Housing Overview

Deciding where to live during your time in the Dual BA Program is an important part of your enrollment preparations. Dual BA students are guaranteed access to housing at both Sciences Po and at Columbia University. After accepting their offer of admission, students will receive details on how to apply for accommodation from the Dual BA Program. 

 

Related Content

Living in Le Havre
Living in Menton
Living in Reims
Living in Poitiers

Housing at Sciences Po

During the first two years in France, Dual BA Program students live in student residences near campus. Sciences Po students reside in many different housing situations—some students live in apartments owned and administered by public entities, while others secure other private housing alternatives.

Sciences Po has a number of rooms reserved in student residences. Regardless of nationality or parental income, Dual BA Program students are entitled to a housing allowance (“aide au logement”) from the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF), which amounts to a monthly subsidy to be used toward payment of rent. Please note that Sciences Po does not administer student housing directly, but rather works with governmental and other partner organizations to facilitate access to these residences for our students.

 

Housing is available to all Program students, and deciding where to live is an important part of your transition to Sciences Po. In France, the Centre Régional de Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CROUS) is the organization responsible for student services throughout the country. Sciences Po students reside in many different housing situations—some students live in apartments owned and administered by CROUS, while others secure private apartments during their time in Le Havre. Student housing is abundant in Le Havre, and Sciences Po has a number of rooms reserved in student residences specifically for foreign students. Please note that Sciences Po does not administer student housing directly, but rather works with partner organizations to facilitate access to these residences for students.

You can as well find private housing in Le Havre. You can choose an apartment on the following web page: www.ahloet.fr. This is an association that offers private housing for students.

Accommodations

Students in Le Havre have access to apartments in seven different residences around the city (details below). These buildings offer studio apartments, which are fully furnished with a bed, desk, chairs, and closet. Each apartment has a separate bathroom and kitchen and offers WiFi and television access. Please note that it is not possible to move into a student apartment after 5 p.m. or on weekends; it is best to contact your residence directly prior to your arrival to schedule your move-in date and time.

Student Residences in Le Havre | Sample Rents  

Applying for Housing

To apply for housing, please follow these steps:

1. Contact Le Havre campus assistant Alexandra Gravier at [email protected] by June 30th, 2024 to start the housing process. Let her know your first and second choice of residence from CROUS as well as your name, birth date, and your arrival date in Le Havre

Once you are assigned an apartment, you will receive a confirmation with the process to do for the reservation of your apartment. Everything will be done online directly on the CROUS Portal: www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr.

Please create an account (use the email address you will be checking and using regularly) and send the INE number that you will receive once you created the account to Alexandra Gravier. 

After July 13, you will receive a proposition on the CROUS Portal. It will include the contract that you will have to accept if you wish to stay in the residence and then you will have submit the following documents:

  • Registration form (full name including family name and first name, nationality, and date of birth)
  • 1 ID Picture
  • A guarantor* (within the EU, if applicable)
    • If you do not have a guarantor within the EU, you can register for one online: www.visale.fr. 

2. Once the CROUS validates the document they will sign the contract and you will have to sign it as well (electronically) and pay the deposit.

3. The following documents are needed as well, but usually you can complete this portion only once you arrive in Le Havre. Be sure to prepare all of these documents as soon as you can  to submit to the student residence administrators:

  • Copy of your passport 
  • Copy of your residence permit (carte de séjour) or visa
  • Certificate of enrollment at Sciences Po (certificat de scolarité)
  • Scholarship award letter (if applicable)
  • Written confirmation of French Social Security enrollment
  • Proof of renters insurance for your apartment (this is a mandatory document to get your keys)
  • Bank information (must be a French bank account )

4. Last but not least, you will have to send an email to the CROUS administration [email protected] letting them know your arrival date and making an appointment with them to get your keys. Please note that all the contracts start from September 1st, 2024 but you can ask to enter into your apartment earlier (mid-August). Your rent will be pro-rated to the date you enter the apartment. 

If you choose a guarantor, you have to submit the following documents on the CROUS portal:

  • The guarantor's document signed 
  • A copy of an identity document from the guarantor
  • Last 3 pay slips 
  • Housing proof of your guarantor
  • Tax notice
  • Work contract or a document that proves their work activity

CROUS Bank Account Information (for Deposit Payment)

Account Holder

Régie avances de recettes

Location: TP ROUEN

Bank Code: 10071

Sort Code: 76000

Account Number: 0001000386

RIB Key: 24

IBAN: FR 76 10071760 00 00 0010 00 38 624

SWIFT: BDFEFRPPXXX

Contact Information

Résidences Universitaires du Havre Ville Basse
117 rue Casimir Delavigne
76600 Le Havre, France
Email: [email protected]

Alexandra Gravier 
Pedagogical assistant in the Europe-Asia Sciences Po campus in Le Havre
Email: [email protected]

Sciences Po students reside in many different housing situations, and many in Menton have roommates during their first two years. Student housing is more limited in Menton than in other cities, but Sciences Po has a number of rooms reserved in student residences. Please note that Sciences Po does not administer student housing directly, but works with partner organizations to facilitate access to these residences for our students.

