University Residences FMEL
The university student residence FMEL is the best choice for those who want to avoid the trouble and the time of finding housing, or for those who do not have a guarantor. In addition, it is the cheapest solution, with rent ranging between 480-520CHF in case of flatshare (with the exception of the Atrium building that costs more than 650CHF). However, the problem with FMEL is that the rooms are not that many, so you have to apply for a room months before coming in Lausanne and in very specific dates of the year.
Important: only students of UNIL and EPFL are eligible for a room at these residences.
The process:
- First of all you need to apply on-line at the site.
The applications usually open for a week during March for those who wish to find a room in September and some years they reopen for 3-4 weeks during October for those who want a room from February-March (you do not need to be already registered at the university in order to apply, only when the time comes to sign the contract you have to be registered). - When you’ll apply, you’ll get a registration number with which you entere the waiting list. In order to keep your registration active you have to update it every month. If you forget to do it, your application will be canceled.
- You are waiting for an offer from the residence via an email, when and if there is available room.
In general, you can go by their offices or call them (Avenue de Rhodanie 64, Tel: ++41 21 617 81 54) to ask about the status of your applications.
If you have stays at the residences in the past, the above process is not followed. In this case, you have to contact the Administration Office directly.
Important: The Erasmus students usually have priority for these residences, since they come for only 6 months and it’s very hard to find housing elsewhere. Thus, if you are in erasmus and you lost the application dates, contact FMEL the sooner possible before coming here, you might be able to find a room.
Other Residences
In addition to FMEL, there are some private student residences, where you can apply. However, for them the selection process is based on the dossier and not on waiting lists (for guidelines see here). The more popular are:
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Stud’Home & Eglise-Anglaise (one building in the city center, m2 stop Grancy, one building close to EPFL, m1 stop Cerisaie).
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Les Estudiantines (near the EPFL campus, m1 στάση EPFL)
Important: Minimun stay 6 months. -
Planète Bleue (m1 stop Montelly).
This residence only offers rooms in flatshares, no private studios.
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Catholic University Centre (CUC) (m2 stop Grancy).
This residence accepts students (catholic or not) from UNIL, EPFL, Conservatoire de Musique de Lausanne, as well as from schools of social sciences or art.
The rooms do not offer private kitchen. -
Pension Bienvenue (m2 stop Lausanne Gare)
Common kitchen and bathroom on every floor. -
Le cazard
Common kitchen and bathroom on every floor.