Scholarships and grants

As a student at the Conservatoire, you can benefit from various forms of aid to help support your studies or projects. No application will be processed without registration at the Conservatoire.

State grants

Crous social grant (Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires)

Crous social grants are mainly awarded to French students, but they also cover :

Students who are nationals of a European Union or European Economic Area country and have been living in France for at least 1 year
Students (from outside the European Union) who have been living in France for at least 2 years and hold a temporary residence permit or a resident's permit, and whose tax household - parent or legal guardian - has been located in France for at least 2 years.

To apply, fill in a student social file online: www.crous-paris.fr

The main criterion for calculating the grant is based on the tax assessment from previous years (the distance between the school and the place of residence is also taken into account).

Student social file guide

This grant entitles you to exemption from tuition fees.

Notice of tax assessment (from the taxpayer's household) :

In France, everyone must declare their income through a tax return. This is compulsory, even if you don't have to pay any tax (one out of every two tax returns results in 0€ tax or a refund). As soon as your parents no longer declare you as part of their tax household, you must file a tax return yourself. Having your own tax return can help you obtain a Crous scholarship.
However, please note that the Crous requires tax returns for the year preceding your scholarship application.

For foreign students, if you have been living in France for more than 6 months, it is also compulsory to apply, even if you are financially supported by your parents or if you are not taxable. You must wait two tax years before applying for a Crous grant.

For your first declaration, you must first request the creation of your tax number: https://www.impots.gouv.fr/portail/contacts?778

FNAUAC scholarship

The Fonds national d'aide d'urgence annuelle culture (FNAUAC) provides annual emergency assistance to students who are in permanent financial difficulty, as certified by the head of their school and the social services of the Centres régionaux des œuvres universitaires et scolaires (Crous), but who are not eligible for a grant based on social criteria because they do not meet at least one of the conditions imposed by the regulations.

To be eligible for annual emergency assistance, students must be under 35 years of age on October¹ of the year of higher education for which assistance is requested. This limited assistance is reserved exclusively for students in special, critical situations.

Annual emergency assistance cannot be combined with a grant based on social criteria (Crous grant). The amount of annual emergency aid offered is equivalent to a rate of social grants, and this aid is counted as a grant entitlement.
There are two FNAUAC scholarship campaigns a year: one in November and the second in February.

French government scholarships

French government scholarships for students are mainly awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They are mainly aimed at post-graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Applicants are selected on academic rather than social criteria.

To find out about scholarships available in your country, contact the Cooperation and Cultural Action Department of the French Embassy in your country. Applications must be made in September/October of the year preceding your departure.
You'll also find a complete list of scholarships classified by country on this site:
https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/bourses-etudiants-etrangers

Student Housing Assistance (A.I.L.E)

To help students with Crous grants who are unable to gain access to a social student residence and need to find an apartment in the private sector, the City of Paris offers AILE, a lump-sum grant of €900. This benefit is designed to help students meet the costs inherent in moving in, such as the purchase of household appliances, furniture, etc.
Further information: http://www.paris.fr/aile

Private assistance

What is private financial support?

These are grants funded by sponsors (donors, foundations, companies, institutions) who choose to support students at the Paris Conservatoire through donations.
They are distinct from public financial support (such as CROUS grants).

What is private financial support used for?

Private financial support meets various needs:

Study grants: these help cover the costs of daily living (accommodation, transport, food, etc.).
Project grants: these help to fund a project related to studies or career development (purchase of an instrument or equipment, mobility, advanced training, etc.).
Emergency grants: these provide one-time financial support to help students cope with unexpected hardship or unforeseen personal circumstances.

Do these grants replace state funding?

No. They are in addition Private financial support complements existing sources of support (family assistance, state funding or other schemes).

Who is eligible?

You can apply if you are enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire.
Eligibility criteria vary depending on the grant (financial circumstances, academic background, discipline, etc.).
Each scheme sets out its own eligibility requirements.
Private grants may, depending on the circumstances, be combined with one another and with public grants.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted online through your digital learning environment (ENT), under the ‘Private Grants’ section.
Application rounds are announced by email. Some scholarships or specific calls for applications may be communicated exclusively through this channel.
An application form must be completed online, accompanied by the required supporting documents.

How is financial support allocated?

Financial support is allocated by an internal committee at the Conservatoire, which assesses each application according to the criteria established for the relevant funding scheme.
Allocation committees generally include members of the Conservatoire's management, heads of academic departments, the head of sponsorship and the private funding coordinator. Depending on the funding scheme, a representative of the partner sponsor may also participate.

How much financial aid is available?

The amounts vary depending on the funding scheme, your individual circumstances, the number of applications received and the funds available.
Each award is determined on a case-by-case basis by the committee.

When are grants paid out?

When you submit your application, you will be informed of the date of the awards committee meeting.
The private grants office will notify you of the outcome of your application within 72 hours of the committee meeting.
You can check the status of your application at any time on your ENT, under the ‘My private grant applications’ section.
The grant is paid by bank transfer into your personal bank account. Payment is usually made within approximately 15 days of notification of award.
Some project grants may be paid in one or more instalments and may be subject to the successful completion of the project, with supporting documentation required.
Upon notification, the private grants office will inform you of the fund providing your grant and, where applicable, the associated conditions for recognition (concert, meeting, letter of thanks, etc.).

Is private funding taxable?

Grants awarded on the basis of means are exempt from income tax and do not need to be declared, subject to the tax regulations in force.
However, if the funding relates to an activity (doctoral grant, employment, assignment, contract), it may be reclassified as taxable income.

Why does the Conservatoire offer this financial support?

The Conservatoire is committed to ensuring that all students can pursue their studies under the best possible conditions, regardless of their financial circumstances, and to supporting the success of their artistic education and professional development.

Is there any expectation in return for receiving private funding?

Private funding is based on a relationship of trust between you, the Conservatoire and the patrons who make these awards possible.
In this context, you may occasionally be asked to take part in activities to express gratitude or raise awareness (attending a concert, taking part in a meeting, giving a testimonial, contributing to promotional materials, etc.).
These requests are designed to remain compatible with the demands of your studies.
Your involvement in these activities helps to maintain this relationship of trust and plays an important role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of these funding opportunities.

Is it possible to submit multiple applications for private grants?

Yes. You can apply for study grants, project grants, and emergency grants. You may submit several applications during the same academic year and throughout your studies at the Conservatoire (each academic year).
It is also possible to submit multiple applications for the same project (for example, to help finance the purchase of an expensive instrument).