CostToStudy.com • France Student Finance and Housing Model
France Study Cost Calculator 2026: Tuition, Rent and Living Costs
France’s €877.50 monthly student-resources threshold, effective for student visa applications submitted from August 1, 2026, is an immigration reference, not a complete measure of rent, tuition, CVEC, deposits and the cash needed before housing aid begins. [S1][S10]
Figures are planning estimates. Confirm programme fees, visa requirements and housing terms with the relevant official provider before making payments.
Why €877.50 a Month Does Not Describe the First French Study Year
For student visa applications submitted from August 1, 2026, the minimum resources reference is €877.50 per month. Applications submitted through July 31, 2026 were assessed under the previous €615 monthly threshold. The resources test addresses whether a student can show minimum means of support; it does not say that €877.50 will cover a real 12-month budget, and it does not remove payments due before ordinary monthly spending begins. [S11]
Current resources reference
€877.50 / month
The official student visa and residence-permit rules require proof of resources at least equal to this monthly amount from August 1, 2026, subject to the stated exceptions. The same current threshold applies when a student residence permit is renewed. [S1]
CAF timing gap
First month uncovered
Housing-aid entitlement begins in the month after move-in; payment timing can leave the student funding the first rent period in full. [S2]
Move-in cash
Rent + deposit + setup
These amounts can fall due together even when later housing assistance reduces the ongoing net cost.
France Student Cost Calculator
Choose a city, housing route, lifestyle level and tuition category. The result models 12 months of living costs, selected tuition, arrival cash and the remaining funding gap.
Estimated monthly cost
€0
Housing and recurring living costs
Estimated annual cost
€0
12-month living cost plus tuition
First-year cash need
€0
Annual estimate plus arrival allowance
Budget gap
€0
After budget and confirmed support
Affordability score
0
Planning estimate
Public Fees Depend on Status, Degree and Exemption
The low public fee often quoted for France is not the rate every international student receives. For 2026/2027, the standard national rates include €178 for Licence, €255 for Master and €398 for Doctorat. Differentiated rates listed for affected international students are €2,902 for Licence and €3,950 for Master. Doctoral students pay the national registration rate; differentiated non-EU tuition does not apply to Doctorat. [S3]
| Route | 2026/2027 annual registration fee | Who may use it | Budget point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Licence — standard rate | €178 | French, EU/EEA/Swiss students and listed international categories | CVEC and living costs remain separate. |
| Public Master — standard rate | €255 | Students covered by the standard-rate categories | The degree fee is small compared with a full private-rental budget. |
| Public Licence — differentiated rate | €2,902 | Affected non-EU students without an applicable exemption | The institution’s exemption decision can change the invoice. |
| Public Master — differentiated rate | €3,950 | Affected non-EU students without an applicable exemption | Do not replace the admission or fee notice with a national average. |
| Doctorat — standard national rate | €398 | Doctoral students, including non-EU doctoral students | Differentiated non-EU tuition does not apply to Doctorat. |
| Private or institution-specific diploma | Set by the institution | Private schools and programmes issuing their own diplomas | Use the programme invoice and payment calendar. |
From 2026/2027, institution-granted exemptions from differentiated fees are subject to a regulatory ceiling of 30% of students who fall under those fees, while protected earlier exemptions may continue through the same study cycle under the stated conditions. [S12]
CVEC Is Paid Before Administrative Enrolment
The 2026/2027 CVEC is €105 for students who are liable to pay it. The student obtains an attestation after payment or exemption and provides that document to the institution for administrative enrolment. [S4]
Before enrolment
Complete the CVEC step when the chosen course is confirmed and obtain the attestation.
At enrolment
Pay the applicable university registration fee or the first instalment accepted by the institution.
Separate from both
Prepare rent, deposit, travel and household setup cash. These are not covered by the CVEC receipt.
CROUS Pricing and Private-Market Access Are Different Questions
Official CROUS accommodation is listed at roughly €200 to €500 per month depending on the room type. A private apartment for one person is described by Campus France as starting around €800 in Paris and €400 elsewhere, so the housing route can alter the annual result more than the standard public registration fee. [S5][S6]
| Housing route | Recurring-cost effect | Move-in cash | Main decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| CROUS room or studio | Usually the lowest listed monthly route | Reservation and residence terms apply | Budget for the price only after an allocation is secured. |
| Shared private flat | Rent is split, but charges may not be fully included | Deposit, first rent and guarantor documents can coincide | Read the lease and charge schedule rather than using rent alone. |
| Private furnished studio | Higher rent, especially in Paris and Île-de-France | Up to two months of rent excluding charges may be requested as a deposit | Check whether the quoted price includes utilities, internet and agency charges. |
| Private unfurnished studio | Monthly rent may exclude more household costs | Deposit ceiling is one month of rent excluding charges, plus setup purchases | Furniture and appliance purchases can shift cash into the arrival month. |
For ordinary residential leases, the deposit ceiling is one month of rent excluding charges for an unfurnished property and two months for a furnished property. [S7]
CAF Reduces Later Housing Cost, Not the Signing-Day Payment
CAF calculates student housing support using factors such as household situation, location, rent and scholarship status. The right starts in the month after move-in, so the first rent month and deposit must be funded without assuming an immediate CAF payment. [S2]
Move-in month
Full cash requirement
Prepare the lease deposit, first rent and setup spending before any later housing-aid reduction.
