International Institute in Geneva

The Institute's administration provides assistance to students looking for housing. 

A range of student housing is available in Geneva from small and exclusive apartments to large residences, featuring their own facilities such as restaurants and study rooms. The city has an excellent public transportation system.

You have two choices: either you apply through the Institute for the residences below: Cité Vieusseux. Montbrillant, Studhome, Carlton and Rothschild student residence, either you apply on your own for accommodation contacting direcly the residences located in Geneva. We can help you if needed.

For more information, please contact Mrs Océane Diby, our Housing Manager at housing@iig.ch.

L'escale Académique Student Residence

Avenue de Joli-mont 12, 1209, Google map

Brand new modern building located within 15 minutes from the institute with the public transportation. Students can have individual rooms with bathrooms, 23m2 for CHF 900 per month. The big equipped kitchen is to be shared with other students.
All the charges are included : water, electricity and heating. All the rooms are equipped with wifi connection.
 

How to access:
From Cornavin's railway station and Bel-Air, take bus 10 direction Genère-Aéroport, Terminal,  get off at stop Balexert prailly and walk 3 min.
From IIG, take bus 53 direction Bellevue GE, Valavran , get off at stop Joli-Mont and walk 2 min.

Furniture room:
1 bed, 2 chairs, 1 cupboard, 1 table
1 blanket, 1 pillow, 1 underlay per student.
 

Furniture kitchen:

2 big fridges, 1 big freezer
2 ovens, 2 microwaves
Storages and shelves
Pots and pans, glasses, cups, plates and cooking tools.

Conditions:
Refundable deposit corresponding to 2.5 months of rent + the first rent should be settled in order to book your accommodation.
Contracts are done by default for one academic year.
NO CHECK-IN/OUT ARE DONE DURING THE WEEKEND AND DURING THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

 

rooms, kitchen and common kitchen - l'escale académique student residence

New flats and studios - Chemin de l'étang

You can book online on www.omestay.ch/en

Studio - 1 person – 1 room min. 20m2 - from CHF 1’700 per month/per person

The upscale studios combine comfort and functionality in a bright, modern setting. Each studio offers a fully equipped kitchen, a 120x200 bed, a desk area and a private bathroom. In addition, cleverly designed storage units, shelves and a bookcase provide ample space for all your personal belongings.

Infrastructure

  • Desk area
  • Dining table and chair
  • Bookcase
  • Storage
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Non-smoking
  • Electronic door trim

Services

  • High-speed Internet
  • Mobile intercom
  • Myome application
  • Cleaning
  • Bed linen change

Sanitary

  • Individual
  • Shower
  • WC
  • Towel rack
  • Medicine cabinet

Bed and Linen

  • Single bed (120x200)
  • Pillow
  • Comforter
  • Sheets

 

Shared apartment 3-bedrooms – 5 rooms min. 81m2 - from CHF 1’550 per month/per person

The 3-bedroom shared apartments offer a friendly, designer living environment. Each room has a comfortable personal space with a desk area. The two modern bathrooms are shared between roommates. The shared living area is perfect for relaxing, with a fully equipped kitchen.

Infrastucture

  • Desk area
  • Bed (90x200)
  • Pillow, comforter and sheets
  • Storage
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Non-smoking
  • Electronic door trim

Services

  • High-speed Internet
  • Mobile intercom
  • Myome application
  • Cleaning
  • Bed linen change

Sanitary

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • WC
  • Towel rack
  • Medicine cabinet

Living room area

  • Television area
  • Dining area
  • Fully equipped kitchen

 

Shared apartment 4-bedrooms – 6 rooms min. 85m2 - from CHF 1’500 per month/per person

The 4-bedroom shared apartments offer a friendly, designer living environment. Each room has a comfortable personal space with a desk area. The two modern bathrooms are shared between the roommates. The communal living area is perfect for relaxing, with a fully equipped kitchen.

Infrastructure

  • Desk area
  • Bed (90x200)
  • Pillow, comforter and sheets
  • Storage
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Non-smoking
  • Electronic door trim

Services

  • High-speed Internet
  • Mobile intercom
  • Myome application
  • Cleaning
  • Bed linen change

Sanitary

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • WC
  • Towel rack
  • Medicine cabinet

Living room area

  • Television area
  • Dining area
  • Fully equipped kitchen

Etang common area

  • common area 1
  • common area 2
  • outside
  • pool babyfoot laundry
  • private room

Etang studio

  • Studio bathroom
  • Studio bed
  • Studio kitchen
  • Studio main room

Etang 3 bedrooms

  • 3 rooms bathroom
  • 3 bedrooms bedroom
  • 3 rooms kitchen
  • 3 rooms living room

Etang 4 bedrooms

  • 4 rooms bathroom
  • 4 rooms bedroom
  • 4 rooms kitchen
  • 4 rooms living room

Cité Vieusseux Student Residence

Cité Vieusseux 23, 25, 27, Google map

Modern building located within 15 minutes from the institute with the public transportation. Students have the choice between small furnished studios, 20m2 for CHF 1'100 per month or big furnished studios, 30m2 for CHF 1'500 per month. All the charges are included : water, electricity and heating. All the studios are equipped with wifi connection.
The studios are completely independent.

