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- CROUS is a network of 27 regional organizations across France<\/strong> whose single goal is to improve student living conditions and give every student the best chance of success.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- CROUS manages four main services<\/strong>: student accommodation, university restaurants, scholarships, and social support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- All students with a valid student card can eat for \u20ac1<\/strong> at any CROUS university restaurant, regardless of whether they receive a scholarship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- CROUS student housing is very limited<\/strong>: approximately 175,000 rooms serve a student population of over 2.9 million. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- International students can apply for CROUS housing<\/strong> but must do so during the complementary phase, which opens in July, as the main phase is reserved for scholarship holders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the CROUS?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The CROUS (Centre R\u00e9gional des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires) is a French public institution, established in 1955 and operating under the authority of the national government, whose mission is to improve the living and working conditions of students in France.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CROUS is not a single office. It is a network of 27 regional organizations<\/a> spread across France, each covering one or more regional education authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every CROUS operates around the same central goal, which is stated consistently across all official communications: to encourage the improvement of conditions of living of students in their everyday life to ensure the best chances of success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In practice, this means the CROUS manages the four pillars of student support in France: housing, food, financial aid, and social services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What services does the CROUS offer?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The CROUS provides four main categories of student support: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Accommodation in university residences<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Subsidized meals at university restaurants<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Need-based scholarships<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Access to social workers for students in difficulty<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All four services are accessible through the central student portal at messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr<\/a><\/strong>, which is the starting point for most CROUS-related applications and requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"CROUS](\"https:\/\/gogofrance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GGF-blog-photo-watermarking-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow does CROUS student housing work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CROUS manages a network of university residences across France, but with approximately 175,000 rooms available to a student population of over 2.9 million, demand significantly exceeds supply.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing is allocated in two phases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Main phase<\/strong>: Reserved as a priority for scholarship holders (boursiers), students from French overseas territories, and students with disabilities. Applications usually run in May, with three rounds during which students can adjust their preferences after each result.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Complementary phase<\/strong>: Open to all students, including international students without a scholarship. Applications usually open in July, and all students can consult remaining available accommodations and apply directly on the platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you apply for CROUS housing?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
International students must apply directly through the platform trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can submit up to 10 accommodation wishes, across the same city or different cities and CROUS regions. Once a room is offered to you, you must confirm your booking by paying a reservation fee within the specified timeframe (generally 5 days). This deposit is deducted from your first month’s rent. If you do not pay within the deadline, your reservation is cancelled, and the room is released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if you cannot get a CROUS room?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you are not allocated a CROUS room, Lokaviz<\/a> is the official clearinghouse for student housing in France, listing both vacancies in university residences and accommodation offered by individual property owners.<\/code><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAll listings on Lokaviz carry the Lokaviz quality label<\/a>, which means the housing has met a verified standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New accommodation offers are posted online throughout the summer as withdrawals and departures occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does CROUS housing cost?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
CROUS student residences are among the most affordable housing options in France.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Campus France guidance<\/a>, in Paris you should expect to pay around \u20ac450 per month for a CROUS room, compared to at least \u20ac800 for a studio on the private market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CROUS rooms are individual, moderately priced dwellings located near study sites with access to public transport. Because they qualify as regulated housing, students staying in CROUS residences can also apply for government housing assistance<\/a> through the CAF<\/a> (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales), which can reduce your effective monthly rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"CROUS](\"https:\/\/gogofrance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GGF-blog-photo-watermarking-3.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow does the CROUS \u20ac1 meal work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
All students with a valid student card and an active Izly account can access a full meal for \u20ac1 at any CROUS university restaurant in France, Monday to Friday.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u20ac1 meal includes one main dish and up to two sides chosen from a starter, cheese, dessert, or fruit. It is available once per service (midday and, where applicable, evening), so that the maximum number of students can benefit. The meal always features fresh, locally sourced, and organic-labeled products prepared by CROUS chefs. Vegetarian options are available daily across all locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students who do not hold a scholarship pay \u20ac3.30 for the same meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Izly?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Izly<\/a> is the contactless payment solution used across the CROUS network.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It allows students to pay for meals at university restaurants and access other campus services. You must download the Izly app and have an active account to benefit from the \u20ac1 meal rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is a CROUS scholarship?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A CROUS scholarship (bourse sur crit\u00e8res sociaux, or BCS) is a need-based financial grant awarded to students in initial higher education in France who face material or financial difficulty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scholarship is divided into levels from 0 to 7, with amounts generally ranging from approximately \u20ac1,000 to \u20ac5,700 per year, paid in monthly instalments from September to June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being a CROUS scholarship holder gives you access to a range of additional benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Exemption from university registration fees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Exemption from paying the CVEC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Priority in the allocation of CROUS accommodation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Access to the \u20ac1 meal at CROUS university restaurants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who can apply for a CROUS scholarship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To be eligible for a CROUS scholarship, you must generally be under the age of 28 on September 1 of the academic year in question.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You must also be enrolled in a full-time initial training program at an eligible French higher education institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For international students, the eligibility conditions differ depending on your situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Non-EU students<\/strong>: Must have been residing in France for at least two years and have a tax household in France for at least two years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- EU students<\/strong>: Must have worked in France, have parents who received income in France, or have had more than one year of continuous presence in France.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you apply for a CROUS scholarship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Applications are submitted via messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr<\/a>, typically between January and April of the year before the academic year in question.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
After submitting your application, you will receive either a conditional grant notification, a reasoned refusal, or a request for additional documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can simulate your potential scholarship amount on the CROUS website here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you access CROUS social services?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you are facing financial difficulties, health issues, or other problems in your daily life as a student in France, you can book an appointment with a social worker from the Social Department of your regional CROUS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social workers can help you navigate access to financial aid, housing, health resources, and other student support systems. Appointment booking is available through the platform messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you contact the CROUS?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Since April 2025, a single national phone number connects students to all CROUS contact centers across France: 09 72 59 65 65 (charged at local call rate).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This number covers all CROUS-related inquiries, including scholarships, accommodation, CVEC, social services, catering, and requests for emergency financial assistance. When you call, you simply need to state the number of the region you study in, and you will be connected to the CROUS contact center for your region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- EU students<\/strong>: Must have worked in France, have parents who received income in France, or have had more than one year of continuous presence in France.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Complementary phase<\/strong>: Open to all students, including international students without a scholarship. Applications usually open in July, and all students can consult remaining available accommodations and apply directly on the platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Subsidized meals at university restaurants<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- CROUS manages four main services<\/strong>: student accommodation, university restaurants, scholarships, and social support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n