From May 4, every enrolled student, including undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral candidates and some recognised volunteers, can access the one euro meals at university canteens run by the Crous network. The usual price of a standard meal in these canteens is 3.30 euros, meaning the state subsidises most of the cost.
For one euro, students receive a three course meal, typically including a starter, main course and dessert. French authorities say the measure is designed to support students struggling with inflation, high rents and rising food prices.
A student union survey cited by officials found that almost half of students had skipped meals for financial reasons, with nearly a quarter doing so several times a month. In 2024, around 667,000 students benefited from the one euro scheme when it was still restricted, with about 46.7 million meals served at both the reduced and full price.
Higher Education Minister Philippe Batiste described the new universal access as a small internal revolution for student welfare. He announced that the government has earmarked around 120 million euros in the 2027 budget to support the programme and cope with an expected rise in demand.
The one euro meal policy builds on earlier emergency measures introduced during the COVID 19 pandemic, when President Emmanuel Macron first promised heavily subsidised meals to help students through lockdown and economic disruption. Student unions have welcomed the expansion but some say more funding is still needed to ensure canteens can maintain food quality and staffing levels as more students use the service.
France has launched a nationwide scheme allowing all university students to buy full meals in campus canteens for just one euro in a bid to ease financial hardship. The move extends an earlier policy that limited the discounted price to low income and grant holding students.
From May 4, every enrolled student, including undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral candidates and some recognised volunteers, can access the one euro meals at university canteens run by the Crous network. The usual price of a standard meal in these canteens is 3.30 euros, meaning the state subsidises most of the cost.
For one euro, students receive a three course meal, typically including a starter, main course and dessert. French authorities say the measure is designed to support students struggling with inflation, high rents and rising food prices.
A student union survey cited by officials found that almost half of students had skipped meals for financial reasons, with nearly a quarter doing so several times a month. In 2024, around 667,000 students benefited from the one euro scheme when it was still restricted, with about 46.7 million meals served at both the reduced and full price.
Higher Education Minister Philippe Batiste described the new universal access as a small internal revolution for student welfare. He announced that the government has earmarked around 120 million euros in the 2027 budget to support the programme and cope with an expected rise in demand.
The one euro meal policy builds on earlier emergency measures introduced during the COVID 19 pandemic, when President Emmanuel Macron first promised heavily subsidised meals to help students through lockdown and economic disruption. Student unions have welcomed the expansion but some say more funding is still needed to ensure canteens can maintain food quality and staffing levels as more students use the service.
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