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Types of student accommodation

Once you arrive in France, you will have a wide choice of accommodation depending on your budget and desires. Regardless of the type of accommodation you choose, you will be entitled to student accommodation financial help (ALE).

University residence, room

University residences and rooms are managed by the CROUS. They are usually located next to the university and therefore not in the town centre. You should apply very early via the French Embassy. If you receive a French government grant, you will have priority. But university residence accommodation is in great demand and there are not enough places for everyone. Make sure you have another solution just in case.
If you have not made a preliminary demand, try anyway and enrol with the CROUS on arrival in France. You might be lucky if a place becomes free at the right moment!
Addresses of the CROUS in France .

Description of the accommodation:

• furnished individual rooms: 9 m² surface area, collective kitchens, study rooms and bathrooms and toilets (about 150 € per month);
• studios through to 2 room (T2) flats: from 21 to 31 m², with kitchen and bathroom and toilet in each flat (about 250 € for a T1).

Private student accommodation blocks

These are not managed by the CROUS but by private agencies. They offer students studio accommodation with kitchen, toilet and bathroom in each flat.
The rents are higher than in the university residences managed by the CROUS and you can usually expect to pay about 350 € for a studio. This is the same price as for a private studio.

Some private residence sites:

• les laureades
• les estudines
• les studelites
• fac habitat
• le sle
• gestrim campus

Private studios and flats

You can also look for accommodation in the city centre: numerous studios or small flats suitable for students exist, especially in the large university towns and cities such as Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Rennes, etc.
There are several possibilities for finding this type of accommodation:

• check out the Accommodation for rent ads in the local free sheets and newspapers;
• Check the Accommodation for rent ads on the Internet;
• contact an estate agent.

Flat-share

This involves people sharing the accommodation. Each tenant pays a part of the rent and the additional service charges. The advantage is that you can have larger accommodation for a reasonable price and, provided everyone gets on well together, have a really great time!

Student accommodation financial help (ALE)

As soon as you have found accommodation, you can apply to the CAF for student accommodation financial help (ALE). This usually represents about a quarter of the rent you pay.

Mandatory: household insurance

Insurance against theft, fire, flood, etc. You must take out household insurance. SMENO offers specially priced student household insurance starting at 12 € per year.
For more information about SMENO household insurance

To find out more:

SMENO accommodation section (link to the SMENO accommodation section)
 
The mapiaule.com site : a reference site! Accommodation for rent ads, helpful advice and tips, address details of all student accommodation in France, flat-share ads, etc. A must!