Housing Office

Welcome

Visiting Paris is an exciting experience – living in the city as a local is a transformative one. Throughout your time attending AUP and living in Paris, you will experience both the joys and challenges of navigating one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its rich history, its diversity, and its dynamic landscape. Unlike traditional American universities, AUP's housing is spread across Paris’s various arrondissements. Though our classroom buildings are all closely located in one neighborhood, you will be housed, participate in cultural and educational programs, and engage in extracurricular activities all across the city.

By taking advantage of what Paris has to offer and learning to navigate the challenges of a big, unfamiliar city, you will learn invaluable life skills, whether you are housed through the University or independently. During your time in Paris, you will learn to adapt to a new neighborhood, city and culture, whether that’s through communicating with landlords to resolve inevitable maintenance issues, attending fashion shows or other unique cultural events around Paris, navigating the metro system, or finding a favorite boulangerie. Throughout this experience, the Housing Office is available to guide and support you with various resources, while serving the University’s broader mission of providing you with a student-centered, academically rigorous, career-enabling and transformative global liberal arts education.

Life in Paris

Commuting

Like most big cities, Paris sprawls across multiple neighborhoods and suburbs – like most Parisians, you will likely be using public transportation on a regular basis. With 16 metro lines and 70 bus lines, Paris’s public transportation system (RATP) is well connected and convenient. It may seem overwhelming at first, but the University will ensure you are guided through setting up your metro pass and taking your first journey during Orientation; most students consider themselves RATP-pros after just a few weeks. AUP Housing has residential options all across the city, and you will most likely need to commute by public transportation no matter where in Paris you live. Even if you find accommodation that is close enough to campus to walk to classes, it is still essential to get used to the public transportation system to make the most of the many opportunities Paris has to offer.

Historic City

Paris is known for its iconic Haussmann-era buildings and historic landmarks, which means much of the city’s charm comes from its age. While living in Paris, you will have the opportunity to live in rooms in old buildings steeped in rich history; however, they often function in ways that prove their age. Buildings can be poorly insulated, elevators are often small (or nonexistent), and narrow pipes mean that residents must obey strict rules to avoid clogs and plumbing problems. It’s safe to say that tumble dryers and garbage disposals might be a thing of the past for students moving here from places with more modern infrastructure.

Safety

Paris, much like most big cities, is an environment in which all residents, French or international, have to be vigilant. AUP residences have specific safety measures  in place, and the Housing Office educates students on best practices to adopt in any housing. These practices include making sure building entrances close properly, avoiding sharing entry codes with non-residents, always locking your doors, and being a reactive bystander when noticing anything suspicious. The University has also put general structures in place, both during Orientation and throughout the year, to educate students on safety practices when moving about the city.

Convenience

While living in a big city has its challenges, it also offers the gift of convenience. Learning to master Paris’s public transportation system may seem daunting at first, but it means you can easily travel anywhere; no corner of the city will be inaccessible to you, so long as you are eager to explore! Paris is also brimming with grocery stores, both big and small, and many stay open until the late hours of the evening. The city’s diverse population means you can easily access international cuisines and a variety of restaurants. Though smaller apartments (and thus smaller kitchens) do require residents to shop for groceries more often, the availability of stores, cafes and restaurants throughout the city offers an easy solution. The University provides additional resources to help students make the most of their time in Paris.