Students may choose to organize their own housing; live at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, a dormitory complex designed for university students; or be assisted by Paris Academic Rentals to locate housing in accordance with the students’ stated budgetary and living preferences. Please note that the Cité is only an option for full-year students.

La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris – Fondation des Etats-Unis

The Cité internationale universitaire of Paris was created in the pacifist context of the 1920s to support exchanges among students of the whole world. The story starts in 1920 when an important French industrialist, Emile Deutsch de la Meurthe, wishing to create an enduring gift to society, contacted Paul Appell, vice-chancellor of the University of Paris. Worried by the difficulties of students’ housing, Appell suggested to him founding a university residence. André Honnorat, Minister for Public Education, approved of the project and devoted all his energy for nearly the next thirty years to its realization.

The Cité is made up of 38 houses, each representing a different country, as well as the International House – a gift from John D. Rockefeller in 1935.  These buildings, housing 5,600 residents, are situated in a large park, much like a college campus.  The amenities located on the grounds include a student restaurant, or  Resto U,  various libraries, cafés, a theater, a pool and other sports facilities, a concert hall and even a post office. 

Sarah Lawrence students are housed in the building known as La Fondation des Etats-Unis. The Fondation was created in 1930 on the initiative of American industrialist Homer Gage.  Half of its residents are American.  The other half is composed of students of various nationalities, the majority of them being French.  Pierre Leprince-Ringuet, architect of the Michelin factories in London, designed the Fondation.  Each of the 38 buildings at the Cité represent a different architectural style, displaying the work of such famous architects as Le Corbusier. 

La Fondation des Etats-Unis contains 267 fully furnished rooms.  Like a dorm, there are communal bathrooms and kitchens on each floor.  Students will also find a library, computer lab, reading room, living room, tv room, and a game room with pool table in the building. 

The rooms are equipped with a land line, voicemail and wireless internet.  Sheets are provided and are changed every two weeks.  Students often choose to purchase additional items such as area rugs, mini fridges and extra lamps upon arrival as they find the rooms larger than expected. 

The Fondation has an extremely full social calendar with concerts, art exhibits, plays and parties throughout the year.  These events are free of charge to residents.  There are also many opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities such as music and theater groups.

All residents of the Cité may use the sports facilities.  For a small annual fee (approximately 120 euros), they may also choose 3 organized activities from the more than 50 that are offered (swimming, dance, yoga, martial arts, tennis, etc).  This is an excellent way to meet people and practice language skills !

The Resto U located at the Cité is open for lunch and dinner on weekdays and all three meals on weekends.  Students can eat a warm, well-balanced meal for about 3 euros – a great deal and, again, a great way to meet people and speak French !

Visitors are allowed to stay at the Cité, although not for the first few weeks in order to allow students to settle in. A cot can be rented for a nominal fee.

Please contact the Office of International Programs, Sarah Lawrence College (800) 873-4752 or (914) 395-2305 as quickly as possible if you wish to stay in the American House, as space is limited. If you wish to live at the Cité, you must register through our office, not on your own.

The housing fee for the Cité for 2008-09 will be $3,563 per semester. Only year-long students may apply.

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Paris Academic Rentals Housing Options:

Your Housing Options

If you decide to use the program’s housing service, you can choose to be pre-assigned housing or wait until you arrive in Paris to be assigned housing.

Pre-Assigned Housing

Upon receipt of the Housing Questionnaire, the Housing Coordinator from Paris Academic Rentals assigns you to housing prior to your arrival on site. The Housing Coordinator makes a concerted effort to match your most preferred housing request with the housing available. In cases where your housing arrangement varies substantially from your housing request, the Housing Coordinator will attempt to notify you in advance of your assignment. You are also encouraged to be in direct contact with the Housing Coordinator about your preferences.

Housing assignments are generally made on a first come, first served basis but you will not receive confirmation until mid-late July. At that point, the Housing Coordinator will send a Housing Confirmation Packet that includes your housing assignment, the name and address of your Paris landlord/landlady, the monthly rent, the security deposit, and the date by which the Housing Reservation Advance must be received in order to hold your place.

