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

Who can benefit?

The student loan guaranteed by the State is open to all students, without means-tested conditions and without parental or third-party guarantees.

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

The requirements for applying are as follows:

• be of age;
• be under the age of 28 at the time of taking out the loan;
• be a French national or a national of the European Union or of a Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA);
• be enrolled in an establishment with a view to preparing a competition or a diploma of French higher education (university, business school, engineering school, high school for BTS, etc.).

Amount and duration of the loan

The maximum amount of the loan is €20,000.

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

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 client (some banks refuse the files of external applicants). The Commission decides whether and under what conditions the loan is granted (banks retain discretion in the final choice of beneficiaries in the light of the file submitted by the interested parties in support of their application).

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

Partner banks are:

• general business
• People's Bank
• Savings bank
• Mutual credit
• Industrial and Commercial Credit (ICC)
• Farm Credit
• Postal Bank
• French commercial bank Indian Ocean (BFCOI), mainly in Reunion and Mayotte.

What about the refund?

The repayment schedule is decided with the bank when the loan is taken out. The student's repayment of the entire loan, plus interest, usually begins after the end of the studies. However, it is possible to prepay during your studies.

For complete terms and conditions for the government-guaranteed student loan, see Service-Public.fr's profile.