Security deposit: €600 (refunded at the end of the stay)
Notes:
The residence is furnished
Wi-Fi and shared/common spaces are included
Other housing options – Palaiseau and nearby
Near the Palaiseau / Saclay area (based on information provided by Télécom Paris / IP Paris housing services), examples of student residences include:
Kley Saclay: T1 studios ~€815–€930/month
Hacker House: studios ~€840–€860/month
Résidence All Suites Study: rooms ~€490–€707/month
Most residences include services and shared study/common areas.
CAF (Housing Aid)
CAF is the French government body that provides housing support (“aide au logement”).
You can apply as soon as you have:
a rental contract in your name
a French address
Key points:
You have the right to apply if you stay at least 3 months in France.
The amount depends on your rent, contract type, and personal situation.
Many students receive a monthly contribution.
Apply as soon as you sign your contract: the first payment often arrives around 2 months after the application.
You can apply even in shared housing (colocation).
CAF official site: https://www.caf.fr/
Housing Guarantee (Guarantor)
Visale (free guarantor)
Visale is a free guarantor service provided by Action Logement.
It can help you secure a lease without a French guarantor.
It typically covers rentals up to ~€600 (or ~€800 in Île-de-France, depending on conditions).
It can be valid up to 6 months for students to support signing a contract.
Important: apply before you find housing, so you are ready when a landlord asks for a guarantor.
Visale: https://www.visale.fr/
Paid alternatives
If Visale is not accepted, private guarantor services exist (similar to insurance).
They are not free, but they can make it easier to rent an apartment.
Fraud Warning (seriously)
Be cautious with private rentals if:
you are asked to pay cash before visiting
you are asked to transfer money before a contract is signed
the “owner is abroad” and cannot show the apartment
If you are unsure, do not proceed. Seeing the place (or having someone you trust see it) is worth more than “a great deal”.
Visa / Residence Permit Renewal
If you are already in France and your stay extends beyond your visa validity:
renew your residence permit well in advance
procedures are typically handled online via French government platforms (Préfecture / ANEF)
This is essential to keep access to CAF, contracts, and student/work rights.
More details
French Language Courses (if you don’t speak French)
Even if many things can be handled in English, French matters for:
CAF procedures
insurance
dealing with landlords
general bureaucracy
Before arriving, email: international@telecom-sudparis.eu
Include:
your status (Erasmus / internship / visiting PhD, etc.)
your stay period
your campus (Évry or Palaiseau)
do not forget to put me in copy CC!
French course options are often presented to incoming students.