Student costs increase again in France

French students will have to pay more to pursue their studies at university this year. The cost for their studies will increase by 3.7 percent, which is double the amount of inflation.

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

These were the latest figures to come out of a study conducted by the student trade union National Union of Students in France (UNEF) about the costs for studying in France.

A breakdown of the total increase comes from the rising costs of tuition, rent, and food. The other student trade union, Federation of Student’s General Associations (Fage), had already disclosed at the beginning of August an increase by 2.6 percent in fees.

In short, the fees for one year at a French university have already doubled in the past ten years.

As a result from increasing costs, more French students now rely on a job to pay their way through university. Whereas six years ago, only 48 percent needed a job to make ends meet, the number has now jumped to 73 percent. This figure worries the student trade unions. With more French students working instead of studying they are more likely to fail their exams.

Trade unions are pushing for more financial assistance for students, as was promised by Francois Hollande during his campaign during the presidential elections. They would also like to see an increase twofold of scholarships. In July, the government increased them by only 2.1 percent.