France opens up €1 meals to all university students

A scheme offering €1 meals at French universities has been expanded to include all students. 

The measure came into force today (May 4) and allows all enrolled students (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral candidates, and certain volunteers) to eat at university-run canteens under the Crous banner for €1. 

Previously, the €1 meal rate was only available for bursary students from low-income households, with others having to pay €3.30. 

Available once per sitting per student (lunch and dinner) the meal consists of a main and up to two sides – starter, cheese, dessert, or fruit. 

Meals vary but mains usually consist of a meat/fish option as well as a vegetarian choice. 

Crous restaurants are found in and near student campuses in major university towns and cities.

Implementing the reduced fees was a major ambition of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu during negotiations for the 2026 budget.

Healthy meals for low prices

Students are generally enthused about the new offering, believing it will help them eat better food with more regularity. 

“It makes a huge difference. When I lost my grant I went to the university restaurant less often. I reduced the amount of food I ate,” said student Anaïs to FranceInfo. 

France’s university education system differs from the UK, in that fees are low (usually only a few hundred euros per year alongside registration fees) with financial assistance limited to those who obtain scholarships or bursaries. 

In the UK annual fees are much higher, but would-be students have access to loans covering both the cost of their tuition as well as housing/living costs.

The lower funding in France means many students tend to live at home during their higher education studies – going to a university local to them – whereas the culture in the UK and the US is often to move to a new location to study, living in halls on-campus or in a house share.

Unions urge more funding

However, unions are warning that the new measure is not sufficiently funded. 

The government has offered an extra €50 million to Crous to fund the move. 

Around €35 million of this is to directly compensate for a loss of earnings from lowering prices, with the rest being split between:

• Installing new equipment (ovens, fans, etc) in Crous kitchens to make more meals

• Recruiting new staff (more than 200 people have already been hired)

• Organising new contracts with catering companies

Take up of the meal is expected to increase by around 12.5% per sitting, putting a logistical strain on establishments that are already very popular due to their meals being cheaper than other alternatives.

“The queue is already long… I like the idea [of the €1 meal], but I don't think it's going to work out well,” said Amélie, a student who already benefits from the deal.

University unions say the earmarked funding needs to be increased tenfold to ensure the scheme rolls out in the best conditions.