French university canteens began offering €1 meals to all students regardless of income on Monday, May 4th in a measure designed to address financial hardship.
The measure, which took effect immediately, allows students to purchase a full three-course meal—including a starter, main dish, and dessert—for just €1, down from the standard price of €3.30. Previously, the discounted rate was limited to students from low-income backgrounds or those receiving financial aid.
The policy follows sustained pressure from student organisations calling for wider access to affordable meals amid rising living costs. Officials say the expansion is intended to ensure equal access to basic nutrition for all university students, regardless of income level.
For many students, the change will significantly reduce monthly expenses. One student in Paris, 18-year-old Alexandre Ioannides, said he regularly eats at the university canteen:
I come here 20 times a month. That’s about €60. Whereas now, I’ll pay €20.
He added that the savings would go towards social activities such as going out or eating in restaurants.
The programme is backed by government funding and forms part of a wider social policy response to student hardship. A recent survey by a student union found that 48% of students had gone without food for financial reasons, while 23% reported skipping meals several times a month.
The scheme already reached around 667,000 students in 2024, with tens of millions of meals served annually through university restaurant operator Crous. Demand is expected to rise further following the expansion.
Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste said the government would allocate €120 million in 2027 to support the programme, describing it as “a small internal revolution,”
