5 - French Embassy in Ireland

Transcription

2010
I’m going
to France
I’m going to France
EDITORIAL
You have chosen to come to France to pursue your studies.
For students like you, who will go to have careers in such diverse fields
as engineering, law, research and education, medicine and business,
France is a nation with an attractive lifestyle and culture.
France is a centre of ideas, of rich cultural activity and world-class
scientific research.
To choose an example that everybody will appreciate, 2011 will see the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry being awarded to a scientist of international renown:
Marie Curie. It is the country where Curie conducted her groundbreaking research that
you have chosen to continue your own studies.
The CNOUS and CROUS network is here to welcome you. We coordinate student affairs
at the national level, and one of our main priorities is integrating foreign students.
The French government has drawn up a quality charter regarding the resources available
to welcome foreign students, with the aim of enhancing the profile of the higher education opportunities we offer. Today everybody involved in this welcome process – CNOUS
and CROUS above all – is working together to help you achieve your academic goals in
France.
For many years now “I am going to France”, available in a variety of languages, has
been the reference handbook for those wishing to plan their stay before leaving their own
country; this guide provides useful information on choosing a course, preparing for your
departure, as well as on the practical and administrative aspects of your stay.
The contacts and advice contained in this guide will prove invaluable in answering all the
questions you may have: how to fit in to the higher education system, how to find accommodation, how to obtain a residence permit and organise health insurance etc…
4 - I’m going to France
Editorial
CNOUS and CROUS work to help implement the international policies of the Ministry
for Education, Higher Education and Research, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the universities and other higher education institutions, working in close partnership with these
institutions throughout France.
In addition to accommodation in university halls of residence, where more than 25%
or residents are international students, our regional centres have established a number of
welcome facilities which you can discover when you arrive, or in advance on the CNOUS
and CROUS websites. Go online to find out more as soon as you have decided upon your
destination.
We offer you this guide as our way of saying welcome to France.
Have a great stay!
François Bonaccorsi
Director of the CNOUS
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the CNOUS International students’ guide to life and higher education in
France, which is designed to help all overseas students who wish to study in France.
This document is mainly aimed at those who are eligible for French grants. Copies of
these brochures are widely available in no less than 170 French cultural centres around
the world.
The aim of the CNOUS International students’ guide to studying in France is to
provide prospective students with useful information and to help them make the most of
their studies in France. The subjects that we will be covering in this brochure range from
organizing studies to getting to know the French lifestyle.
During an international student grant-holder’s stay in France, the CNOUS and CROUS
will be there every step of the way. CNOUS and CROUS provide a welcome upon
arrival as well as information and help with administrative procedures concerning both
schooling and finances during the course of studies. These valuable contacts aim to help
students succeed.
20 questions
to ask yourself
before you
set off
20 questions
to ask yourself
before you set off
1.How long in advance do I need to start getting organised? (p. 46)
2.Where can I get an Application Form? (p. 46 and p. 47)
3. How do I find out the French equivalent of my qualifications? (p. 49)
4. What can I bring through Customs? (p. 59, p. 60, p. 61, p. 62, p. 63, p. 64)
5. What documents do I need to take to the “Prefecture”
(police headquarters) to obtain my temporary student resident’s card?
(p. 70, p. 71, p. 72)
6. How are the CNOUS overseas students grant services organised?
(See the: “Overseas Student French Government grant-holders’ section” p. 261)
7. Where can I find French language classes? (p. 98)
8. How do I obtain a student card? (p. 69)
9. How much are the enrolment fees going to cost? (p. 54 and p. 69)
10. Can I change subjects or schools during my time in France? (p. 181)
20 questions to ask yourself
before you set off
11. Do I have sufficient health cover? (p. 114)
12. How do I, to whom and when should I apply for a grant? (p. 55)
13. Can I have more than one grant? (p. 55)
14. How much money does a student need to cover monthly expenses? (p. 54
and p. 55)
15. How do I apply for a room in student accommodations? (p. 75)
16. How do you get access to the university canteens? (p. 74)
17. Can overseas students work and study at the same time? (p. 79)
18. What student services do the ‘œuvres universitaires’ provide? (p. 79)
19. What do I need to know about driving in France? (p. 116)
20.How do I keep in touch with France and French culture when I go back to
my home country? (p. 187)
*BGF: French Government grant holders.
CONTENTS
Éditorial
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Introduction
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p.4
2. Before setting off
p.7
How to plan your stay
in France
p.46
CampusFrance
p.46
Applying to a French university for
undergraduate studies through the
DAP system
p.47
All you need to know about:
Are my qualifications
recognised in France
p.49
French language test: the TCF
p.49
How to apply for a long-stay VISA,
removing the requirements for shortterm resident’s cards
p.50
Short term Visa: “student entrance
exams”
p.52
Practical information:
the Ministry of Education’s ‘student
p.53
portal’
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20 questions to ask
yourself
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p.10
1.Your host country:
‘La France’
The birth of a nation
Key dates in French history
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A modern country
Institutions
Administration
A Competitive Economy
The French economy today
France’s ranking on a global scale
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p.19
p.19
p.26
p.26
p.27
p.28
p.29
p.30
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Discover the country
Geography
‘La Douce France’
France’s population
The Environment
Find out what the French
are all about
....
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French cultural events
Museums and exhibitions
Cultural events
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p.31
p.31
p.31
p.34
p.36
p.36
p.39
p.39
p.40
How am I going to pay
for my studies
in France?
Necessary resources
Applying for grants
Checklist of essential documents
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p.54
p.54
p.55
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p.56
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•
3. Settling in
Arriving in France
p.59
Customs
p.59
What to do when you get to Paris p.68
First administrative procedure:
enrolment
p.68
Validating your long-stay visa
p.70
The temporary resident’s
p.71
permit
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Contents
“Œuvres universitaires”
Student information
p.73
services
University life starts at the
CROUS
p.73
The university canteen service
‘At the heart of student life’
p.74
Student accommodation
p.75
Temporary employment service p.79
Working while studying
p.79
CROUS student welfare services p.81
‘Le dossier social étudiant’
p.81
CROUS cultural policy
p.82
The Franco-German youth office
(OFAJ)
p.84
‘Œuvres universitaires’ overseas
student information services
p.85
Local and regional “œuvres universitaires et scolaires”
p.87
student welfare centres
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University diplomas
Teacher training courses in
teaching French
Pedagogical research body
Published works on teaching
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p.102
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p.102
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p.103
p.104
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4. Getting into the
swing of French life
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•
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Everything you need
to know about finding
accommodation
p.108
Where can I find offers
of accommodation?
p.109
A few pointers before you
p.110
start renting
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•
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French eating habits
You are what you eat…
Restaurants
Examples of average
living expenses
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p.111
p.111
p.111
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p.112
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Sport at university
in France
FFSU regional offices
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p.91
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p.93
Social Security and
student insurance cover
Social Security
Student insurance companies
‘les mutuelles étudiants’
Special procedures
for grant-holders
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p.95
p.95
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p.96
•
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.
•
French social cover
Healthcare for everyone
Students healthcare
What to do if you have to
go to hospital
Pharmacies
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p.96
A modern system of
communication
On the road in France
Internal flights
Public town transport
Postal and telephone services
‘La Poste’ in a nutshell
Internet
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Learning French
as a Foreign language
p.98
Learning French
prior to coming to France
p.98
Learning French in France
p.98
French national diplomas:
DILF, DELF and DALF
p.99
The Alliance Française diplomas p.101
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p.114
p.114
p.114
p.115
p.115
p.116
p.116
p.117
p.117
p.118
p.119
p.119
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Consumerism
French banks
Distribution
Banking services
The Euro
A couple of ideas for holidays
The international student card
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•
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•
p.120
p.120
p.120
p.120
Studying at a
French university
Broad area study subjects
- The LMD system
- The Licence
- How to choose the right ‘Licence’
- Which Masters program?
Post-graduate research cycle
- The doctorat
Vocational or specialised
courses
- ‘Licence professionnelle’
- MIAGE, MSG and MST courses
- IUP vocational courses
- IUFM’s
3rd cycle vocational courses
- ‘Le Magistère’
- ‘Le DRT’
- Engineering courses
at university
- The Master Pro (ex- DESS)
Health studies
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p.121
p.122
p.122
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Media, culture
and leisure
The French Media
The French audiovisuals galaxy
Theatre, cinema and
cultural activities
A museum in each town
Libraries and sources of
information
Boarding houses, lodgings,
youth hostels
Sport and keeping fit
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p.123
p.123
p.123
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p.124
p.125
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p.125
p.126
p.127
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5. Studying in France
French higher education
system
p.132
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A few guidelines
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p.132
establishments
& disciplines
p.135
Short courses
p.135
Long courses
p.135
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Higher education: Short
vocational courses
(BTS, DUT, DEUST)
p.137
Useful Information: ONISEP and
CampusFrance
p.139
system organigram
p.140
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p.141
p.141
p.142
p.142
p.142
p.145
p.147
p.147
p.148
p.148
p.150
p.150
p.150
p.151
p.151
p.151
p.151
p.151
p.154
Studying at one
of France’s
‘Grandes Ecoles’
p.157
Preparation classes
p.158
- Preparatory classes in literature
and the arts
p.158
- Preparation courses in
Science-related subjects
p.159
- BCPST preparation courses
p.159
- Preparation courses in
Economics and Business
p.160
The ‘Ecoles Normales
Supérieures’
p.160
Engineering schools
p.162
Business and management
schools
p.164
Other ‘Grandes Ecoles’
p.165
Other prestigious institutions
p.167
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Contents
Courses in vocational
subjects
Social work
Aeronautical studies
Agriculture, ‘agri-business’
Paramedical studies
Architecture
Creative arts
Fine arts
Professions in cultural heritage
Performing arts
Music and opera studies
Dance
Audio-visual arts
Images and Sound
Journalism
Interpreting and translation
Other disciplines
Agricultural studies
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Making the most of
your studies
Your study plan
Changing courses
Finding the right path of study
European programmes
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p.169
p.169
p.169
p.169
p.169
p.170
p.170
p.170
p.172
p.173
p.174
p.175
p.175
p.175
p.176
p.176
p.176
p.178
p.180
p.180
p.180
p.181
p.181
6. Keeping in contact
with France
University addresses
(international student
services and SCUIO)
p.200
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Research and Higher
Education Centres
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p.213
Student insurance
companies
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p.215
Mutuelles de l’USEM branch
p.219
listing and addresses
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‘Cité internationale
universitaire
de Paris’ affiliated
establishments
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Tourist offices
(in university towns)
Specialised schools
p.227
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p.229
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p.231
Specialised information
centres
p.239
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Map of education
authorities and
départements, dialling
codes and post codes p.242
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A network of contacts
Building a network during
your stay in France
Maintaining and expanding your
network after your return home
Keeping in touch with France
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p.186
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p.186
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Glossary
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Useful web sites
p.186
p.187
Appendices
Index
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p.250
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p.254
The CNOUS
and CROUS
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Useful addresses
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Education office
telephone numbers
and addresses
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p.244
p.256
p.192
The overseas
French government
grant holder
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p.261
Credits
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p.270
p.198
Your host
country
“la France”
Key dates in French history.
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p. 19
A modern country
Institutions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A competitive economy . . . . . . . . . .
The French economy today. . . . . . .
France’s ranking on a global scale .
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p. 26
p. 28
p. 28
p. 29
p. 30
Discover the country
Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
‘La Douce France’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Population of France .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The environment .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Find out what the French are all about..
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p. 31
p. 31
p. 34
p. 35
p. 36
Cultural life
Museums and exhibitions . .
Cultural events .. . . . . . . . . .
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p. 39
p. 40
Your host country “la France”
Key dates in French
History
From the beginning to 1214
From an amalgamation of tribes who were
constantly at war with each other, a nation was
born. Over centuries, divided territories were
reunited under the reign of a monarchy whose
power was slow to reach its peak: and so after
many an ordeal, France was constructed.
What do we know about France’s first inhabitants? Popular imagery remembers ‘France’s ancestors the Gauls’, but there were a number of very
diverse local populations. Many centuries before
the Gauls, other tribes had already populated the
France that we know today. We do not know a
great deal about France’s distant ancestors, but
traces of their existence have been found in some
of the country’s finest prehistoric sites. France’s
fertile land and mild climate have seen tribes
come and go and even settle. These invasions
caused the weaker tribes to back down, different races to mix and different types of blood to
intermingle. Therefore even though most of the
French territory was occupied by the Celts in the
days of Julius Caesar, there has never been one
ethnic group in Gaul. The Gauls were evidently
divided into several dozen tribes. Incapable of
joining forces against the threat of new invaders,
they called upon the help of the Roman legions.
For five centuries, the people of Gaul reaped
the benefits that came with the peace of the
Roman Empire. The Gallo-Romans contributed
to fending off the Barbarians beyond the Rhine
and Danube rivers. Meanwhile, Christianity pervaded the country. After the first persecutions,
the Edict of Constantine enabled the Church to
become powerful.
However, then came the decadent era of the
Roman Empire. An adventurous and cunning
Frank leader called Clovis emerged, and with his
conquests reunited scattered territory.
After accepting to be baptised Clovis king
of the Franks, the founder of the Merovingian
dynasty gained support from the Church. But
at the time of his death his kingdom was split
between his descendants. Compared with the
Gallo-Roman epoch, the Merovingian era was
noted for its decadence. During these uncertain times the Church was the only thing that
morally held the nation together, striving to
maintain an ideal. At that time religious life was
at its peak. Out of the Merovingian chaos then
emerged the Pepinnites (Pepin the Short’s followers). After Charles Martel, conqueror of
the battle of Saracens at Poitiers in 732, his son
Pepin the Short was proclaimed king by the
pope. In 800 Charles (Charlemagne), son of
Pepin the Short was crowned king in Rome. A
new Empire was created under the strong rule
of Charlemagne; his reign was one of great
cultural renaissance and saw the development
of free education for everyone. Bitter battles
took their toll on the Carolingians who could
not hold out against new waves of invasions. As
the Carolingians were incapable of defending
the masses, they often left this task to the tribal
leaders. To their disadvantage, they hastily moved
towards Feudalism. At this time, France saw the
rise of a caste of landowners, who possessed a
military-like power. Feudal Lordships multiplied
and were then inherited by later generations. In
this new hierarchical society, vassal and sovereign
masters bound people to each other. Feudalism
had constructed a pyramid where the King and
the sovereign masters were at the top, but the
power was decentralised as it lay with the private
landowners.
The founder of the Capetian dynasty, Hugh
Capet, who owned but a patch of land in Ile
de France, was hoisted on to the throne by
the Church who acted on behalf of a failing
Carolingian army. Hugh Capet seemed particularly weak in comparison with the powerful lords
around him. However, with the clergy’s support,
the monarchy managed to consolidate. King
Louis VI’s rise to the throne marked a turning
point. He fought against the less noble of the
pillaging lords, did justice and intervened in the
system of private kingdoms. During this time,
the Church sent the chivalry on long expeditions
to prepare to free The Holy Land (the Crusades).
Philip II Augustus (who quadrupled the size of his
territory) had to fight the ‘Plantagenêts’ (owners of
a large part of land in western France) to ward off
the permanent danger that they represented for his
dynasty. The victory of the battle of Bouvines helped
to establish his authority across the kingdom. He
was the first Capetian king to neglect the duty of
anointing his son (the heir to the throne) during his
lifetime (Louis VIII easily took over the throne). He
thought that the royal authority was strong enough
to do without the prerequisite unction.
Feudal France 1214-1515
Modest to the core and having overcome
many difficulties and dangers, the Capetian
dynasty was slow to assert itself. The king gave
up the role of suzerain in order to become
a sovereign. Louis IX was the most virtuous
person in the dynasty. The man who was to
become ‘St. Louis’ went on to model everything he did on the example that had been set
by his predecessor. With authority and wisdom,
he strove to prevent corruption and to let
justice reign: a noble ideal for a world that was
dominated by violence and force.
After the duller reign of Philip III the Bold,
St. Louis’s grandson Philip the Fair’s reign
could not have been more different. With his
jurists, he maintained a tough policy, shunted
royal power towards absolutism and laid the
foundations for strong government and administrative organisation. Following the reigns of
Philip’s three sons, the crown was passed on
to younger members of the family (1328), the
Valois. The country did not seem to suffer from
the change in the monarchy. Under the Valois
Dynasty, royal power was well established,
and France was known as the richest and most
densely populated state in Europe. But the
Hundred Years War jeopardised the Valois
Dynasty’s chance to progress.
On the death of king Charles VI (‘le petit
roi de Bourges’), and as Joan of Arc emerged
and was assigned the task of driving the English
out of France, Charles VII was defeated by
Henry V of England at Agincourt (1415). After
the Consecration of Rheims, the Virgin martyr
made it easier for the French to unite and gave
the resistance a decisive boost.
In spite of the ruin the country had
accumulated, one has to admire France’s ability to bounce back; there was quick industrial
and commercial recovery of which the ‘bourgeoisie’ took great advantage. But the king still
had to beat a coalition of lords. For several
generations, of all the lords of the coalition, the
Dukes of Burgundy, had proved to be the biggest
threat to the monarchy. King Louis XI’s
reign represented a step towards unity and
absolutism in France. Patient and cunning, no
airs and graces nor the slightest bit pompous, he intended to be the sole master. As he
was well aware of the economic situation, he
instituted good economic reforms: established
a courier service, set up markets and promoted
craftsmen and shop owners. Nevertheless he
still had to fight the great feudal lords such as
Charles the Foolish. After Charles the Foolish
died, Burgundy became part of France. King
Louis XII’s reign coincided with a period of
great economic growth. The middle classes
became richer and there were many changes
in society. At the time of Louis XII’s death
(1st January 1515) the country was flourishing.
Renaissance and reform 1515-1648
The dazzling Renaissance dominated the
XVI century. Charles VIII and Louis XII cavalcades in Italy opened their eyes to a more
prestigious way of life. When they returned
to France, a Revolution broke out. The French
civilisation was thus modelling itself on the
‘Great age’ (period before the Middle Ages).
Francis I and his royal court generously promoted artists and architects (Leonardo Da
Vinci et al.). He ordered that the Louvre
Palace be restored and many ‘chateaux’ were
constructed, e.g. Chambord, Chenonceau.
Under his reign, France underwent great
intellectual renewal. The Concordat of Bologna
ensured that the monarchy was well thought of
by the Clergy. Meanwhile, the government system had been greatly improved. In spite of the
amazing victory at Marignan (1515), Francis
I experienced serious international problems.
His son Henry II continued to be at war with
Austria. For Henry II, the Reform brought yet
more harm than good. Under Francis I ’s rule,
repression remained sporadic. The new king
Francis II (1559-1560), less tolerant than his
father, was arrested for heresy, and burnt to
death at the stake all those who were against him.
Catherine de Medecis played an influential role
during Francis II’ s short reign and then went on
to take regency in the name of her second son
Charles IX who did not have any strong religious
beliefs. The most ghastly horror of this period
climaxed at the Massacres of St. Bartholomew
(24th August 1572).
Under king Henry III the dynastic issue
got caught up with the passionate world
of religion: the royalty’s power and the
country’s unity came under threat. On
the death of Henry III, Henry de Navarre
who later became Henry IV had to face
the ‘Ligues’ (coalition of the Roman Catholic
Church) and the support of their Spanish
allies. The Edict of Nantes (1598) ensured
the co-existence of the two confessions
and soothed the Protestants troubled minds.
However Henry IV had to carry out the great
task of re-establishing order in the country.
Yet another giant step was taken towards
an Absolute Monarchy. The King made Sully
(Maximilien de Béthune) his minister and assigned
him the role of straightening out the budget.
Louis XIII entrusted the Cardinal of
Richelieu, in whom he saw the making of a
great politician, the task of restoring France’s
finances after the Wars of Religion. The
Cardinal managed to see through all three
of his designs: he subdued the Protestant
rebellion by seizing La Rochelle, incessantly
made the Aristocracy tow the line against
their will, and made a stand in the Thirty Years
War fighting the Austrians to victory. On the
Cardinal’s death, shortly after the death of
Louis XIII, 14th May 1643, Absolute Monarchy
had firmly taken root.
