As a student, trying to find your ideal accommodation can be a real headache, especially when you arrive in a foreign country! The task of looking through the ads and organising visits to your future ‘home’ can often be quite difficult. To simplify life and ensure your move to La Rochelle is as easy as possible, here is some advice along with some useful tips.
Studapart: Excelia’s accommodation platform
Whether you’re looking for a shared house or apartment, furnished accommodation or perhaps a room in a host family and whether you’d prefer to be in the city centre or on campus near the School... our online platform has all the information you could possibly need and it’s completely free to use! In addition to a wide range of housing ads, you will be able to contact the owners direct via a messaging service and there is a range of search tools to help you find that perfect accommodation in La Rochelle, France... or even abroad!
How does it work? If you are already an Excelia student, simply use your MyIntranet Login to access the platform. If you have been accepted onto one of our study programmes, upon registration you will receive a link to the Studapart platform.
Which type of accommodation and which areas of the city are best?
If you dream of adopting the French way of life whilst improving your language skills, opt for a room in a private house! Not only is it a relatively inexpensive option (about € 300 per month), but living in a host family is an excellent way to meet new people! You will have your own room and will share the rest of the accommodation with the family. Some families will even come to the train station or the airport to pick you up.
Perhaps you would prefer to live alone or in a shared house or apartment? In that case, you’ll be pleased to know that La Rochelle is full of student apartments but prices can vary greatly depending on the area of city! You will need to allow a budget of € 400 - € 600 per month. The Minimes area of the city is a very popular place and central to student life! It is home to all the city’s higher education establishments, private business Schools and universities alike, and is ideally located, ensuring a short journey to class every day. The area has great transport links and is only 15 minutes’ walk from the Historic Port! The city centre is also one of the most popular areas for students to live. Just a stone's throw from the mainline train station, the city centre will certainly charm you with its bars, boutiques, port and little lanes.
For smaller budgets, don’t hesitate to apply to the CROUS for accommodation in one of the six university residences on the La Rochelle campus. The rents are very affordable!
What other expenses are there in addition to rent?
Your rent will be your main expenditure, however make sure you consider all the other service charges that are not always included in the rent, such as electricity, gas (through the companies EDF/GDF), water, internet, council tax (if you are actually present in the apartment on 1st January) and the annual tax for household waste. Do not hesitate to ask for more details from your letting agency or your landlord.
Housing benefit
As a student, you can apply for housing benefit from the French government. You can also ask for assistance at Action Logement and you may also be entitled to other financial help such as Loca-Pass or Mobili-Jeune. It would be a shame to miss out on this little bit of extra help!
