Free mover:

If you wish to apply for a room in the university residence, you must complete an application on the Internet site of the Regional Center of Student Social Services (CROUS) before the end of April.

Exchange student:

Erasmus students and international students within an exchange program may apply for a room in the university residence. For this you must:

• Complete an application on the CROUS Internet site
• Transfer your codes (INE number or student social file number and connection code) to the International Office contacts in charge of your program before mid-June at the latest.

Note: this accommodation request does not guarantee that accommodation will be granted. 

The University of Bordeaux has a dedicated housing platform with its partner Studapart. Hundreds of exclusive offers may be accessed: studios, flatshares, homestays… and you may also benefit from personalized support throughout your stay/rent.

• Studapart (in English)
• Studapart (in Chinese)

To get started, click on “Tenant space” and create an account with your personal e-mail address + the activation code HOUSINGUBDX. For any questions, please contact: booking@studapart.com 

Please note: 

• In order to rent accommodation in France, you need to sign a lease called a 'bail'. You will also need to pay a deposit (equivalent to one month's rent), and take out a housing insurance policy. The rent is paid at the beginning of each month, except for residential hotels. When leaving your accommodation, you must give 1 to 3 months' notice, depending on the type of accommodation and depending on the circumstances. 
• You don't have a guarantor living in France? Studapart can replace your guarantor over the whole duration of your stay. A guarantor is a person bringing financial security and attesting you are creditworthy. It’s difficult to rent a place in France without a French guarantor. In most cases, student residences and landlords require that your guarantor earns income in France. You can get the Studapart Guarantee directly on the platform and add it to your rental application to find accommodation on the Studapart platform or anywhere else!

Lines A, B and C operate throughout the week from 5.00am to 00.30am (1.15am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Trams pass every 10 minutes on average. For more information, please consult the TBM website or go to a ticket office if you would like to obtain a travel card.

Prices:

• TBM ticket: 1,70€
• 10 journey ticket: 13,20€
• Monthly pass: 33,10€
• Annual pass: 19,70€ per month

> TBM website 

Certain lines intersect with the tram lines, others avoid the center and cover the suburbs, while some offer local services in districts that are generally organized into two-way loops. On the “flexo” lines, some stops are served on a “request” basis. There is also a transport-on-demand service for people with reduced mobility.

1,545 self-service bikes are available from 139 stations spread across the city of Bordeaux. Journeys of less than 30 minutes are free once you have joined (by paying a deposit and with a TBM card). A mobile application allows you to check instantaneously whether bikes are available.

> VCub website 

You may also enjoy the free VVB hire service (Vélo Ville de Bordeaux). The "Maison du Vélo" (House of Bikes) has implemented numerous activities around the city using this mode of transport. 

> Map of cycle paths in Bordeaux

Train

Bordeaux-Saint-Jean is the biggest railway station in the Aquitaine region, just 3 hours from Paris. The station is located in the city center and is easily accessible by bus, tram or bike. The trains serving the station travel to or from Spain and towns and cities such as Arcachon, Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lille, Nantes and Nice. There are frequent connections with Bergerac, Périgueux, Angoulême, Agen, Pau, Libourne, La Rochelle, Limoges and Poitiers.

> SNCF website

Plane

> Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is about 30 minutes from the city center. To get there, you can use public transport: TBM line 1 or the Jet’Bus Shuttle Bus. If you would like to get there by car, you can park in the airport car parks. Bordeaux is  just over an hour from Paris by plane, and there are direct flights to various other European cities.

The TBM has also installed an original type of river transport service; the BatCUB, which allows passengers to cross Bordeaux via the Garonne river.

> Batcub website

Check out the traffic conditions and where to park in Bordeaux. 

Driving licence

If you have a driving licence from an EU country, you may drive freely in France. If you have a driving licence from a non-EU country, you may drive for the first 12 months of your stay. Beyond this time, you must apply for a French driving licence, if there is an agreement between your home country and France. 

• Remember to consult the Préfecture's website for more information on the international driving licence.

On arrival in France you should open a bank account. All foreigners staying in France for at least 3 months have the possibility of opening a bank account and of having a bank card and/or chequebook. Three documents are required to open an account: your passport and a photocopy, proof of address and your hosting agreement.

You can also settle your expenses more easily, make money transfers using the account(s) you have in your home country, and receive your salary and social benefits in this account.

The currency used is the same as in the European Union, the Euro, whose symbol is €. Please do not hesitate to convert your currency via the Internet to give you an idea of what the Euro represents. You can also exchange your money for Euros at the bureau de change or at the bank.

The FSDIE social assistance, funded by the CVEC (Student life and Campus Contribution), is available to all students following initial training (and exceptionally, those following lifelong training*). It supports students who may have occasional financial difficulties (rent payment, unplanned extra expenses, etc.). All applications are processed online according to the following steps:

• Submit a request via the online application form available on the university website
• Elaborate a social evaluation via an online appointment with a social assistant from the CROUS  
• Ensure the study of the complete file by the social assistance commission, once the social evaluation has been carried out

For any questions regarding the preparation of your file or the requested documents, please contact the Student Life Center by email or by phone:

• Student Life Center Bordeaux: +33 (0)5 57 57 92 92 / +33 (0)5 57 57 17 79
• Student Life Center Pessac: +33 (0)5 56 84 62 61
• Student Life Center Talence: +33 (0)5 40 00 60 38

* Lifelong training: students who have resumed studies which are not funded by a company or an organization.