The Regent of France, Anne of Austria,
who alongside Mazarin ruled in the name of
her son Louis XIV had to face up to the revolt
of politicians and princes. Mazarin’s flexible,
cautious and clever character meant that he
bent but never broke. The revolt was a good
test before an Absolute Monarchy was to be
finally established. The attempted Revolution
turned out to have had the opposite effects of
what had been planned.
The rise and fall of the absolute monarchy 1648-1789
After the death of Mazarin, Louis XIV (The
Sun King) wanted to assume absolute power
(the Divine Right of Kings). Every aspect of his
rule was inspired by his thirst for glory both
for himself and his kingdom. While it seemed
as though the Aristocracy was fairly ‘domesticated’ the important positions were given
to people of lower birth, such as the likes
of Colbert. Determined to keep first place
in Europe, in the beginning Louis XIV held
happy wars. The king’s great literary interests
led the way for the triumph of Classicism
(Molière, Racine, La Fontaine, Blaise Pascal).
However, as time went on he faced more and
more problems. The War of the succession
of Spain left a trail of misfortunes throughout
a rather impoverished France. During these
unfortunate times in Louis XIV’s reign, a decimated Royal family went through successive
periods of mourning.
At the time of Louis XIV’s death in 1715,
Philip of Orleans became Regent of France
in the name of young Louis XV. When his
uncle died, Louis XV would become heir to
the throne after the death of Cardinal de
Fleury. During this Age of Enlightenment
(Voltaire, Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin,
Lavoisier, Diderot) a new state of mind
developed.
Philosophers guided by reason wanted to
transform political and social order. The circulation of new ideas played an important part
in the run up to the Revolution.
Louis XVI began his reign in 1774, with a
serious mistake: the recall of the members of
Parliament that were made to tow the line by
Maupertius. The Magistrates took back their
obstruction work. Turgot, (controller general
of Finances) who was following up a plan of
Reform, came up against too many obstacles,
and the king did not support his efforts. A
coalition of financial interests undermined
the monarchy; the privileged joined forces
with the people who wanted to do away with
absolutism. Louis XVI was incapable of fighting
his opponents and avoiding going bankrupt, so
was obliged to call upon the help of Necker
who he saw as the one to save the day, and
then announced that there would be a meeting
of The States General. been planned.
The French Revolution, the Consulate
and the 1st Empire 1789-1815
The States General was speedily transformed into the ‘Constituent Assembly’
(9 thJuly- 30 th September 1791), where the
third estate played an influential role (in fact
it was the third estate of the ‘Bourgeoisie’).
After Bastille was taken on the 14th July 1789,
symbol of absolute royalty, the people took
notice of their power. The Aristocracy decided
to abolish their privileges and the Assembly
drew up the Human Rights and Citizens act.
In June 1791, the King made an attempt to flee
the country, but he was caught up and arrested
in Varennes. Louis XVI officially accepted the
Constitution (14th September1791). From now
on, the monarch and the new Assembly, the
‘Legislative’ (1st October 1791-10th August
1792) had to work together to ensure that
France prospered and its people remained
content. The War against Austria was declared.
Right from the first defeat, the king was accused
of treason by the patriots, who then set nation’s
united forces against the monarchy. Meanwhile
the Federates arrived in Paris and the installation
of the Insurrectionary Commune provided the
perfect opportunity to carry out the attack on
the Tuileries (10th August 1792).
With the ‘Convention’ (20 th September
1792- 26 th October 1795) came the dawn
of the First Republic. The constitution of the
First Republic was drafted by the Convention
in 1793. French Armies went on to attack
and marked the beginning of the battle of
the Conquests. Louis XVI was executed 21st
January 1793. The Montagnards, leaders of
the Assembly were forced to fight the enemy
and the enemy within (which represented a
rather brief outburst of Federalism). The Mass
up-rise enabled clarification of the Military
situation, whilst the Revolutionary government was behind the organisation of ‘the
Terror’. Alongside the Committee of Public
Safety backed by Robespierre, the General
Security Council was in charge of law and
order. After getting rid of Herbert’s followers,
whose ideas were too advanced for their time
and Danton’s followers one after another, tired
of all the bloodshed that they had created for
themselves, Robespierre was left to rule. The
great Reign of Terror pervaded. At that precise
moment in time when the soldiers of Year II
(the French Republican calendar) made their
glory complete at Fleurus (26th June 1794), the
members of the Convention were trembling in
Robespierre’s presence. The fall of Robespierre
on 9th Thermidor Year II (27th July 1794) was
spectacular and terrifying. His death marked
the end of the Reign of Terror.
Thus, the era of the Thermidorian
Convention began, but from then onwards,
the Revolution started to stagnate. The
Assembly’s position was fortunately strengthened by victories outside the Assembly and
the signing of more treaties. The Convention
split up to make way for ‘the Directory’.
Meanwhile, in Paris, a young general named
Bonaparte undermined the Royalist insurrection of Véndemiaire (1 st month of the
Republican calendar). With a blow-by-blow
approach, the Directory tried to find a way
of maintaining an awkward equilibrium. So
Napoleon wouldn’t get involved in any schemes
that would show him in a bad light and to reassure directors who were unsure of his popularity, the Corsican took a step back and went to
Egypt. Yet more defeats in Italy emphasised the
unpopularity of France’s statesmen.
The great Napoleonic era lasted fifteen
years. It began with a transition period: the
Consulate. Napoleon’s first aim was to establish new order by restoring finances, administration and justice. But the country wanted to
hastily finish the wars overseas. Bonaparte’s
popularity soared when he concluded the Treaty
of Amiens with England (25th March 1802). In
the public eye, the first Council was perceived
as peacekeeper. Throughout the country, stability and prosperity reigned. The Teaching
Reform, the institution of the Legion of Honour
and the publishing of the Civil Code added to
the country’s feeling of general satisfaction. On
18th May 1804, the Revolution’s greatest soldier
became Emperor.
Napoleon was surrounded by an excellent
court, which appointed marshals, high dignitaries
and created an imperial aristocracy. He wanted
to rule a docile country. He appointed prefects
who were totally devoted to him and police
to guard his suspects. The press seemed to
be muzzled. The French wouldn’t have even
dreamt of grumbling about having to go to battle, let alone fighting overseas. The conqueror
re-organised the map of Europe, destroyed
the old German Empire, and gave the German
throne to his brothers. But in Berlin, on the
21st November 1806, the Continental System
that was created in order to make England tow
the line caused imperial politics to get involved
in yet more conflicts. Up until 1808, the Empire
had only ever won battles. Napoleon’s Empire
now extended to Hamburg, Rome and was
made up of 130 counties. The Russian alliance
split up and hence, a new war loomed on the
horizon. ‘La Grande Armée’ (alias Napoleon’s
Army) plunged into the Russian steppe. The
Campaign ended in catastrophe. After the campaign in Germany and the defeat of Leipzig,
invasion followed. Even though he did a fine job
of using his strategic genius during the French
Campaign, Napoleon was nevertheless obliged
to abdicate on 6th April 1814.
Monarchies, Revolutions,
the second Empire: 1815-1870
After the Empire came the Restoration.
Louis XVIII ruled with his moderates. But
he found himself torn between those who
were for going back to the Old Regime, ProRevolutionists, not to mention those who
were nostalgic about the Glory of the Empire.
Charles X did not seem to get any further with
the problem either. The first barricades in Paris
caused him to flee the capital in 1830. Louis
Philip I replaced him and took the throne.
His position was just as unstable: born amidst
riots, he seemed to be at the mercy of them.
The pressure mounted during the campaign for
the banquets. The French did not want a king
any longer and especially not a bourgeois king.
Louis Philip, in turn, was obliged to flee the
country (1848). The February Revolutionists
proclaimed the Second Republic which was
to abolish slavery and proclaim universal suffrage. But after the celebrations were over,
uncertainty spread throughout the country. In
1848, as in 1830, the Bourgeois dreaded the
social upheaval that the Working classes had
been hoping for. The conflict swiftly came to
a head. With Louis Napoleon Bonaparte as
leader, the voters supported a strong government and proved to be incapable of standing
up to the future Emperor’s many predictable
‘Coup d’Etat’.
Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was
elected President of the Republic with a strong
majority on 10th December 1848. After a
‘Coup d’Etat’, he went on to be president
for ten years and then as heir to the throne
became Napoleon III. The first decade of his
rule was a happy one. The country was undeniably satisfied. Industry boomed, the economy
became more modern, finances were given a
new lease of life, new projects were taken on
board and Baron Haussmann’s urban scheme
transformed Paris. An excellent court entourage supported the Emperor, the Empress
Eugenie and their son, the heir to the throne;
it also added a touch of prestige to the Imperial
couple. Meanwhile, France won the Crimean
war and helped Italy fight to victory against the
Austrians, thus flattering national pride. In fact,
after 1860, the Second Empire moved towards
a progressively more liberal regime.
In spite of the apparent contentment that
was particularly noted during the Universal
Exhibition in 1867, the regime slowly
dwindled towards its fall. During the elections
of 1869, the supporters of the liberal empire
won, and the defeat by Prussia in 1870 caused
the empire fall.
From the III to the V Republic
1870-2000
The Republic was proclaimed on the 4th
September 1870. Civil War took over war
overseas: The Commune. Under the Third
Republic, France started by licking its wounds,
French territory was now free; finances and
administration were under control. Despite the
Georges Boulanger Affair and the Dreyfus
Affair, the Republic had firmly taken root.
The era was noted for its movement towards
secularism, its teaching reform and its colony
expansion policy. The Third Republic’s weak
point lay in the political instability (between
1871 and 1914, there were 55 statesmen). A
few years later, and thanks to King Edward
VII of England, France signed an agreement
that was to become the ‘Entente Cordiale’ with
their old archenemy. Hence, the ‘Belle Epoque’
(that coincided with England’s Edwardian era)
was born. The currency was stable, the middle classes became richer, and peasants did
not want for much as long as they had their
woollen stockings.
A rather unexplainable logic did, however,
dictate that Europe was heading for
catastrophe.
In August 1914, the French went off to battle thinking that the war would be short-lived:
the sea crossing, the trench warfare and the
massacre at Verdun all indicated that it was far
from over. Georges Clemenceau personified
the will that would carry France to victory.
With the United States of America entering
(1917) into the First World War together,
they managed to compensate for the Russian
defection. After the terrible alert in the spring
of 1918, the allies finally forced the enemy
to armistice. The Treaty of Versailles, signed
on 28 June 1919 between Germany and the
Allies, was tough and unjust, and provoked
huge resentment in Germany.
A victorious France emerged impoverished
from the conflict, in spite of the uncertainty
that characterised ‘les Années folles’ (World
War I). The devastation of the war caused
financial, economical and social problems to
worsen. The French began to realise that
the conciliation policy that Aristide Briand
had made with Germany in the 1920’s risked
falling through. However, during these years,
nobody seemed to pay much attention to the
Nazi Party’s rise to power. In 1933, Adolf
Hitler became Chancellor and methodically
followed through with his plan to break up
the Treaty of Versailles.
Whilst Hitler was imbuing Germany with
militarism, in France there was much upheaval:
the Popular front had risen to power (1936)
and the Matignon agreement had been finalised:
40hr week, collective contracts, paid holidays
were obtained by the working classes in the
midst of this period of social unrest. Whilst
they accepted Germany’s annexation of Austria
and the Sudeten Mountains without a qualm in
the August 1939 Germano-Soviet agreement,
Hitler’s attack on Poland no longer allowed
the allies to pussyfoot around: World War II
was declared.
After the “phoney war”, in the space of two
weeks, Germany occupied France. The country was split in two: non-occupied territory
governed by Marshal Petain who willingly
collaborated with Nazi Germany, was south
of the Demarcation line, and occupied territory was north of the line. After Armistice,
General de Gaulle won England’s support.
In London on 18th June 1940, he made his
Resistance appeal. He came a long way from
his solitary debut as he saw his followers
multiply and get organised. He became leader
of the Free France movement. After the allies
arrived on the shores of Normandy in June
1944, he regained French support. Due to his
indisputable immense popularity, de Gaulle
entered Paris to head the new government
of France’s Fourth Republic. Assisted by the
Marshall Plan, he went on to draw up extensive
plans for restructuring the country that had
suffered four years under German occupation.
At odds with the other Parties’ views on new
institutions, General de Gaulle retired from
political life in January 1946.
The Fourth Republic (1947-1958) continued
exploring plans for rebuilding and modernising France’s Economy. Nevertheless by giving
Parliament such pre-eminence, the institutions
created great political instability; thus making
the regime incapable of dealing with the unrest
that had resulted from decolonisation. When
war broke out in Algeria, the regime itself was
under threat the most. As France was on the
verge of civil war, the people made an appeal
for help to General de Gaulle. He accepted
to come back as France’s leader and created
new institutions, which gave the President of
the Republic a key role. From 1962 onwards,
the president was elected by means of universal suffrage. The Constitution of the V
Republic was adopted through a referendum
of a large majority. Up until 1962, General
de Gaulle devoted himself to sorting out the
War of Algeria that ended with the Evian
agreement which gave independence to the old
French colony. The de Gaulle administration was
characterised by a period of economic growth
and by his foreign policy that emphasised
France’s splendour and independence during
the Cold War. Before they spread throughout
the country, the student riots in May 1968
revealed the social debt of the regime and
astounded General de Gaulle. He resigned
in 1969. The centrist statesman Valéry Giscard
D’Estaing who had to deal with the economic consequences of two oil crises replaced
his successor Georges Pompidou who died
in 1974. In 1981 François Mitterrand led the
left to power for the first time since 1958.
During his two seven-year terms, he irreversibly committed France to the construction of the European Union via the Unique
European Act in 1986 and the Maastricht
Treaty in 1992. On the home front, the country experienced cohabitation of two Political
parties twice: The republican statesman Jacques
Chirac was Prime Minister from 1986-88,
his fellow republican Edouard Balladur was
then Prime Minister from 1993-95. In 1995,
Jacques Chirac was elected President of the
Republic. The Socialist candidate, Lionel Jospin,
became Prime Minister after the early General
Election in June 1997.
The 2002 Presidential Election ended five
years of cohabitation government. The ballot, exceptional in every way, eliminated the
Socialist party candidate, Lionel Jospin, in the
first round in favour of Jean-Marie Le Pen (far
right), who qualified for the second round. A
large-scale mobilisation of civic organisations
– young people among them – to “bar the far
right” made its wishes known. By receiving
a massive amount of votes that had gone to
candidates on the left in the first round, Jacques
Chirac was able to gain re-election as President
of the Republic on May 5, 2002.
Following the General Election in June 2002,
which saw a high rate of abstentions, JeanPierre Raffarin became Prime Minister. He
was replaced on 3rd May 2005 by Dominique
de Villepin after the failure of the referendum
on the European constitution.
Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of the
Republic on 6 May 2007 with 53.06% of the
votes cast (18,983,138 votes) against 46.94%
for Ségolène Royal (16,790,440 votes), becoming the 23rd President of the French Republic
and the 6th President of the Fifth Republic.
Modern France at a glance
The Fifth Republic’s Constitution of
October 4, 1958, adopted by way of a referendum, has governed the functioning of its institutions. It has been amended several time for such
changes as the election of the President by
direct, universal suffrage (1962), introduction of a new clause covering the criminal
responsibility of members of government (1993), creation of a single session for
Parliament, extension of the scope of referendums (1995), temporary terms regarding the
status of New Caledonia (1998), establishment
of the Economic and Monetary Union, equal
access for men and women to elected office and
functions, recognition of the jurisdiction of the
International Criminal Court (1999), reduction
of the Presidential term of office to 5 years,
approved by referendum in 2000.
France is a Republic that is renown for its
indivisibility and its democracy, both on a social
level and in terms of religion, in which all citizens
no matter what their creed or colour are equal
in the eyes of the law.
French democracy of today owes a lot to
the French Revolution in 1789. Its principles
are based on the Human and Civil Rights
Declaration that the French Constitution
of 1791 used as a prelude.
• The French motto is “Liberty, Equality
and Fraternity”.
• F rance’s Emblem: the Tricolour (Red,
white & blue) flag.
• F r a n c e ’ s n a t i o n a l A n t h e m : ‘ L a
Marseillaise’
• F rance’s national celebration day falls
on the 14th of July and celebrates the
anniversary of the storming of the Bastille
in 1789.
decrees and can put forward proposals for
new laws by calling a referendum. He makes
sure that everything complies with the constitution. He has the power to break up the
National Assembly after consulting the Prime
Minister and the presidents of the National
Assembly and the Senate, ‘Upper Chambers
of Legislatures’. In case of grave crisis, he can
exercise emergency powers.
The President appoints the Prime Minister
(government leader) and together they appoint
the members of Parliament. He presides over
the Council of Ministers.The Prime Minister
directs the actions of the government and
ensures execution of the laws.
The government is accountable for the decisions that are made in the Parliament.
The President particularly deals with foreign
policy: His job is to negotiate and ratify treaties,
to appoint French ambassadors for embassies
abroad and to entertain foreign ambassadors
when they are visiting France.
The President is Commander in Chief of the
armed forces.
French institutions
Legislative power
Parliament is made up of two assemblies:
The National Assembly led by the President,
who is voted in for five years as a result of
universal suffrage, and the Senate, elected for
six years by indirect universal suffrage, with
elections held for half of the seats every three
years. The most recent election for the Senate
was held in September 2004, and in June 2007
for the National Assembly.
The Government votes in new laws,
authorises the ratification of international treaties and can be entrusted with the task of
revising the Constitution by the President of
the Republic.
France’s executive power
In France the President of the Republic is the
Head of State. He is elected for a period of five
years by universal suffrage. The President’s
duty is to promulgate acts, sign orders and
Judicial power
The legal system is independent of the
executive and legislative powers. As guardian
of personal liberties, the judicial authority in
France is organised into a fundamental separation
governmental actions. It is also consulted by
the government to provide its opinion on
proposed laws and certain proposed
decrees.
The Revenue Court judges the public accounts and the regional chambers of
accounts.
between judicial jurisdictions responsible for
resolving disputes between individuals on the
one hand, and on the other hand, administrative
jurisdictions for disputes between citizens and
government offices.
The judicial system consists of two types
of courts:
• Civil Court
Basic legal jurisdictions (Court of First
Instance) or specialised ones (Court of Common
Pleas, Commercial Law Court, Social Security
Court and the Arbitration Board that decides
disputes between employees and employers).
• Criminal Courts, which deal with three separate
levels of infractions:
- Fines assessed by Police Court (Tribunal
de police).
- Misdemeanours judged by the Court of
Corrections (Tribunal correctionnel).
- Felonies by the Court of Justice (Cour
d’assises) (the only court with a jury,
whose decisions may only be contested
via appeal).
Lastly there is a specific court for both civil
and criminal offences involving children called
Minors Court (Tribunal pour enfants).
The Supreme Court (Cour de cassation),
the highest judicial authority, is responsible
for hearing appeals of rulings from the appeals
courts.
At the top of the administrative jurisdictions
(administrative tribunal, administrative appeals
court), the State Council (Conseil d’Etat)
passes final judgement on the legality of
Other institutions defined by the
Constitution
The President of the Republic, the President
of the Assembly and the President of the Senate
appoint the nine members of the Constitutional
Council. Its main job is to ensure that the
elections run smoothly and to check if governmental laws and laws that have been referred
for its review meet the requirements of the
Constitution.
The members of the Economic and Social
Council are representatives of various
organisations (syndicates, workers unions, and
associations), individuals who are either already
qualified or appointed by the government. It
is a body that is there to inform people about
proposals for new laws, decrees and social and
economic projects.
The Supreme Council of Magistracy, which
is made up of sixteen magistrates and other
individuals, is chaired by the President and
the French Minister of Justice (equivalent of
the Lord Chancellor in England). Its duty is to
nominate high magistrates and as a disciplinary
council must give the verdict.
The task of the Court of Justice of the
Republic (formerly known as the ‘High Court
of Justice’ and made up of fifteen judges, twelve
statesmen and three magistrates) is to take
legal action against and judge members of
parliament. Action is taken if members have
committed minor or serious criminal acts
in connection with their profession. Anyone
who feels that they have been wronged by
the criminal act of a Member of Parliament
can lodge a complaint to the Requests
Commission.