As such, students are advised to apply for housing in Menton starting May 1, as soon as they confirm their admission to the Dual BA Program.

Accommodations

Students in Menton have access to rooms in two different residences around the city (details below). These buildings offer rooms, which are fully furnished with a bed, desk, chairs, and closet. Please note that it is not possible to move into a student apartment after 5 p.m. or on weekends; it is best to contact your residence directly prior to your arrival to schedule your move-in date and time.

Student Residences in Menton | Sample Rents

Applying for Housing

To apply for housing, please follow these steps:

  1. Review the Sciences Po Menton Housing website.

  2. Starting May 1, 2024, complete the housing application form and submit the required supporting documents. (To access the forms, you will need to log in with your Sciences Po email address.) 

    Two assignment commissions are scheduled, one at the end of May and the second at the end of June 2024 (an additional commission will be held in August depending on available spots).

  3.  Once the commission has granted you a room, you must return the completed "Identification form" within 10 days to [email protected] (form linked below).

  4. To complete the reservation of your room, you must pay a deposit equivalent to one month's rent and charges to the Menton town hall by bank transfer before August 1, 2024.

Note: 

Deposits are non-refundable, even if the reservation is canceled.

Villa Jasmin and Menton Plus rooms will be available for move-in from August 23, 2024.

When you arrive in Menton, you will be asked to provide a tracking file to finalize your lease. Be sure to prepare all these documents in advance for submission to the student residence managers, including three passport photos and a copy of your ID or passport.

Application Form and Supporting Documents

Private Accommodations

Students in Menton can also get in touch with Menton private owners through this website, which lists rental offers and includes a chat system. Students have access to this system through their Sciences Po email address login and password. 

Also, every year, the BDE (student association) creates a Facebook group for students on campus and new-incoming students to facilitate the search for potential roommates and the first contact with 2nd year students : 2022 - 2023 Facebook Group (2024 - 2025 Facebook group is forthcoming, with more information on the association's Instagram account bde.sciencespomenton). 

Contact Information

Sciences Po College Universitaire de Menton
11 Place St Julien
06500 Menton, France
Email: [email protected]

Director: Youssef Halaoua
Email: [email protected]

Academic Advisor: Dania del Ben
Email: [email protected]
Tel. (33) 04 97 14 83 53

Student Life Advisor: Anne-Hélène Lecomte
Email: [email protected]

Housing is available to all Dual BA Program students, and deciding where to live is an important part of your transition to Sciences Po. In France, there is a robust network of student residences owned either by the state or private companies, and these organizations are responsible for student services throughout the country. These services include student housing, grants, cultural and social opportunities, and study abroad resources. Sciences Po students reside in many different housing situations, and most students in Poitiers live within 500 meters of the campus, which is located in the center of the city. Student housing is abundant in Poitiers and students typically wait to secure their accommodations until they arrive on campus in advance of the welcome week - it is common to find your accommodation for the year within 24-48 hours. Please note that Sciences Po does not administer student housing directly, but works with partner organizations to facilitate access to these residences for our students.

Accommodations

Students in Poitiers have access to apartments in many different residences around the city (details below). These buildings offer studio apartments, which are fully furnished with a bed, desk, chairs, and closet. Each apartment has a separate bathroom and kitchen and offers Wi-Fi and television access. Please note that it is not possible to move into a student apartment after 5 p.m. or on weekends; it is best to contact your preferred residence upon arrival in Poitiers for additional information. In addition, second year students in Poitiers will be on campus to help newly arrived students find residences, which are often apartments that have been recently vacated by other Sciences Po students who have gone to study abroad in their third year.

Student Residences in Poitiers | Sample Rents

Applying for Housing

For more information on securing housing in Poitiers, please refer to the New Student Welcome Guide, which will be sent to you shortly after you confirm your enrollment in the Dual BA Program.

In Reims, there are a number of organizations responsible for student services throughout the city. Sciences Po students reside in many different housing situations—some students live in apartments owned and administered by public entities such as the Centre Régional de Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CROUS) while others secure other private apartments during their time in Reims. Student housing is abundant in Reims, and Sciences Po has a number of rooms reserved in student residences specifically for foreign students. Please note that Sciences Po does not administer student housing directly, but rather works with partner organizations to facilitate access to these residences for our students.

