How To Find The Right Accommodation In France

Will you study in France next year read this article!

Pursuing your higher education in France is a fantastic decision! France gives international students the opportunity to experience its rich culture, gastronomy, architecture and thriving student life! However, before you grab your French dictionary and place it in your luggage, you need to think about your student accommodation in France. There are many types of student accommodation available in France so you need to be aware of all of them. This blog will tell you everything you need to know about securing your accommodation in France. So let’s get to it!

Student Accommodation In France

Securing your student accommodation is imperative if you want to apply for a student visa. Finding student housing in France, particularly in large cities such as Paris, Marseille, Lyon or Toulouse may be a difficult experience, especially if you are on a tight budget. Broadly speaking, the living costs in France are greater in the capital, Paris, but lower and more student-friendly in smaller cities such as Nante, Rouen, Grenoble, Montpellier or Toulouse.

Here are some of the accommodation options available to students in France -

University Residence Halls

This type of accommodation is publicly owned and managed by France’s regional centres for student services known as CROUS. Getting a student accommodation through CROUS can be competitive and even expensive. The only benefit of living in university halls is that they are located close to campus.

Student Residences

The dedicated Student Residences in France are one of the best accommodation options available to international students. Most students, especially first-year students, prefer living at Student Residences. One of the main features of this type of accommodation is that students have a lot of options in room types and amenities. These student residences are often located close to universities and come equipped with all the latest facilities and amenities.

If you are looking for high quality and fully furnished student accommodation in France, then head over to UniAcco today.

Apart from your student accommodation, you will also need to be aware of other important things such as -

Best Universities in France

Your journey to pursuing higher education in France begins with an acceptance letter from a university in France. As per the latest QS World University Rankings 2021, here are the best universities in France -

Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)
Ecole Polytechnique
Sorbonne University
CentraleSupélec
Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
Ecole des Ponts ParisTech
Sciences Po Paris
Université de Paris
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
ENS Paris-Saclay

Moreover, the most popular courses in France are -

Masters in Management in France
Masters in Fashion and Luxury Goods in France
Masters in Political Science in France
MBA degrees in France
Masters in Biotechnology in France

Student Visa

You will be able to apply for a student visa only after securing your accommodation in France. There are 3 types of visas available -

Visa de court séjour pour études (‘Schengen’ short-stay student visa) - This is meant for studies shorter than 3 months. This visa is primarily for short-term study programmes or language courses. It is free of charge, you won’t need a residence permit and you can apply for a new one when it expires.

Visa de long séjour temporaire pour études (temporary long-stay visa) - This is for studies that take around 3 to 6 months to complete.

Visa de long séjour études (long-stay visa) - This is for studies that take more than 6 months to complete. You need to also apply for a residence permit in order to extend the duration of your stay after this long-stay visa expires (one year).

Residence Permit

You only need your long-term student visa as proof of resident status during your first year of studies. To verify your visa, you must register with the local French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) and undergo a medical examination within a month of your arrival in France.

If you plan to stay for more than one year, starting from the second year of studies you will need to apply for a Carte de Séjour (CDS) or 'titre de séjour', an official residence permit in France.

And there you have it! Master all of the aforementioned points and you will have a comfortable study abroad experience in France.

Visit UniAcco to find out more about your student accommodation options in France.