Introducing France’s
administration system
A competitive
economy
The regions of France
France is divided into 26 regions, of which
22 are in Metropolitan France. Each region is
administrated by a ‘Conseil régional’; councillors are elected for four years term by direct
universal suffrage. The most recent regional elections were held on March 14th and 21st 2010.
The Deferre Bill on decentralisation conferred
two obligations on the regions. These are
ongoing adult training and economic development. However, councillors can intervene in
other areas (transportation, culture, tourism,
etc.).The transfer of additional authority and
greater financial autonomy will soon contribute
to reinforcing the political and economic power
of the regions.
1945-1961
At the end of World War II, even though
the French were on the winning side it had
to sort out the state of its tattered economy.
At the time, France had 40 million inhabitants
(as in 1900) a rate of production that was
50% lower than it was before World War II,
a shortage of raw materials and inflation that
was without precedent. The three first government proposals rebuilt basic industry and raised
production; they made the French economy
face up to international competition.
France’s départements (counties)
France is made up of 96 départements
in metropolitan France, 4 colonised islands
overseas (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion
and Guyana) and the other overseas colonies of (Polynesia, New Caledonia, Mayotte,
Saint-Pierre, Miquelon, Wallis, Futuna,
Terre-Adélie [Adélie Land], Kerguelen Island,
Crozet and Saint Paul). Départements are administrated by their ‘Conseil général’, (‘County
Council’) whose members are elected via universal suffrage for six-year terms. Elections
are held for half of the seats on the ‘Conseil
Général’ every three years. The police represent
the State. Départements are divided into (339
including those overseas) ‘arrondissements’,
(areas), districts (3995) and 36,565 towns or
as in French ‘communes’.
French towns
The Mayor and the town councillors who are
elected via universal suffrage look after the town
administration. Elections are held every six years,
with members of the town council elected by direct
universal suffrage. These councillors then elect the
mayor and other officials.
1962-1973
During these years, the enormous efforts of
the State bore fruit. The growth rate was the
highest ever-recorded in France’s economic
history (5-6%), thus creating plenty of jobs, a
feeling of well-being, higher consumption and
rapid pay rises.
Different proposals were devoted to
town planning, investments, expansion and
organisation of the society (reforms in social
security and the generalisation of pensions).
Progressive industrialisation has led to
societal change. Agricultural jobs went
from 20% in the 1960s to a little over 10%
in 1970. Urbanisation and rural exodus occur
together.
From 1973 onwards
After three oil crises (1973,1979,1980) and
world economy crashes, France’s economy
faced slow growth and growing inflation.
From 1976 to 1981, economic policy focused
mainly on fighting inflation and containing the
national debt. The result, as was the case in
other European countries, was a significant
increase in unemployment. From 1981 to 1983,
the Socialist government launched a vigorous
policy of boosting the economy and employment that ran up against external constraints.
France returned to a policy of fiscal discipline
and liberalised the economy through privatisation and deregulation.
The Gulf War and German reunification
dragged Europe into recession. A restrictive
monetary policy followed, with weak growth
and a new rise in unemployment. In parallel,
France’s participation in the construction of
a united Europe brought about an economic
policy whose main goal was a single European
currency and adherence to the criteria for
convergence laid out in the Treaty of Maastricht
(inflation, national debt).
From 1997 to 2000, a return to growth
allowed France to introduce innovative
solutions to its employment policy (reduction
of withholdings from lower salaries, creation
of jobs for youth, reduction in the work week)
and to cut unemployment.
With the global economy in crisis, France
entered into recession at the end of 2008. In
response to the financial crisis, a major support
package was agreed for the country’s financial
institutions, alongside stimulus policies aimed
at sustaining the economy and the job market
in order to steer the country back towards
growth.
The French economy
today
In terms of GDP, France ranks in the top
world economies. The country has many
advantages: transportation, telecommunications, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals as well as
banking, insurance, tourism and luxury products
(fashion, perfume, alcoholic beverages).
Agriculture
Agriculture occupies almost 60% of the nation’s
land area. France’s agricultural industry is highly concentrated, professional and specialised. Overall, the
number of agriculture jobs and small, nonspecialised farms has dropped, but France remains
the top ranked agricultural producer and exporter
in Europe. The principal French products are
cereals (ranked 5th worldwide), wine (2nd worldwide), milk (5th worldwide), sugar beets and oil
producing seeds.
Industry
As in other developed countries, industry’s share has shrunk. In France, the sector
only employs a little over one worker out of
six. Traditional sectors have endured major
restructuring (steel making, metals,
mechanical, textile).
Other remain very competitive, namely:
- Construction and public projects
(Bouygues, ranked 1st in Europe),
- Agribusiness (1st ranked exporter and
2nd producer for Europe),
- Chemicals industries (Air Liquide,
Rhodia),
- Fashion and luxury (Vuitton, Hermes,
Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dior),
- Pharmaceuticals (4th ranked producer
worldwide),
- Processed materials (Péchiney, Saint
Gobain),
- Telecommunications, Aviation and
Aerospace, TGV.
French industry is an open market,
particularly in Europe. Over 60% of all trade
in the industrial sector is with European
countries. The sector is dependent upon
other countries because France must import
the natural resources it doesn’t have, mainly
fossil fuels.
Services
The service sector has developed
significantly. Among France’s strong points is
the banking, financial and insurance sector.
This last area ranks 4th worldwide (Axa, 1st
insurance company in Europe).
The development of services has taken
place both in the commercial sector, with
strong growth in business and personal
services, as well as the public services sector,
which has also grown significantly (healthcare,
education).
The tourism industry, among the largest
in Europe, plays a critical role in the balance
of trade. It represents 6,2% of the GDP and
2 million jobs. As an example, several French
hotel chains are established on every continent
(Accor, Club Méditerranée, etc.).
France is the most visited country in the
world (with 81,9 million international visitors
in 2007) and ranks 3rd worldwide in tourism
revenues.
France’s ranking on
a global scale
France holds an essential position in the
world:
- among Latin countries (in 2000, one out of
6 people are from a Latin country);
- among French-speaking countries, which
constitute a community of approximately
105 million people;
- among European countries, tightly connected
to the European Union, with whom the
country conducts the majority of its trade
(50% in the Euro Zone).
As a major economic player, France ranks
4th in the export of goods (mainly equipment)
worldwide and 2nd for services and agriculture.
The country ranks 4th worldwide among
destination countries for foreign investment.
France is one of five permanent members
of the UNO, United Nations Organisation
to have the right of veto and is also one of
five representatives of the IMF, International
Monetary Fund and member of the G8. France’s
capital city is also home to the head office of
UNESCO - The United Nations, Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
A country that has plenty
to offer
Studying in France gives you the
opportunity to discover the extraordinary variety of landscapes, towns and
regions that France has to offer.
Being a student in France also means
learning about living with the French
and sharing their lifestyle and their outlook on life. Every intellectual experience is a beneficial exchange that is just
as good for those who entertain as for
those who are being entertained.
Geography
Structure
France’s geography is one of the most diverse
in Europe. 700 million years of geological rock
formation that left behind very high mountains,
(some of whose eroded peaks can still be seen
today in the ‘Massif armoricain’, ‘Massif Central’,
‘Vosges’ and ‘Ardennes’) large sediment-filled
ponds and high mountain ranges. These mountain ranges are the Alps, Pyrenees and Jura
Mountains.
In the West and North of the country there
are plateaux, plains and hills of an altitude that
are generally less than 200 metres. This area
is the France of eroded mountains and large
pools. The threshold of Poitou separates the
Parisian pool and the pool of Aquitaine.
In the South and in the East you will find
rugged mountain ranges (Alps that soar 4807
metres in the air, the Pyrenees at 3298 metres
and the Jura at 1728 metres) and rustic, narrow
stretches of land. In central France the contours
of old volcanoes are located around the pool
of Aquitaine to the West (700m-900m), the
Rhone Valley to the East (1000-1700m), and
on the plain in the south of Languedoc.
Geographical diversity
France’s geography makes France exceptionally rich in terms of its surroundings, but also
makes it unique because so many features are
reunited in one country.
France represents a complete model of the
European continent, with its western plains,
ancient mountains, steep ranges, multiple
shores and Mediterranean mildness.
Rivers & lakes
The French nickname for France ‘L’Hexagone’,
taken from the country’s hexagonal shape, is
well hydrated with its dense tributaries that are
made up of thousands of streams, rivers, small
coastal lakes and five main rivers.
The Loire River is the longest river in France
(1 010 km). The calm River Seine (775 km) that
runs through the capital is the most navigable
French river.
The Garonne River (525 km) is renown
for having seriously flooded its banks several
times. The Rhone River (520 km) runs through
Southeast France in a north to south line. And
finally there is the Rhine River, which runs
through 195 km of French territory.
“La douce France”
A mild climate
80% of the protected sites of natural interest
in Europe are in France. France is situated in the
Temperate Zone of the Northern Hemisphere
and so benefits from a moderate climate that
follows the rhythm of four well-defined seasons.
In during winter, average temperatures vary
from 0-8°c. In the summer they vary from
16-24°c. Annual rainfall adds up to 600-800 mm
of water for more than half of France.
The geography of each region determines
its specific climate, according to different
combinations of cold and warm continental
fronts, oceanic and Atlantic breeze, or subtropical
Mediterranean air. Brittany and Normandy possess humid oceanic climates (approximately
200 rainy days per year), with strong westerly winds, mild winters (average temperature
is 7°c) and cool summers (16°c). Aquitaine is
prone to oceanic and meridian weather conditions, changeable winds, and heavy rainfall in the
spring, with an average temperature of 5°c in
winter and 22°c in summer. The east and the
northeast’s climate are semi-continental. The
winters are bitterly cold there and it snows
(average temperature is -1°c). The summers
are hot and stormy (average temperature
is 19°c). The winds come from the north and
the east.
The South of France has a Mediterranean
climate, with rain in the autumn, north and
south winds, mild winters (average temperature is 6°c) and hot summers (average temperature is 20°c).
The weather in the mountainous regions of
France is characterised by heavy rainfall, long
snowy winters, hot stormy summers, often
with much different weather on the slopes, i.e.,
micro-climates (neighbouring areas that
experience different weather conditions).
The mountain climate is characterised by
abundant rainfall, a long, cold, snowy winter and
a hot, stormy summer, with major differences
in weather depending on the slopes and a large
number of microclimates.
France’s different climate zones
Mediterranean Climate
Transitive Climate
Oceanic Climate
More subdued Oceanic Climate
Semi-Continental Climate
Mountain Climate
A country that has plenty to offer
Structure and contours of France
Mer du Nord
Ardennes
Manche
Bassin Parisien
Vosges
1
Jura
Océan Atlantique
Bassin
Aquitain
Alpes
2
Pyrénées
Méditerranée
Plains and Sedimentary plateaux
Ancient Pools
Young Alpines Ranges
1
2
Massif Armoricain
Massif Central
France’s population
Demography
France is home to 13% of Europe’s population. On January 1st 2010 the total population
of France and its overseas départements was
64,7 million, with 62,8 million living in main-
land France. Including the 780,000 residents of
France’s overseas territories, the total population becomes 65,4 million. 821,000 babies were
born in 2009, which represents a slight drop
on the previous year, but this rate is still above
the average of the last ten years. The number
of deaths increased slightly.
Population age pyramid (number in thousands)
Population en France métropolitaine
1990
2000
2008
2009
Total (in millions)
Births (in thousands)
Deaths (in thousands)
Birth rate (%)
Mortality (%)
Infant mortality rate (%)
Marriage rate (%)
Total fertility rate
(children per woman)
Age distribution on 1 January (%)
under 20
20 to 59 years old
60 years and over
57
794
535
13,6
9,2
7,3
5,1
1,78
1,78
58
774,8
530,9
13,1
9
4,4
5
1,87
1,87
62
801
533
12,9
8,6
3,6
4,2
2,00
2,00
64
821
546
13
9
3,6
4
1,99
1,99
27,8
53,2
19
24,5
58,8
16,7
24,9
58,7
16,4
24,5
58,8
16,7
Source: INSEE
Population in mainland France
In thousands
• 28,1
million French people are active
(Rate of activity: 70.1% of the population)
Women account for 47.2%
• Working
of the active population.
men account for 52.8% of the
• Working
active population.
assessment by sector
• Population
of activity:
-
agriculture, forestry: 3%
industry: 15.1%
construction: 6.8%
tertiary sector: 74.8%
services and other: 0.3%
source: INSEE
France’s annual migratory flux is estimated
at +71000 people (71000 more immigrants
than emigrants). This modest number of immigrants in relation to the total population is
characteristic of France (in comparison with
neighbouring countries).
kilometre.
- The other half of the country that’s left
ranges from 50-150 inhabitants per square
kilometre depending on whether there
are plains, plateaux, or if the region is
agricultural or industrial.
A not so dense population density
Compared with its neighbours, France is a
sparsely populated country. In France in 2008
the average population density was 101 habitants per square kilometre compared with 234
in Germany and 459 in the Netherlands. Each
area population density greatly differs from
region to region according to their contours
and economic evolution.
- In the industrial zones of the north and
in the Rhone Alps region, there are an
average of 324 inhabitants per square
kilometre. Population density in the Ile
de France is 974. In the Seine, Garonne
and Rhone Valleys, it is 80 inhabitants per
square kilometre.
- In the mountainous zones, forests cover a
quarter of the territory and where there
are plains of poor quality earth, there
are less than 52 inhabitants per square
France’s towns
The development of industry and services
and the modernisation of the agricultural
system encouraged more people from the
countryside to move to towns. A rural drift
that began back in the 19th century made a
come back after 1946.
Today, 75% of French people live in
towns and less than 5% work in farming and
agriculture.
29 French towns have more than 200,000
inhabitants and roughly forty towns have
100,000 inhabitants. Paris comes out on top
with an agglomeration of almost 10 million city
dwellers (2,166,200 in Paris alone), followed
by Marseilles with 826,700, Lyon (467,400),
Toulouse (437,100), Bordeaux (229,500) and
Lille (224,900).
The environment
Ecologists’ reactions against plans for
building nuclear power stations have shown
that the French are becoming more and more
interested in looking after nature and the
environment both in town and in the
countryside.
The Grenelle Agreement on the Environment
in October 2007 launched legislative measures
for the protection of the environment. See the
website: www.legrenelle-environnement.fr
The urban landscape is forever changing.
While the city centres have more or less
remained unchanged for centuries, colourful
overpopulated suburbs sprawl around them.
The rural landscape is also evolving. The
biggest changes have been noted in small
places; jobs in agriculture that have slumped
(that account for 3% of employment) have
been replaced with industrial farming. Like
towns and cities, rivers and beaches are being
affected by pollution.
In any case, France’s green spots are tending
to become residential areas and a lot of effort
is being made to improve the quality of life in
the suburbs.
Find out what the
French are all about
Their budget
French spending power doubled over the
last quarter of the century with consumption
of goods and services tripling from 19591994.
Salaries (civil servants’ salaries, manual
workers’ wages, doctors, architects and lawyers’ rates, etc.) are the main source of income
for a French family’s budget. Pensions, benefits,
copyright laws and various other payments
can be added to the list of state benefits that
are paid to families in France.
The average monthly salary in France
before tax is about €1,584. Half of French
salaries are, however, under €1,302. Salaries
are slightly better in Paris than ‘en Province’
and vary from company to company. The difference in the salaries of an executive and simple
employee range from 2.5 to 3.3%.
Money is spent on accommodation, health
services, food, transport, telephone bills,
purchasing goods and services, leisure, and
clothing, in order of the most to the least
important. Purchases are usually made by
cheque or credit card. VAT is added on to
all of these purchases ‘TVA, taxe sur la valeur
ajoutée’.
Direct tax (income tax, tax on privately
owned property or Council tax), retirement
payments, social security, medical insurance
cover, insurance, and television licence can all
be added to the chapter on “spending”. You
can save money by opening a savings account
in a bank or at the Post Office ‘La Poste’.
Nearly 10% of households in France possess
50% of France’s heritage.
Since June 2009, the previous RMI minimum income scheme has been replaced by
the Active Solidarity Allowance. The value of
the RSA is variable, and depends upon your
family situation and household income. Every
year the basic amount of the RSA is fixed by
law. Variables are then applied on top of this
basic level. For a single person with no other
income, the value of the RSA in 2010 was
€460,09 per month. From 2010 onwards the
hourly minimum wage will increase every year
from January 1st. The new minimum hourly
wage for 2010 is €8,86 before tax, which adds
up to €1343,77 per month before tax for a
working week of 35 hours (c €1056 net)
The French daily routine
French people tend to plan their day
differently depending on whether they live in
town or in the country. In the provinces, many
shops close between noon and 2pm. In big
towns, shops and offices are open all day and
so people leave work earlier to go shopping
on their way home and then watch television
(3 hours a day on average).
Young children go to primary school, senior
school or college from Monday morning until
Friday evening with a day off on Wednesday for
primary school pupils. The 4-day week is carried out by 24% of primary schools. However,
proposals are being put forward to re-organise
The Ascension Thursday (40 days after
Easter)
Pentecost (7th Sunday and Monday after
Easter)
the school day. Core subject lessons are held in
the morning when the children are supposedly
more alert, and afternoons are usually devoted
to different activities.
For most people who work, Saturday and
Sunday are days of rest; and for shop owners,
Sunday and Monday.
A typical day in the life of French retired
people is usually a lot less cluttered, without
the hustle and bustle of work or university life,
clubs, etc., to think about.
There are 11 long awaited public holidays each
year in France:
• 4th July: ‘La Fête Nationale’
Anniversary of the Storming of the
Bastille
• 8th May: V(ictory) Day to mark World
War II
• 11th November: Armistice
• 1st January: New Year’s Day
• 1st May: Labour Day
There are three fixed holy days:
• 15th August: Assumption
• 1st November: All Saints day (but the
day of ‘les deux morts’ is not a public
holiday)
• 25th December: Christmas day
There are three holy days that fall on different
days each year:
Easter Sunday and Monday that follow
the 1st full moon of springtime.
The year begins on the 1st January and the
school year starts in September, after the summer holidays in July and August. The school
calendar is divided by the Christmas and Easter
holidays into three terms.
School holidays differ according to the
region. There are three regions:
• Zone A: C
aen, Clermont-Ferrand,
Grenoble, Lyon, Nancy-Metz,
Nantes, Rennes, Montpellier and
Toulouse.
• Zone B: Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon,
Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice,
Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims,
Rouen and Strasbourg.
• Zone C: Bordeaux, Paris, Créteil and
Versailles.
Free time
Since 1945 proposals were put forward to
reduce the working week.
In 2001, many sectors switched to the
35-hour week. Different leisure activities
to suit people of different ages, social and
professional backgrounds, standards of living
and personal tastes are very diverse.
The average length of paid holiday is
between 25 and 30 days. The Seaside still comes
out at 44% of the population’s most favourite
holiday resort. The Mountains are another
favourite place to go on holiday.
Every household has a radio and families
listen to at least France-Inter, RTL, Europe 1 or
other FM radio stations. Almost every household owns a television and can watch national
television (France 2, 3 and France 5, Arte, Le
Soir and the private channels, (TF1, Canal +,
M6). For €118 (in 2007) for a TV licence you
can legally own a colour TV.
On 31 March 2005 Digital Terrestrial
Television (TNT) was launched, broadcasting
high quality, digital television programmes. All
homes equipped with a simple antenna aerial,
plus a TNT adaptor, can receive 18 free channels plus around ten subscription channels.
Le savoir-vivre (The “know how”)
If some aspects of French life seem the same
as anywhere else in the world, there is one
thing that the French have and the rest of us
don’t, and that’s ‘savoir-vivre’. The ‘savoir-vivre’
tends to differ among different generations of
French people.
When meeting someone you shake hands
or if you know the person quite well you can
kiss them on both cheeks. You can use ‘tu’
when speaking to your friends and family, but
it is better to ‘vous’ everyone else. It is advised
not to phone people after 9pm or to arrive
too early or too late when meeting up with
someone and you must make sure to let the
person know when you cannot make it.