Accommodations

Students in Reims have access to apartments in seven different residences around the city (details below). These buildings offer studio apartments, which are fully furnished with a bed, desk, chairs, and closet. Each apartment has a separate bathroom and kitchen and offers WiFi and television access. Each room has a bathroom and common kitchen located on each floor. Please note that it is not possible to move into a student apartment after 5 p.m. or on weekends; it is best to contact your residence directly prior to your arrival to schedule your move-in date and time.

Student Residences in Reims | Sample Rents

Applying for Housing

To apply for housing, please follow these steps. If you are an international student (without dual French nationality) the public housing option is organized by the "CROUS"- a city-wide organization dedicated to student housing that works with all universities in Reims, including Sciences Po. If you are interested in any of the CROUS residences, please do the following:

  1. Review the Sciences Po Reims Housing website

  2. Complete the application form (PDF, 2.4 MB) and write "Sciences Po International Agreement" at the top of the application along with the name of your programme (e.g., Europe-North America, Europe-Africa)

    • You may leave the INE number blank as it will be given to you when you arrive.

    • If you do not have a co-signer (guarantor), you can apply to VISALE.

  3. Send an electronic copy to Rebeca Romero ([email protected]) 

  4. CROUS will send you an "attestation de reservation de logement" that you may use as temporary proof of residence to open a French bank account and for your visa application.

  5. Once you are assigned an apartment, you will be asked to pay a deposit on your apartment and to submit the following information to Ms. Romero:
    • Full name, nationality, date of birth
    • Confirmation of residence preference
    • Name and address of your guarantor (within the EU, if applicable). If you do not have a guarantor within the EU, you will be asked to apply to VISALE.

  6. Upon your arrival in Reims, you will be asked to provide a follow-up file to finalize your lease. Be sure to prepare all of these documents in advance to submit to the student residence administrators:

    • Two photographs

    • Copy of your passport

    • Copy of your residence permit (carte de séjour)

    • Certificate of enrollment at Sciences Po (certificat de scolarité)

    • Scholarship award letter (if applicable)

    • Written confirmation of Social Security enrollment

    • Proof of renters insurance for your apartment

Contact Information

Sciences Po College Universitaire de Reims
1 Place Museux 
51100 Reims, France
Tel. (33) 03 26 05 94 60

Director: Crystal Cordell Paris
[email protected]
Tel. (33) 03 26 05 94 60  

Housing Liaison: Rebeca Romero
[email protected]
 

Sciences Po does not facilitate homestays, but works with agencies to match students with families for an immersive experience. A homestay can be a great complement to the Sciences Po experience.

Housing at Columbia University

Dual BA Program students will be guaranteed access to Columbia Residential housing when making the transition from France to New York in their third year. Students who choose not to take advantage of University housing leading up to this transition will not be guaranteed a placement at a later date.

In comparison to the housing options offered to students during their time at Sciences Po, there are far fewer studio apartments available and GS students are usually accommodated in apartments or dormitory-style suites shared by other Columbia students. Typically each student has his or her own bedroom while sharing kitchen and bath facilities. An overview of types of accommodations is available on the Columbia Residential website.

To be eligible for University housing, students must be registered full-time (meaning they must register for and complete at least 12 points each semester). Full-time student status is also a requirement for maintaining a student visa. It is easier to be assigned to Columbia Residential as a student who is new to the University than as a continuing student. If you plan to apply for University housing, it is best to do so early in the spring semester before you begin your studies at Columbia, as the timeliness of your application will impact your housing allocation. You may decline an offer if you decide you do not want University housing, though it is important to note that Dual BA students who choose not to take advantage of university housing leading up to this transition will not be guaranteed a placement at a later date.

Students must submit the housing application in the spring semester before enrollment at Columbia. The housing application deadline is April 15.

Fall Semester

  • Mid-February: Application Deadline
  • April-Early July: Review Process
  • Early to Mid-July: Housing Assignments*
  • Mid-July: Wait List Opens
  • Late September: Wait List Closes

*Housing assignments are made on a rolling basis as spaces become available.

Dual BA Program students who plan to apply for Columbia University housing will receive instructions in their third-year transition packets, which they will receive in the spring term of their second year at Sciences Po. Students are responsible for all associated housing costs during their enrollment at Columbia University.

It is important to note that housing is only guaranteed to students who remain on their original Columbia Residential Housing Agreement. Students who choose to break their Housing Agreement or leave university housing are not guaranteed access at a later date, though every effort will be made to accommodate requests outside of this process.

Questions concerning University housing may be directed to [email protected].