How to access:
From Cornavin's railway station and Bel-Air, take tramway 14 direction Meyrin-Gravière or 18 direction CERN, get off at stop Vieusseux.
From IIG, take tramway 14 direction Bernex or  18 direction Bachet-de-Pesay, get off at stop Vieusseux.

Furniture small studio:
1 bed, 1 chair, 1 cupboard, 1 table
1 blanket, 1 pillow, 1 underlay per student.
Pots and pans, glasses, cups, plates and cooking tools.

Furniture big studio:
2 beds, 2 chairs, 2 cupboards, 2 tables.
1 blanket, 1 pillow, 1 underlay per bed.
Pots and pans, glasses, cups, plates and cooking tools.

Conditions:
Refundable deposit corresponding to 2.5 months of rent + the first rent should be settled in order to book your accommodation.
Contracts are done by default for one academic year.
NO CHECK-IN/OUT ARE DONE DURING THE WEEKEND AND DURING THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

 

Cité Vieusseux big studios photo gallery

Cité Vieusseux small studios photo gallery

New furnished studios in the city center

In a building located on the Rhône's banks near the city center, there are two studios available (out of 5). They are integrated into a collective space.

These independant furnished studios (26m2 for CHF 2'060 per month and 24m2 for CHF 1'860 per months) are equipped with a full private kitchenette and a shower room with toilet.

The common areas have a lot of comfort : large living room with kitchen and billards, TV lounge.

A laundry room also completes these amenities.

All charges included (eletricity, water, tv, wifi). 

Photos of a studio

Accommodation search tips

IIG strongly recommends that if accommodation is available through its Student Housing Services, students should take up the offer due to the extremely tight housing market in the Geneva region and the unfortunate increase in the number of ‘scam artists’ taking advantage of those seeking accommodation; especially foreign students searching from overseas. 
 
For students not wanting to be accommodated or are unable to be accommodated in IIG student housing, please consider the following when searching for housing in the Geneva region:
 
1. Always go through an official Real Estate Management:
 
Usually, Real Estate Managements accept only one application at a time and is not obliged to respond to you within a certain time frame. Even if you are the only person applying or if you are friends with the current tenant, be aware that the approval process can take months. Once you have signed for the apartment/house, you will be asked to set up a deposit account in a Swiss bank where you will deposit 3 to 4 months' rent in a trust account. Neither you nor the management of the Real Estate Agency can access this money until you have both signed after your departure. 
Household insurance is required by law. You will have to subscribe to one insurance before moving in.
You will also need to prove that you are legally staying in Switzerland for a longer period of time. For this, the IIG Student Services will help you to apply for your student residence permit as soon as you arrive in Geneva. 
If you are not working, the Real Estate Management will ask you to have a guarantor. The guarantor may reside abroad, but some Real Estate Companies require that the guarantor resides in Switzerland. The property management company will do an inventory of fixtures at the end of your lease. Make sure they note any defects in the flat, however small, otherwise you will be charged for them when you leave. 
Dealing directly with these agencies, whether you are fluent in French or not, can be time consuming and frustrating. If you can afford it, it is worth hiring someone to help you communicate and complete the paperwork.
 
 
2. ‘Too Good to be True’ Advertisements:
 
Advertisements for flats/apartments with 200sqm marble floors overlooking lake Geneva for a cheap price should raise a red flag.  If there is a picture attached to the advertisement, the chances are it is not real.  Use Google Earth & Google Maps to check out the address mentioned and its authenticity.  Also, you can check with your consulate in Switzerland for further advice on living in the country. 
 
3. Advance Payments
 
Never give credit card details over the phone or via email for accommodation payment purposes to unknown third parties.     
AVOID MAKING ANY ADVANCE PAYMENTS BEFORE YOU HAVE SEEN THE PROPERTY
If you receive the following message it is likely to be a scam: I can only accept money via Western Union money transfer, however I can provide you with a shipment tracking number.  This is just a way to make potential victims feel safe before sending their money; the tracking/reference number is usually fake, yet it appears to be real.  If you visit the Western Union website, it clearly states Western Union is NOT to be used for sending money to people you do not know.
 
In addition to the information provided above, here are some further useful websites to help search for accommodation in Geneva through official Régies and also useful forums regarding scams and how to best avoid them:
 
Official Régies Websites:
 
Scam Forums:
https://www.englishforum.ch/housing-general/269503-renting-scam-worries.html