When using public transport it is polite
to give your seat to elderly people, pregnant
women or handicapped people; to wait for
everyone to be served before you start eating at the meal table, to ask permission to
smoke, to leave a tip for waitresses, guides,
taxi drivers, etc.
Young people tend to behave in a more frank
and friendly manner (for example, by using
people’s first names).
Entertaining
France is renown for its passion for
gastronomy. Towards the end of the week
or for a special occasion, the French present
meals in a special way. They may put small
plates on bigger plates to make the meal look
more elegant, and in the countryside, people
have kept up the grand old tradition of sitting
down to a big meal. Everyday French cuisine
follows the international trend of giving you
less time to eat to make more time for other
things and eating less because it is healthier.
The French are, therefore, open to variety but
at the same time do not leave their culinary
traditions behind. Eating habits vary more by
gender and age, but the recent emphasis on
safe, healthy eating has played an increasingly
vital role in the French diet.
Host families
One of the best and most effective ways to
adapt to the French way of life is to live with a
French family. However, unlike Anglo-Saxons,
the French are not used to welcoming students
into their homes as easily, so finding a family may take some time. Making friends with
French people is a good way to find a family. If
all else fails, the CROUS staff can give you the
names and addresses of host families who are
looking for foreign students and a list of special
organisations that can put you in contact with
host families (see chapter 3, p. 87).
French cultural life
France has been a beacon of culture
and invention all throughout its History.
In the XIII century, the universities of
Paris, Orleans, Toulouse and Montpellier
were already accommodating students
from all over Europe. Rather than plan
your stay for you, we simply would like to
invite you to discover as much as possible
about the French culture during your
stay. Below is a list of recommended
museums to visit and dates of events to
note down. The CNOUS cultural services also organise student activities.
Museums
and exhibitions
Art and archaeology museums
Most big university towns have museums
that act as living proof of the wealth of France’s
culture. Admissions to national museums are
free on the first Sunday of every month.
In Paris, The Louvre has brought together
a range of treasures from Oriental, Greek
and Roman Antiquities as well as paintings
of all eras (Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vermeer’s
‘Lacemaker’, Watteau’s ‘Le Pierrot’, Chardin’s
‘La Pourvoyeuse’, Delacroix’s ‘The death
of Sardanapale’, etc.).
You can get to the Louvre by the glass
pyramid entrance in the middle of the Louvre
Palace’s courtyard that is opposite Tuileries
gardens. Metro: Palais Royal; open every day
(except Tuesdays and some Bank Holidays)
from 9am-6pm, late night closing at 10pm on
Wednesdays and Fridays; www.louvre.fr.
The Musée d’Orsay displays a vast
collection of XIX Century paintings (Daumier,
Courbet, Millet and also Van Gogh) as well
as famous Impressionist works of art (Monet,
Renoir, Manet, etc.) in the former Orsay
railway station. Main Entrance: 1 rue de la
Legion d’honneur, 75007 Paris, RER Musée
d’Orsay. Open every day except Mondays,
from 9.30am-6pm, late night closing until
9.45pm on Thursdays; www.musee-orsay.fr.
The Capital city is also home to museums
that are dedicated to individual artists: The
National Picasso Museum that was set up
in a XVII Century private hotel and displays
the artist’s paintings, sculptures, illustrations,
etchings and ceramics. You can also find the
work of Rousseau, Cezanne, Derain, Matisse,
Braque and Miro here to name a few. 5, rue
de Thorigny, 75003 Paris; metro Saint Paul.
Open everyday except Tuesdays from 9.305.30pm; www.musee-picasso.fr.
If you like sculptures you’ll find bronze
and marble sculptures by Auguste Rodin and
Camille Claudel at the Rodin museum 77
rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris; metro Varenne;
open every day except Mondays from 9.30am5.45pm; www.musee-rodin.fr.
Nantes ‘Musée des Beaux-Arts’ (Fine
Arts) (10, rue Georges Clémenceau, 44000
Nantes) collection brings together old (Georges
de la Tour, Philppe de Champaigne, Rubens,
Ingres, Delacroix, Courbet, etc.), modern
(Sonia Delaunay, Kandinsky, etc.) and contemporary works of art (Soulages, Tinguely,
Richter, etc.), mainly European works from
the 14th Century through today. Open daily
except Tuesdays and Bank Holidays, from
10am to 6pm – late night opening on Thursdays
until 8pm; www.nantes.fr/culture/musees-nantais/
musee-des-beaux-arts.
The musée du quai Branly, musée
des arts premiers, il présente des collections exceptionnelles d’objets des civilisations d’Afrique, d’Océanie, d’ Asie et des
Amériques (37, quai Branly, 75007 Paris;
métro Alma-Marceau - Bir Hakem). Tout les
samedi à partir de 18h, le musée est gratuit
pour les moins de 26 ans; www.quaibranly.fr.
The Museum of Modern Art in
Villeneuve-d’Ascq (1 allée du musée,
59650, Villeneuve d’Ascq) displays modern
and contemporary art by Modigliani, Léger,
Van Dongen, Buren, Lipchitz, etc.; open daily
except Tuesdays, from 10am to 6pm;
www.musee-lam.fr.
At the Antoine Vivenel Museum
in Compiègne, you are invited to discover
Greek, Roman and Gaul antiquities, paintings,
sculptures and objets d’art that date from the
Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the modern
day. (2 rue d’Austerlitz 60200 Compiègne;
03 44 20 26 04; www.musee-vivenel.fr).
Music exhibits
The Cité de la musique includes a
museum based on music, two concert halls
(classical music, contemporary, jazz and world
music), music and dance information centre, an
educational media library, etc.(221 avenue Jean
Jaurès 75019 Paris; métro Porte de Pantin;
open from Tuesday-Saturday from Noon till
6pm, Sundays from 10am-6pm. Information
and reservations: 01 44 84 44 84).
www.cite-musique.fr
Science exhibits
Le Palais de la Découverte (The Palace
of Discovery) is home to permanent and
temporary exhibitions and has ‘hands on’
activities and guided tours. The Museum has
a Planetarium and a photo lab. You can have
lessons and courses on Astronomy (avenue
Franklin D Roosevelt, 75008 Paris, métro:
Champs Elysées Clemenceau; open from
Tuesday –Saturday from 9.30am-6pm, Sundays
from 10am-7pm. Information at 01 56 43 20
20. www.palais-decouverte.fr).
La Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie
(Science and Industry) organises spectacular
interactive exhibitions, puts on shows and has
Documentation Centres (30 avenue Corentin
Cariou, 75019 Paris, metro Porte de la Villette;
open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm. Sundays
10am-7pm; www.cite-sciences.fr).
The Museum of Natural History has
permanent and temporary exhibitions, shows
films and puts on conferences and educational
activities. It also has a menagerie and a media
library (57, rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris; métro:
Jussieu: open daily except Tuesdays, from
10am to 5pm; reservations: 01 40 79 36 00;
www.mnh.fr).
Futuroscope, a 53 hectare theme park
near Poitiers, brings together all the latest
audiovisual technology (giant screens, 3D cinema and surround sound, etc.) and interactive
activities; information and reservations: 05 49
49 11 12; www.futuroscope.com.
Cultural events
For the ‘Fête de la Musique’ (France’s
Annual Music Festival on 21st June), professional
artists and increasingly more classic and modern
amateur musicians from all over the world are
given permission to do live concerts in most of
France’s big towns for the day. The programme
of events is available before the festival on
www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr
Other successful cultural events take place
each year throughout France: Heritage Days
(September) when historic monuments (ministries, buildings, embassies, banks) are specially
open to the public.
www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr
The aim of La Fête de la Science is to
provide information on developments in science and their implications for society. Several
universities participate in this.
www.fetedelascience.fr
La Fête de l’Internet brings the public up
to date with issues of information and new technologies;
www.fete-internet.fr
French cultural life
Nantes organises “crazy days” dedicated to
classical music.
www.follejournee.fr
Au Printemps de Bourges (Mid April, to
see programme: www.printemps-bourges.com)
and Aux Francofolies de La Rochelle (Mid
July; to see programme: www.francofolies.fr), enable
various French singers to show off their talent
and meet each other.
The techno-parade takes to the streets of
Paris around the 18th September:
www.technoparade.fr
The Three Continents Film Festival
(late November) in Nantes offers films from
Asia, the Americas and Africa presented by
some of their directors.
www.3continents.com
Comic book lovers are advised not to
miss the annual Comic Book Festival at
Angoulême, which takes place in February
or March.
www.bdangouleme.com
The Avignon Theatre & Dance Festival
is held every year from the beginning of Juneend of July (box office opens from beginning
of June) where each year, many a well-known
director takes to the stage to put on a play or
a dance performance.
www.festival-avignon.com
For La Fête du cinéma (France’s Annual
film festival around the 30th June), you can
see as many films as you like for the price of
one ticket with only €2 extra for an additional
ticket.
www.feteducinema.com
The Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival
(at the beginning of February) speciality is showing
short (French and foreign films); information:
04 73 91 65 73.
www.clermont-filmfest.com
2
Before
setting off
How to plan your stay in France
CampusFrance Centres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The DAP system for undergraduate applications .
Are my qualifications recognised in France. . . . . . .
French language test: the TCF.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The long-stay visa removing the need
for short-term resident’s cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Short term visa: ‘student entrance exams’. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
2
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
• Practical information: the Ministry of Education’s ‘student portal’ . .
.
p. 46
p. 47
p. 49
p. 49
p. 50
p. 52
p. 53
How am I going to pay for my studies
in France?
Necessary resources . . . . . . . .
Applying for grants.. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Checklist of essential documents .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 54
p. 55
p. 56
2
Before setting off
How to plan your stay
in France
Regulations for entering the country
as a student for a long period of time are
different from when you are visiting the
country as a tourist.
Obtaining permission to live as a student in
France depends on your financial resources
and upon acceptance of your application for
secondary studies.
CampusFrance
Centres
Today there are 116 CampusFrance Centres
and 28 Offices, in 88 countries around the
world:
The main purpose of CampusFrance Centres
is to provide information to students and promote French higher education.
They can give you details on the range of
higher education courses available in France,
offer guidance according to the subject areas
and institutions which best suit your interests,
and provide information on French daily life and
the practical steps you need to take before and
after arriving in France.
Application for pre-enrolment online enables your personal electronic file to be set up.
It is a quick and simple operation, and you will
be required to make a payment. This process
significantly speeds up the response time of
the establishments and the visa formalities.
You can therefore plan your study visit in the
best possible way.
This online enrolment is followed by personalised questions both to assess and to
pinpoint your study plan, and the level of your
French language skills (by proficiency test).
For more informations, visit the
CampusFrance website at www.campusfrance.org
where you will find:
- links to the individual CampusFrance
website for each country
- a search engine to help you find the
course which suits you
- a search engine for scholarships, to help
you find funding for your studies and
research in France
- more information on studying and living
in France etc.
In 30 countries, a virtual on-line application system has been created. You
must use this system to register your
application and obtain your student visa.
The system covers the following countries: Algeria, Argentina, Benin, Brazil,
Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Ivory
Coast, Colombia, Congo Brazzaville,
South Korea, USA, Gabon, Guinea,
India, Japan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali,
Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, Russia,
Senegal, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine and Vietnam.
© CampusFrance.
The DAP system
for undergraduate
applications
When the candidate has chosen a discipline
and the higher education establishment where
they would like to study, an applicant for first
or second year studies must then in December
pick up or ask the Service de cooperation et
d’action culturelle (SCAC) of the Embassy of
France to send a pre-application form (called
“le dossier blanc”) to their home address. In the
30 countries listed above, all applications must
be made through the online system.
Applicants should visit the relevant website
for their country at:
www.[name of home country].campusfrance.org
The application form is also downloadable on
the web site for the Ministry of Youth, Public
Education and Research:
www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr
(subheadings: all forms / online applications /
family / university admissions)
Pre-application is a must when applying for all
of the following studies for the first time.
Please note: this process has very strict
deadlines. You must consult these on the
CampusFrance websites or on the website of the Ministry for Higher Education
and Research or the French administration portal.
2
Special cases
• Candidates that are living in France and
have at least a 1 year Resident’s card must
pick up an application form from their
nearest university;
• European Union and European economic
zone citizens can enrol directly at the
university of their choice without going
through this procedure. These applicants,
and certain others may also bypass the
procedure (see box on p. 48).
Choosing a university
Students are asked to choose three universities and to put them in order of preference, except when applying to three Parisian
universities (Paris, Créteil, Versailles), where
you can only choose one.
Once the pre-application form has been
filled in and you have enclosed everything
that is required, it must be sent back to your
first choice French university. If your first
choice of university does not accept you, they
will automatically send your form onto your
second choice of university. Similarly, if the
second university does not accept you, they
will send it on to the third.
For more information,
go to the following websites:
www.campusfrance.org
www.education.gouv.fr
www.service-public.fr
www.cnous.fr
2
Before setting off
Special exemptions
Candidates do not need to go through the
motions of getting a visa card if they are:
• Holders of a French baccalaureate
or holding an exemption certificate,
holders of an international or FrancoGerman baccalaureate;
• Students undertaking studies within
the framework of an approved programme agreed between governments
or within a programme defined by an
inter-university convention;
• Students who are recognised as stateless or as refugees by the French office
for the protection of refugees and
stateless persons (OFPRA), and, if
necessary, with the permission of the
director of this Office, applicants who
have not yet obtained this status;
• Children of diplomats currently holding
posts in France
• Citizens of the European Union and/or
the European Economic Area
• French or overseas government grantholders that are looked after by aggregated French organisations (such as
CampusFrance / CNOUS / EGIDE);
Reminder
In the following cases, application is made directly to the institution:
• Masters or doctoral level students or
laboratory research students provided
that they get a place in their chosen university and that their study years/diplomas are validated (VAE). If a candidates’
diplomas aren’t validated, they will have
to pre-enrol;
• Candidates who wish to enrol in a French
high school (CPGE, STS: preparatory
classes for the hautes écoles, advanced
technical section);
• Students requesting enrolment in an
institution of higher learning that bases
admissions on a portfolio, entrance exam,
panel vote, or degree (IUT, IEP, etc.);
• Students studying at schools that are not
under the ministry of Higher Education
and Research, (for example Schools of
music or Agriculture, etc.) must contact
the school or its associated ministry
directly.
2
In these cases you must take the comprehension sections of the TCF examination (oral
comprehension, syntax, written comprehension) as well as an extra written test specific
to the DAP (see example form: p. 47).
Are my qualifications
recognised in
France?
French educational institutions should recognise qualifications from other countries.
There is no legal equivalent between international diplomas and French diplomas.
Consequently, an academic board that
consists of a president or the director of the
candidate’s chosen university is responsible
for all decisions regarding validating qualifications from other countries.
Also, the ENIC-NARIC Centre France has
information on the recognition of academic
and professional diplomas. It provides certificates for the recognition of study levels for
overseas diplomas.
All information relating to this centre can
be found on the website: www.ciep.fr
French language
test: the TCF
A test of your linguistic abilities to ensure
that you are capable of studying in France :
TCF stands for Test de Connaissance
du Français. It is the official French language
examination of the Ministry for Education and
the Conference of University Chancellors.
If you wish to begin or continue your studies in a French higher education institution,
you will need to take the TCF, the language
test of the Ministries for National Education
and Higher Education, to prove your level
of French.
If you wish to appy via a preliminary
application request (DAP) for undergraduate studies, or if you wish to enroll in
an architecture school.
Exam sessions
Depending on your country of residence,
the TCF examinations for DAP applications
are open between October and February.
After this date, it is no longer impossible to
take the TCF for the following academic year.
It is important that you contact the cooperation and cultural action departments at the
French embassy in your country, in order
to find out the exact dates and registration
procedures. You can also find information on
taking the TCF for DAP applications at the
following adresses: www.ciep.fr/tcfdap
If you are not successful at the first attempt
you can retake the TCF as many times you
like but you must wait two months between
each examination.
Exemptions
The following persons are exempt from
the French proficiency test:
• holders of a DELF B2 or a DALF C1 or C2,
of a French baccalaureate (awarded by the
French Ministry of Education) a student
or graduate from French bilingual departments on a list established jointly by the
French Ministries of National Education
and of international affairs;
• holders of the assessment test in
French (TEF), organised by the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in
Paris, and who have obtained 14 out of
20 for the written expression test; (please
note: the TEF qualification is only valid
for one year)
• nationals from countries where French is
an official language: Bénin, Burkina Faso,
Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, GuineaConakry, Mali, Niger, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Sénégal, Togo;
• candidates who are nationals of the countries of the European Economic Area are
exempt from the DAP process, and can
therefore make a direct application to
the university of their choice, which will
decide whether or not they need to take
a language test.
2
Before setting off
Enrolling for postgraduate studies
French universities may ask you to provide
an official document certifying your level of
competency in French, whether or not you
are applying from another country within the
European Economic Area.
You will have to sit the compulsory TCF
comprehension tests (oral comprehension,
syntax, written comprehension). Many higher
education institutions also require candidates
to sit the additional TCF written expression
examination, or even the oral expression test.
It is your responsibility to check with the
institution to which you have applied and find
out which tests they require you to sit. TCF
exams are held every month in more than 500
test centres all over the world. You can find
the address of the test centres on the following
website: www2.ciep.fr/tcf/Centres/Liste.aspx
It is essential that you contact the test
centre of your choice to find out the dates
of the examinations and the relevant enrolment procedures.
The long-stay visa,
removing the requiremen for short term
resident’s cards
This procedure is not applicable to Algerian
nationals entering France, who must make a
request for a resident’s card, on the basis of
their entry visa, within two months of their
arrival. Citizens of the European Union, the
European Economic Area and Switzerland
do not require a visa or resident’s card (with
the exception of people from Bulgaria and
Romania). If you are from one of these countries, please refer to the last points on this
form.
Time limits
Foreign students intending to study in
France for more than three months must
apply for a long-stay visa which gives them
the right to reside in France for a maximum
of one year. These visas can be obtained
from the French consulate in the student’s
country of origin. In certain countries there
are centres to facilitate studying in France (at
CampusFrance centres), which allow candidates to apply online.
Validity
The long-stay visa removing the requirement for a short-term resident’s card can
last for between 4 months and one year
(the maximum time allowed), depending on
the length of your proposed course of study
or placement. This long-stay visa allows you
to work part time (maximum of 60% of
average annual working hours, equivalent
to 964 hours of work). It can be renewed
upon presentation of a temporary student
visa. When applying for visa renewal, the
commitment which the student has demonstrated to pursuing his or her studies is an
important factor taken into consideration by
the Préfét when deciding whether or not to
grant the visa. Cases are assessed after the
relevant examination results are released.
This requirement of a serious commitment
to studying will not be considered satisfied if
the student does not show signs of progress
in his or her studies.
Where do I apply?
You should contact your nearest French
consulate for all information.
What to do when you arrive in France
There are certain steps which you must complete with the French Office for Immigration
and Integration within three months of your
arrival in France: a medical check-up, payment
of the administration fee, presentation of documents providing evidence of your identity and
address in France. When these steps have
been completed you will receive a certifying
document from the OFII Immigration Office
www.ofii.fr
Documents to supply when applying
for a long-stay ‘student’ visa (see also the
website of your nearest French Embassy or
Consulate):
•T
wo copies of the application form for a
long-stay visa, fully completed and signed
•T
wo recent passport photographs of size
3.5cm by 4.5cm, printed in colour on nonglossy paper, showing your full face against
a light background with no head covering
and presenting a perfect likeness to your
current appearance.
•A
valid passport (original plus photocopies of the pages indicating your personal
information and the duration of the validity
of the passport and visa). If you are married or divorced and your civil status or
maiden name does not appear on your
passport, please attach a marriage certificate or decree nisi.
• Proof of address
• Proof that you are a student (original and
photocopies): certificate of registration,
enrolment or pre-enrolment in a public or
private educational establishment, or in a
centre for professional training.
• If your studies do not fall into the categories of traditional secondary or higher
education, the certificate should specify:
the license number granted to your educational establishment, the nature of the
studies you are following, the duration of
your course, the timetable and weekly
number of hours occupied by your studies,
and also include a declaration of tuition
fees paid by you for the term.
