Study Abroad in Paris: Housing & Meals
Paying guest in a Parisian home
Students have a double or single room in an apartment where their hosts provide breakfast. Students have a key and can come and go as they wish. There is privacy for study, yet a certain amount of contact with the Parisian hosts. Students are likely to be housed with a single woman or professional couple. Students are seldom housed with families with young children.
In many homes, students have the use of only the bedroom, bathroom and limited use of the kitchen. Parisian hosts do not usually allow free use of the entire apartment. It is important to understand the differences between American hospitality to foreign students and renting a room from a host in Paris. Most Europeans provide housing to foreign students for commercial reasons. Students should not assume they will be included in the daily life of their Parisian hosts.
The fee is based on a twin-bedded room shared with another AIFS student. Students who want a single room must pay an advance supplement of $650 per quarter or semester.
Students staying for the semester are allowed to remain in their homestay during the Christmas and/or spring vacations. However, most students take advantage of these breaks to travel.
AIFS restaurant vouchers
Although only breakfast is included in the fee, students can pay a supplement for restaurant vouchers which can be exchanged at selected restaurants throughout France. Semester students receive 56 vouchers and quarter students receive 48 vouchers (four per week). The cost of approximately $900 for the semester or $770 for the quarter is payable to AIFS prior to departure. Each voucher costs approximately $16 (at the time of printing). Since the exchange rate varies, AIFS will determine the price of meal vouchers in dollars just prior to the start of the semester.
If students do not use all four vouchers in any one week, they may use them in subsequent weeks. Many restaurants in the city accept these vouchers. If students spend more than the value of the voucher, they must pay the difference. If they purchase less than the total value of the voucher, they do not get change.
- Students sign-up and pay for the meal plan once they have been accepted onto the program. Meal plan sign-up is not allowed after arrival in France.
- There is no cash rebate for unused vouchers in Paris.
- The meal plan is non-refundable.
- Meal vouchers are not included for vacation periods nor during the last week of the semester since students may leave early once they finish final exams.
- Students should consider budgeting extra funds for meals to gain flexibility. It costs about $15 for a sandwich and coffee and $30 and up for a three course meal.
Cafeteria meal tickets
Students on a tight budget might want to purchase University cafeteria tickets instead of restaurant vouchers. The price is approximately $8 per meal. Students selecting this option purchase these tickets directly at the cafeterias.
Dinner with families
Some of the Parisian hosts who provide housing for AIFS students agree to offer four dinners a month for a supplementary fee. This is a good opportunity for students to have more contact with their Parisian hosts and to practice their French. Students who would like to take advantage of this option pay the supplementary fee for the entire quarter ($220 for 12 meals) or semester ($300 for 16 meals) to the AIFS College Division prior to their departure from the U.S.
