Student life
The second year of the Forward expedition takes place in Paris, as well being Europe’s economic centre, Paris is famously known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 cities for students.
Known as ‘the City of Arts’, Paris offers a hugely rich cultural agenda, ranging from the visual arts and architecture and design, to historical research, literature, theatre, cinema, music and dance. It is also a student-city and it hosts some of the best French universities and ‘grandes écoles’.
You will study and live in the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP), the largest accommodation site for French and international students and researchers in the Île-de-France region. With over 12000 students and researchers from 150 different nationalities every year, and 43 different ‘maisons’ (houses), the CIUP offers undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and artists a unique multicultural and multidisciplinary campus experience.
Located a nine-minute RER ride from the Quartier Latin and a 20-minute RER ride from the Louvre Museum and nestled in a 30+ acre area of eco-responsible gardens and parks (1 acre is roughly equivalent to 1 football field!), Cité Internationale offers a wide range of activities, from cultural events to student associations and sports. Its outdoor space and green areas provide a relaxing and bucolic atmosphere, while still being close to the city centre.
Students living on the CIUP campus can sign up for their choice between 50 different sports. As well as a pool, there are pitches for tennis, football and basketball, pilates and yoga rooms.
For music lovers, the campus hosts 13 soundproofed music studios. Residents can join the 60+ choirs, and orchestras, or add their own band to the 140 already present on site. You could also join the Cité Internationale Theatre or Cité Internationale Choir which bring together CIUP residents and guests for exchanges or performances.
Famous for its dynamic social and cultural life and for its promotion of international culture, the CIUP hosts many events, conferences and talks organised by students and researchers throughout the year. It also includes a large network of NGOs and charity- focused associations which residents can join to support the causes they believe in.
CIUP residents are very involved in campus life and have created many initiatives such as a fund for student creation, the residents’ journal, and a community garden to name but a few. Have a look here!
All the activities can be joined for a small annual fee – details below in living costs.
Let’s take a look at some of the costs you may have in your second year studying at Forward’s Paris campus.
| Activities | Cost per week | Cost per month | Cost per academic year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student home* | From €207 to €275 | From €828 to €1102 | From €10,764 to €14,326 |
| Private health insurance | From €2.5 to €5 | From €10 to €20 | From €130 to €260 |
| Public transportation pass | €7.25 | €29 | €377 |
| Groceries | From €62 to €75 | From €250 to €300 | From €3,250 to €3,900 |
| Mobile phone plan | From €0.5 to €3.75 | From €2 to €15 | From €26 to €195 |
| Leisure activities and daily expenses** | From €37 to €50 | From €150 to €200 | From €1,950 to €2,600 |
| Activity | Costs |
|---|---|
| Meal in a average restaurant | €20 |
| Meal at CIUP | €3.30 – €13 |
| Take away in a bakery (lunch menus, sandwiches…) | €8 – €12 |
| Coffee | €1 – €3 |
| Cinema ticket | €12 |
| Nightclub entry | €15 – €25 |
| Single metro ticket | €2.10 |
NB: For non-EU students, the private health insurance cost may differ.Travel insurance and/or private insurance plan from home country is advised.
*Forward College has established a partnership with the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP), enabling our students to secure accommodations at CIUP—a facility typically reserved for graduate and postgraduate students. A reservation fee of €3,150 (in 2024) is required, which must be paid upfront during the summer before the second year, in addition to the monthly rent.
** Includes gym, nightlife, cinema and other types of entertainment.
Studying abroad is one of the most important decisions in your life. By deciding to join Forward you will be pushed out of your comfort zones on a number of occasions: you will transition from high school to university, learn autonomy, live away from your family in a new country, be immersed in a multicultural student body so it’s a good idea to get prepared before arriving. Here are a few tips from our students:
In the Cite Universitaire Cafeteria you can eat lunch and/or dinner every week day. You get a three-course meal of your choice for 3.30€, buuuuut if you apply for the financial aid at the beginning of the year you can always eat there for only 1€!
Bring or buy some blankets and comfy homewear as, like Lisbon, Paris can be surprisingly cold in winter. Blankets are your best friend, and good slippers are a must.
Once a month Opéra Garnier hosts a student-only performance. Tickets are only 10€ – normally the tickets cost over 200€ so this is a must-do opportunity.
Montmarte might be very touristy but it is popular for a reason: it has breathtaking views and is perfect for sunset chasing.
A bar with a secret dungeon where you can sumo wrestle (safely in protective gear) your friends for only 3€.
A co-working space in Paris where you pay for the time you spend there instead of what you consume. For example you pay 6€ for an hour and get unlimited coffee and snacks!
If you stay in Honnorat, investing in a pair of flip flops or sliders will make the journey to the shared shower block a much more elegant experience.
Cité is a huge campus with various sports facilities. The sports membership costs 150€ for the whole year, which gives you access to the pool, the gym, the tennis courts, football fields, a near-endless selection of yoga, pilates, & krav-maga classes, and much more.
It’s important to know that almost all museums in Paris are free for European students or visa holders under the age of 25!
This is a (very) budget-friendly restaurant that sells five kinds of burgers and several kinds of fries. A burger costs 3.20 and fries around 2€. Cheaper than McDonalds or Burger Kingand a real cosy restaurant!