• Proof of sufficient resources: for students
from within the European Union, a signed
2
declaration confirming that you have sufficient resources will suffice*. For students from outside the EU, your nearest
Consulate will provide details of which
documents you need to present to obtain
a visa.
• If the applicant is being financed by a third
party, a declaration of guarantee plus the
last three pay slips should be included and
tax statement. For students receiving a
scholarship from a foreign government or
funding from one of the European Union’s
cooperation schemes, proof of the scholarship funding will be sufficient.
*’Sufficient resources’ is defined as revenues
equivalent to no less than 70% of the basic monthly
maintenance allowance of a French state scholarship, with relation to the last academic year, so
€430 per month as of January 1st 2009.
Compulsory vaccinations
If you are entering France from a country
with recorded incidences of certain epidemic
diseases, certain vaccinations may be demanded
(cholera, yellow fever, etc.).
Special circumstances for scientific
visas for academic researchers and
teachers
Prior to their arrival, teachers and researchers coming to France must arrange, via their
French host university, to have the Préfecture
stamp their individual agreement comprising
two parts: one filled in by the visiting academic
and the other by their French host. The agreement should then be presented to the French
consulate in the academic’s country of origin,
in order to apply for a ‘scientific’ visa. Once
this visa has been obtained, the academic
visitor may enter France, and request delivery
of their ‘scientific’ resident’s card from the
Préfecture nearest to their place of residence
in France. The charge for the resident’s card
for teaching and research staff is €300.
2
Before setting off
Obtaining a short
term visa for
‘entrance exam
students’
The short term ‘étudiant-concours’ visa is
designed for those whose enrolment was guaranteed by a successful interview, test results
or entrance examination. Temporary student
visas (and visa protection) are awarded to
those who can prove that they passed the
entry examination.
By producing an “etudiant-concours” visa
along with proof of passing the exam, a student
may obtain a temporary “student” residency
card at the Prefecture of Police.
For shorter stays you can contact the your
country of origin’s Consulate and Embassy for
information on how to obtain a visa.
See chapter 3, p.70 for administrative steps to
be taken when you arrive in France.
For more information contact your
nearest French consular services before
your departure, or search ‘visa’ on the
website of the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs and Europe:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
© MAEE.
2
Practical information
Ministry of Education has set up a “student portal”, a website for information
on Higher Education options and student life.
In May 2006, the French Ministry for
licence, master and doctorate levels.
Education launched a “student portal”. This
information can be accessed in www.etudiant.
gouv.fr providing information on different
ways depending on whether or not higher
education courses and their the student
knows which course he or she professional
insertion, to help students wants to take.
make “an informed choice”.
At first glance, going into higher education appears to be a complicated business.
The ONISEP and CampusFrance
catalogues contain information on over
36,000 higher education courses available
in France.
This portal brings together information
on all higher education courses, for both
universities and the “grandes écoles”, for
all levels.
Web links in each category enable further research.
The portal also has a section on “student life” with information on fees, grants,
accommodation, student welfare, etc. and
sections entitled “Going abroad to study”
and “Studying in France”
© MESR.
2
Before setting off
How to finance your
studies in France
Before setting off, it is necessary to
specify which financing method you are
going to use to fund your stay. You will need to work out a budget
that takes into account your resources and
gives you a rough guide to your financial
needs.
Financial support can be provided either by:
• The candidate’s family
• A higher education grant
• A loan
Necessary
resources
The French minimum wage
The minimum wage ‘le SMIC’ in France
has been around €1,321.02 gross since
1st July 2008, €1,037.53 net, based on the
35 hour working week).
Such a small wage leaves little room for
extravagant spending.
Student privileges
Students can benefit from “special
treatment” in France.
• Subsidised university canteens;
•P
ossible student accommodation (Halls
of residence, Guesthouses, ‘HLM’ basic
accommodation (equivalent of council
flats);
• S pecial student transport rates
(see chapter 3)
These special deals should enable students to stretch their budgets to cover their
basic living costs as well as student expenses
(books, going out, etc.)
Monthly needs
In France, a student can live reasonably
well on a sum of anything between €700 and
€850 per month.
This amount of money should cover the
costs of rent and deposit, food, healthcare,
going out, leisure, etc. Overseas students are
advised not to come to France empty-handed.
Students are therefore expected to try and
save up for the stay in France. About €430
is a good estimate of the amount of money
you’ll need every month. You could end up
needing less money if you take into account
all the facilities available to students (i.e. living
with relatives in France).
Fees for schooling
The annual rate for school fees in Staterun higher education establishments varies
between €165 and €900 and according to the
curriculum. But this amount can be higher,
particularly in certain private establishments,
where they may be €3000 to €7000, if not
more.
Please note: course fees should be added
to these enrolment fees, and may be much
higher than the enrolment fees.
Social cover
Overseas students are entitled to student
social security:
• if he or she is under 28 years old (this
limit can be extended for some specific
courses of study or situations);
• if they are following a complete initial
training in a higher education establishment;
• if they are not covered by any other social
security system;
Where students are not eligible for student social security, the CMU ‘Couverture
Maladie Universelle’, in some cases, can allow
them to benefit from social security through
health costs.
Students should contact their local CPAM
‘Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie’.
How to finance your studies in France
2
Indicative monthly budget
(excluding fees for schooling)
his estimated monthly budget is for a single student who,
as is typical for students, is not in university housing
Rent (including utilities)........................................................... €300
Restaurant meals......................................................................... €230
Transport...........................................................................................€35
School supplies.................................................................................€50
Cultural events................................................................................€45
Leisure.................................................................................................€30
General maintenance....................................................................€35
TOTAL............................................................................€725
Applying for grants
The different types of maintenance
grants available
There are three types of grants for students
who would like to study in France.
• Grants that are allocated by the French
government and arranged by diverse
organisations. The French Embassy’s
Cultural and cooperation services
(SCAC) in the candidate’s countries
of origin are the only organisation to
award these grants.
To look at the list of addresses go to
the Ministry of Foreign and European
Affairs website:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/annuaire
• Overseas government maintenance grants
are awarded to students who want to pursue their studies abroad (contact the State
organisation that deals with grants);
• I nternational and non-governmental
foundations as well as associations award
maintenance grants also.
To at have a look at the list of the last two
types of maintenance grants, pick up a copy of
the UNESCO: Bi-annual guide to studying abroad.
Copies can be ordered on the UNESCO website: www.unesco.org/education/studyingabroad
Grant applications must be made a year in advance
before you plan to come to France. It is not possible to have more than one grant from the same
institution or from two different institutions.
Students who were awarded maintenance
grants from their country of origin must inform
their Embassy or Consulate at home know that
they have arrived safely in France. Those of you
who are grant-holders with international maintenance grants or non-governmental grant-holders
(ONG: ‘Organisation non gouvernemental’) must
similarly contact the grant-awarding organisation
in France.
Travel costs
MAEE grant-holders’ out and in bound
flights are usually paid for by the grant-awarding body, which may also pay for travel in
France between the arrival point and destination.
For other grant-holders (from overseas
governments, foundations, international bodies) the transfer from the arrival point to the
destination (and the return transfer) may be
paid for either by the grant-awarding body or
by the student.
We advise non grant-holders to contact
several different airlines and travel agents
and to “shop around” for the cheapest ticket
and good student deals. Whether you are
heading for Paris or not, travel agents usually
offer you the widest choice of routes and
connections.
2
Before setting off
Practical Information:
Checklist of essential documents
•A
valid passport or identity card;
•A
long term “student” visa (or ‘scientific’
visa for visiting teachers and researchers);
•A
cover letter from the French Embassy’s
Cultural services in the candidate’s
country of origin for French government
grant-holders only;
•A
bout 10 passport sized black & white
photos (3.5x4.5cm);
•T
he originals and their certified translations
of all secondary and further education
qualifications that provide access to higher
education in the candidate’s country;
• The authorised translation of candidate’s
Birth Certificate.
• The originals of all written evidence
presented to the consulate to obtain
the visa. These may need to be shown
at Customs and when applying for the
resident’s card.
If you want to have a car in France:
• International insurance card;
• A valid driving licence that will allow you
to drive for two years in France, to be
exchanged for a French driving licence
or an international driving licence after
one year.
•A
detailed account of examination and
coursework grades from the last two
years of study. Candidate’s grades are
essential for enrolment in preparatory
classes for ‘les Grandes Ecoles’, in some
IUT’s and some university disciplines;
If you want to import a car:
• You must have ‘a carte grise’ or a proof
of ownership for the vehicle;
•A
detailed programme of the candidate’s
curriculum, subjects studied and grades
obtained during further education;
And especially:
• A sum of money of at least €150 to cover
the very first expenses.
For any complimentary information before setting off contact the Service de coopération
et d’action culturelle (SCAC) in the nearest
French Embassy to where you live or refer to
CampusFrance’s website: www.campusfrance.org.
For educational guidance contact the universities’ information and support services
and the ONISEP website ‘Office National
d’information sur les enseignements et les
professions’: www.onisep.fr, under “Je recherche... une formation”.
•A
detailed research project to be enclosed
in your application form for postgraduate study;
•A
letter from the university, confirming
that the candidate has been offered a place
on their chosen course;
•A
uthorised translation of written proof
of Income;
• An International insurance card ‘carte
verte’
3
Settling in
Arriving in France
Custom control..
. . . . .
p. 59
p. 65
p. 68
p. 70
. . . . .
p. 71
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Practical: The arrival in Paris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All you need to know about: What to do when you get to Paris
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Validating your long-stay visa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The temporary resident’s card: documents to provide when renewing
your long-stay visa removing the requirement for a short-term
resident’s card as a short-term ‘student’ resident’s card . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
‘Œuvres universitaires’ Student information services
University life starts
at the CROUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The university canteen service
‘At the heart of student life’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Student accommodation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• How to get a flat in universitary residence?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temporary employment service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
New and confused?
Working professionally while studying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The CROUS student welfare services are here to help. . . . . . . . . . . . .
‘Le Dossier social étudiant’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CROUS Cultural Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
‘Œuvres universitaires’ overseas student information services. . . . . .
• Local and regional ‘Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires’ student welfare centres . .
3
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. . . . . . . .
p. 73
p. 74
p. 75
p. 79
p. 79
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p. 79
p. 81
p. 81
p. 82
p. 84
p. 85
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p. 87
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. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
Sport at the university in France
Sport in French universities. .
• FFSU regional offices. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 91
p. 92
Social Security and student insurance
cover student
Social Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Student insurance companies ‘les mutuelles étudiants’..
L’USEM.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 95
p. 96
p. 97
Learning French as a foreign language
Learning French prior to coming to France.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learning French in France. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French national diplomas: DILF, DELF and DALF. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Test of knowledge of French test: the TCF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Alliance Française diplomas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP) exams . .
University diplomas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teacher training courses in teaching French.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Short teaching courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Pedagogical research body. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Published works on teaching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 98
p. 98
. p. 99
p. 100
p. 101
p. 101
p. 102
p. 102
p. 103
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p. 103
p. 104
3
Settling in
ARRIVING in
France
Going to a new country is a real test.
Discovering a new environment, learning new customs, rules and regulations is
never easy. The best way to adapt to the
change of environment and to make your
stay worthwhile is to get information in
advance and to find out what are the first
things you need to do when you arrive.
Going through Customs
When you arrive at the airport, like all
travellers, overseas students must go through
Customs:
Passport/Identity card check for people
from European Union member states and
Customs driving licence and foreign currency
check (see box below).
Customs restrictions
General Information
You may be subject to customs checks
at France’s borders with countries which
are not within the European Union (nonmembers), but the customs authorities also
have jurisdiction all over France, and within
the European Customs territory. The main
purpose of these checks is to guarantee
your health and security, and to protect
the environment.
Customs
If you are arriving from a country outside the EU and have either bought items
personally or received gifts whose value is
above the customs threshold, you must fill in
a customs declaration and pay the relevant
taxes and charges;
When travelling within the European
Union, the customs authorities will not ask
you to declare any items or pay any taxes
or charges.
Notice
If you are a French resident returning
from a trip abroad, to ensure that you can
reenter the country with your personal possessions without paying taxes or charges,
customs officers may ask you to prove that
these possessions were purchased before
your departure from France.
If you entering France from a country outside the European Union
Goods which you have purchased or
received as gifts in a country outside the EU
should be declared at customs if their value
is above the customs threshold.
For up-to-date information, visit
the website of the customs authorities:
www.douane.gouv.fr (see the ‘Particuliers’
section).
3
Settling in
Customs restrictions (continuation)
If you are entering France from
a nation outside the EU (non-member):
Any goods bought or received as gifts in
countries outside the EU must be declared at
Customs if their value is above the specified
threshold.
Table showing value thresholds:
• When you arrive in France you may carry
goods bought or received as gifts in non-EU
countries without the need to declare them
or pay any taxes or charges, provided that
the value of these goods is below the following thresholds:
Travellers under 15 years of age
(any mode of transport).................€150
Travellers over 15, arriving by mode
of transport other than aeroplane
or boat............................................€300
Travellers over 15, arriving by
aeroplane or boat..........................€430
Warning: These individual thresholds
cannot be combined by separate persons
to attain a higher threshold for a single
item. For example, a couple returning from
Japan cannot pool their allowances to form
a higher threshold which would cover a
camera with a value of €860
• In addition to these value thresholds, there
are certain quantity thresholds in place: you
may import tobacco and alcohol without
any paperwork or charges, as long as you
do not exceed the quantity limits specified
in the table opposite.
• You can combine the amounts of tobacco
and alcoholic beverages that you bring into
the country, within the limits of the quantity
thresholds.
For example, if you only buy 100 cigarettes
you are only using half of the allowance
for this type of tobacco products; you can
therefore use the other half of your allowance to buy half of the threshold amounts of
cigarillos (50 units), cigars (25 units) or rolling
tobacco (125g).
travellers are allowed* limited:
Cigarettes:
200 unités
or cigarillos:.............................................................. 100 unités
or cigars:.......................................................................... 50 unités
or rolling tobacco..................................................250 g
and
Alcoholic Beverages (1)
Non-sparklings wines: .................................................... 1 litre
Either drinks with an alcohol
content of over 22%: ................................................... 2 litres
or Drinks with an alcohol
content of 22% or less: ................................................. 1 litre
(1) The value of tobacco and alcohol is not
counted for application of the duty-free value.
People aged under 17 years may not import dutyfree tobacco or alcohol.
Personal valuables which you are
carrying
• You may bring personal items into France
without any customs or fiscal formalities.
But the nature and quantity of goods which
you are carrying should not take the nature
of commercial imports.
• When returning from a non-EU country,
customs officials may ask you to provide evidence of the legal conformity of certain items
(jewellery, cameras, camcorders, mobile
phones etc.) You must be able to prove that
you purchased them-in the European Union
and paid the appropriate sales tax or, if you
Arriving in France
3
bought them in a non-EU country, that you
have paid any duties and taxes which they
might incur in the EU, by presenting invoices
or customs receipts.
• To avoid the need for carrying all of these
documents, you may request a special certificate which makes it easier to transport
personal items through customs: the free
circulation card. This card is free, valid for 10
years after delivery and renewable thereafter.
You can obtain this card in any customs
office, by presenting the objects you wish to
include along with the necessary documentation (invoices, customs receipts, warranty
certificates etc.). In the future you can update
your card as you acquire new possessions,
by returning to the original issuing customs
office.
If you are entering France from
another EU nation
The following rules apply to goods purchased in other member states of the European
Union:
• General purchases: if the goods purchased
are for personal use, you are not obliged to
declare them, nor to pay any duties or taxes,
as long as these goods were purchased in
another EU member country. You pay valueadded tax (VAT) directly in the country of
purchase, at the applicable national rate.
• Medicines: you may bring in medicines as
long as they are for your own personal use,
that is to say in quantities corresponding to
3 months of treatment for non-prescription
drugs (greater quantities allowed for prescription medications), and as long as they
are carried in your personal luggage.
NB: if the quantity you are carrying
exceeds the amounts judged reasonable for personal use, it is not permitted to import them.
• Purchases of alcoholic beverages and
tobacco: if you are buying, in a personal
capacity, alcoholic beverages and tobacco in
another EU member country for your own
use and you are transporting them yourself,
then you will pay the VAT and excise duties
(duties applicable to specific products) at the
rate in force in the country of purchase:
Cigarettes:
200 unités
or cigarillos:............................................................. 100 unités
or cigars:.......................................................................... 50 unités
or rolling tobacco..................................................250 g
and
Allowances for alcohol and
alcoholic beverages
Spirits:.............................................................................. 10 litres
(Gin, Whisky, etc)
Intermediate products:.............. 20 litres
(Vermouth, Port, Sherry; etc.)
Wines (only 60 Litres of this
can be Sparkling):................................................... 90 litres
Beer:................................................................................. 110 litres
Useful knowledge: there are transitional
regulations in place governing the transportation of tobacco products by travellers originating from some of the newest EU member
states (Bulgaria, Estonia, Romania). These
measures envisage maintaining the quantity
limit for cigarettes which is used as the international threshold, 200 cigarettes. Above this
amount, you must declare the cigarettes to
the customs authorities and pay the applicable
French excise duties.
NB: the terms of this exceptional period
vary between the states listed above.
For between 6 and 10 cartons, the traveller
must produce a simplified accompanying document (SAD). Without the SAD, the traveller’s
tobacco is liable to be seized, and they may be
subject to a penalty fine. To obtain this document, apply at a French customs office. In all
cases, travellers are not permitted to bring in
more than 10 cartons of cigarettes (or 2kg of
tobacco). Anybody found to have exceeded
these limits is liable to seizure of the tobacco
and payment of a penalty fine.
Get information before your departure!
3
Settling in
Buying a new private vehicle in
another EU country
If you are a French resident, it is essential
that the car supplier does not apply sales taxes
to the purchase. Do not forget to pay VAT at
the French via your local tax office. You will
be provided with a certificate of purchase, so
that you can register your vehicle with the
Préfecture in your département.
Declaration of monies, securities or valuables transported
• If you are carrying monies (cash or
cheques), rights (shares, bonds etc.) or
valuables (gold, silver) with a value of
€10,000 or more (or equivalent in other
currencies), you must declare them.
If you are going to (or entering from)
an EU member country
Notes: this declaration is particularly
relevant to cash (bank notes and coins), personal cheques, traveller’s cheques, cheques
made out to third parties, non-domicile
promissory notes, non-domicile letters of
credit, anonymous treasury bonds, securities, investment growth bonds and other
types of saleable financial instruments.
Customs authorities conduct checks to
combat the laundering of monies derived
from illegal trafficking, particularly the drug
trade. You can help us in this battle by
remembering to declare any large sums of
money, as outlined in the box below.
If you are going to (or coming from)
a country which is not a member of the
EU
You should make your declaration at least 5
You must submit your declaration to cusdays before the start of your voyage, addressing toms officers when you cross the border.
it to your nearest Customs and indirect duties
office and including a stamped addressed envelope bearing the address bearing the address
at which you wish to receive your copy of
the declaration approval certificate. If you are
not resident in France, please address your
declaration (including a stamped addressed
envelope) to:
• Direction interrégionale des douanes et
droits indirects de Roissy, Aéroport Charles
de Gaulle, rue du Signe 95701 ROISSY.
If you have not succeeded in completing this
declaration in time, you can:
• Present your declaration to a customs official
when you arrive at the French border control.
• If leaving France, leave the declaration at the
customs office or give it to a customs official
at the French border control.
Arriving in France
3
Banned items
It is strictly forbidden to import or export
certain goods, such as:
• Drugs and psychotropic substances (without written medical explanation or a certificate covering the precise drugs).
• Counterfeit goods, which may well turn
out to be dangerous for your safety and
the safety of your children.
Beware: you may be subject to severe
penalties from the customs authorities
if you are found to be carrying counterfeit goods: confiscation of the offending
articles, a fine of as much as double to
price of the real goods, and even a prison
sentence.
• It is illegal to bring in certain vegetables and vegetable products, as they may
potentially be carrying organisms harmful
to European flora.
• Animal species and wild vegetables protected under the Washington Convention
(CITES).
• Products or objects containing pornographic images or depictions of minors.
Rights and duties:
You may be subject to searches by the
customs authorities. Your attitude in such
situations is a key element of the quality and
speed of customs checks. Customs officials
are trained to ask all questions necessary for
the successful conduct of the check.
