Food insecurity: the government announces financial aid for students far from university restaurants

A helping hand to reduce food insecurity among students. A prepaid card in the amount of 20 to 50 euros will be allocated from February 2025 to 100,000 students away from a moderately priced offer in a Crous or approved university restaurant, announced the Minister of Higher Education on Monday November 25.

Currently, students on scholarships or in precarious situations can benefit from meals for one euro in university restaurants. Over the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 500,000 students benefited (out of a total of 2.965 million students in France), according to the ministry.

The new aid, intended for students in areas where the affordable catering offer is more than 20 minutes away on foot or by public transport, will amount to 40 euros per month for scholarship holders and 20 euros for non-scholarships. It will be increased by 10 euros in overseas territories. Concretely, a dematerialized prepaid card will be made available from February to each student concerned. It can be used in food stores. The total amount of the measure will amount, for 2025, to 38 million euros.