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Social Diversity and Equal Opportunities: Great News for Grant-Aided Students!

Higher EducationIcam
7 Apr 2026

True to its general-interest mission (EESPIG status) and its Jesuit roots, Icam places equity at the heart of its development project. Starting in September 2026, thanks to the decisive support of the Fondation Feron-Vrau — a publicly recognised foundation — the school will guarantee free tuition for grant-aided students at the highest grant levels, and will double financial support for many other student profiles.

New Fee Scales Coming into Effect for the 2026 Academic Year

For many students, the cost of higher education remains a significant barrier when choosing a school. With this reform, adopted by the Board of Directors on 26 March, Icam aims to remove this obstacle and broaden its talent pool, enabling everyone to choose their course of study based on their ambitions rather than their financial means.

From September 2026, the new fee scales will apply across all French campuses (Lille, Grand Paris Sud, Nantes, Bretagne, Vendée, Toulouse and Strasbourg), regardless of the programme chosen:

  • Free tuition (Grant levels 6 and 7): The combined effort of the Foundation and the campuses now makes it possible to fully waive tuition fees for the most financially disadvantaged students.
  • Doubled support (Grant levels 3, 4 and 5): The Foundation will match the existing campus contribution. For level 3 grant holders, the initial amount of €1,400 is raised to €2,800. For level 4, €1,800 becomes €3,600. For level 5, €2,150 becomes €4,300.
  • Sustained support (Grant levels 0 to 2): The current reduction of €1,200 is maintained to support the broadest possible range of students.

Removing the Financial Barrier to Ensure Equal Opportunities

Driven by the flagship initiative “Social Diversity and Openness”, this significant measure aims to eliminate financial obstacles so that every talented student can pursue their aspirations. The clear objective is to reach 25% of grant-aided students by 2030. At a time when equal opportunities in higher education remain at the centre of public debate, this measure positions Icam as one of the very few engineering schools to go this far in covering tuition fees.

“Our mission is to educate free and responsible women and men, capable of acting in a changing world. That freedom begins with the ability for every talented individual to access our programmes, because no talent should ever have to give up their vocation for financial reasons. By strengthening our longstanding partnership with the Fondation Feron-Vrau, we reaffirm that Icam is a school open to all, where only motivation and personal ambition matter,” says Gilles Vandecaveye, Director General of Icam.

Comprehensive and Lasting Support

“Since 1981, the Fondation Feron-Vrau has worked to ensure that financial means are never an obstacle to excellence. By doubling our support and going all the way to full free tuition, we are changing scale. This sends a strong signal to families: we listen to people and we give ourselves the concrete means to achieve our ambition of social diversity,” adds Philippe Guirriec, Secretary General of the Fondation Feron-Vrau.

Beyond the enhanced grants, the Fondation Feron-Vrau also continues to offer interest-free honour loans. This trust-based scheme has already supported more than 3,000 students since its creation, completing a solidarity framework that secures each student’s journey from admission through to their first job.