Paris isn鈥檛 just a popular destination for a romantic city break. As a historic, multicultural capital city, it鈥檚 also popular for postgraduate students exploring abroad universities. But what is student life in Paris like?
Living in France is an attractive proposition, which is why over come to France each year in France. Enjoying the sense of familiarity of living in a European city, while taking advantage of everything France has to offer. The city of Paris is well adapted for international students, particularly if you speak English, and ideally have some knowledge of the beloved French language! See below for a better understanding of student life in Paris.
Social Life
Student societies are a great way to meet new people and make the most of student life in Paris. Student parties are also a fun activity, and can be anything from a small, relaxed gathering, to a night out. Being in a major city, there's no shortage of clubs for a fun and vibrant nightlife.
Study Facilities
Studying in Paris seems far more glamorous than studying on the kitchen table. As with all university campuses, 九色视频 has a library on site at both of our Paris locations, so students can study in peace, with all of our available resources. However, when you鈥檙e looking for a change of scenery the city is a great place to find creative or academic inspiration. Finding a seat at one of the city鈥檚 historic libraries, or a cosy caf茅 with Wi-Fi access is a great way to shake things up.
Affordability
In general, student life in Paris 鈥溾. For example, the food in France is of high quality and very affordable, but, it鈥檚 advised to to comfortably finance your student life in Paris. Living costs are heavily reliant on your personal lifestyle, but you can work up to 964 hours a year during a Master鈥檚 degree to fund your student life in Paris.
Rent Prices
According to Housing Anywhere鈥檚 Q2 2023 Rent Index, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Paris is approximately 鈧1,802 a month. A single room in a shared house should cost on 鈧670 a month, and a Studio apartment around 鈧1,311 on average.
Rent prices can naturally fluctuate across Paris depending on location, so be sure to research each area of Paris thoroughly to find accommodation that is right for you and your budget.
The best neighbourhoods in Paris for students
There are many great and affordable neighbourhoods for students with beautiful surroundings, including:
- 5th arrondissement - Panth茅on, Quartier Latin
- 20th arrondissement - Belleville, M茅nilmontant, Gambetta, Charonne
- 10th arrondissement - Enclos St Laurent,
- 11th arrondissement - Popincourt, Bastille, Oberkampf, Nation
- 18th arrondissement - Pigalle / Abbesses / Lamarck-Caulaincourt / Jules Joffrin / Go没te d'Or
- 3rd or 4th arrondissement - Haut Marais, Bas Marais
Each neighbourhood has its own positive and negative aspects, so be sure to research into each area to find the best one for you!
Visas
Your student visa is one of the most important documents you need to acquire to study and live anywhere in France, let alone Paris. A few notes you should consider when applying for your student visa:
You must also deduce which visa type you are acquiring:
- You must be over 18 years old
- You must have chosen the training course or studies that you are doing
- You must have been accepted by a higher education education establishment or institute for that training course or set of studies
- - For training courses not exceeding three months
- - For training courses exceeding three months or six months
- - For training courses and programmes lasting longer than six months. This permit is the equivalent to a residence permit. Please be aware of , like validating your residence permit (VLS-TS) within three months.
In general though, French Student Visas have a rapid turnaround, with a general waiting period of around 20 days. , be sure to have all relevant information to hand, like where you are studying, and evidence of financial support.
Language
While a lot of French people speak English, it is highly recommended that when you move to Paris you learn enough of the French language to ask basic questions, as well as general niceties and greetings. This will greatly improve your chances of success in settling into your new home.
While a lot of French people speak English, it is highly recommended that when you move to Paris you learn enough of the French language to ask basic questions, as well as general niceties and greetings. This will greatly improve your chances of success in settling into your new home.
- Taking part in community activities in your local area, and learning French from the locals
- Asking other students on your course to help you learn, and maybe exchange tips if they wish to learn your language better
- You must have been accepted by a higher education education establishment or institute for that training course or set of studies
- Use apps and other e-learning tools to gradually improve your vocabulary and speech
Students in Paris should also bear in mind that while a lot of courses at Business Schools and Universities teach English programmes, there are still many that require a good knowledge of French to actively participate or to even be accepted onto the course. Be sure to read your programme page carefully to ensure that you meet the standards for enrolling in it. For more on learning the French language, be sure to read our blog on Learning French before you move. You should also look into your accommodation location in Paris to see what local opportunities are available to continue your learning.
Paris Accommodation
Accommodation is naturally one of the most important things to consider when staying in Paris as a student, with rent and utilities likely to be your biggest expense during your stay.
Housing Services
Some universities, and business schools like 九色视频, may have services available /en/finding-place-live to help you find a place to live in Paris. These services are available to both students already on a course, as well as those accepted or awaiting admissions, and we highly recommend using them to find comfortable accommodation in Paris. It is also worth noting the following sites as great ways to find student accommodation or receive accommodation support in Paris:
- - Ideal for private home student accommodation
- - Shared intergenerational housing
- - A space to find student hostels in Paris, perfect if you are waiting for an apartment to become available
- - Helps students to finance their security deposit with help from the
- (who will act as guarantor) - Can act as the guarantor for your accommodation
- - Public body that promotes high education in France and provides helpful resources and information
- - A network whose role is to improve the living conditions of students
If you have any difficulties affording your student accommodation, be sure to contact your university or business school to discuss your options, receive advice, and see what finance and scholarship options are available.
