Study Abroad | Grenoble

Housing

Homestay Family

A rewarding way to learn French, gain a unique and personal insight into French culture and integrate into the local community.

• Daily breakfast and dinner included
• Single room with a shared bathroom
• Access to laundry facilities

Student Residence

Live independently in a centrally located residence with French and international students. Students selecting this type of housing pay an additional fee as below:

Fall 2024 & Spring 2025: $545
Fall 2025 & Spring 2026: $700

• Studio-style single room with private kitchen and bathroom
• Laundry facilities, work out space, private garden and communal lounge available
• The residence has no cafeteria service. Students need to prepare all their own meals.

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Grenoble.

Transportation Pass

All students are provided with a travel pass for use on Grenoble’s excellent bus and tram system.

City Facts

Geography

Grenoble lies at the crossroads between the valleys and the mountains which comprise the Dauphiné region. The “Capital of the Alps”, dominated by majestic mountains such as Chartreuse, Belledonne and Vercors, provides the ideal location for those who enjoy the outdoors. 

Tourism

From Roman times to the 1968 Winter Olympics and on to today, Grenoble has attracted visitors from all over the world. 

Attractions

With its 200,000 inhabitants, Grenoble is small enough to feel like a town, but large enough to offer all the amenities of a busy city (cultural festivals, theaters, museums).

Site Staff

AIFS in Grenoble Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

Miranda Rea

Bonjour! After obtaining my degree in England I joined AIFS in the London office in 1989. I moved to France in 1990 and have been the Program Director here in Grenoble since the fall of 1994. I’m here to provide support, encouragement and a friendly face to you during your stay in Grenoble. I know a great deal about the culture, language and lifestyle of France and am looking forward to sharing it with you! I choose the families with whom AIFS students stay with great care.

When I am not working, I love swimming, participating in local activities, walking my dog and enjoying French cuisine. I am also a bit of a traveler myself; I spent a year as a volunteer and teacher in Zambia, Africa.

You’ll find Grenoble to be a wonderful city and I’m here to help you out with any questions you may have.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

In addition to excursions a cultural calendar of weekly activities and social events is included in your program fee. These activities will include both typical tourist sites and attractions and lesser known visits which take advantage of the expert knowledge of our local AIFS staff and give you a more authentic and insightful view of French life. Typical activities, tours and visits include:

• Walking tours of Grenoble
• Discovering Bastille Grenoble by cable car
• Visits to local museums such as:
  • Musée de Grenoble
  • Musée Archéologique Saint Laurent
  • Musée Dauphinois
  • Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation
• Discover secrets of the Chartreuse green liquor
• Hiking/snowshoes in the local mountains
• Group picnics/visits to local markets
• French movie
• Trip to Château de Vizille (birthplace of the French Revolution)
• Day excursions to local places of interest such as:
  • Annecy
  • Lyon
• Welcome and farewell dinner

You may be asked to pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

Wine appreciation and cooking courses are available for an extra fee. A minimum enrollment of 10 is required.

Volunteer Opportunities

AIFS can help you to arrange local volunteer opportunities such as assisting students with English conversation practice in an elementary school or high school and working with local charities. 

AIFS can also provide students who may be planning a career in education after studying abroad with information about the TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France) scheme which is organized by the French government. 

For more information contact the AIFS Program Advisor.