All you need to know about Luxembourg's grants for higher education

The Ministry of Research and Higher Education offers state financial aid for higher education, allowing students to pursue their studies regardless of their family's financial situation. Here's all you need to know.

Formerly known as CEDIES but now called AideFi, the package allows students to apply for both a grant and loan. AideFi is paid in two semi-annual installments, the winter semester and the summer semester. (Editor's note: The package used to be much higher several decades ago as the loan was a grant too...oh well, good times!)

To be eligible for AideFi, your study programme must be a higher education programme and award a higher education diploma, qualification or degree. Vocational training programmes are also accepted abroad if you have been authorised by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth to pursue vocational training in another country.

In this article we'll explain how the grant and loan works, what the criteria are, and where to apply. There's also a link to the AideFi amount simulator. But don't worry, the entire procedure is very efficient and straightforward.

Important sidenote: Students coming to study in Luxembourg should apply for financial aid in their home country first. The outcome of this application will then determine whether they can apply for AideFi.

The grant explained in detail

AideFi is paid in 2 semi-annual instalments per academic year. The winter semester begins on 1 August and ends on 31 January; the summer semester begins on 1 February and ends on 31 July.

Let's unpack the AideFi grant modules in more detail.

The grant consists of four blocks: The basic grant, the social grant, the mobility grant, and the family grant.

Basic grant: This is always awarded to students who are eligible for financial aid. The amount consists of €1.228 per academic semester.

Social grant: This is based on the income of the household to which the student belongs, which can be parents, a spouse/partner or student and spouse/partner. The maximum amount is €2.379 per semester. Applicants will have to hand in income reports of the household in order for the state to determine whether they are eligible or not. If yes, the calculated amount is added to the basic grant.

Mobility grant: This is offered to students who are pursuing their studies outside the country of residence of the household they are part of and pay rent in the study country. This package consists of €1.528 per semester.

Family grant: This is offered to students who belong to a household in which one or more children are eligible for the AideFi. The family grant amounts to 294€ per semester and is paid in a single installment during the summer semester.

Simulate your AideFi grant with this calculator

The amount of the AideFi is supplemented by the amount of the enrolment fees up to a maximum of €3.800, made up of 50% grant and 50% in the form of a student loan (if applied for). For example, for €800 in enrolment fees, €800 is added to the AideFi: €400 as a grant and €400 as a loan. For €9.000 in enrolment fees, €3.800 is added to the AideFi: €1.900 as a grant and €1.900 as a loan.

The grant is allowed for the scheduled length of the programme + 2 additional semesters. This means that students can change to another study programme during the initial semesters, or repeat 1 or 2 semesters without losing their AideFi. If you quit your studies and start another programme (or do a second degree), you can reapply for support.

You can not receive two grants from two countries, for example AideFi combined with BAföG in Germany, Crous in France or "allocations d'études" in Belgium.

The loan explained in detail

The student loan is composed of a basic loan of €3.250 and, depending on your situation, an additional increase based on social criteria and tuition fees.

The student loan can be taken at one of the banks contracted with the Luxembourg state, for which the student must hold a bank account. These include Spuerkees (BCEE), Banque de Luxembourg, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL), Banque Raiffeisen, or BGL BNP Paribas.

The student loan is a state-backed loan with a maximum interest rate of 2%, which starts accruing from the moment it is made available.

The repayment of the student loan must start no later than 2 years after having finished or stopped studying. The maximum repayment term is 10 years. For students having difficulty repaying their loan, a special request can be made to their bank, which is then analysed by an advisory committee to see whether it will be granted beyond the usual 10-year period.

Application procedures

AideFi applications must be submitted for each semester, even if the student has enrolled with the educational institution for a full year. An application form is published online on MyGuichet and must be submitted by 30 November for the winter semester and 30 April for the summer semester.

The application deadlines are strict, however it is possible to submit your application without having all the required supporting documents beforehand. You can then submit your missing documents later. For example, students are asked to send proof of enrolment at the higher education institute, a scan of their report card, proof of renting a room or apartment abroad etc.

But missing these deadlines completely without any application will result in no financial support. So make sure you have these dates marked in your calendar! Student life ain't cheap.

Other questions

There is a great FAQ on mengstudien.lu, but here are some common frequently asked questions.

Can AideFi be refused based on poor study performance? Yes. The AideFi may be refused if the student does not show any progress in their studies. In the second year, students must have obtained at least 60 ECTS credits or have obtained at least 30 ECTS credits after the second year if the student changed to another study programme. In other words, they must pass the year to be granted a grant or loan.

Can I work on the side? Sort of. Income from student jobs limited to a maximum of 10 hours per week and student jobs during school holidays are not taken into account for calculating the grant based on social criteria. Students whose total annual income exceeds the social minimum wage for unskilled workers may only receive the AideFi in the form of a loan.
Students whose total annual income exceeds 3.5 times the social minimum wage for unskilled workers are not eligible for the AideFi.

Are there additional measures for students with disabilities? Yes. A student with a disability who is facing high expenses can obtain an annual increase in financial aid of €1.000 in grant and €1.000 in student loan. If normal study progress is hindered because of the disability, an extension for aid can also be requested.

University of Luxembourg: Extra support schemes

For University of Luxembourg students, various forms of financial support are available from the university itself. These include both general and faculty-specific scholarships for outstanding students. There is also a student hardship fund to help students who are experiencing financial difficulties.

For a list of private grants, see here.

For more information on this subject, download an English PDF brochure, read all about AideFi on MyGuichet, see the list of eligible study courses, and another detailed breakdown on mengstudien.lu.