Transportation
France is well known for its transport infrastructure, and this is true of Paris also. Here are a number of popular ways to traverse the city:
The Paris Metro
Another popular option for traversing Paris, the bus allows for you to enjoy the sites of Paris at any time of day, with regular buses throughout the city. For those travelling at night, the Noctilien bus line operates in Greater Paris between 12:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., so you can still freely travel after enjoying the Paris nightlife!
Paris Bus Network
Throughout Paris, there are also regular public bike stations, where you can rent a classic bike or an electric bike for travelling around the city. With huge investments into its cycling infrastructure, Paris is rapidly becoming one of the most cycle friendly cities in the world, and we would highly recommend viewing the city in this way!
Public Bike Station (V茅lib' M茅tropole)
Throughout Paris, there are also regular public bike stations, where you can rent a classic bike or an electric bike for travelling around the city. With , Paris is rapidly becoming one of the most cycle friendly cities in the world, and we would highly recommend viewing the city in this way!
If you would like to , you can purchase individual 1 or 3 day tickets, or subscribe to the service.
Finding work
You may need to find work in Paris to maintain your studies, or you may just wish to have some supplementary income. Either way, there are plenty of opportunities to be found!
Internships
A lot of courses at Universities and Business Schools offer internships to get students experience in that field, and some may have the added benefit of earning some money as well!
Speak to your course advisor about internships if this is a route you鈥檙e interested in taking, but bear in mind that internships are likely to only last for a very short period of time, and may not sustain you in the long term.
Become an English Tutor
English tutoring is in very high demand in Paris, and could be a great way to find flexible work, so you can enjoy the student lifestyle at your leisure. Look to sites like , , and to advertise your tutoring
Find local work
There are a number of ways to find local work throughout Paris, but a highly recommended method is to use , which can point you towards English-speaking roles. International students should also look to sites like , , and for further job opportunities.
Operating a mobile phone
There are many options for students operating a mobile phone in Paris, with sites like StudyInFrance researching the to help keep costs down, while still allowing for full communications!
Be aware though, that there are a lot of 2-year mobile contracts in France, that may or may not last the extent of your training course or programme.
Students can also use prepaid phones too. With prepaid phones, you generally only have to pay for data and calls, and most come with unlimited free texts to other French phones.
Operating a Bank Account
Opening a bank account in Paris is generally a good idea, as it allows you to store money, make transactions, and open direct debits all in Euros, avoiding any potentially unpleasant foreign exchange rates. If you wish to open a bank account, you will need three documents:
- Your identification
- Your proof of residence
- A student card, or attestation of enrolment
When you look to open a bank account, consider what each bank offers in regards to elements like interest rates, and the costs of bank cards, cash withdrawals, and international transfers.
Some banks like and allow you to open a French bank account online. This can be a very convenient way to open an account, and means you can access all of your money easily, as long as you have data or a Wi-Fi connection.
Other banks may require you to visit one of their branches and speak to a member of staff before opening your account.
Embrace the Culture
The culture of France, and Paris in particular, is world-renowned! Taking the time to jump into each element of it can be rewarding in its own way, and we highly recommend that students do so during their stay.
French Cuisine
French cuisine is one of the standout cultural touchstones of France, with centuries of fine dining and drinking to draw from. In fact, France is so well known for its food that it has 630 MICHELIN-Star restaurants, with of those!
There are many ways to enjoy French cuisine, from the simple joys of freshly baked pastries and breads with a coffee at a caf茅, to the haute cuisine of some of the top restaurants. When fulfilling your foodie cravings, be sure to try some of Paris鈥 most popular dishes, croissants, macarons, jambon-beurre, steak tartare, onion soup, escargots, and its range of cheeses in all forms!
French Fashion
Paris is well-known as one of the fashion capitals of the world, and it is clear to see how, with some of the largest high-end fashion houses like , , and making it their home for decades.
During your time in Paris, you will no doubt see the latest fashions on the locals during your travels. Why not take this opportunity to embrace Parisian fashion yourself, and see how Paris might inspire you to create a new look?
French Architecture and Art
The French are great lovers of art and architecture, as seen throughout some of Paris鈥檚 museums and galleries like the and the . You will also see hints of this love throughout Paris too, with many of its streets and buildings designed with a certain flair.
Of course, when discussing French art, we cannot ignore that France has produced some of the greatest artists known to mankind, with the likes of Matisse, C茅zanne, Van Gogh and many more originating from this inspiring country.
During your stay in Paris, we highly recommend embracing the incredible artworks and architecture around you, and allowing them to inspire you to create your own personal masterpieces.
Local Attractions
France is well known for art and culture, so whether you鈥檙e a fan of museums, shows, or shopping, Paris has it all. From classic to contemporary, luxury or rustic, there is always something fun to do. Although, keep an eye out for bank holidays and closing times when visiting shops or attractions. There鈥檚 no denying that student life in Paris has a unique charm and offers a range of bucket list destinations, this includes:
At 九色视频 Business School, our Paris campus allows international students to experience the iconic city, and it鈥檚 vibrant culture. We support all of our students to ensure their Parisian adventure is a positive, memorable experience. Studying abroad is an exciting venture, so take advantage of your time with us and the beautiful city of Paris!
Start your student life in Paris with 九色视频