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You should also check if you are entitled to get an aide from CAF. They will pay you part of your rent sometimes, which can come in handy!

If you have too much difficulty in communicating in French, you could try to ask a French kind soul to go with to the CAF office. There's little chance they'll speak English.

Under 26yo and a student, you should get many discounts, including for public transport passes. Check those out. In Paris, the reduction is huge.


Good luck with the Ph.D.!

 

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Thank you for the information... I have heard that its very difficult to get an accommodation in Montpellier.... Is this true? Any suggestions on the places I could stay?

I don't know the city, but I wouldn't doubt that accommodations are hard to find. It's a really bad problem in all of France. It's sad that most of the French can care less about it. Students deserve much better.

There are several websites for student residences. Usually, private student residences are very good and your scholarship should be enough for the lower-end ones. You need to research are soon as possible to reserve your place, because if you wait, then it gets taken. Also, make sure these are established residencies, and not just some private person with a big house. There are scams over the Internet.

You could also check if the university has an Asian student association or Indian? Or an Indian association in Montpelier?

Lots of students share an apartment too. Not sure pap.com or pap.fr is for all of France, that's a rental site.