Why are these checks necessary?
These checks allow the customs authorities to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted
to them by the state, particularly in the
detection of fraud. Customs officials are
authorised to inspect vehicles of all kinds, as
well as all merchandise and persons. These
checks are carried out with respect for the
persons being searched, and in compliance
with the relevant confidentiality laws.
What will be checked by customs?
Luggage and merchandise: the contents of your vehicle (be it professional or
private) and your luggage (No distinction
made between different sizes and uses of
bags, with the exception of diplomatic or
consular suitcases). Customs officials are
authorised to search the boots of motor
vehicles and to inspect any documents found
in your luggage or personal effects, all with
respect for the private nature of correspondence.
Modes of transport: customs officials
have the authority to stop any vehicle and,
if this happens, you must obey their instructions.
People: customs officials may conduct
body searches for security purposes, in a
carefully controlled environment to ensure
that no object is present which might pose
a danger to others, the environment or the
searched person personally.
© Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects.
3
Settling in
Useful addresses:
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères
et Européennes
37, quai d’Orsay
75007 Paris
Tél.: 01 43 17 53 53
Secrétariat d’État chargée des Affaires
étrangères et des Droits de l’Homme
37, quai d’Orsay
75007 Paris
Tél.: 01 43 17 53 53
Ministère de la Défense
14, rue Saint-Dominique
75007 Paris
Tél.: 01 80 50 14 00
www.defense.gouv.fr
Ministère de l’immigration,
de l’intégration, de l’identité nationale
et du développement solidaire
101, rue de Grenelle
75700 Paris
Tél.: 01 77 72 61 00
www.immigration.gouv.fr
Ministère de l’Intérieur,
de l’Outre-mer
et des collectivités territoriales
- Intérieur
Place Beauvau, 75008 Paris
Tél.: 01 40 07 60 60
www.interieur.gouv.fr
- Outre-Mer
27, rue Oudinot, 75007 Paris
Tél.: 01 53 69 20 00
www.outre-mer.gouv.fr
© Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects.
Customs information service
The information centre for travellers is at
your service to answer any questions by
telephone on 0811 204 444 (cost of a local call
from a landline) from 8:30 to 18:00 Monday
to Friday.
You can access this service from outside
mainland France by dialing +33 1 72 40 78 50
(cost of a local call from a landline in France
+ the cost of the international call, which
varies from country to country).
Finally, the newly-released (July 2010)
free multimedia phone application developed
by the central Customs and indirect taxes
office offers an abundance of information in
French and English on customs procedures
for travellers entering France.
Arriving in France
3
Arrival in Paris: airport and train stations
Parisian airports
Service des renseignements et réservations Air France de 6H30 à 23h45
Tel. : 3654 (€0.34 VAT/mn) or 3950 (€0.34 VAT/mn)
• Passenger information centre 24/24, Tél.: 3950 (€0.34 VAT/mn)
• Air France coach information centre, Tel: 0892 35 08 20 (€0.45 VAT/mn)
Flight information: - refer to website Aéroport de Paris: www.adp.fr
- for Air France flight, got to website: www.airfrance.fr
© Aéroport de Paris (AOP)
3
Settling in
ARRIVING IN FRANCE
All you need to know
about what to do when you get to Paris Airports and train Stations (continuation)
Airport-Paris bus service
Air France Coaches
Round the clock information: 0892 350 820
(€0.45 VAT/mn)
• Orly South, Orly West- Paris. Buses leave
every 30 minutes from 6:15am to 11:15pm
for ‘Invalides’ Station (in the centre of Paris)
and stop at ‘Gare Montparnasse’.
Journey time: 35 minutes.
Fare: €11.50
• Charles de Gaulle Roissy 1 and Roissy 2Paris: Air France coach line n°2 stops at
‘Place de l’Etoile’ at the corner of rue Carnot
and Porte Maillot on boulevard Gouvion
Saint-Cyr opposite the Méridien Hotel. The
coaches leave from aérogare I, at the arrivals
gate n° 34, aérogare II Hall A & C gate n° 5,
Hall B & D gate n° 6. Coaches leave the airport every 15 minutes from 5:45am-11pm.
Journey time: 30 to 50 minutes.
Fare: €15
• Air France coach line n° 4 goes to the
Gare de Lyon (boulevard Diderot) and the
Gare Montparnasse (rue du Commandant
Mouchotte). Coaches leave from aérogare I at
the arrivals gate n° 34 and aérogare 2A & 2C,
exit 2 from 2C. Last departure: 9pm.
Frequency of departures: 30 minutes.
Fare: €16.50
• Orly - Charles de Gaulle Roissy link
Air France coach service (line n° 3) runs from
6:30-10:30pm.
Fare: €19
Alternatively: take the ‘Orlyval’ from Orly
Airport and then change to the RER underground train line B.
Frequency of departures: 4 to 7 minutes.
Fare: €9.85
RER (réseau express régional)
Is the train system which is both the ‘Métro’
and the ‘RER’ rolled into one and stops at all the
main transfer stations where you will see the
‘correspondance’ sign, meaning that the station
is linked to Paris’s Métro system.
• Paris-Orly - The RER line C (direction
Versailles, Western Suburb) stops at the
Parisian Stations that run along the River
Seine, such as the Gare d’Austerlitz. The
Orlyval shuttle bus links up with the RER
line C, which runs from the North – South
of Paris. The first RER train departs at 6am.
The last train is at 11pm.
Journey time: 8 minutes.
Fare: Shuttle €2.50 + RER C €3.60
• Charles de Gaulle Etoile/Roissy-Paris
The RER line B (direction Robinson or SaintRémy-les-Chevreuse, Southern suburb) runs
through Paris, stopping at Gare du Nord,
Châtelet, Saint-Michel, The Latin Quarter,
Port Royal, Luxembourg. To get to the
RER For the RER station, take CDG VAL
and get off at the station for Terminal 2 or
Terminal 3.
Journey time: 30 minutes (to Chatelet).
Journey price: €8.50
RATP
Paris’s public transport system runs Paris’s
underground and bus system and part of the
RER in conjunction with France’s National
Railway, the SNCF (Société Nationale des
Chemins de Fer Français).
• Roissy:
- The bus service from Roissy-Paris (OpéraRoissy-Charles de Gaulle) leaves every
fifteen minutes. The first bus is at 5:45 am
from Opéra and the first bus from Roissy
is at 6am. The last bus from both stations
is at 11pm.
Journey time: 45 to 60 minutes;
Frequency of departures: 15 to 20 minutes;
Fare: €9.10
Arriving in France
3
Airport-Paris bus service (continuation)
- The first bus from Roissy leaves at 5am.
The last bus leaves at Midnight. Buses leave
every 20 minutes.
Journey time: 25 minutes to get to ‘Gare du Nord’,
and 45 minutes to get to Denfert-Rochereau.
A bus ticket from Orly-Paris costs €8.50
Taxis
There are plenty of taxis at Orly and Roissy
airport. The average fare during the day to the
centre of Paris varies from €50 from Roissy and
€31 from Orly with €1 per piece of luggage that
weighs over 5kg.
Paris’ railway stations
The National Railway Company,
the SNCF, owns all of Paris’s Railway
Stations:
Gare d’Austerlitz
The trains from this station go down
to the South West of France (Bordeaux,
Clermont-Ferrand, Limoges, Orléans, Pau,
Perpignan, Poitiers, Toulouse, Tours) and to
the Southern suburbs (also linking up with
main lines that lead to Spain and Portugal).
Gare de l’Est
As its name implies trains from this station
cover the East of France (including Metz,
Nancy, Reims, and Strasbourg), the Eastern
suburbs and main lines that go to Germany,
Austria, Poland, Russia or Scandinavia.
Gare de Lyon
Paris’s High Speed (TGV) train station. The
trains from this station go to the South East of
France (Aix-en-Provence, Besançon, Chambéry,
Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Lyon,
Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Nîmes, SaintEtienne, the South Eastern suburbs and link
up with main lines that lead to Switzerland,
Italy and the Balkans
Gare Montparnasse
The High-Speed (TGV) trains from this station go to the South West and West of France
(Angers, Bordeaux, Nantes, Poitiers, Tours,
Rennes) and the Western and North-western
suburbs and link up with the main lines leading to
Spain and Portugal.
Gare du Nord
The trains from this station go to the North of
France (Amiens, High Speed train (TGV) to Lille)
and the suburbs to the North of Paris and link up
with the main lines leading to England, Belgium,
The Netherlands, and Northern Germany.
Gare Saint-Lazare
The trains from this station go to the North of
France (Amiens, High Speed train (TGV) to Lille)
and the suburbs to the North of Paris and link up
with the main lines leading to England, Belgium,
The Netherlands, and Northern Germany.
CDG airport 2 TGV station
This station serves many French towns as well
as Brussels from Charles De Gaulle 2. You will find
additional, more precise information (including
train timetables) from all French stations and on
the website: www.gares-en-mouvement.com
3
Settling in
Domestic transport system
If you are not heading to Paris, you can travel
by plane by booking a domestic flight.
Travelling by train is a good way to
travel if there are high-speed (TGV) trains
to your chosen destination. Information is
available at the airport on how to get to the
relevant transfer station in Paris (there are six
stations, see “Practical Information”: Arriving in Paris
See previous page).
SNCF Information
For information about train times,
ticket prices or to reserve main line and
international bound train tickets you can call:
+33 (0)8 92 35 35 35 (€0.45 VAT/mn) from
6 am to midnight.
- Or look at the SNCF web site: www.sncf.
com where you can check train times and
book and pay for tickets online.
- Public Transport Information for the
Paris region: +33 (0)8 91 36 20 20 (€0.30
Transporting luggage
If your hand luggage is in excess of the required
allowance, you must let the Airline Company or
the SNCF know in advance. Luggage trolleys are
available at the airports and train stations.
Self-service lockers or luggage offices allow
travellers to temporarily leave their luggage in
a safe place, providing that they look after the
key or locker number in order to get their
belongings back (see Chapter 4).
VAT/mn)
First administrative
procedure: enrolment
In France the university year is generally from
September to June, but research and studies
can be done during the summer months.
Applications should be made directly or by
post to the registry office at the establishment
that you are applying to, which will then send
you information about required documents that
you will have to provide.
Every foreign student obliged to pre-enrol must
individually and definitively enrol each year.
The Paris-Gallieni International Bus
Station: www.eurolines.fr
The Travel Agents ‘Eurolines’ run a coach
service that is situated on the outskirts of Paris
and of most European towns (for information
about Eurolines and the Paris-Gallieni Bus
station call +33 (0)8 92 69 52 52 (€0.45
VAT/mn).
You can contact the Paris Centre at Métro
Station ‘Gallieni’.
There are two stages to the final enrolment
procedure: administrative enrolment and pedagogical enrolment.
Administrative enrolment
This officially accords you student status. Each
university independently determines the conditions for this important administrative step, but
be aware that you can pick up an enrolment form
from the beginning of July. The university will
inform you of the date limits for handing in the
enrolment form and paying tuition fees.
Arriving in France
3
University course fees
Fees for a year’s schooling with a view to passing a national diploma in a state-run institution
of higher education range from €171 to €351
depending upon the type of degree (including use
of libraries).
These enrolment procedures lead to
the issue of your student card, which is
valid for the duration of the academic year
(October 1st to September 30th the following year). If your student card is not
immediately issued to you, you should
request an enrolment certificate, as you
will need proof of registration to obtain
your resident’s card.
A little piece of advice: keep your student
card with you and take good care of it.
In 2009 universities were able to offer students
a deferred payment scheme (3 instalments) for the
registration fees and social security contribution.
As of the beginning of the 2010/2011 academic
year, it is compulsory for universities to offer their
students this option.
If you are under 28 years old, you are also
required to pay €198 to register with the student
social security system (in 2009).
For certain fields of study there are other costs
in addition to enrolment costs: correspondence,
duplicated lecture notes, joint subject courses.
Enrolment fees also include contributions to
university preventive medicine. To find out more
see chapter 4: ‘Social security’ p.114
The administrative enrolment
application form
Even though each university independently defines the contents of this form,
expect to provide:
a) Certified proof of level of study obtained.
Students must enclose the originals of
their certificates, attestations or grade
sheets along with the translations in
French, along with a copy;
b) A birth certificate or civil registry record.
A photocopy of your passport with residency visa, or identity card for citizens of
European Union member countries;
c) Certified proof of Insurance cover: Proof
that you have student social security, or
that you have adequate insurance cover
if you are not eligible for student social
security (see Chapter 3, p. 95);
d) The university will provide you with
an enrolment sheet (often called
an “enrolment file”), which you are
required to complete with all requested
information (birth certificate, etc.) as
precisely as possible. This will be essential for the school’s administration of
your studies and to generate statistics on
higher learning in France;
e) Registration sheet for a ‘mutuelle
étudiante’ (Student insurance company)
if you have decided to take out supplemental insurance;
f) 3-6 passport-sized photos.
3
Settling in
Pedagogical enrolment
This second and final part of the enrolment
procedure registers you for all the courses you
must take (determining your schedule) and lays
out the conditions for validating your grades.
It is free, and you must register at the ‘Unité
de Formation et de Recherche’ (UFR) that deals
with your course.
Students then, choose their subjects, modules
‘unités d’enseignement’, study support groups
‘travaux pratiques, travaux dirigés’ and class
times.
As soon as the OFII has received all of these
documents, the file will be registered and you will
receive by post (standard letter) a confirmation
of registration, as well as a further letter inviting
you to undertake a medical examination and
validate your visa (additional label to be added
to your passport).
Students are advised to get information about
the different enrolment procedures (including
entry requirements and calendar) in all higher
education establishments (other than universities) by directly contacting the establishment of
their choice.
On the day of the medical examination, you
must present the following documents:
Validating your
long-stay visa
Procedure to follow upon arrival in
France (first year in France).
As soon as foreign students arrive in France,
they must send the following documents to their
nearest bureau of the Immigration and Integration
Office (OFII) by recorded post with proof of
receipt (document supplied by La Poste):
• The form requesting certification from the
OFII, endorsed by the relevant diplomatic
or consular authorities, having filled in the
sections relating to visa number, date of entry
to France or the Schengen zone and personal
address in France.
• A photocopy of the passport pages which give
personal information, the visa and the stamp
of entry to France or the Schengen zone.
You will also receive, along with your medical
invitation, a stamp-letter to which you must affix
a €55 OMI (ANAEM) stamp: these can be purchased at tax centres or tobacconists.
• Passport with visa
• Proof of address in France
• A passport photo showing your full face, with
no head-covering
• A stamp-letter bearing an OMI (or ANAEM)
stamp for €55 (€300 for the scientific visa for
visiting academics).
NB: this procedure is compulsory, and in
the case of failure to register within three
months of your arrival in France, the visa
holder will be considered by the French
authorities to be an illegal immigrant.
For a list of the OFII’s regional offices, and
for all further information, consult the website:
www.ofii.fr
Arriving in France
3
Temporary resident’s card
(second year of residence in France)
Documents to present for the renewal of the ‘student’ long-stay visa removing the
requirement for a short-term resident’s card as a ‘student’ resident’s card.
A valid passport same requirements as for
the first year’s application
Your first long-stay visa (original and photocopy), bearing the OFII label confirming that
you have fulfilled all the relevant administrative
requirements (see above).
Proof of address
Proof of previous studies: (originals and
photocopies): any document testifying to the
completion of and dedication to your studies
of the previous years (certificate of attendance,
degrees, results, grade transcripts etc.), a list
detailing the courses of study pursued since
your arrival in France, and the certificate or
attestation of registration for the coming year.
Proof of sufficient resources for the past
year: any document giving evidence of sums
received.
For the coming year: the documents to
provide are as follows:
• for students with scholarships: a certificate of your scholarship detailing its value
and duration, along with the nature of the
studies you are pursuing, printed on paper
bearing the letter-head of the awarding
body.
• for students without scholarships, a declaration of resources guaranteed by somebody in France:
• a certificate of guarantee (a model can be
found in the immigration welcome centre
of your nearest Préfecture);
• a photocopy of a piece of identity from the
guarantor (national identity card, French
passport or valid visa);
• documents providing evidence of the
guarantor’s income (3 most recent pay
slips and last tax return).
Resources originating abroad (travellers’ cheques, exchange slips and any other
documents demonstrating that you regularly
receive monies from overseas, and specifying
the monthly value of these monies.
• For students who work part-time: your
last three pay slips. For all students except
those from Algeria, the ‘student’ visa authorizes you to work up to a maximum limit of
964 hours in a year. Algerian students are
still required to apply for a provisional work
permit.
Three recent passport photographs of
size 3.5cm by 4.5cm, printed in colour or black
and white on non-glossy paper, showing your
full face with no head covering and presenting a
perfect likeness to your current appearance.
One stamped envelope - paid at the relevant rate
Receiving your resident’s card: after your
dossier has been submitted, you will receive
a document acknowledging receipt of your
application for visa renewal, and later a letter
inviting you to collect your resident’s card. In all
cases the applicant must personally collect the
temporary residence permit, and pay a fee of
€30. This resident’s card must then be shown
to the registration service of your educational
institution in order for you to receive your
student card.
Visiting academics: (academic visitors must
apply for a resident’s card within two months
of their first arrival in France.
3
Settling in
Temporary resident’s card (continued)
(second year of residence in France)
Algerian nationals
Algerian nationals are not entitled to the
long-stay visa which removes the requirement for a short-term resident’s card.
They must apply to the French consular
authorities in Algeria for a long-stay student
visa (if they are students) or else a scientific visa (see procedure described above) for
academic visitors.
Under the terms of this visa they are
required to apply to their nearest Préfecture
for a ‘student’ or ‘scientific’ resident’s card
(as applicable) within two months of entering France.
The documents required for this application
are the same as those listed in the section
‘documents to present when applying for
a long-stay visa removing the requirement
for a short-term resident’s card’.
Where to apply?
In Paris: students must enclose. All documents that state the amount of grant that
they have been allocated.
• a pply in person at the Préfecture’s overseas student welcome centre, being sure
to take all of the documents necessary
for the resident’s card application (92
boulevard Ney, 75018 Paris – Métro: Line
4, Stop: Porte de Clignancourt; Monday
to Thursday 8:45 – 16:30 and Friday 8:45
– 16:00).
•T
he Paris Police operates a telephone
information service for overseas
nationals between 8:35 and 17:25 on
01 58 80 80 58.
• S ome higher education institutions in Paris
and elsewhere submit the applications of
their overseas students in a group (ask the
administrative staff of your university for
further information). Students included in
such procedures are not required to visit
one of the Police department’s welcome
centres, but should instead apply directly
to the body which supplies the receipt of
application (the resident’s card will be
supplied by the Préfecture).
In the Parisian suburbs:
• in the neighbouring departments, students should apply to the Préfecture or
Sub-Préfecture nearest to their place of
residence.
Outside Paris:
• students should apply to their nearest
police station, Sub-Préfecture, Préfecture
or mayor’s office.
You can find the address and contact
details of the Préfectures on the website of the Ministry of the Interior:
www.interieur.gouv.fr (click on the link for
Préfectures/ OnlinePréfectures ).
Foreign Workers’ Services (MOE), under
the direction of the regional DIRECCTE
offices: the www.travail.gouv.fr website provides addresses for all regional centres, as
well as the corresponding Préfectures.
For further information, visit the
www.service-public.fr website and search ‘étudiants étrangers’.
The www.immigration-professionnelle.gouv.fr
site also contains useful information
3
Arriving in France
‘Œuvres universitaires’
Student information
services
Founded in 1955, the ‘œuvres universitaires’ student welfare services set out to
improve higher education students’ working
and living conditions in order to enable them
to make the most out of their studies.
The ‘Centre National des Œuvres
Universitaires et Scolaires’ (CNOUS) operates, organises and plays a vital role in running
28 regional centres (CROUS), 16 local centres
(CLOUS) and over 40 smaller branches that
offer student information services and are there
to cater to students needs.
• About 2.21 million students can benefit from
the various CNOUS services that are provided by a workforce of 12,000 employees.