Later months
Possible net-rent reduction
Treat the amount as case-specific until CAF confirms eligibility and payment details.
A Guarantor Solves Access, Not Affordability
A landlord may ask for a guarantor. Action Logement’s Visale route is open to people aged 30 or under, including students and apprentices, subject to its application and property rules. [S8]
Visale can help a student present an acceptable guarantee, but it does not lower the rent, pay the deposit or replace the monthly budget. Students comparing Paris with regional cities can use a separate Paris-specific student budget to isolate the city premium from the national tuition route.
The First-Year Payment Sequence
1. Admission and immigration file
Confirm the exact tuition category and prepare the required evidence of resources for the applicable visa or residence route.
2. Housing contract
Secure the guarantor route, sign the lease and prepare the deposit plus first rent.
3. CVEC and enrolment
Obtain the CVEC attestation and pay the institution’s registration fee according to its calendar.
4. Arrival and health registration
Start recurring living costs and complete the French health-insurance registration process where applicable.
5. CAF application
Apply after entering the accommodation and keep enough cash for the gap before any first payment.
French Social Security Registration Does Not Add a Student Premium
For international students using the dedicated French health-insurance registration route, enrolment is described as free and mandatory. Optional complementary cover and out-of-pocket health spending remain separate budget choices. [S9]
2026 Calculation Scope
The calculator uses EUR and a 12-month living period. Its monthly estimate combines the selected housing value, city adjustment, food, transport, health allowance, phone and personal spending, then applies the lifestyle multiplier. The annual estimate adds the selected tuition route. The first-year figure adds the arrival allowance configured in the calculator.
The tuition options mirror the principal 2026/2027 public registration routes but do not predict an institution’s exemption decision. The housing values are planning inputs rather than promised rents. CAF is not deducted because eligibility, amount and payment timing depend on the individual claim.
The calculator does not use the immigration resources threshold as a minimum living-cost estimate. For applications submitted from August 1, 2026, the official reference is €877.50 per month; the former €615 amount applies only to applications submitted through July 31, 2026. The threshold concerns proof of resources, while the calculator models expected spending from the selected housing, city, tuition and lifestyle inputs. [S10][S11]
France Student Budget Questions
Is €877.50 per month enough to study in France?
€877.50 per month is the minimum resources reference for student visa applications submitted from August 1, 2026 and for the current student residence route. It is not a statement that every student can cover tuition, rent, deposits and 12 months of living costs with that amount. The previous €615 threshold applies only to visa applications submitted through July 31, 2026. [S1][S10][S11]
Does every non-EU student pay €2,902 or €3,950?
No. Nationality, residence status, degree level, exemptions and the institution’s decision can change the applicable rate. Doctoral students are not subject to differentiated non-EU tuition and pay the national Doctorat registration rate. Use the fee notice issued for the programme.
Can CAF pay the first month of rent?
The housing-aid right starts in the month after move-in. The first rent month and deposit should therefore be available without relying on an immediate payment.
Is CROUS housing always the cheapest route?
Its official listed prices are low, but the useful comparison begins only after a room is allocated. A student without an allocation may need a shared flat, private residence or studio budget.
Does Visale pay the rent for the student?
No. It is a guarantee route for eligible tenants. The student remains responsible for rent and for repaying covered arrears under the scheme’s rules.
Official Sources
- [S1] Service Public — Foreign Student Long-Stay Visa or Residence Permit Applies to: the €877.50 monthly minimum-resources reference for the student residence route, including renewal. Checked: August 27, 2026.
- [S2] CAF — Housing Assistance Questions and Payment Timing Applies to: the month entitlement begins and the factors used for student housing assistance. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S3] Service Public — 2026/2027 Higher-Education Registration Fees Applies to: standard and differentiated national fees, including the €398 Doctorat rate and the rule that differentiated tuition does not apply to doctoral students. Checked: August 27, 2026.
- [S4] Étudiant.gouv — CVEC for the 2026/2027 Academic Year Applies to: the €105 CVEC amount, exemptions and the pre-enrolment attestation. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S5] Service Public — Applying for CROUS Student Accommodation Applies to: the official €200 to €500 monthly CROUS housing range and accommodation types. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S6] Campus France — Student Housing in France Applies to: private single-apartment starting points in Paris and elsewhere in France. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S7] Service Public — Furnished and Unfurnished Rental Rules Applies to: one-month and two-month rental-deposit ceilings excluding charges. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S8] Action Logement — Visale Guarantee Applies to: eligibility for people aged 30 or under, including students and apprentices. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S9] French Health Insurance — International Student Registration Applies to: free and mandatory registration through the international-student route. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S10] France-Visas — Student Campaign and Financial Resources Requirement Applies to: the €877.50 monthly minimum-resources requirement for long-stay student visa applications submitted from August 1, 2026. Checked: August 27, 2026.
- [S11] Campus France — Student Visa Resource Threshold Change from August 1, 2026 Applies to: the €615 threshold for applications submitted through July 31, 2026, the €877.50 threshold from August 1, 2026, and the treatment of later residence-permit renewal under the current threshold. Checked: August 27, 2026.
- [S12] French Ministry of Higher Education — Differentiated Registration Fees FAQ Applies to: the 30% institutional exemption ceiling for 2026/2027 and transitional exemption rules. Checked: August 27, 2026.