All students who select the pre-assigned housing option must pay a Housing Reservation Advance in the form of an international money order, international tellers draft, or a traveler's check made out in the name of the proprietor and sent to the Housing Coordinator by the stated deadline. The housing deposit is then applied either towards the first month's rent and/or the security deposit.

If a student cancels the housing reservation after the deposit is sent to the Housing Coordinator, the Housing Reservation Advance will be reimbursed in full or in part only if a replacement is found for the housing. If no replacement is found, the student forfeits the Housing Reservation Advance. Failure to submit the Housing Reservation Advance by the deadline will result in losing your spot.

We strongly recommend that students select the pre-assigned option as it provides the following benefits:

• eliminates the need for temporary housing upon arrival
• allows students to benefit from all the activities planned during orientation
• facilitates immediate immersion into daily Parisian life

On-Site Housing Assignment

Students who prefer to be assigned housing after arrival should still complete the Housing Questionnaire by the stated deadline.

The Housing Coordinator will be available to students during the first week of the program. After that time, students who have not secured housing by that time will be required to do so on their own.

If you select on-site housing, you should be aware of the following:

• You are responsible for your own lodging prior to your permanent housing assignment
• Your housing choices will be restricted to what remains after the pre-assigned housing has been allocated

Types of Housing

Paris Academic Rentals offers the following types of housing.

Living in a French Household

Living in a French household offers students valuable exposure to French language and culture through living with French people. This can include living with a single person, a couple who may or may not have children, a widow/widower, or a single parent with children. Traditional nuclear families are not very common in the Sarah Lawrence College housing network. Students are provided with their own bedroom. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are normally available without restriction; in rare instances, students have their own bathrooms. The Housing Coordinator is there to do all he can to make it likely that both student and host are compatible, and that cost, particular privileges and/or conditions of stay (visitors, telephone, shared meals, laundry, etc.) are agreed upon in advance. The extent and quality of the relationship between the host and the student will vary depending on personalities and lifestyles. Visitation may be permitted but overnight guests are not normally permitted.

Approximate cost:

• 540 Euros / month including petit dejeuner but no prepared dinners
• 580 Euros / month including petit dejeuner and one prepared dinner / week.
• 620 Euros / month including petit dejeuner and two prepared dinners / week.
• 660 Euros / month including petit dejeuner and three prepared dinners / week.
• 700 Euros / month including petit dejeuner and four prepared dinners / week.

Chambres de Bonne

These “maid’s rooms” are usually small rooms (approximately 90–150 square feet) situated on the upper floors of Paris apartment buildings and are now rented to students and other people on limited budgets. They are adequately furnished with a single bed, a desk, and minimal storage space, but generally include only a hot plate and a small refrigerator. While there is oftentimes a shower and sink in the room, toilet facilities are usually situated in the outside hallway to be used in common with other lodgers. Visitation rights may be lightly restrictive. Approximate cost: 300-450 Euros/month plus utilities.

Studio Apartments

These are one-room apartments (commonly referred to as efficiencies in the United States) of approximately 200–350 square feet with separate kitchens or integrated kitchen areas (hot plates, refrigerators, toaster ovens, or microwaves) and integrated bathroom facilities with showers (rarely containing bathtubs). They are adequately furnished with a single bed (double beds are rare), desk, storage shelves, etc. Visitation rights are usually unrestricted and telephone lines are available in some. Approximate cost: 575-1350 Euros/month plus utilities.

Apartments for More Than One Person

At a minimum, apartments include a single bedroom with two beds (or a bedroom with a single bed and a living room with a convertible sofa), a small living room, kitchenette (hot plate and small refrigerator), and an integrated bathroom. Some larger apartments contain more than one bedroom with multiple beds. Cost is determined by the size of the apartment as well as the quality of the furnishings and neighborhood. Approximate cost per person: 525-900 Euros/month plus utilities.

Answers to Other Housing Questions

In general, the commute to Reid Hall will be less than 40 minutes door to door by public transportation from any program-arranged housing. Proximity to other program students will vary. In some cases, you may live in the same building or neighborhood as other students but in other cases, you may not. It will depend on what housing is available at the time the placements are made.