• The ‘œuvres universitaires’ annual budget
peaked in 2009 to 1.25 billion Euros (not
including scholarships), of which 35.61%
is financed by France’s Ministry of Higher
Education and Research, 2.89% by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European
Affairs and 61.50% by their own financial
resources.
All students who benefit from these services
can take part in the daily running of CROUS life
in the different establishments by being elected a
representative via the board of governors ‘Conseil
d’administration’.
University life starts
at the CROUS
(See section local and regional ‘œuvres universitaires et scolaires’ student welfare centres,
p.87)
The CROUS services cover every aspect of
student life:
•S
tudent catering services: 60 million
reduced-rate meals were served every
day in 2007 the CROUS’ s 800 canteens
(of which 610 are ‘Resto U’ locations
run by CROUS, and 230 are approved
partners)
• Accommodation: 159,000 students are
accommodated in one of France’s biggest
student lodgings agency that has halls of
residence and HLM ‘habitations à loyer
modéré’ equivalent of inexpensive accommodation provided by the local council;
The CROUS “off-campus” service also
offers student accommodation with private landlords.
• In 2008-09, 266,448 international students were enrolled in a French state-run
university. 14,775 overseas students with
scholarships from the French government,
other states or international organisations
were directly administered by CROUS and
CNOUS in 2008
• Culture: €1,200,000 were allocated to
the CROUS to be spent on Campusbased and student cultural activities (700
“Culture actionS” activities were set up);
• E mployment: 52,000 offers of
temporary employment every year, the
CROUS offers students the possibility to
find temporary work. You can look at job
offers on the different CROUS websites by
connecting to the CROUS online network:
www.cnous.fr; click on CNOUS – CROUS.
• Student Welfare: In 2008-2009 the
CROUS provided students in difficulty
with over 45 million euros of emergency
assistance (National Fund for Emergency
Relief) through donations and loans.
• Grants: the University Services manage the student financial assistance from
the Ministry of Higher Education and
Research: 524,618 awards were made
in 2008-2009 for social reasons (social
criteria, university criteria, on merit, study
allocations, personal loans).
3
Settling in
The canteen service
‘At the heart
of student life’
The ‘œuvres universitaires’ provides student
restaurant facilities. 610 canteens are run directly
by the CROUS, and 230 are certified by the
CROUS.
The ‘Restaurants Universitaires’ are (affectionately known as ‘Resto U’) a central part of
student life that enables students to get together
and enjoy a balanced meal.
Quality food hygienically prepared
The menu on offer is prepared according to
strict food hygiene standards using the HACCP
(Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point).
Each restaurant undergoes national and regional
health and safety inspections.
• Cafeterias, sandwich shops, pastry and
croissant bars, chip bars that provide students
with snacks and fast food throughout the day
at university, at their halls of residence or in
the eating areas.
Several CROUS (Lille, Créteil, Bordeaux,
Grenoble, La Réunion) are equipped with fast
food vans on their university campuses and in
halls of residence.
Approved restaurants
Approved restaurants are companies run independently of the CROUS but which nevertheless
accept student payment by university restaurant
voucher. They are set up in locations where the
CROUS are not present.
The different menus
Several different lunch and dinner menus
are on offer to students in the canteens:
• A whole self-service meal ‘à la française’:
starter, hot main meal, side order and dessert for a fixed rate of 1 meal ticket worth
€3 for the year 2010-2011);
• In the majority of university towns, the
CROUS offer specialities from around the
world;
Access to student canteen services
To use the student canteen services, you must
have a student card issued by a French higher
education establishment.
Tickets-restaurants’ (meal tickets) or meal cards
are sold at a reduced rate, which is fixed by the
State at (€3 for a meal ticket in 2010 – 2011).
Meal tickets and payment by cash are
slowly being replaced in the CROUS canteens by an automated system (magnetic
chip cards, cards with magnetic strips or
magnetic badges).
The list of all CROUS university canteens can be
found on the CNOUS website: www.cnous.fr
Student information services
Student
accommodation
University residences
In older student halls of residence, the
following services are available to students:
•A
bedroom measuring about 10 m2;
• Shared kitchen area;
• Access to study, computer, meeting and
common rooms;
• Cleaning service for all communal areas and
in some cases bed linen and porter services
are provided.
An average month’s rent per person for a standard room is €135. Lodgers can apply for housing benefit or ‘Allocation Logement à Caractère
Social’ (ALS). The ‘Caisse d’Allocation Familiale’
(CAF) deals with this housing allowance.
3
The flats or ‘studios’ that measure 18-23m2
are equipped with:
• A kitchenette;
• A fully-equipped bathroom (shower, sink,
toilet)
• A room design that ensures comfort and
convenience (individual wiring and sockets
for telephone and television);
© Stéphanie Fuentes.
Some of the new buildings also include
• Home automation system (card to enter the
building, and even individual use of utilities);
• Communal services (launderette, study
rooms, meeting rooms, discotheque, games
rooms, photocopy machine rooms, cafés,
ready made meal vending machines).
For further information go to the ‘CAF’ web
site: www.caf.fr
Over the last few years to move with the
times, the CNOUS and the CROUS have
channelled their efforts into a vast renovation and new student accommodation construction programme. These new construction
programmes do not correspond to one national
building agreement but are defined by each
CROUS service.
© Alain Montaufier.
The average rent ranges from €250-380
depending on the type of accommodation. In
some cases certain lodgers can apply for (APL)
‘Aide Personnalisé au Logement’ (individual housing benefit). The (CAF) ‘Caisse des Allocations
Familiales’ deals with this housing allowance. For
further information go to the CAF web site:
www.caf.fr
© Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.
3
Settling in
‘La Cité Internationale Universitaire de
Paris’ (Paris’ International Student Village)
• La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris’
(CIUP), which iconsists of 39 houses and student halls of residence’, is made up of French
and international halls of residence. There are
a complete range of facilities and services that
have been put together on one campus to offer
residents the best possible living and working
conditions and meeting places. The residence
are grouped together on 34 acres of parkland
and accommodate more than 5,600 students,
interns, post-doctorate students, and researchers from over 141 countries.
• “La Cité Internationale Universitaire” de Paris
is open to three types of residents: student
resident, research residents, and resident professional artists.
1) To qualify for admission as a student resident (Masters or Doctorate) you need:
- to have reached first degree level or its
equivalent, and not hold a Doctorate.
- to be enrolled at a higher education
college or one of the Paris, Créteil or
Versailles faculties with a view to obtaining
a diploma that is recognised by the French
State.
- art students whose qualifications are not
formally recognised by the State tend to be
admitted if their diploma course equated
to two years of higher education study and
was issued by a prestigious institution that
is renown for its excellence.
Admission is for one year and can be granted
twice more.
Generally, if a candidate is under 30, he
or she will be considered as a student for
initial training; if the candidate is over 30,
he or she will be considered as a student in
continuing education (in this case acceptance
for admission is accepted between defined
dates, for a period not exceeding one year,
renewable once).
2) To qualify for admission as a Resident –
researcher, you need:
- to hold a Doctorate and have approval for
a post-doctorate project (postdoctorants) or
an academic project (invited researchers and
teachers, teachers on research leave) and it
must be within the framework of a Higher
Education establishment policy and research
programme. Admission is granted for one
year and can be granted again once.
• Students and researchers can apply online at
www.ciup.fr “preparing your stay”. Applicants
whose nationality is represented by an international house can go directly to that website,
(see website information above Website).
3) The following persons are eligible for
admission as resident artists / cultural professionals:
- Artists (from all disciplines) or professionals from the cultural sphere (conservators,
archivists, librarians, technicians etc.) who
have finished their studies, and are visiting
the Paris metropolitan region for an exhibition, performance, research project, training programme etc. This does not apply to
students in art disciplines, who are eligible
by virtue of their status as students.
© Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.
Paris’ International
Student Village
3
‘La Cité internationale universitaire de
Paris’ (continuation)
• For any further information, you can contact:
As an example, the 2009/2010 “summer offer”
rates were as follows (per person, per night):
- Bureau d’Accueil des Etudiants en Mobilité:
Tél: +33 (0)1 70 08 76 30 / 36
Email: [email protected]
- Standard individual room: €31 per night
for a stay of 18 nights or less, or €530
total for a stay of between 19 nights and
1 month included.
- Bureau d’Accueil des Chercheurs
Etrangers
Tél: +33 (0)1 70 08 76 30 / 34
- Bureau d’Accueil des Artistes et des
Professionnels de la Culture Etrangers:
Tél. : +33 (0) 01 44 16 65 21
E-mail : [email protected]
• As a general guide, the monthly living
expenses at the ‘Cité’ for the year 2009/2010
(indicative figures):
Student residents:
Single room: (depending on size)
€482 to €554
Single room:
For standard
€380 to €420
Research residents: (rate per person)
Single room from €560 to €700
Single studio flat from €580 to €900
• From June to september, a “summer offer”
offers temporary individual or group student
accommodation.
- Group bookings: contact the group reservation service at the following address:
[email protected]
- Superior individual room: €41 per night for
a stay of 18 nights or less, or €550 total for a
stay of between 19 nights and 1 month.
The Cité Internationale in Paris offers its residents many cultural activities: music (orchestra,
choirs, jazz bands, etc.), live shows, plastic arts,
etc, and every day presents lectures, exhibitions, film shows or concerts there.
The Cité organizes exhibitions, meetings and
debates, lectures and conferences in partnership with schools or architecture, urbanism
and the countryside, embassies, universities,
regional communities, etc. All the events are
linked with the traditions of the site
The documentation of the resource centre is
available to the public. It consists of over 2000
documents: archived files, files concerned with
renovations and the development of the site,
collections of photographic archives.
Always on the lookout for ways to renew
performance arts, the theatre of the Cité
Internationale Universaire de Paris continues
in its special mission as a showcase in Paris
for young directors and choreographers from
France and from overseas.
For information: www.ciup.fr
- For individual enquiries, apply online at:
www.ciup.fr
3
Settling in
Laces at the ‘Cité internationale
universitaire’ are restricted
It is very difficult to get a place in student
halls of residence if you do not have a grant.
If 12-15% of student lodgings are offered to
international students, then this means that the
French government grant-holders and overseas
students who have grants from the ‘œuvres
Universitaires’ student services are given priority.
In Paris, being a French government grant-holder
does not guarantee you a place in student halls
of residence.
HLM accommodation
‘Studios’ and furnished flats in HLM
‘Habitation à Loyer Modéré’ buildings account
for 40% of CROUS student lodgings. This kind
of independent, off-campus accommodation
is particularly well suited to young (married)
couples.
Privately rented accommodation
The CROUS has developed a service that puts
students in contact with individuals who wish to
rent out a room, studio or flat.
An updated daily list of offers is available to
students as well as advice concerning the legalities
of renting in France. (See Chapter 4, p. 108).
For further information
All the information you need to know about
finding accommodation is available from the
CROUS’s accommodation service: ‘Le Point
Logement’.
The accommodation advisors help students
look for the type of accommodation that is
most suited to the their needs: room in halls of
residence, low rent studio, HLM accommodation,
flat in the city, private residence or hostel. A
computer database and an on-line data processing
system are available to help students pick out the
right information.
Practical Information
How to obtain a place in a student hall of residence
• Registering with a higher education college
is compulsory if you want to apply for a
room in student halls of residence. However,
registration does not automatically guarantee
student accommodation. Admission is a function of the amount of places available and each
CROUS board of governors’ policy.
• French government grant-holders or other
grant-holders who are registered with the
CNOUS have priority (see section on overseas students in receipt of a scholarship from
the French government, reserved for students
with government scholarships: p.261).
• Students are advised to contact the CROUS
from December to find out conditions for
admission and entry requirements for the
following.
• With all written applications, please enclose
a large (26 x 33cm) stamped addressed
envelope addressed to the sender’s home
address along with the international ‘couponréponses’ for postage. Some CROUS charge
a small fee for dossier handling.
3
Working while studying
Temporary
employment service
Each CROUS offers students a temporary
employment service that finds thousands of job
offers each year within different companies that
are keen to recruit. However, demand is still
much greater than supply.
Student jobs
To name a few: looking after children, ‘au pair’,
private lessons, surveys and opinion polls...
You can consult the following web sites:
www.europairservices.com
www.etudis.com.
How to get access to the ‘job offers’
In each CROUS, there are ‘jobs services’,
that advertise temporary employment vacancies
which are stored in a national computer-aided
job data bank.
Careers information service
The ‘œuvres universitaires’ student information
centres also provide students with advice and
guidance on different careers. They organise study
trips, and student group visits to companies.
Principle
Foreign nationals holding a temporary student
residence permit marked “student”, can undertake paid professional work in France without
a work permit. Since June 2009 this also applies
to students in possession of a long-stay ‘student’
visa acting as a resident’s card throughout the
duration of their visa, for a maximum period
of one year. This activity should be in addition
to studying, and limited to 964 hours of work
per year. Having a student card or a long-stay
‘student’ visa acting as a resident’s card, entitles
you to do any kind of paid work in France.
Employment
An overseas student can only be employed
through a nominated declaration from the
employer at the Prefecture, which granted the
student’s residence permit or, in the case of
overseas students with long-stay ‘student’ visas,
with the Préfecture nearest to their place of residence in France. The employer has to complete
this formality at least two working days before
the employment starts.
The declaration should be accompanied by
a copy of the student’s resident’s card or longstay visa. It is particularly important that the
declaration specifies the nature of the job, the
duration of the contract, the total number of
hours worked over a year and the planned date
on which employment will commence.
Sanction when the authorised work
period is exceeded
The Prefecture can withdraw the residence
permit of an overseas student who does not
observe the limit of 964 hours of work annually.
3
Settling in
Working as an “Au pair” - family assistant
Key Features
• The rules surrounding work as a family assistant, more commonly referred to as an ‘au pair’,
were established by a European Convention
in 1969. This system concerns young foreign
nationals who come to France in order to
develop their language skills (and potentially
their professional competencies) and further
their general cultural education by gaining a
better understanding of France.
Candidates should be able to speak French
before their arrival, or be well-placed to learn
the language.
Successful candidates are placed as ‘au pair’,
which means they are housed for a certain
period of time by a host family in return for
certain services (child minding and/or general
household tasks).
In principle, candidates should be aged between
18 and 30 and should be enrolled in specialist
language classes for foreigners.
Agreement on the terms of employment
• A written agreement should be drawn up
between the au pair and the host family. It
should cover certain key elements such as the
services required by the family, the hours of
work, the conditions of accommodation and
board, weekly rest days and the amount of
‘pocket money’ to be paid, fixed by common
accord.
The host family should submit a copy of this
contract to their nearest Departmental Office
for Work, Employment and Professional
Training (DDTEFP).
The terms of this contract should preferably
be agreed upon before the au pair leaves his
or her home country.
Nonetheless, such agreements may also cover
students already resident in France.
Duration of the contract
• In principle, the contract should cover a
period between 3 months and 1 year. It may,
however, be extended up to a maximum duration of 18 months.
Resident’s card
• Foreign nationals, once approved as au pairs,
will receive a temporary ‘student’ resident’s
card from their nearest Préfecture. The time
limit of this resident’s card corresponds to the
duration of the placement as an au pair, and can
be prolonged if necessary.
When submitting an application to the
Préfecture, it is important that the following
documents are included:
- a long-stay visa (except for applicants already
living in France and holding a ‘student’ resident’s card);
- the placement contract, endorsed by the
DDTEFP
- proof of confirmed enrolment in French
language lessons.
Note: The role of the DDTEFP is essentially
to ensure that the tasks demanded of foreign
au pairs are compatible with those covered by
the European agreement on au pair placements,
and that the au pair is left with sufficient free
time to develop their French language skills.
3
National emergency funds (FNAU) or hardship funds are regularly awarded by the State.
The funds enable the CROUS to offer students
experiencing temporary financial hardship limited financial funding on a special basis as part
of a bursary or a loan.
Algerian students
The right to work for Algerian students is
regulated by the Franco-Algerian agreement of
27 December 1968, recently modified in 2001.
These students need a work permit if they
wish to undertake paid work as an additional
activity.
Where can I apply for financial support?
You can apply for financial support via an
adviser who will put your application before
a CROUS panel, who after reviewing a candidates’ resources, will then decide who will be
allocated funding.
A request for authorisation should be made to
the local office for employment and professional
training (DDTEFP) in the home country.
‘Le dossier social
étudiant’
This application should be accompanied by
a promise of work or a contract of employment. Algerian students are permitted to work
a maximum of 50% of the number of working
hours per year which is standard in the relevant
profession.
The ‘œuvres universitaires’ student services
have dealt with French Ministry of Higher
Education and Research funds since 1995
via the ‘Dossier Social Etudiant’ that brings
together a wealth of data about direct and indirect benefits for French and EU students(grants
and/or housing).
Grant management
The CROUS deals with:
- All grants offered to French and EU students by the
French Ministry of Higher Education and Research
(means-assessed grants, supplementary payments
for merit and mobility), with the exception of
research awards for studies after the Master 2 that
are awarded to students of outstanding merit and
scientific research potential;
-T
he most part of French government grants for
overseas students (see section on overseas students
in receipt of a scholarship from the French government:
p.261);
- L egacy donations or grants from various foundations;
- Loans made with no guarantee of repayment,
‘prêts d’honneur’ for French students who are in
the final stages of their studies and cannot apply
for a grant.
CROUS’ welfare
services
The CROUS has a team of 157 welfare
advisers who are based in regional CROUS centres, halls of residence and universities. Their
expertise covers a range of services including
general information, a help desk, counselling service, as well as support concerning personal and
financial matters. They also welcome and help
nearly 3000 students with disabilities to settle in
to university life.
3
Settling in
CROUS cultural
policy
The cultural policy of the University and
School Affairs network is managed in each
region in partnership with the universities
and the local group of institutional partners
(regional and local organisations, DRAC,
DRJS, etc.) and of course with student associations.
Two areas:
- enabling the student to become involved
and able to promote his/her area of activity by
bringing decisive, financial and material help:
financial help for projects, logistical help (hire
of specialist rooms, hire of equipment, etc.).
In this sense the University and School Affairs
network aims to encourage all forms of
engagement by young people in group and
community life.
- encouraging students to express their
artistic creativity by providing funding for
as many as possible to participate in cultural
diversity: museums, exhibitions, concerts, live
shows, etc.There are many cultural initiatives,
by institutions as well as by students, which
demonstrate the wealth of activities of the
CROUS.
Areas of activity of the CROUS
The cultural services of the CROUS are
involved in 6 main areas:
- supporting cultural and civic projects
- supporting amateur activities
- events at halls of residence and on campus
- organising inter-regional projects of
national interest - competitions specifically for students
- managing entertainment venues
- setting up a system of student rates
- helping student cultural associations and/
or associations of general interest
The realisation of cultural and civic
projects
The operation “Culture-ActionS” is
designed to bring financial support to student
cultural initiatives and projects which both
fulfil personal aspirations, and raise awareness
of the contribution these activities make to
life at the Cité. More than 1000 projects are
supported in this way each year through the
Culture-ActionS operation.
Two specific funds are available to assist
student projects:
- The Culture fund: this enables the financing of projects carried out in multiple forms
(festival, meetings, concerts, exhibitions, etc),
in an artistic field: theatre, literature, cinema,
photography, graphic arts, dance, music, multimedia works, painting, sculpture, etc.
- ActionS fund: this is designed to finance
student projects in areas of social involvement:
citizenship, solidarity, environment, sport,
international solidarity, economy, as well as
projects for activities in areas of student life
(university residences, university canteens,
campus, etc.)
The amount of aid granted is fixed by a
regional commission, and is based on the interest of the project and above all on its spin-offs
for the students.
The project must be co-financed and accompanied by a detailed and rigorous budget. Help
for students in setting up is provided by the
cultural service (guides, directories, institutional contacts, creation of dossier, financial
research).
The best student projects financed by the
CROUS are entered for a national CultureActionS prize organised by the CNOUS. The
award ceremony takes place in Paris. It is
accompanied by a presentation of the project
by its organiser.
Support for amateur activities
Cafeterias, university canteens, halls of
residence and student centres (maison de
l’étudiant) are available to “student artists”
and to student amateur groups.
The cultural services of the CROUS bring
students wishing to organise a concert, a play,
a meeting or a debate together with organisations who can help them.
