Accommodation

IÉSEG will help you to find accommodation once you have successfully registered as a student. It is advisable to find your accommodation and finalize the housing contract before your arrival in France as it could be challenging to find accommodation near the commencement date.

1. Concordia (Lille) is official IÉSEG student residence hall. To apply for this dormitory, you will need to contact a 3^rd party agency.

Agency Contact:
http://sigla.fr/ / corinne.vanderhaegen@sigla.fr

Terms & Conditions:

All housing offers are for the minimum duration of a semester. The 1st semester runs from 1^st August till 31^st December, while the 2nd semester from 2^nd January till 31^st May. It is possible to stay beyond the aforementioned periods as long as you continue to pay for the rent. The rent includes breakfast, cleaning and internet but excludes the electricity fee.

Flying Chalks’ tip: In most cases, you will be required to pay a deposit and an administrative fee prior to your stay. While the deposit is usually returned after the end of the contract, the administrative fee will not be refunded should you cancel your booking.

2. ESTUDINES

Estudines (or student residences) usually offers studio and one-bedroom apartment, furnished and fully-equipped with a kitchenette (sink, hotplate, microwave, refrigerator, and dishes) and a private bathroom. Internet, cleaning and other housing necessities such as linens, blankets and bed sheets are also provided.

ESTUDINES ARTOIS (Lille):

http://www.estudines.com/uk/residence-housing-student-lille-6-16.html

ESTUDINES PASTEUR (Lille):

http://www.estudines.com/uk/residence-housing-student-lille-6-214.html

ESTUDINES FLANDRE GAMBETTA (Lille):

http://www.estudines.com/uk/residence-housing-student-lille-6-1.html

ESTUDINES PARIS NANTERRE (Paris):

http://www.estudines.com/residence-logement-etudiant-nanterre-52-160.html

VANVES RESIDENCE (Paris):

www.vanves.fr

3. AEU Residencies

AEU is part of The Catholic University of Lille and provides a wide range of services to students; from canteens and fitness centers. AEU residences are only available in Lille and you can apply for it online.

Register for AEU Residencies here: http://www.asso-aeu.fr/en/list-accommodation

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: AEU is perfect for students on a tight budget as the monthly rate of AEU residences is very affordable and comes with breakfast and cleaning. However, the allocation of accommodation can be quite selective, taking into account factors such as age, date of the application, how far away from home you will be, and whether you have received a scholarship.

4. Private Landlords / Home Stay

Many private landlords rent out a vacant studio or room in their house. Common facilities like kitchen or bathroom are usually shared between tenants. The upside of staying with landlords is that they are more flexible in terms of the duration of contract or deposit amount, and are generally helpful. They may be able to offer you advice on banking, getting around and other things needed for you to settle in France.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Home stay could be a great opportunity for foreign students to understand the French culture. IÉSEG will provide you with a list of private landlords in Paris or in Lille. You can also search for accommodation on other websites but do be extremely careful of possible scams on unofficial websites!

Useful website for room sharing and ads from private owners (Lille and Paris):

www.appartager.com

https://en-fr.roomlala.com/

http://www.topannonces.fr/

http://www.enpassantpar.fr/  

5. Emergency Youth Hostel

For those of you who are unable to find your accommodation in time, do not panic as you can still stay at a youth hostel at cheap rates. However, do note that you cannot stay in youth hostels for your entire study term as you will need your house contract for most administrative procedures in France.

Hostel websites:

http://en.gastama.com/

http://www.hifrance.org/auberge-de-jeunesse/lille-euralille.html

http://fr.hostelbookers.com/auberges/france/paris/  

CAF (Government Support for Housing)

Regardless of whether you are a French student or an International student, you may apply for CAF (Caisses d'Allocations Familiales). It is a sum of money that is allocated to students by the French government to help pay for their student accommodation. You should be able to receive CAF for your stay in any type of accommodation (e.g. a house share, student halls or a private residence), as long as you have a written contract with the landlord.

Procedure & Required Documents:

1^st Step: Submit the following documents to the IÉSEG International student office

• Copy of your Passport and student visa page

• An official translation of your birth certificate (it is recommended to do this in your home country)

• Your French bank account details (RIB)

• Copy of your housing contract

• Letter of statement to explain your source of income while you are staying in France

2^nd Step: After receiving your OFII permit, you must submit the following documents to the international student office:

• Copy of your passport

• Copy of your OFII stamp

You will receive a confirmation after 2 months stating the amount of government subsidy you will receive. CAF will usually subsidize your rent starting from the 2^nd month (based on the date stated in your housing contract).