Fewer and fewer landlords/landladies now provide linens and if notified you may elect to take a change of sheets and towels with you or be prepared to buy them in Paris. All lodgings are furnished with pillows, blankets, and kitchenware.

If you are renting a maid’s room or an apartment, either through Paris Academic Rentals or through an outside rental agency or source, expect to pay one or two months’ rent up front (one month’s rent and one months’ security deposit).

The security deposit is not considered payment for any part of the rent; even the last month’s rent. Your deposit will be refunded within 60 days following your departure; upon final room check, provided that final gas/electricity/telephone bills can be subtracted. If you have not received these bills, make arrangements for final settlement with your landlord.

Utilities and Visitation

Your utility bills can range from 50-150 Euros/month for gas/electricity and 60 Euros/month for local calls and 150 Euros/month for international calls depending on the number and duration of calls. The premium for tenant insurance is approximately 55 Euros.

In general, even if you plan to live an apartment or studio, overnight guests (defined as three or four days) are discouraged. Some landlords strictly prohibit guests while others may allow this, and still others charge an extra fee. Check with the Housing Coordinator or your landlord regarding the policy concerning overnight visitors.

Students say:
“The housing placement worked out really well for me. I was happy with the living arrangement, neighborhood, landlord,etc. I think it is really important that the students take the Housing Questionnaire seriously since it is the basis from which decisions are made.”

“Many people opted not to live with French families and ended up not having as rich an experience as possible. We should be encouraged to live with French people, to further enhance our experience in France.”

“I liked the range of housing options available”

How Do I Purchase Euro Travelers Checks, Foreign Drafts, or Money Orders?

Students who would like program-arranged housing will need to submit a Housing Reservation Advance upon receipt of their Housing Confirmation Packets.

Most major banking institutions, for a fee, issue International Bank drafts payable in Euros. Traveler’s checks in Euros can be obtained at most major banking institutions or by accessing the Internet sites of Travelex, American Express or AAA (Automobile Club of America).

Finding Housing on Your Own

You may want to contact France USA Contacts (FUSAC) at 212-777-5553 and get a copy of their classified ads which list apartment shares. Copies are available once you arrive at Reid Hall. Postings may also be found at the American Church, the various divisions of the University of Paris, and the Paris office of CIEE. You may also want to try the following websites: www.locaflat.fr or www.paris.org.

Personal Finances and Budget

There are different options for bringing your spending money and you may want to consider a mix of the options rather than relying on one source to ensure that you will have immediate access to funds.

Travelers Checks

You can purchase them in various denominations of Euros or US dollars. Some US banks will waive the purchase fee for students. Traveler’s checks are easy to cash and are a safe way to carry your money overseas. Traveler’s checks are accepted by a minutely small number of landlords for rent payment. Once in Paris, you can cash your traveler’s checks at the Banque de France—they do not charge a commission. You may also cash them at one of the many bureaux de change, but they oftentimes charge a commission.

ATMs

If your bank is on NYCE, Cirrus, PLUS, Maestro or another major Automated Teller Machine networks, you may be able to access funds directly from your home account through ATMs located throughout Paris. The overwhelming majority of students find this to be the best option..

Credit Cards

You should bring a major credit card if you have one. Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted than American Express. Cash advances may be made from banks and ATMs if you have a PIN number.

Bank Account

If you decide to open a bank account in Paris, money should only be sent to you in the form of banker’s drafts, international money orders, or direct bank transfers to your Paris account (note: they will clear faster if sent in Euros). Personal checks from home should be avoided—they can take months to clear and be subject to substantial bank charges.

French banks in New York City include Société Générale (212-278-6000), Crédit Lyonnais (212-261-7000), and Banque Nationale de Paris (212-415-9400).

There is no longer a Citibank in Paris on the Champs Elysees. Instead, students who open a French bank account (most commonly with the BNP/Paribas branch near Reid Hall) can receive wire transfers from all American banking institutions.

