Studying | Healthcare | Accommodation | Travel | Visa | Student Voice
There are now over 75 universities in France, 17 of which are in Paris. As everybody in France has the right to go to university once they have taken and passed their Baccalaureate, most major towns have a university with at least an Arts or Science faculty and usually Law and Political Science.
The norm is that most French youngsters will go to university after school to gain some kind of qualification because there are no specific entrance requirements. This means that as well as being grossly overcrowded, the French educational institutions are highly competitive and students who fall behind are not allowed to continue with their studies after their first set of exams in January. The lack of a selection system also means that, apart from making a provisional application to the university of your choice (in 99% of cases this is the university nearest to your home town), places in courses are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
It is important to remember that unlike some countries, prescriptions will not in general be State-subsidised, so it is wise to make sure you get any prescription medicines you may need during your year abroad before you leave home.
For EU citizens, the E128 form has been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which should be sufficient for emergency health care.
Medical treatment in France is expensive, but your private insurance will cover the full cost of any emergency. Similarly, those covered under the EU Social Security arrangements can claim from their private insurance the 25-30% contribution normally required by the French Social Security scheme towards the cost of treatment. Some French universities have their own health centre with specialists visiting on specific days. Treatment is free and you should check with your host coordinator to find out if such a service exists.
In every university, the Médecine Préventive Universitaire has trained nurses that can provide first-aid.
France has a relatively well-established student housing system; the CROUS, which is very cheap in comparison to the private sector. They have the additional benefit of being safe and secure as well as having no problems with regards for applying for the CAF allocation.
If you have problems getting a place in the CROUS go to the International office where they should have numerous leaflets and suggestions with regards to housing. It is necessary to apply well in advance for a place in the CROUS through your University, with a request for accommodation over 3 months in duration.
The main advantage to living in university-managed accommodation is the price. Rents can be low but with housing benefit can also go down to half price. If you wish to leave the Cité for any reason you must give one month's notice or you will not get your deposit back.
Remember, all accommodation is unfurnished unless otherwise stated!
The following contacts may be useful when searching for accommodation, Ciup and Crous Paris.
Major international airports are situated in Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lyon. Smaller airports, such as Beauvais can offer cheaper fares.
The French have a very up-to-date and efficient railway system. Unfortunately services to smaller towns are not always direct and sometimes the simplest journey can involve lots of changes and waiting around. The price of the ticket is measured on a kilometric scale so a return ticket is double the price of a single. See SNCF (French Railways) for up-to-date information on timetables and fares.
Discounts: SNCF divide the week up into red, white and blue periods. Red times are usually Friday afternoons and all day Saturday; white days are Sundays and Monday mornings and the rest of the week is a blue period unless there are school or public holidays, in which case, most of the weekend becomes a white period. Depending upon the time of your travel, ticket discounts are available for students (usually under 25s).
A 'Carte 12-25', costing around 50, is recommended to those of you that will travel a lot by train, giving you between 25 - 50% discount on tickets.
Carrissimo: This is the most popular deal among students under 25 and gives you a 50% reduction on blue period days and 20% on white days. On red days the deal is not available. You must buy four or eight journeys' worth of Carrissimo reduction at a fixed price and buy your discounted ticket on top of this. The first journey will probably not be much cheaper than full fare, but the next tickets you buy will be discounted.
Look out for special promotions on Carrissimo tickets at the beginning of term; the SNCF often gives a deal for new students.
Billet BIGE: BIGE tickets entitle you to reductions of up to 25% according to the country, for journeys from France to other countries, on specified trains on particular days. If you are spending your year split between France and another country, you may find it both cheaper and more convenient to use this method when travelling between the two, (especially where there is no direct air link). BIGE tickets can be bought from travel agents in towns or the SNCF station. The requirements are that you are under 26 and a student.
NB: Carrissimo and BIGE tickets are valid on the TGV but the usual reservation fee must still be paid.
Tip: Before boarding a train, ensure that you validate your ticket by using the dating and numbering machines (composteur) in all stations. If you fail to do this, you are liable to be fined by the ticket inspector onboard the train!
An Underground system now exists in Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse as well as in Paris. On the Paris métro, a one-price rate is applied whatever the length of the journey in zones 1 & 2. The introduction of the carte orange ( 50 for zones 1&2, equivalent of about 5 carnets - worth it if travelling to and from a given destination everyday) allows you, by buying a monthly or annual ticket, to travel freely by bus or tube in the Paris transport area.
An advantage of the French bus system is that one ticket will give you unlimited travel within the town. There is a time limit for each ticket, which is usually an hour, but can vary depending on the size of the town. Unfortunately, buses tend to stop very early in the evenings (between 8pm and 9pm), although there is often a limited night bus service. Buses on Sunday are few in number.
Just as you must stamp your train ticket, so you must validate your bus ticket as you get on the bus by having it stamped by a machine. Plain-clothes inspectors frequently check to see if you have done this and will fine of up to 30 you if you haven't, even if you have a ticket.
Student visa
There are 2 types of student visas available to you; short stay and long stay. To obtain a visa you will need to submit the following to the consulate of France in your home country:
- A valid passport.
- A statement of financial resources showing you have sufficient resources to live in France for the duration of stay.
- Proof of accommodation; for example, a hotel reservation, an invitation letter, confirmation of living with a host family.
- Proof of acceptance at a university.
- Proof of social security.
- A confirmation of your scholarship and its duration, if applicable.
For non-EU students, depending upon the length of your stay, you will need to produce:
- A valid passport and a short-stay visa, for durations of less than 3 months.
- A valid passport and a student visa with the mention.
- A 'dispense de carte de séjour' (exempt from residence permit), for durations between 3 and 6 months.
- For visits of more than 6 months, you will need to produce a valid passport and a long-stay visa.
For clarification on visa requirements, use the Do I need a Visa? questionnaire from the French Diplomatie service.
Note: Be careful about the duration of your stay since the type of visa, 'resident permit dispense' cannot be extended. Consequently you will have to return to your home country and apply again for a visa.
Note: Be careful about the duration of your stay since the type of visa, 'resident permit dispense' cannot be extended. Consequently you will have to return to your home country and apply again for a visa.
Students from the European union have the right to work in France after completion of their studies, but must obtain a provisional work permit. Other foreign students must ask for a Provisional work permit. See the Department of Employment for more information.
Learn from the experiences of other students and share your experiences of going overseas at International Student Blogs and Forums.
