If you’re planning to study in France, whether at a university, a grande école, or another higher education institution, you’ll encounter the CVEC: the Contribution de Vie Étudiante et de Campus, or Student and Campus Life Contribution. It is a mandatory step in your enrollment process, and you cannot register at your institution without it.
This guide covers exactly what the CVEC is, who pays it, who is exempt, how to pay it, and what happens to the money.
Key Takeaways
- The CVEC costs €105 for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years and must be completed before you can register at a French higher education institution.
- It applies to all students enrolled in an initial training program (formation initiale) at a French higher education institution, regardless of nationality.
- Four categories of students are exempt from paying but still need to obtain a free attestation through the same online process.
- Some students are not subject to the CVEC at all (BTS, DMA, accounting programs in lycées, continuing education students, and exchange students) and do not need to take any action.
- Payment can be made online at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr
What is the CVEC?
The CVEC is a mandatory annual contribution that every student enrolled in initial higher education in France must settle before registering at their institution.
The CVEC was introduced in March 2018 as part of the law on “Student Orientation and Success” (Loi ORE). Its purpose is to improve student services in the areas of social support, health, culture, sport, and campus life.
The contribution is collected by the CROUS (Centre Régional des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires), the French national student welfare network. It is entirely separate from other requirements such as the French medical insurance system (Sécurité Sociale).
Who is required to pay the CVEC?
The CVEC applies to French and foreign students enrolling in a degree program in a public or private institution of higher education in France.
This includes:
- Students enrolling in classes preparing for admission to a Grande École (classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles, CPGE)
- Students in dual degree programs
- Students in apprenticeship contracts (which fall under initial education)
If you are enrolling in multiple programs in the same academic year, you only pay the CVEC once, for your first enrollment.
Who is NOT subject to the CVEC?
Certain categories of students are not subject to the CVEC at all and do not need to take any action or provide any attestation to their institution.
According to the official government guidelines, the following students are fully exempt from the process:
- Students enrolled in technical certificate programs (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur, BTS), undergraduate art degree programs (Diplôme des Métiers d’Art, DMA), and postsecondary accounting programs offered in a secondary school (Lycée)
- Students in continuing education programs paid for by an employer (including professional qualification contracts)
- Exchange students in France as part of an agreement between their home institution abroad and a host institution in France (such as Erasmus+ programmes)
If you fall into one of these categories, you do not need to visit the CVEC website or submit anything to your institution.
Who is exempt from paying the CVEC but still needs an attestation?
Some students are exempt from paying the €105 fee but are still required to go through the CVEC process and obtain a free attestation to present at enrollment.
The four categories exempt from payment are:
- CROUS scholarship holders: Students receiving need-based scholarships managed by CROUS, students receiving French government scholarships, and students financed by one of France’s regions for paramedical, health, and social programs
- Refugee students: Students who have been officially recognized as refugees in France
- Students with subsidiary protection: Students who have been granted subsidiary protection by the French state
- Asylum seekers with the right to remain: Students registered as asylum seekers who legally have the right to stay in France
The following are specifically NOT exempt from the fee:
- Students receiving foreign government scholarships
- Students receiving grants from private organizations, such as a foundation
How much does the CVEC cost?
The CVEC is €105 for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years.
The fee is assessed once per academic year. If you enroll in more than one program in the same year, you pay only once.
How do you pay the CVEC?
The CVEC can be paid online.
You must first create an account on the student services portal before going to the CVEC website.
What do you do with your CVEC attestation?
You must present your attestation to your school at the time of enrollment.
- If you are enrolling online, you will typically be asked to enter your attestation number directly into the registration system.
- If you are enrolling in person, you must bring your attestation, either on your smartphone or printed, depending on your institution’s requirements.
This applies whether you paid the fee or received an exemption. Both result in the same attestation document.
What does the CVEC fund?
The CVEC finances student support services across five areas: social support, health, culture, sport, and student initiatives and campus welcome.
According to 2023 survey data from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the funds are distributed as follows:
- Welcome and campus integration: 25%
- Health: 21%
- Sport: 17%
- Social support: 14%
- Culture: 13%
- Student initiatives: 10%
In practical terms, this means the CVEC funds things like on-campus health centres, prevention programmes around contraception and STI screening, social assistant teams, student associations, concerts, exhibitions, cultural workshops, and year-round sports activities.
Read more about student services funded through the CVEC
If you want to learn more about student life in France, visit our Go! Go! France blog.
