Student’s halls
Process step by step
Consult each student hall’s website in order to know about their different procedures and registration periods (generally 2 sessions per year for the autumn and the spring semesters). The opening days are generally mentioned a few days/weeks before.
DO NOT WAIT for your admission at EPFL to register with a student hall! Some of the student halls might ask you for your application number from EPFL. You get this number instantly when you open your registration file on the EPFL website. A housing request is not an engagement, you can refuse an offer as long as you haven’t signed a lease.
DO NOT MISS the registration dates! Some of the student halls only open their registration phase for a very short period (1 to 5 days) and if you haven’t registered on time, you will not be able to do it before the following semester. Make sure to provide all the requested information and documents in the application forms. A complete file has better chances to be retained. Do not forget that a registration in a student hall does not guarantee that you will obtain a housing. Subscribe with several student halls in order to increase your chances.
BE PATIENT… Student halls attribute their housing according to availability. For the academic year starting in September, allocations are between July and August.
Commuting
An average commuting time of 30 min from your housing to EPFL corresponds to the current situation in the area. You can calculate your commuting time accurately on the CFF website.
Do not be too restrictive in your search criteria as you might miss opportunities.
Links to main student halls in Lausanne
FMEL – Fondation maisons pour Étudiants Lausanne
FSLE – Fondations Solidarité Logement pour Etudiants
Bon accueil (for women – in French only)
Le CUC – Centre Universitaire Catholique (in French only)
Student Village
Good to know
EPFL does not possess its own campus. The different student halls are managed by independent organizations (foundations, real estate agencies, etc). They are managed independently from one another.
They become fully booked very quickly, so it is extremely important to subscribe within the first few days the subscription period opens. The dates and duration of registration vary from one student hall to another. Conditions and dates are mentioned on each website when they are known. There are generally 2 registration sessions per year (one for the spring semester and one for the autumn semester).
Some of the student halls are reserved only for Bachelor and Master students registered at EPFL and/or UNIL.
For any specific question related to one of the student halls, we recommend to contact them directly through their website as some have no email address or can be difficult to reach by phone.
Descriptions
Furnished accommodation for students. The main options are:
- Flatshare room
- Private room for one person. The bathroom, the living room, and the kitchen are to be shared with the other flatmates (generally 2 to 8 flatmates). Sometimes the room has its own bathroom
- Single dorm room
- Private room with a private bathroom. The living room and the kitchen are to be shared
- Studio for 1 or 2 people
- Studio with a private kitchenette and private bathroom