Aid for studies

How do I apply for a government-guaranteed student loan?

Publié le 15 avril 2023 - Mise à jour le 28 juillet 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are a student and you need to borrow to finance your studies? The state-guaranteed student loan allows you to borrow to finance expenses related to student life (tuition fees, computer equipment, etc.) without having to provide the bank with a relative's guarantee or proof of income. Find out how this loan works with Service-Public.fr.

Who can benefit from it?

The student loan guaranteed by the State is open to all students, without means test and without parental or third party guarantee.

It's a consumer loan. Insurance is not mandatory for this type of loan.

The requirements for applying are as follows:

  • be of full age;
  • be of under 28 (or be an emancipated minor) at the time of taking out the loan;
  • be a French national or a national of the European Union or a Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA);
  • be enrolled in an institution for the preparation of a certification, competition or diploma of French higher education (university, business school, engineering school, high school for BTS, etc.).

Amount and duration of the loan

The maximum loan amount is €20,000.

The term of the loan is defined by the granting bank: it is a minimum of 2 years and may not exceed 10 years.

A deferred refund may be provided upon signature of the contract:

  • in the context of a partial deductible: the principal of the loan is to be repaid at the period provided for in the contract (generally at the end of the studies). Only interest is paid in the first instance;
  • in the context of a total deductible: the repayment of the principal and interest is made during the period provided for at the signing of the contract (generally at the end of the studies).

Please note

The student loan guaranteed by the State is not a zero-interest loan, you will have to repay interest at a rate set directly by the bank granting the loan.

The borrowing rate is freely set by each financial institution. It may vary depending on the type of studies pursued and the type of reimbursement chosen. The bank takes into account the student's professional project, course of study and level of education before granting the loan.

Terms and conditions for taking out the loan

To qualify for the student loan, you must identify a bank that has signed an agreement with the public investment bank (BPI).

You can apply for the loan from one of these banks even if you are not a customer (some banks refuse the files of external applicants). The Commission decides whether to grant the loan and under what conditions.

You will then have to send the chosen bank a pre-eligibility certificate, to be requested on the dedicated platform.

The partner banks are:

  • Postal Bank
  • French Commercial Bank Indian Ocean (BFCOI), mainly in Reunion and Mayotte
  • Industrial and Commercial Credit (CIC)
  • Mutual credit
  • General business

What about the refund?

The repayment schedule is decided with the bank at the time of taking out the loan. The student's repayment of the loan in full, plus interest, usually begins at the end of the studies. However, it is possible to pay in advance during your studies.

FYI  

The State guarantees each contractor 70 per cent of the total amount of the loan, excluding interest. The remaining 30% is covered by the banks.

An application for a loan may be refused by the bank if it considers that the applicant will not be able to repay it, even with the guarantee of the State.

For the full terms and conditions of the government-guaranteed student loan, see the Service-Public.fr : State-guaranteed student loan.

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