The social workers at the crous, the caf, and others are there to help you. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with them to take stock of your situation and see what aid you are entitled to. It’s their job to advise you.

The added value of UXCO Student for your administrative procedures

Because we know that all these procedures can be a real headache, at UXCO Student, we have decided to make your life easier. In addition to offering you quality accommodation, each UXCO Student residence has a residence manager.

He is not just a simple manager: he is your “guide.” He can help you find your way through the labyrinth of administrative procedures, from putting together your apl file to activating your contracts.

And in addition, our residences are located all over France! Lille, le havre, dijon…. In short, everywhere, so don’t hesitate to book your accommodation in our UXCO Student residences, whether for a stay or for the entire school year!