You can secure your housing arrangements before you leave for France. One way to do so is to reserve a room in a dormitory managed by your university or other higher education institution. You can also find a room or apartment to rent on the private housing market as there is generous financial assistance for housing available for domestic and international students.

Making arrangements in advance from outside the country is generally difficult, so you may need to find temporary or short-term housing in France until you find a place you’d like to rent longer-term.