The EUROSTUDENT program, established in the 1990s, provides an opportunity to compare living and study conditions in 26 European countries. Its latest edition (2018-2021) allows for the examination of the situation of students in France in relation to those enrolled in other member states, using standardized indicators (Box 1). While the Bologna Conference (1999) laid the groundwork for the harmonization of European higher education systems and prioritized equal access to higher education within this area1, analyses reveal notable differences in the social composition of student populations and study conditions across countries. These disparities (in age structure, housing situation, or financial resources) illustrate national models « linked to distinct welfare state traditions2 ».

These excerpts from the publication EUROSTUDENT VII – Synopsis of Indicators of the 7th EUROSTUDENT program (2018-2021), supplemented by some additional results and references, highlight the situation of students in France. They show that the current model in France is still strongly characterized by the linearity of educational paths—reflected notably in the young age of students—and by family dependency.