Plan Your Housing Search
Before My Arrival
Type of Accommodation
On the French rental market you will find different types of accommodation :
- Individual Accommodation;
- Shared Accommodation;
- Subletting;
- In a private home;
- Private or public university residency;
- In a hostel.
Accomodation Location
Depending on where you are studying or researching, you may prefer to stay in one of the following locations:
- In the city center;
- Close to the city center;
- Near your place of study or research;
- Close to public transportation;
- Close to shops.
Strasbourg has an extensive public transportation network (train, tram, bus) and bike paths, so you can consider areas further away from the centre of Strasbourg when looking for accommodation: Illkirch, Cronenbourg, Schiltigheim and Koenigshoffen have direct connections to downtown Strasbourg.
Short-term Accommodation
If you have not yet found accommodation when you arrive in Strasbourg, consider short-term accommodation solutions such as:
- Bed and Crous: the short-term accommodation option by Crous
- Youth hostels in the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg
European Doctoral College
This residence gives priority to first-time PhD students under a multi-diploma joint supervision agreement. It is ideally located on the university’s Esplanade Campus, Boulevard de la Victoire, close to the “Observatoire” tram stop.
The Arconati Villa
The Villa Arconati Visconti is a University of Strasbourg residence dedicated to hosting professors, researchers and postdoctoral students during short stays in Strasbourg. The possible length of stay in the accommodation ranges from a minimum of one week to a maximum of three months.
Take into account your resources (personal, grants and subsidies) and work out the maximum amount of rent you can pay per month.
You can use cost of living comparison tools (e.g. traveltables.com) to get an idea of the rental budget you will need.
Before you start visiting potential places, you'll need to put together an application to give to the rental agent or landlord. This will allow you to be more responsive.
This application contains several administrative documents which aim to prove your ability to pay the rent:
- A copy of your photo ID, passport or valid residence permit;
- For students: a copy of your student card, enrollment certificate for the current year or work contract;
- For employees: proof of address (electricity bill, telephone bill, gas bill...) and proof of financial resources or social assistance (payslip, housing benefit certificate or housing benefit simulation certificate, notice of grant award...);
- If you have a guarantor: a copy of the guarantor's identity card, proof of address (electricity, telephone or gas bill) and proof of income (payslip).
Put care into your application. Details make all the difference. But avoid atypical formats.
Make several copies. This will multiply the number of applications you can send and will allow you to be more responsive.
Keep the original documents on you when visiting a potential place, as the owner or estate agent may ask for them to check the authenticity of the information given.