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Live at the MECHow to live at the MEC?
How to Live at the MEC?
The MEC offers you a unique experience in the heart of the City of Light. Its strategic location and proximity to other Houses will allow you to meet new people, discover new cultures, build networks, and create wonderful memories.
An enriching experience, an opportunity not to be missed.
The MEC is launching a new recruitment campaign for the semester starting in January 2026!
Embark on a unique personal and professional adventure, develop your skills, and broaden your horizons.
📲 Interested? Apply for accommodation here.
‼️Important ‼️
Dear applicants,
All applications completed and validated before November 15, 2025, will be evaluated by the MEC Admissions Committee.
What We Offer
MEC offers 143 housing units, designed to accommodate Canadian Master’s, PhD and post-doctoral students, researchers, interns and artists.
Admissions
The MEC also admits other types of residents who are studying :
- Students
- Interns
- Canadian researchers;
- Canadian artists in training or in residence;
- Students of other nationalities who are transferred (brassage) from other houses of the Cité internationale universitaire.
Conditions :
- Be of Canadian nationality
- Be at least 20 years-old when you arrive at the MEC.
- Have a postsecondary degree from a Canadian educational institution.
- Study in a Canadian postsecondary educational institution.
- Provide proof of admission for university studies, a research program, or an internship in an institution of higher learning, a research laboratory or a business (through an internship) in Île-de-France (greater Paris region).
OR
Be accepted at a French institution of higher learning in Île-de-France.
OR
Demonstrate with a letter from a graduate director in Canada, that a period of research in Paris is necessary to obtain the candidate’s post graduate degree.
OR
Submit an artistic residency project to the MEC (places are limited).
Admission Committee :
The directors of the MEC are the admission committee. The committee meets several times a year, according to needs and availabilities, to accept applications.
- The files of doctoral and master’s students are prioritized and reviewed as soon as they are received.
- Applications for a full academic year will be given priority.
- Other requests (student exchanges, internships, etc.) are processed at the beginning of June for admission in the fall, and in October for admission in the winter.
- The MEC is committed to supporting diversity with regard to fields of study and the university of origin.
Summer period (July 1 – August 31)
It is possible to apply to extend your stay during the summer.
During the summer months and the academic year (depending on availability), the MEC also welcomes guests for short, non-academic visits.
Cultural Exchange at the CIUP
Each year, the Maison des étudiants canadiens (MEC) actively takes part in the cultural exchange (« brassage ») program of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP), dedicating around 20% of its rooms to inter-house exchanges. Through this program, a candidate may join the MEC as part of an exchange designed to promote cultural diversity and provide a truly international experience.
Conversely, an MEC resident can also represent Canada in another house of the CIUP, helping to share and highlight Canadian culture, values, and traditions.
It is with deep gratitude that I look back on my experience as a resident of the Canadian Student House at the Maison du Portugal
– André de Gouveia, during my first year of my Master’s degree. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth, kindness, and generosity. Very quickly, I no longer felt like a guest, but like a full-fledged resident. This mix allowed me to discover a culture that was still unfamiliar to me: the richness of the language, the friendliness of everyday life, and the festive spirit so characteristic of the house.
This cultural immersion had a profound impact on me and inspired me. Beyond the welcome, it was above all the quality of the human connections forged that made this experience unforgettable. I met people who became true friends, and I was able to get actively involved in the life of the residence and the Cité, particularly through my involvement in the residents’ committee. This involvement allowed me to participate in the collective dynamic and contribute to the cultural life of the residence with enthusiasm. Living at the Maison du Portugal was much more than just a change of accommodation: it was a truly human and cultural experience that enriched my student life in Paris in a profound and unexpected way.
I sincerely thank the Maison du Portugal for its warm welcome and for offering me a welcoming home within the Cité internationale.
Living at the Maison d’Égypte was a deeply meaningful experience. From my very first days, I found much more than a place to stay : I found a vibrant community full of energy and warmth. As a barista at the house café, I crossed paths with my neighbors every day, and those encounters quickly grew into friendships. Conversations flowed naturally and spontaneously, often filled with laughter and genuine connection.
Looking back now, I realize how profoundly these simple moments and this warm community have shaped me. I built sincere bonds, and this chapter will stay with me, a time filled with joy and humanity.
Shukran Masr! (Thank you, Egypt!)
Application Deadlines
The application process for the current academic year begins in May and ends once the Maison has achieved full occupancy.
Requests can be made all year long. The review of files for second term admission begins in September.
Rates 2025/2026
* Valid from 01/09/2025 until 30/06/2026
| Resident-student and resident-academic trainee admitted by the Admissions Committee | Resident-student and resident-academic trainee admitted by the Admissions Committee | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sept. à juin | juillet-août | ||||||
| Single room (standard), per month | 610,00 € | 660,00 € | |||||
| Single room (large), per month | 720,00 € | 770,00 € | |||||
| Single room (standard, with kitchenette), per month | 720,00 € | 770,00 € | |||||
| Single room (large with kitchenette), per month | 845,00 € | 895,00 € | |||||
| Single room (large with fridge), per month | 725,00€ | 775,00€ | |||||
| Attic studio, occupancy 1 person, per month | 1055,00 € | 1 105,00 € | |||||
| Attic studio for 2 persons, per month | 1 200,00 € | 1 250,00 € | |||||
| Standard studio (ground floor and mezzanine), per month | 1 305,00 € | 1 355,00 € | |||||
| Contribution to the Residents’ Committee, per month, per person | 2,25 € | 2,25 € | |||||
Application Rules
The academic rates are only applicable for stays of over three months.
The monthly rates for residents accepted by the admissions committee are for the first day to the last day of the calendar month (on the 30th and 31st of the month).
The summer rate (+ 50 €) applies from July 1st to August 31 only for these students.
In the event of early departure, one month’s notice is required (a penalty will be applied, as stipulated in our internal regulations).
Included Services
- Internet (Wi-Fi and wired)
- Cleaning once a week
- Bedding : duvet, pillow, pillow case, duvet cover set, flat sheet and mattress protector (sheets are washed every two weeks)
- Towels are supplied in the studios and apartments
APPLY
You’d like to experience Paris while living at the MEC ?
Apply by completing the following steps :
Your application will be submitted to the Admission Committee after having completed these 4 steps.
For further information, don’t hesitate to contact the person responsible for admissions, Mr. Mauricio Fernandez: admission@etudiantscanadiens.org
