THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LODGING FOR STUDENTS IN FRANCE

The rooms in the university residences, also called cités U (U-residences), are managed by the CROUS (Regional Centres of University and Academic Services). This is the cheapest type of student lodging. Contact the international relations department of your institute to find out if they have a specific agreement with the CROUS.
 

At the same time, check the “accommodation" and "international" sections of your CROUS site to learn about the conditions for assigning a university residence room. To receive one, you must prepare an "international lodging" application and submit it between January 15th and May 31st before the start of the academic year.
 

There is one CROUS per educational region and each has its own way of doing things and its own Internet site. Make sure you deal with the CROUS affiliated with the region that the institute of higher education where you are registered is attached to.

Located in Paris's 14th arrondissement, the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) is a vast grouping of university residences. It is home to nearly 6,000 students, researchers, artists and high-level athletes from around the world. Room rates vary according to comfort, the age of the occupants and the length of the stay.

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Some institutes of higher education, in particular the Grandes Ecoles, have their own student accommodation. To learn about the conditions for assigning residence there, contact the accommodation department of your future institute.

Many private student residences are open to foreign students. Room or flat rental is often higher than in the CROUS university residences because of the shared services included in the lease: laundry room, Internet, gym, etc.

If you can't get student lodging with the CROUS, nor in a student residence or a private residence, you will have to go with a private lessor, either an individual or an estate agency, to find a room or flat.

In this case, to lower your expenses, you can decide to share accommodation. You will share the lodging with other students, which will greatly reduce the cost of the rent: an economical and social way to obtain student lodging.

Ideal for practising your French, lodging with a host family is a practical and economical lodging. In most cases, it means a private room in a house or flat.

Some host families offer lodging in exchange for services. The rent is low, sometimes even free. To obtain this, you must perform a certain number of tasks (house chores, babysitting, etc.).

Organised by associations, intergenerational lodging lets you rent a room in a senior's home for a modest rent. In return, you must keep your host company for a few hours per week.

A guarantor is a person who acts as surety for you, and guarantees to pay your rent if you are unable to do so. In France, a guarantor is almost always required if you want to rent an apartment, whether you are French or not.

But your guarantor has to be French. If you don't have a guarantor, other options are available through the VISALE scheme, a free rental deposit if you rent an apartment in the private sector.

Your application was accepted. Before picking up the keys and doing entry inspection of the lodging, you will have to sign the lease, or contract, for your student lodging. Payment of a deposit is often required at the time of signing. It generally corresponds to one month's rent. It is returned to you when you leave your lodging; expenses connected to the state of the lodging may be deducted from it.
 

Before moving in, you must have home insurance. You can do this on line. If you are responsible for paying for the gas or electricity, you will have to contact a provider for service.