16 student life: students' financial and economic situation

In 2013, two-thirds of students were at least partially dependent on their parents. For 40% of students, assistance from parents represents over half of their funds. At the same time, more than half of students say they are experiencing financial difficulties.

In general, income from work, assistance from families and public grants constitute students' main funds: for three-quarters of students, these three sources represent at least 75% of their financial resources.

Carrying out paid work significantly increases students' resources. Those in paid work during the academic year have the highest financial resources, with an average monthly budget of €750 compared to €533 for those not in work (table 16.01). With regard to accommodation, the financial resources of students not living at home are nearly two times greater than those of students living at home (€750 for the first and €376 for the second). This difference can be explained by the fact that students not living at home have to pay rent (€426 per month on average) and, in order to do this, are slightly more likely to undertake paid work and receive more family assistance than students living at home. Finally, the amount of resources also varies according to whether the students receive a grant or not, with a differential of €100 more for non-grant funded students, who get a large share of their resources from employment income (€640 on average compared to €315 for grant-funded students).

Being in receipt of various financial resources, even if significant in some cases, does not necessarily signify financial independence. Only one-third of students do not receive any financial assistance from parents (chart 16.02) and, for 40%, at least half of their resources come from parents. In addition, a little over half of students regularly receive non-material assistance and a quarter do not receive any assistance (table 16.03). However, the share of resources from parental assistance and non-material assistance falls when they live outside the home: 9% of students not living at home do not receive any financial assistance or non-material assistance, compared to 3% of students living at home.

Furthermore, a significant proportion of students say they have encountered financial difficulties: half of students said that they have had to economise at least once since the academic year began, a third said they had had at least one bank overdraft, and a quarter said they had requested exceptional assistance from their family (chart 16.04). Although these difficulties increase with the students' age, this increase is not constant with older students, as the proportion of students saying they had encountered difficulties falls from the age of 25. This curved development can be explained by the particular position of 23-25 year olds in the process of independence: below this age category, students still receive family protection; beyond this, students are at an advanced stage in their transition towards residential and economic independence. The transition between these two situations results in a risk of temporary financial precariousness among 23-25 year olds.

Feres Belghith & Odile Ferry