Moroccan students in France face increased costs as housing aid ends

This decision, outlined in Decree No. 2026-552 of June 27, 2026, restricts APL access to non-EU students who meet the eligibility criteria for higher education scholarships based on social factors. Moroccan students, as non-EU nationals, are directly affected. Those not receiving scholarships will lose this financial support unless they are enrolled in work-study programs or are employed alongside their studies.

The French Ministry of Housing states that even one hour of work per week can maintain eligibility. The French government anticipates saving nearly 200 million euros annually from this reform. Housing Minister Vincent Jeanbrun asserts the reform is driven by "fiscal and financial justice" rather than migratory concerns, aiming to reserve benefits for students meeting social scholarship criteria.

However, French student organizations and housing advocacy groups, including the Housing Foundation, are not convinced, warning that the reform could worsen the financial precarity of international students. They note that in 2023, international students were three times more likely than French students to rely on food aid. The APL cut represents a monthly loss of 150 to 250 euros, a significant blow as it was one of the few financial supports available to non-scholarsh