2026 French Budget Proposes Significant Cuts Affecting Youth and Students
The 2026 French state budget proposal includes cuts to housing aid, apprenticeship exemptions, and tax benefits, substantially affecting students and young apprentices financially.
- • Housing assistance (APL) will not be indexed to inflation, saving the state €108 million but penalizing students.
- • Foreign non-EU students without scholarships risk losing APL access, worsening financial hardship.
- • Exemptions for apprentices will end, reducing their net monthly salary by €101 to €187.
- • Abolishment of tax reductions on tuition fees will remove a €183 benefit for student families, impacting low-income households.
Key details
The French government's proposed 2026 state budget introduces several austerity measures that directly impact young people, particularly students and apprentices. Presented on October 19, 2025, these measures include freezing housing assistance (APL) for inflation, ending exemptions for apprentices, removing certain financial aids, and abolishing tax reductions for tuition fees.
A key proposal is that housing assistance (APL) will not be adjusted for inflation in 2026, a move expected to save the state €108 million but which will severely affect students struggling with rising housing costs. Léa Jules-Clément, co-secretary general of the student union, condemned the freeze as it hits students hardest due to their primary expense being housing. Additionally, foreign students from outside the European Union who do not have scholarships may face losing access to APL, further exacerbating financial vulnerabilities among this group. Suzanne Nijdam, president of the student organization FAGE, criticized this planned exclusion of already marginalized international students.
Apprentices are also targeted. The budget proposes ending exemptions that currently boost their net salary by €101 to €187 per month, according to the National Apprenticeship Association (Anaf). Moreover, a €500 aid granted to apprentices aged 18 and over to assist with obtaining a driving permit could be eliminated, raising concerns from Anaf about increased inequality and reduced rural mobility.
The budget further suggests abolishing tax reductions on university tuition fees, which would remove a €183 benefit for families of students. The Families of France association denounced this cut, highlighting its disproportionate effect on low-income families and the negative message it sends regarding higher education affordability.
Overall, these austerity measures in the 2026 budget proposal threaten the socio-economic well-being of French youth by reducing essential financial supports amid growing living costs. The proposals are subject to parliamentary discussions, and their implementation could reshape the financial landscape for students and apprentices across France.