Study Reveals Severe Financial and Housing Hardships Among French Students

A recent investigation by the student union FAGE has exposed dire financial and housing conditions faced by many students in France. Nearly a quarter of students live on less than 100 euros per month after paying their rent, with the average rent costing 491 euros nationwide and soaring to 712 euros in Paris. This rent burden consumes almost half of their limited budgets, forcing significant sacrifices in essential areas such as food and health.

Financial strain is particularly acute among scholarship recipients, 61% of whom survive on less than 200 euros monthly. Alarmingly, about 5% of students start the month with no money or in overdraft, a situation that severely impacts their academic performance and wellbeing.

Housing conditions further aggravate students' hardships. One-third of students experience inadequate housing, plagued by mold, pests, or water damage. Additionally, over 40% reside in poorly insulated dwellings, and a similar proportion, approximately one-third, lack reliable internet access, complicating their ability to attend online courses.

Suzanne Nijdam, president of FAGE, emphasized the correlation between this precariousness and academic failure, stating that urgent reform is required. The union calls for a comprehensive action plan, including increased availability of social housing, rent regulation of private accommodations, reformation in scholarship calculations, and enhanced social support systems.

These findings were highlighted during a food distribution event organized by the student union "Union Pirate" in Rennes, drawing attention to the escalating crisis facing student populations. Beyond numbers, the study paints a stark picture of students juggling financial hardship and substandard living conditions, calling for systemic solutions to safeguard their education and welfare.