Villa Albertine Partners with French Student Organizations Cnous and Fondation des États Unis to Enrich Lafayette Fellows’ Experience

Created in 1955, Cnous, together with its regional network of 26 CROUS centers, contributes to improving students’ living and study conditions by overseeing need-based grants and financial aid, student housing, dining services, health support, culture, and initiatives that enrich campus life. 

Under the agreement, Cnous will serve as the primary coordinator for student housing for Lafayette Fellows for the 2026 – 2027 academic year, working closely with the CROUS network to secure accommodations in the French cities where fellows will pursue their studies. The organization will coordinate move-ins for the start of the fall semester.  

The agreement also ushers in a new partnership with Fondation des États-Unis -Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CiuP) to provide housing to laureates during the French-American Leadership Program, taking place in Paris from July 4 – July 17. Fellows will then travel to Avignon, Arles, and Marseille to close the summer 2026 program.  

Founded in 1925, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CiuP) is an international campus in Paris dedicated to academic mobility and cultural exchange. It provides student housing and a wide range of services and facilities, including cultural programming, libraries, sports infrastructure, and support services for international students and researchers. 

Located within the CiuP, the Fondation des États-Unis is a nonprofit American institution that welcomes students and artists and offers a public cultural program. Founded in 1930, its mission is structured around four pillars: Independence, Heritage, Innovation, and Exchange. 

By ensuring access to reliable housing and student services, this partnership reinforces the Lafayette Fellowship’s mission and supports fellows’ successful integration into academic and student life in France. 

About the Lafayette Fellowship 

Launched in honor of the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and the French-American friendship, the Fellowship will support up to 30 outstanding U.S. students for one year of master’s-level study at one of 15 top French institutions. 

Programs span Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, offered in French or English. Alongside their academic coursework, fellows will join the French-American Leadership Program, gaining mentorship support and full immersion in European innovation, culture, and policy.  

Fellowship Support 

Selection in the Lafayette Fellowship includes: 

• A €1,500 monthly stipend (mid-July 2026–June 2027) 
• One year of tuition at a partner French institution 
• Application fee waivers for French master’s programs 
• Student visa fee waivers for one academic year 
• A round-trip flight to and from France 
• Coverage of travel costs and activities related to the French-American Leadership Program.