As you learned in your textbook, university studies are quite inexpensive in France, financed for the most part by the state. Students must pay a minimal droit d'inscription (registration fee), which is usually between 200 and 400 euros*, depending on the school. They must also finance their books and supplies, as well as lodging and meals. At registration, students receive their carte d'étudiant, which allows them access to all university services. The university organization called the CROUS (Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires) runs the restaurants universitaires, known as the resto-U. A typical meal, including an hors-d'œuvre, a plat chaud and cheese or a dessert, costs an economical 2.80 euros.

Lodging can be expensive for students, especially those in urban areas. One of the most economical places to live is a room in a résidence universitaire. In Paris, many résidences are located at the Cité internationale, which is similar to an American campus with dorms, gyms, computer rooms with Internet access, laundromats, etc. A room in a résidence costs between 150 and 350 euros month, depending on the location. The number of available rooms is limited, and students are selected on the basis of economic need (with priority given to students who have received bourses, or grants), as well as geographical location and academic results. Students can also choose to live in apartments, rent a room in a private home, or in a foyer d'étudiants, which is a housing facility much like the résidence except that it is run by a private organization rather than the university system. A room at a foyer d'étudiants costs between 400 and 800 euros a month, depending on the location.

* As of March 2009, 1.00 euro = $1.27

1			Considérez Combien coûtent les études universitaires dans votre pays normalement? Comparez les frais (costs) d'une année universitaire dans votre pays et en France.