Please remember that each person has individual spending habits and that ultimately, you must decide how much you should bring. Below please find the average amount of funds that have been spent in the past. Depending on your living arrangements and own spending habits, you may decide to bring more than is listed below especially if you plan to travel. At the very minimum, you should budget $1600/month for the academic semester to cover your housing, meals, and daily living expenses. If you plan to eat regularly in restaurants or travel, you should budget more. Be forewarned that your startup costs could be substantial including up to two months rent (first month plus a security deposit) for housing so plan accordingly.

Estimated Budget:

Housing: 740 Euros/month
Meals: 420 Euros/month
Miscellaneous: 600 Euros/month
Total: 1760 Euros/month

Students say:

“ATM cards are the way to go! ”

“I had a debit card at home which worked well because it served overseas as a credit card and ATM card. ”

“I used American Express traveler’s checks. ”

“I opened a bank account and transferred $3000 into it. ”

“Future participants should understand that they will inevitably spend more money than they budget for, particularly for travel. It is impossible to stay in Paris for the entire duration of the program. ”

What to Bring

Weather: The climate of Paris is moderate. Extremes of very hot or very cold weather are uncommon and generally short-lived. There are, however, characteristically long stretches of damp, cool, drizzly weather similar to that of London and Seattle. Keep in mind that Paris apartments, stores, etc. are generally not as well heated as their American counterparts. Air conditioning in lodgings is virtually unheard of.

Clothing: We recommend that you bring durable, easy-care clothing. If you plan to travel, your clothes may experience wear and tear. Since you will have limited luggage space, you should plan to bring clothing that you can mix and match and layer and unlayer for colder and warmer weather.

We also recommend that you bring at least one nice outfit for when the occasion calls for something dressier than everyday wear.

Toiletries: Many American (and European) brands of soap, shampoo, and toothpaste can be bought in France. We recommend that you bring one of each unless you favor a particular brand. All personal hygiene products are available in France.

Medication: You may want to bring a small supply of over-the-counter medication such as pain relievers and diarrhea medication. Ibuprofen-based medicine is not available over the counter in France. Drugstore products are more expensive than in the U.S. If you regularly take any special medications, be sure to bring along an adequate supply as well as a written prescription with the generic name of the medication.

Cell phones: Students are able to purchase cell phones in Paris that function on a prepaid system. The approximate cost of a cell phone is 40-100 Euros, depending on the model.

Electronic Equipment: We don’t recommend that you bring any electronic equipment but if you decide to bring some, you will need to bring adapters or purchase them in France. Electricity in France is 220V, 50 Hz. Plugs have two round pins. Many recent model portable laptops are adaptable for the local voltage.

What to Put It In: If you plan to travel either before, during, or after the program, a large travel backpack or even a big duffle bag is more mobile than a suitcase. A daypack is useful for daily use and a money belt or pouch is a good for storing your passport, money, credit cards, and student ID.

General Comments: Plan to bring as little as possible as you will no doubt purchase items throughout your stay. It’s nice to have variety but during your time overseas, a minimalist approach is recommended. A good test to determine whether or not you’ll be able to manage what you’ve packed is to walk at least 50 feet carrying all of your bags.

Shipping to Paris

Shipping boxes to Paris can be both expensive and labor-intensive. It may be worthwhile to bring everything with you on your flight and simply pay the extra luggage fee that the airline charges for any pieces over the two that you are allowed. If you plan to ship clothes or books to France, send them in care of yourself to the Program address. They will be stored at Reid Hall until you arrive. Do not send more than two small-to-medium-sized boxes—Reid Hall does not have a large storage facility. Warning: certain packages are subject to customs fees and may not be delivered until paid. They will be returned to the post office or shipping company, where they will be stored for up to two weeks. Be sure to include with your package a customs declaration marked personal effects—no commercial value.

United Parcel Service (UPS) charges substantial customs fees. Choose instead one of the competitive international shipping companies such as DHL Worldwide Express or Federal Express. Check the yellow pages under Delivery or Freight for a list of shipping companies. Call the company directly for information and rates for delivery to Paris. Be sure to ask whether the company will deliver to your Program address, or if you must pick up the parcel(s) at the airport. Also specify insurance costs and duty tax. This will depend on the value you declare on the contents. Be careful—duty tax and value-added tax for goods valued higher than $50 can be substantial and must be paid before delivery.