This measure has long been awaited by student organizations, and it is finally in effect. Since May 4, 2026, all students enrolled in higher education can eat at a university restaurant (CROUS) for just 1 euro per meal. A major social advancement that affects several million young people in France.

Who can benefit from the 1-euro meal?

Unlike before, when the 1-euro social rate was reserved for the most modest scholarship students, the measure is now universal. Eligible individuals include:

• All students holding a student card, whether scholarship recipients or not
• Apprentices and work-study students with a professional student card
• PhD students currently completing their thesis
• Civic service volunteers

The condition is simple: hold an active Izly account, the contactless payment card from CROUS that verifies student status. Each student may only take one 1-euro meal per service.

What exactly does this meal consist of?

For 1 euro, the student receives a full meal comprising:

• A hot main course (meat, fish, or vegetarian alternative)
• Up to two additional sides: starter, cheese, dessert, fruit, or yogurt

Paid extras remain available (drinks, additional dish), with prices varying by CROUS location. The basic offer nonetheless guarantees a balanced and nutritious meal in line with nutritional recommendations.

"It's not a cheap meal. It's a real hot meal, with protein, vegetables, and a dessert. For 1 euro, you eat well", says Camille, a second-year undergraduate student in Créteil, interviewed by Citoyens.com.

How to benefit in practice?

The process is straightforward:

1. Make sure you have or create an Izly account (free registration at izly.fr)
2. Head to one of the CROUS university restaurants in your city or on your campus
3. Present your student card or Izly app at the time of payment
4. Enjoy your 1-euro meal!

The CROUS network includes more than 800 dining facilities spread across the entire country, including traditional university restaurants as well as cafeterias, brasseries, and express food points on campuses.

A significant financial commitment by the State

This universalization of the 1-euro meal represents a significant budgetary effort. The State has unlocked a budget of 50 million euros for 2026, and plans to allocate an additional 120 million euros starting in 2027 to sustain and expand the program.

Before this reform, CROUS offered three pricing levels: the 1-euro meal for the most modest scholarship students (brackets 5 to 7), a 3.30-euro meal for other scholarship recipients, and a price of around 5 euros for non-scholarship students. The generalization to 1 euro eliminates these distinctions and considerably simplifies access to university dining.

A popular measure, but one that raises questions

While the reception is overwhelmingly positive among students, the measure does raise some concerns.

Longer queues

With the influx of new users — students who rarely or never visited CROUS due to financial constraints or habit — university restaurants are experiencing a significant increase in attendance. On some campuses, waiting times have noticeably increased, requiring an adaptation of service capacity.

Quality and sustainability in question

Some CROUS managers have expressed concerns about pressure on supply chains and the ability to maintain meal quality at this price. Student associations, for their part, are watching to ensure that accessibility does not come at the expense of nutritional quality or the origin of food products.

A social window to identify students in difficulty

On a more positive note, some stakeholders see in the universalization of the 1-euro meal an opportunity to identify students in precarious situations. By rubbing shoulders with all their peers in university restaurants, social workers and CROUS advisors can more easily spot those who need additional support.

A strong signal in the fight against student poverty

Student poverty is a well-documented phenomenon in France. According to several recent studies, nearly one in five students reports having skipped meals due to lack of money during the academic year. The cost-of-living crisis, soaring rents in major cities, and the difficulty of balancing part-time jobs with studies had exacerbated this reality in recent years.

The universal 1-euro meal is therefore much more than a symbolic gesture. It is a food safety net that ensures no student goes hungry for lack of money. For a monthly budget already tight between rent, transport, and supplies, saving 80 to 120 euros per month on food represents real relief.

The measure is part of a broader European trend: several countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian nations have long offered similar schemes, often even more generous. France is catching up in terms of student welfare support.

What it changes in everyday life

Beyond the figures, it is in students' daily lives that the impact is most felt. Being able to gather around a hot meal with classmates, without worrying about the cost, also fosters social bonds and campus life. University restaurants are once again becoming what they have always been in their original purpose: spaces of encounter and conviviality, accessible to all, regardless of income.

For international students, often faced with difficulties accessing French social benefits, the 1-euro meal is also a concrete step forward, as it requires no scholarship file or proof of income.

So, if you are a student and haven't yet activated your Izly account, now is the time. A hot, complete meal for 1 euro — an opportunity to seize every lunchtime.