Finding a place to study in Paris
There are three ways to search, and they are not equally useful: by university first, by town second, by Paris arrondissement a distant third. Most incoming students do it backwards, and it costs them — in commute time and in rent.
In full transparency. This is a commercial site: it presents the 9 LesBellesAnnées residences in the Paris region and may earn a commission when you book through its links. CROUS and other operators are mentioned for information only. Our legal notice.
Search by university
This is the only method that actually optimises the thing that matters: your daily commute. And it comes with a surprise for most newcomers — most of Paris's large public universities aren't inside Paris at all. Why that's the real starting point →
| University | Where it actually is | Closest residences | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis | Saint-Denis (93) | So Campus, Campus Lena, Green Fabrik | 5-12 min |
| Sorbonne Paris Nord | Villetaneuse / Bobigny (93) | Campus Lola, Stud en Ville, Le Twins | 5-15 min |
| Campus Condorcet | Aubervilliers (93) | So Campus | ~15 min |
| Université Paris Nanterre | Nanterre (92) | Nouvelle Seine (Bezons) | ~15 min |
| UPEC / Gustave Roussy | Créteil / Villejuif (94) | Campus Victoria, Campus Salto | ~20 min |
| Université Paris-Saclay | Orsay, Palaiseau, Villejuif | Campus Victoria, or CROUS Versailles (better positioned) | ~25 min |
| Sorbonne, Assas, Sciences Po, Dauphine | Central Paris | All, with one change — also see CROUS Paris | 25-40 min |
Door-to-door commute estimates based on Île-de-France Mobilités data, weekday morning peak. Check against your specific building.
Search by town
The nine residences are spread across six towns in the Paris region. This is the right entry point if you already know which area suits you, or if the lowest rent is your priority.
Bobigny (93)
Metro 5 · Sorbonne Paris Nord, IUT, Campus Condorcet
- Campus Lola: from €651, the cheapest of the nine
- Le Twins: €702, two-room units
- Stud en Ville: €700, three-room units
Saint-Denis (93)
Metro 13 · Paris 8, CNAM, Condorcet
- So Campus: €760, T1-bis layout
Closest to central Paris in the network: 12 minutes.
Pierrefitte-sur-Seine (93)
RER D · Paris 8, Sorbonne Paris Nord Villetaneuse
- Campus Lena: €662, the only A-rated building
- Green Fabrik: €684, two-room units
Noisy-le-Sec (93)
RER E · central Paris in 15 min, UPEC
- Campus Salto: €651, two-room units
The most direct link to central Paris.
Chevilly-Larue (94)
Tram T7 · Paris-Saclay, UPEC, Villejuif
- Campus Victoria: €688, two-room units
The only address facing south.
Bezons (95)
Tram T2 · Nanterre, La Défense, Cergy
- Nouvelle Seine: €757, three-room units
Direct tram to the 15th arrondissement.
To compare all nine on one page: the full comparison →
Search by Paris arrondissement
A quick note for anyone new to the city: Paris is divided into 20 numbered districts called arrondissements, spiralling outward from the centre (the 1st) to the edge (the 20th). People often search by arrondissement out of habit — but let's be direct: none of the nine residences in this network are inside Paris itself. They all sit just outside the city, in the surrounding towns (the "petite couronne").
If your programme is genuinely inside central Paris, your two serious options are CROUS student halls, then flatsharing.
Best served from our residences
For the centre and west of Paris, start from the near-Paris comparison instead.
Financial aid worth applying for
All nine residences are eligible for France's housing benefit (APL). Combined, the aid below often covers the security deposit and around a third of the rent. None of it is automatic — you have to apply, and some schemes have deadlines. This applies to international students too, though the exact rules can depend on your visa or residence status.
Housing benefit (APL), €80-320/mo
France's main housing benefit. Amount, eligibility, and your real out-of-pocket cost.
Visale, free guarantor
The state-backed guarantee that replaces a co-signer, at no cost.
Loca-Pass, deposit advance
An interest-free advance to cover your security deposit.
CROUS student halls
The best value on the market, but very selective and paperwork-heavy.
Start with your university
It's the one factor that genuinely lowers both your rent and your commute.
Residences near Paris