Faced with the precariousness of students, higher education will allow young people to access the labor market in the best conditions that if it promotes their autonomy with a guarantee of their income during their studies and at the start of their career.
The problem
The massification of higher education has led to an elevation of the general level of education. However, we observe a persistence of Neets (Not in Education, employment or training), that is to say young people neither in employment, nor in studies, nor in training (gas, 2023). A diploma in higher education very strongly reduces the risks of unemployment and offers higher average remuneration levels (Fack and Huillery, 2022 ; CEREQ, 2023). However, the conditions of access to higher education for the less favored have deteriorated. Their purchasing power has dropped, due to an insufficient revaluation of the scholarships (Lutzky, 2023 ; Fourré, 2024) while part of the student housing aid was absorbed by private donors (Grislain-Letrémy and Trevien, 2022, 2023).
Learning, on the other hand, has largely developed (Coquet, 2023), which reflects a very important public aid system, but also a need for secure income for many students who do not find sufficient support in current devices to finance their studies. However, the current system benefits more particularly from students in higher education (+78% between 2020 and 2022 – Thao Khamsing, 2024) where children in the upper classes are over -represented. For poor households and average pressure classes (Courtioux, 2023), it is not easy to support their children during studies, while student work, especially when it is greater than 4 p.m. weekly, strongly compromises the success of studies (Body et al., 2017).
Set up an income guarantee for decohabitant students which brings together the various aid mechanisms during studies. The guaranteed income level would correspond to the poverty line, or around 1,200 euros per month (INSEE, 2024).
The guarantee would be made up of a scholarship and a contingent loan. The share of the scholarship in the guarantee would take into account the difficulties of the students. The student loan would be contingent to income, that is to say that it would be reimbursed according to the income actually obtained during the career once studies are completed (as in Germany or Sweden).
How does it work ?
To have access to this income guarantee, it would be necessary to apply for the Cous (National Center for University and School Works), as currently for a scholarship request. The family’s income would determine the conditions for this guarantee. For the most disadvantaged students (currently level 7, or 8.5% of scholarship holders according to the ministry’s assessments – thicket 2023), 100% of this guarantee would be made up of a scholarship. The share of the scholarship in the warranty would be decreasing with family revenues and could for example reach 23% of the warranty for the level of the current 0bis level (of which 32.1% of scholarship holders benefit – thicket 2023).
To activate the loan of his warranty, the student would request it to Cous who would pay money to his account. Reimbursement of the loan would begin once the studies are completed. The annuities would only be paid if the individual receives an income and this income is higher than a certain threshold.
On what research work is the proposal founded ?
The available research shows that in France, it is difficult to reconcile higher education and employment (Body et al., 2017 ; Béduwé et al., 2018 ; Berthaud and Giret, 2022). In addition, several works show that aid has positive effects on the registration and the pursuit of studies, leading ultimately to economic gains and higher tax revenue (Fack and Grenet, 2015). Analyzes in international comparison on contingent reimbursement loans have shown that these devices had been introduced in several countries to cover the lifestyles and/or in addition to scholarships (Charles, 2012 ; Courtioux, 2015).
How to implement ?
Implementing this proposal would need to develop the current system of student scholarships by adopting a decreasing system of more readable family income than a system of levels, which can be supplemented by a state of state loan. It would also be a question of expanding the functions of Cous. The reimbursement of contingent loans would require relying on the tax administration and the collection of income tax.