You’ve gotten into a postgrad programme

.... in France (yeah!)

so you think all the hard work is done( big audible sigh! )

but

there’s one thing we need to tell you.sorry about this...

Hop Pad: built for digital workers and academic movers.

good news is :

Yes, the hard part is ALMOST done.

bad news is:

That tiny thing CALLED

getting a place to stay

is about to become a BIG BIG
headache.

We learnt this the HARD way.

.... which is why you won't have to.

Enter HOP PAD

Your first apartment in France.
A fixed 2 month lease.
Ready-to-go.
Secured before your arrival.

• No scams
• No Airbnb roulette
• No handcuffs to long term commitments

Check your eligibility here

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

what we offer

Hop Pad enables international students, professional interns,
and digi-nomads
a smooth landing in a new city,
by providing a safe, career-dedicated,
private apartment in the cornerstone cities of France.

Every Hop Pad includes:

~ Electricity, wi-fi, fresh linen
~ An iron — because looking sharp matters
~ A real kitchen (for coffee and calm)
~ A proper address for official mail

Our personal meet & greet service
makes onboarding smooth and practical.

how to apply

Step 1

Apply online in Minutes

Tell us your work or study plans in France.
We’ll ask your dates, budget, and a some quick essential facts.
You’ll know straight away if you’re eligible to proceed.

Step 2

Get Pre-Qualified

We check your documents to confirm fit.
If approved, you unlock access to private listings.
The platform only shows Hop Pad–approved apartments - we control this.

Step 3

Browse & Book on the Platform

Pick your apartment from your unlocked access.
Confirm your stay with rent payment online.
Sign your lease digitally - ready for the airport.

Check your eligibility here

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

why Hop Pad was created

reality check 01

First impressions count a lot.

Many of my classmates missed Week One — they were chasing apartments because agents don’t do evenings and their Airbnbs were expiring.
But in a small postgrad group, professors notice who’s missing. You can't undo a bad first impression. And in France, those professors either back you for life - or forget you.
It's the professors who decide who gets mentorships, adjunct roles, and who gets invited into their LinkedIn circles.
Week One isn’t just class. It’s your chance to break into local networks. That’s the real reason we’re here studying in France - to build contacts.

Youhan “Leo” - Hangzhou, China
MSc Artificial Intelligence,

Reality Check 01 content is based on our research with real international postgrads navigating housing chaos whilst applying from outside of France. To respect the confidentiality of our interviewees, the name and image have been changed.

why Hop Pad was created

reality check 02

Sophisticated rental scams in France are everywhere.

Facebook and whatsapp groups are full of ghost listings.
The tricky thing is it’s normal for landlords to ask you to send your passport scan and personal info before they’ll show you a place. So no matter how street smart you are, you end up having to extract yourself from a bunch of scams and then at the end of the day, you realize there’s no 'real' apartments to apply for.

Youssef - Fès , Morocco
MSc Financial Markets & Investments

Reality Check 02 content is based on our research with real international postgrads navigating housing chaos whilst applying from outside of France. To respect the confidentiality of our interviewees, the name and image have been changed.

why Hop Pad was created

reality check 03

Student residences are corporate,
but actually management is a mess. You can't rely on them to do the right thing.

I’m a mega-planner — I started hunting for housing four months before my MBA in France. At first, it seemed like there were plenty of options. But most landlords never replied, and listings vanished fast.The only place left was a student studio run by a big corporate finance group. They demanded a 9-month contract upfront - sight unseen.
I paid, I signed.
It was that or nothing.When I arrived, it was a disaster: no wifi, no sheets, no toilet seat, no working lights - and no electricity.
Everything had to be sorted in French - even setting up the power.
The rent was steep.
The service? Nonexistent.
Nine months later, still no lights.I was stuck with that lease - the penalties for leaving ‘early’ were heavy.
Staying there made life in a gorgeous city, depressing

I planned ahead for my MBA in France and booked the only student studio available, paying a 9-month lease upfront. When I arrived, it was a nightmare: no wifi, no sheets, no toilet seat, no lights, not even electricity—and everything had to be fixed in French. The rent was steep, the service nonexistent, and nine months later I still had no lights. Trapped by the lease, life in a beautiful city felt depressing.

Prithi - Kerala, India
MSc Global Luxury Management

Reality Check 03 content is based on our research with real international postgrads navigating housing chaos whilst applying from outside of France. To respect the confidentiality of our interviewees, the name and image have been changed.