Experts in France are suggesting a significant rise in university registration fees as a way to address the long-standing issue of underfunding in higher education. At a recent conference on higher education funding, they proposed increasing the annual fees for bachelor's degrees from 178 euros to 900 euros, and for master's degrees from 254 euros to 1,300 euros. Jérôme Fournel, a financial inspector general and former chief of staff to former Prime Minister Michel Barnier, emphasized that the increase should be paired with exemptions for students receiving scholarships and a state-backed loan system. Fournel clarified that the proposal is not about changing the overall funding model but rather about starting a public discussion on the issue without making it a sensitive or controversial topic. According to the report, a moderate increase in fees—aiming to reach 10% of university resources—could help ensure the financial stability of universities, which currently rely on only 3% from registration fees. This proposal has recently been supported by a Senate investigation committee. Laurence Garnier, a member of the Les Républicains party and the committee's rapporteur, stated the goal is to help French universities regain their excellence. She noted that public universities now enroll 54% of students, down from 60% eight years ago, indicating a growing shift toward private education. This trend has led many students to opt for private training programs, which can be very expensive and sometimes offer diplomas of lower quality. Garnier sees the proposed fee increase as a necessary step to reverse this decline and restore the prestige of the public university system. Student unions, however, strongly oppose the proposed increase, calling it a dangerous threshold. They argue that raising tuition fees could further worsen the financial struggles of students. Sabrina Kharbach, a spokesperson for the Union étudiante, highlighted that one in two students struggles to eat three meals a day, and one in three cannot afford their rent. She warned that the situation is already dire, and the proposed increase would only make it worse. Student organizations are currently resisting similar increases for non-European international students, a policy that has already been put in place. The debate over tuition fees reflects broader concerns about the accessibility and affordability of higher education in France. While some see the proposed increase as a necessary step to secure the financial future of universities, others fear it will deepen inequality and push more students into financial hardship. The discussion is likely to continue as both sides present their arguments, with the outcome potentially shaping the future of higher education in the country.