August 1, 2024
In today's world, financing your studies can be a real challenge for many students. With tuition fees and the cost of living constantly on the rise, it's increasingly important to find sustainable financial solutions for academic success.
Financing your studies without a guarantor is difficult but it is possible. We'll explain everything below (state-guaranteed student loan, student loan with Smarto guarantee, grants)👇🏼
Congratulations, you have just entered a school or started a master's degree! 🏆
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Now you have to find a way to finance your studies. What if your parents can't afford it?
We've been in your situation, we'll give you a hand.
A student loan covers your needs as a student - you can use it to pay for school fees, accommodation, living expenses, transport etc... It's distributed by banks, and interest rates are low (between 2 and 4% in 2024). The banks allow you to repay the loan at the end of your studies (when you have a salary).
‍However,banks do require you to have a guarantor.
A guarantor is a member of your family (often a parent), who has a permanent job in France, is between 30 and 55 years old and does not have too much credit.
In order for your guarantor to be accepted and for you to get the loan, the bank will ask your guarantor:
1. Proof of income
- Last 3 pay slips or tax return if self-employed (if recently hired)
- Pay slip for the previous December
- Last statement of account where salary is paid
- Any necessary proof if other income
- Last IRPP
2. Proof of expenses
- Amortization tables for current loans
- Rent receipts for tenants
- Property tax for owners
The bank will also ask you:
- Proof of schooling (student card, proof of enrolment or school certificate)
- 3 last bank statements
That's a lot of paperwork 🙄
No guarantor, no problem!
By studying, you're investing in your future. At Smarto, we want you to be able to study, and we want to invest alongside you. We only analyze your profile (after all, you're the one making the loan), not that of your guarantor. Smarto is the solution for your student loan without a guarantor.
Smarto replaces your guarantor entirely and allows you to access student loans from banks. Any student (foreign or not) is allowed to have access to a bank loan regardless of their family's financial situation.
We can act as your guarantor. Just check your eligibility: student loan guarantee
In addition to the loans guaranteed by Smarto, there are various other forms of financing available to students, such as specific aid and grants offered by the Crous, including the emergency allowance and international mobility grants, which can be combined with other financing.
The BPI can act as guarantor for your student loan (state-guaranteed student loan), but each year these loans are only available for 2 weeks in June.
The BPI only guarantees loans under €20,000. You can find more information here. Â
These state-guaranteed loans are offered by a number of banks: Société Générale, Crédit Mutuel, CIC, Banque Populaire, Caisse d'Epargne, Crédit Agricole, Banque Postale, BFCOI (Réunion and Mayotte), etc. .
In addition, students can also benefit from a grant based on social criteria, which assesses financial aid according to economic and family situation, offering varying amounts at different levels and benefits such as exemption from tuition fees and priority for student accommodation.
There are also a number of scholarships available to help students, based on many different criteria.
BCS (bourses sur critères sociaux - scholarships based on social criteria) are awarded to young people under the age of 28 when they first apply, and are awarded on the basis of parental income, number of dependent children, distance between home and place of study, diploma and nationality.
To qualify, students must attend classes and exams, and show normal progress in their studies. The amount of the grant varies: it can range from a waiver of tuition fees (€170 for a bachelor's degree) to around €6,335 over 10 months. Additional assistance may be granted, notably for transport costs. Recipients of scholarships based on social criteria have priority for the allocation of CROUS student housing.
Aide au mérite is a financial supplement for BCS scholarship holders who have obtained the "très bien" mention at the baccalauréat, amounting to €900 for prize-winners.
The Erasmus + grant is intended for students who carry out part of their studies in Europe as part of an exchange program between institutions. For more information, please contact your school's international relations department 6 to 12 months in advance. This assistance can be combined with the BCS.
International mobility assistance, worth €400 per month, is available to BCS scholarship holders for study stays abroad lasting between 2 and 9 consecutive months. Students should contact their school's international relations department, which is responsible for selection. This aid is paid by the school and can be combined with merit-based aid.
TheParcoursup mobility grant, worth €500, is aimed at high-school students with grants who change academy when starting higher education. It is paid in a single instalment in September and can be combined with a grant based on social criteria, an annual allowance or a one-off grant, as well as with international mobility aid and merit-based aid.
The specific annual allowance for students in difficulty supports independent young people without parental assistance and excludes those eligible for a social grant. It is paid for 10 months, exempting recipients from tuition fees.
The Talents Scholarships, worth €4,000 for students in the Talents preparatory program and €2,000 for others, are designed for those wishing to prepare for civil service entrance examinations. They are compatible with a BCS and applications can be submitted online until October.
Work-study programs and apprenticeships are ideal ways to finance your studies while gaining valuable professional experience. By combining study with paid work, you can not only cover your tuition fees, but also your living expenses. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the professional world while pursuing your higher education.
Work-study programs offer many advantages for students. Firstly, it allows you to earn money while continuing your studies. Secondly, it gives you the opportunity to develop professional skills and build up a network of contacts in your field. Last but not least, a work-study program can make it much easier for you to find a job after graduation, as you'll already have concrete experience to add to your CV.
There are several ways to secure an apprenticeship contract. You can contact the companies you're interested in directly, or go through agencies that specialize in apprenticeships. University and school websites are also full of apprenticeship offers. Don't hesitate to ask your guidance counselor or internship supervisor for advice and information on available opportunities. With a little perseverance, you're sure to find a company willing to take you on!
Working part-time or freelance can be a great option for financing your studies while gaining work experience. This approach has its advantages, such as improving your time management and developing professional skills, but it can also present challenges, such as managing workload and stress. Â
To unearth job opportunities that suit you, don't hesitate to explore online platforms dedicated to student jobs and take a look at options near your campus. Remember to balance work and study to preserve your mental and physical well-being while maintaining good academic performance. And remember, it's perfectly normal to ask for help if you're struggling to juggle your student life and your job.
Ultimately, student work can be a truly rewarding experience that will enable you to develop valuable skills for your future career.
Some companies offer sponsorship or partnership programs that fund your studies in exchange for a commitment to work for them after graduation. This can be an interesting way to finance your studies while building your career. Don't hesitate to check with companies in your field of study to see if they offer such opportunities.
So it's important to be well prepared and aware of all the options available for financing your studies without a guarantor. Scholarships, state-guaranteed loans or companies like Smarto can be viable solutions. And don't forget to find out about the financial aid available in your region or country of study. All the best! 💪🏼