There are many different accommodation options in French cities. A tip: start searching as soon as possible.
The House of Canadian Students
The House of Canadian Students, located within the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CIUP), has 123 rooms, 25 studios et 2 appartments available for students, researchers and interns.
To find information on prices and conditions to be fulfilled to submit your application, visit the CIUP website:
The CROUS residence rooms
The rooms in CROUS residences are the cheapest type of student accommodation.
You can contact the International Relations Department of your institution to find out if they have a specific agreement with the CROUS.
You can also review the “accommodation" and "international" sections of the CROUS website to learn about the conditions to be fulfilled to apply for a room.
Student accomodation within your institution
Some institutions have their own student accommodation. To learn about the conditions to be fulfilled to apply for a room, contact the Accommodation Department of the institution.
Residences ("foyers")
You may have access to accommodation in a student residence or a residence for young people. The rent is in between that of a room in a university residence and that of a private student residence.
Private residences
Many private student residences are open to foreign students. The rent is often higher than in a CROUS residence because more services are included: laundry room, Internet, gym, etc.
Living with a family
Ideal for practising your French, living with a host family is practical and cheap. In most cases, you will have a private room in a house or flat.
Some host families offer accommodation in exchange for services. The rent is low, sometimes even free, in exchange for house chores, babysitting, etc.
Inter-generational accommodation is set up by some associations and allows you to rent a room in a senior's home for a low rent. In return, you must keep your host company for a few hours per week.
Private accommodation
To lower your expenses, you can decide to share accommodation with other students, which will greatly reduce the cost of the rent.
How to find a guarantor?
A guarantor is a person who pays for your rent if you are unable to do so. In France, a guarantor is almost always required if you want to rent a private apartment, whether you are French or not.
Since your guarantor has to be French, you can use the VISALE system.
How to find accommodation?
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Don't wait until you are in France to start looking for accommodation. Submit applications before you leave, whether it is for a room in a CROUS residence, in a student residence or in a private residence.
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In general, be careful and make sure the organisation is reliable. Never send money without first signing a lease and speaking directly with the organisation.
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At first, don't hesitate to reserve accommodation for a short period of time. You will then get more familiar with your new environment and look for long-term accommodation.
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It is sometimes difficult to find accommodation, especially in Paris. Don't hesitate to send several applications to increase your chances of finding quickly.
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Try to find furnished accommodation. This will save you money and the problems associated with moving into an empty room or flat, especially if you are in France for a short period.
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Be suspicious of rent that is too low. In Paris, expect to pay 400 euros for student lodging in the Cité U and up to 800 euros for private lodging.