For example: specialist venues, rehearsal
rooms, concert halls, etc. Some CROUS provide student musicians and amateur drama
groups with rehearsal premises. Equally, the
CROUS provide students with exhibition
spaces which, in some cases, may be in university canteens or in art galleries.
Organising events in halls of residence
and on campus
Throughout the academic year the CROUS
offer students shows and concerts in halls of
residence and in university canteens. A varied
range of events takes place during National
Tasting Week, Poets’ Springtime Festival, the
Chinese New Year or even for particular
meals (themed meals sometimes accompanied
by dance, theatre or music, etc.)
3
Cultural activities produced by students or
professionals are organised throughout the
academic year in university halls of residence,
workshops or theatre clubs, writing, dance,
music, chess, photography, etc. Students may
put themselves forward to run a show or to
take part in existing workshops.
University halls of residence, depending on
the location, can provide resident students
with the necessary equipment for a number
of activities: clubs, libraries, dedicated rooms
(piano, table tennis, computers, TV, video
clubs, etc.)
Competitions
Six national or international competitions
are organised each year by the CROUS under
the aegis of the CNOUS, in fields as diverse
as:
• novel writing
• photography
• comics
• short films
• music
• and, since 2009, dance. This competition is
open to all arts students, who should submit
their entry on DVD to the CROUS of their
regional education authority (académie).
In each CROUS a regional jury meets to
choose the best works which then go forward
to the national competition.
The most recent in the series of competitions is the musical springboard “RU Music”
(“Musiques de RU”) organised by the Bordeaux
CROUS under the aegis of the CNOUS. It is
open to all student artistes, who should send
details to the CROUS of their “académie”.
Information and regulations available
from the CROUS cultural service and
on the website: www.cnous.fr
3
Settling in
This new site was launched in 2009, and
allows users to access all the latest cultural
news from the CROUS and the CNOUS,
as well as containing information on competitions, awards ceremonies and cultural
partners.
Cultural spaces and the discovery of
varied artistic worlds
Certain CROUS (Besançon, Caen, Dijon,
Nancy-Metz, Montpellier, La Réunion) run theatres offering students unusual programmes,
often oriented towards young, contemporary
works.
These halls may also be made available to
student drama groups, depending on conditions applying at each site.
Ticketing services
Ticketing services set up in certain CROUS
allow students to take advantage of tickets
at reduced prices for performances in their
town (theatre, concerts, opera, dance, variety
shows, etc.).
Partnerships with student and/or cultural associations
The University and School Affairs network
is devoted to helping and working with students in many areas (catering, accommodation,
grants, social and cultural matters), and works
regularly and in close collaboration with student associations providing cultural projects
or projects of general interest.
The partnerships undertaken with these
associations enable those students interested,
the chance to be involved in cultural, civic or
solidarity activities.
The partnerships affirm the important role
of the network at the heart of the student
population.
The Franco-German
Youth Office
The Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ)
is an organisation devoted to Franco-German
cooperation, created in 1963 to develop the
relations between young people in France
and Germany.
In the field of higher education, the OFAJ
aims to facilitate the mobility of students and
young researchers in the Franco-German area
and internationally, and facilitate the acquisition of key competences for an international
career.
The OFAJ supports student meetings, binational seminars, etc, and also individual
programmes (grants for study visits, practical
courses, professional placements for young
graduates, intensive language courses, etc).
The OFAJ works with the networks
between partner universities and organisations responsible for student life in the
two countries, notably the CNOUS and the
CROUS, the Deutsches Studentenwerk and the
Studentenwerke.
Office Franco-Allemand pour la Jeunesse
51, rue de l’Amiral-Mouchez
75013 Paris
Tel: 01 40 78 18 18
For further information see website: www.ofaj.org
3
- international accommodation for overseas
researchers and students
- emergency social assistance, which is
generally used to help overseas students in
difficulty
‘Œuvres universitaires’ overseas
student information services
- special desks and reception areas which
bring together the services and departments
which students need when they arrive:
Prefecture, accommodation, bank, social
security, universities, etc.
Apart from the question of accommodation, regional centres organise global strategy
for receiving students. Amongst other issues,
we should particularly be aware of:
Support, by students at the start of the
academic year, and by tutors throughout the
year with:
- cultural activities organised for the students in general or specifically for overseas
students,
- parties on arrival, departure and to celebrate festivals,
- regional gastronomic events, Christmas
dinners,
- visits to tourist, cultural and even industrial sites,
- days out, weekends, excursions, longer
trips, cruises,
- the offer of books on the region,
- seats at local shows, etc.
- urban accommodation units which provide student accommodation with private
landlords. In certain CROUS, there have
been extremely well-organised communication (postcard) campaigns to encourage landlords to accept students or targeting older
persons who have rooms to let in exchange
for services.
More and more often these activities
become the focus for meetings between the
CROUS and the higher education establishments, to discuss particular policies which may
be of interest to local organisations. Useful
information is available in the websites of the
various CROUS under the heading “overseas
students” or “international”.
- assistance with guarantees and deposits
required by landlords
On the CNOUS website there is also a
range of information, particularly on the two
reception points well known to students
throughout the world:
The university and school affairs network
aims to improve the reception for overseas
students, who come to France for many reasons: grant holders, of course, and students
on structured exchange programmes between
institutions, but also the great number of
individual overseas students.
- the reception area at Roissy (Terminal 2
F, Arrivals area, gate 4) open every day from
7am to 10pm
- the reception area in rue Jean Calvin in
Paris (5e), next to the SDAI, an indispensable
part of this integrated welcome
3
Settling in
3
Local and regional ‘œuvres universitaires et scolaires’ student welfare centres
Légende des adresses:
➥ Centre régional (CROUS)
➤ Centre local (CLOUS) ou antenne d’accueil
• Aix-Marseille
➥ 6 avenue Benjamin Abram
13621 Aix-en-Provence Cedex 1
Tél.: 04 42 16 13 13
➤ 3 Place Victor Hugo,
13331 Marseille Cedex 3
Tél.: 04 91 62 83 70
www.crous-aix-marseille.com.fr
• Amiens
➥ 25, rue Saint Leu
BP 541
80005 Amiens Cedex 1
Tél.: 03 22 71 24 00
www.crous-amiens.fr
• Antilles-Guyane
➥ Campus universitaire de Fouillole
BP 444
97164 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex
Tél.: 05 90 89 46 60
➤ Cité Universitaire de Kourou
Quartier Branly
BP 705
97387 Kourou Cedex
Tél.: 05 94 37 85 00
➤ Résidence Universitaire de Schoelcher
BP 7208
97275 Schoelcher Cedex
Tél.: 05 96 61 36 73
www.crous-antillesguyane.fr
• Besançon
➥ 38, avenue de l’Observatoire
BP 31021
25001 Besançon Cedex 3
Tél.: 03 81 48 46 62
www.crous-besancon.fr
• Bordeaux
➥ 18, rue du Hamel
BP 63,
33033 Bordeaux Cedex
Tél.: 05 56 33 92 00
➤ 7, rue Saint-John Perse,
64000 Pau
Tél.: 05 59 30 89 00
www.crous-bordeaux.fr
• Caen
➥ 23, avenue de Bruxelles
BP 5153
14070 Caen Cedex 5
Tél.: 02 31 56 63 00
www.unicaen.fr
• Clermont-Ferrand
➥ 25, rue Étienne Dolet
63037 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1
Tél.: 04 73 34 44 00
www.crous-clermont.fr
• Corte
➥ 22, avenue Jean Nicoli
BP 55
20250 Corte
Tél.: 04 95 45 30 00
www.crous-corse.fr
• Créteil
➥ 70, avenue du Général de Gaulle
94010 Créteil Cedex
Tél.: 01 45 17 06 60
www.crous-creteil.fr
3
Settling in
• Dijon
➥ 3, rue du Docteur Maret
BP 51250
21012 Dijon Cedex
Tél.: 03 80 40 40 40
www.crous-dijon.fr
• Grenoble
➥ 5, rue d’Arsonval
BP 187,
38019 Grenoble Cedex
Tél.: 0825 001 049
➤ 17, rue du Chaney
73000 Jacob Bellecombette
Tél.: 04 79 69 57 45
www.crous-grenoble.fr
• La Réunion
➥ 20, rue Hippolyte Foucque
97490 Sainte Clotilde
La Réunion
Tél.: 02 62 48 32 32
http://crous-reunion.cnous.fr
• Lille
➥ 74, rue de Cambrai
59043 Lille Cedex
Tél.: 03 20 88 66 00
• Valenciennes
➤ Rue du chemin vert
59326 Valenciennes Cedex
Tél.: 03 27 28 39 60
www.crous-lille.fr
• Limoges
➥ 39 G, rue Camille Guérin
87036 Limoges Cedex 1
Tél.: 05 55 43 17 00
www.crous-limoges.fr
• Lyon - Saint-étienne
➥ 59, rue de la Madeleine
69365 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél.: 04 72 80 17 70
➤ 11, rue Tréfilerie
42023 Saint Étienne Cedex 2
Tél.: 04 77 81 85 50
www.crous-lyon.fr
• Montpellier
➥ 2, rue Monteil,
BP 5053
34033 Montpellier Cedex 1
Tél.: 04 67 41 50 00
Accueil des Étudiants Internationaux:
Tél.: 04 67 41 50 38
➤ Perpignan
54, avenue de Villeneuve
BP 41025
66101 Perpignan Cedex 1
Tél.: 04 68 50 99 62
Guichet unique: 04 68 50 97 95
www.crous-montpellier.fr
• Nancy - Metz
➥ 75, rue de Laxou
54042 Nancy Cedex
Tél.: 03 83 91 88 00
➤ 42 Île-du-Saulcy
BP 60 587,
57010 Metz Cedex 1
Tél.: 03 87 31 61 61
www.crous-nancy-metz.fr
3
• Nantes
➥ 2, boulevard Guy Mollet
BP 52213
44322 Nantes Cedex 3
Tél.: 02 40 37 13 13
• Paris
➥ 39, avenue Georges-Bernanos
75231 Paris Cedex 05
Tél.: 01 40 51 36 00
www.crous-paris.fr
➤ Jardin des Beaux Arts
35, boulevard du Roi René
BP 85128
49051 Angers Cedex 2
Tél.: 02 41 25 45 80
• Poitiers
➥ 15, rue Guillaume VII Le Troubadour
BP 629
86022 Poitiers Cedex
Tél.: 05 49 60 88 00
➤ 22 Boulevard Charles Nicolle
72000 Le Mans
Tél.: 02 43 28 60 70
www.crous-nantes.fr
• Nice - Toulon
➥ 18, avenue des Fleurs
06050 Nice Cedex 1
Tél.: 04 92 15 50 50
➤ Avenue de l’Université
BP 60127
83957 La Garde Cedex
Tél.: 04 94 08 83 00
www.crous-nice.fr
• Orléans - Tours
➥ 17, avenue Dauphine,
45072 Orléans Cedex 2
Tél.: 02 38 22 61 61
➤ Hall du Forum - Maison de l’étudiant
rue de Tours
Tél.: 02 38 24 27 00
➤ Boulevard de Lattre-de-Tassigny
37041 Tours Cedex
Tél.: 02 47 60 42 42
www.crous-orléans-tours.fr
➤15, rue de Vaux de Foletier
17026 La Rochelle
Tél.: 05 46 28 21 30
www.crous-poitiers.fr
• Reims
➥ 34, boulevard Henry Vasnier
BP 2751
51063 Reims Cedex
Tél.: 03 26 50 59 00
www.crous-reims.fr
• Rennes
➥ 7, place Hoche
CS 26428
35064 Rennes Cedex
Tél.:02 99 84 31 31
➤ 2, avenue Le Gorgeu
BP 88710
29287 Brest Cedex
Tél.: 02 98 03 38 78
www.crous-rennes.fr
• Rouen
➥ 3, rue d’Herbouville
76042 Rouen Cedex 1
Tél.: 02 32 08 50 00
➤ 41, rue Casimir Delavigne
76600 Le Havre
Tél: 02 35 19 74 74
www.crous-rouen.fr
3
Settling in
• Strasbourg
➥ 1, quai du Maire-Dietrich
BP 50168
67004 Strasbourg Cedex
Tél.: 03 88 21 28 00
➤ Maison de l’étudiant
1, rue Werner
68093 Mulhouse Cedex
Tél.: 03 89 33 64 64
http://crous-strasbourg.cnous.fr
• Toulouse
➥ 58, rue du Taur
BP 7096
31070 Toulouse Cedex 7
Tél.: 05 61 12 54 00
www.crous-toulouse.fr
• Versailles
➥ 145 bis, boulevard de la Reine
BP 563
78005 Versailles Cedex
Tél.: 01 39 24 52 00
www.crous-versailles.fr
➤ 55, avenue du Général de Gaulle
92160 Antony
Tél.: 01 46 74 63 71
➤ 8, allée de l’Université
92001 Nanterre Cedex
Tél.: 01 41 20 32 00
3
Settling in
Sport at university
in France
Sport at university in France is organised by:
1/ In French universities: the ‘Service Universitaire’
(or Inter Universitaire) des Activités Physiques et
Sportives’ (S.U.A.P.S. or S.I.U.A.P.S.). They are in
charge of organising and running all sports facilities and equipment and encourage students to
get involved in a wide range of sporting activities.
Many universities charge students a small fee for
the use of sports facilities.
2/ In the ‘Grandes Ecoles’: Sports departments
are responsible for making sure that students get
involved in sporting activities. The way sports
activities are organised can greatly differ from one
school to another (there are public and state-run
schools). Physical education in France is often
compulsory.
3/ Student Sporting associations that provide
FFSU ‘Fédération Nationale du Sport Universitaire’
corporative sporting activities and events for
all students in higher education (universities,
‘Grandes Ecoles’, IUT, BTS, Paramedical schools,
etc). The FNSU’s aim is to promote and organise
competitive sports for students in further education, universities or specialised schools.
4/ University sports clubs that come under
the ‘Union Nationale des Clubs Universitaires’
(U.N.C.U.), which have special agreements with
universities, constantly strive to bring students
and non-students together and act as a vital link
between the university and ‘La Cité’. They have
the dual role of providing access to ‘La Cité’ for
university students, whilst in turn providing access
to the university for ‘La Cité’. Students have the
opportunity to take part in sporting activities
but are expected to help out with organising
events and other activities. Students are entitled
to reduced rates when registering with a university
sports club.
Observation: The UFR STAPS ‘Unité de
Formation et de Recherche des Sciences
Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives’
or Faculties of Sports studies and Physical
Education are responsible for developing and
researching the subject of “Physical education
and sports-related careers”. Student numbers
on the STAPS programmes are constantly on
the increase.
Playing fields and training grounds: The SIUAPS
and the Local Community Sports associations comanage the sports centres and playing fields.
Training: training sessions for all university
students are arranged by the SIUAPS, sports
departments in the ‘Grandes Ecoles’ and other
higher education colleges as well as any FFSUaffiliated sports associations.
Using the sports facilities is not free; students
must pay a small membership fee.
‘La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris’
has 50 sports activities on offer for both students
who live on campus and non-residents: from
fencing to the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira
and from tennis to taekwando: “sport” in every
sense of the word: www.ciup.fr/sport.htm
The FFSU duties include:
• promoting and organising amateur competitive
playing;
• enabling students to successfully combine sport
and higher education study;
• awarding ‘Champion de France Universitaire’
sports prizes;
• promoting good relations between French university sports departments and national and
international Sporting Associations.
3
Settling in
The FFSU, is made up of:
- Approximately 90 000 members;
- 28 ‘Comités Régionaux du Sport Universitaire’
(CRSU) regional University Sports committees;
- and, in some localities, Comités Départementaux du Sport Universitaire’ (CDSU) or
local University Sports committees.
Activities:
The FFSU offers 55 individual sports and 9
group sports and organises 38 championships and
26 cups in France.
In addition to its national duties, the FFSU enters
its national student teams in international tournaments (the World University Championships)
and every two years in the Universiades, which
are similar to University Olympic Games,bringing
together 10,000 competitors from 160 countries.
Training Schemes: Referee training, sports
coaching and sporting event organiser courses.
• Aix-Marseille
CSU 16, rue Bernard du Bois
13001 Marseille
Tél.: 04 91 90 91 38
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sports-u-marseille.com
• Besançon
Gymnase universitaire de la Bouloie
Rue Laplace
25000 Besançon
Tél.: 03 81 66 61 16
E-mail: crsu.besancon@univ-fcomte.
• Amiens
IUT, avenue des Facultés,
80000 Amiens
Tel: 03 22 53 40 08
www.crsu-amiens.fr.com
• Antilles-Guyane
CRSU-BP 250
Campus de Fouillole
97157 Pointe à Pitre Cedex
Tel: 05 90 48 92 78
• Bordeaux
Stadium Rocquencourt Domaine universitaire
18 avenue Jean Babin
33600 Pessac
Tel: 05 57 35 60 51 ou 05 57 35 60 50
• SUAPS – Univ.Antilles-Guyanne
BP 7209
97233 Schoelcher
Tel: 05 96 72 73 21
• Caen
Esplanade de la Paix
14032 Caen Cedex
Tel: 02 31 56 55 54
www.unicaen.fr
30, rue Etienne Dolet
63000 Clermont-Ferrand
Tel: 04 73 29 39 40
www.sport-u-clermont.com
Sport at University
in France
3
• Corse
Université de Corte
20250 Corte
Tél.: 04 95 45 02 02
• Créteil
2, rue Tirard
94000 Créteil
Tél.: 01 48 99 64 00
www.sport-u-idf.com
• Dijon
Maison des sports, campus universitaire
Montmuzard BP 27877
21078 Dijon Cedex
Tél.: 03 80 39 67 91
• Grenoble
Domaine universitaire allée de la Passerelle
38400 Saint-Martin-d’Hères
Tél.: 04 76 82 44 10
www.sport-u-grenoble.com
• Lille
CSU, 180, avenue Gaston Berger
59000 Lille
Tél.: 03 20 52 59 91
www.sport-u-lille.com
• Limoges
Gymnase universitaire de la Borie
185, rue A. Thomas
87100 Limoges
Tél.: 05 55 77 43 20
www.unilim.fr
• Lyon
Université Claude Bernard
43, boulevard du 11 novembre 1918
69622 Villeurbanne Cedex
Tél.: 04 72 44 80 89
www.sport-u-lyon.com
• Montpellier
Centre sportif universitaire
532, avenue du Pr. Emile Janbrau
34090 Montpellier
Tél.: 04 67 14 39 18
www.sport-u-montpellier.com
• Nancy-Metz
Pôle universitaire européen
34, cours Léopold
54052 Nancy Cedex
Tél.: 03 54 40 54 31
www.sport-u-nancy.com
• Nantes
1, rue Douarnenez
44300 Nantes
Tél.: 02 40 94 49 50
www.sport-u-nantes.com
• Nice
CSU Valrose
65, avenue de Valrose
06100 Nice
Tél.: 04 93 84 99 17
www.sport-u-nice.com
3
Settling in
• Orléans-Tours
Maison des sports
1240, rue de la Bergeresse
45160 Olivet
Tél.: 02 38 49 88 88
www.sport-u-orleans.com
• La Réunion
SUAPS
15, avenue René Cassin
BP 7151
97715 Saint-Denis Cedex 09
Tél.: 00 262 93 83 59
• Paris
CIUP - Espace Sud
9 F boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél.: 01 43 13 13 60 ou 01 43 13 13 61
• Rouen
CSU, 33 boulevard Siegfried
76821 Mont Saint Aignan Cedex
Tél.: 02 32 10 07 03
www.sport-u-hnormandie.com
• Poitiers
2 bis, allée Jean Monnet
Tél.: 05 49 36 62 90
www.sport-u-poitiers.com
• Strasbourg
CSU, rue Gaspard Monge
67000 Strasbourg
Tél.: 03 88 60 55 96
www.sport-u-strasbourg.com
• Reims
UFR Sciences
Moulin de la Housse
BP 1039
51687 Reims Cedex 2
Tél.: 03 26 9131 31
www.sport-u-reims.com
• Toulouse
Université Paul Sabatier – Bâtiment 1A
Villa FFSU, 118, route de Narbonne
31062 Toulouse Cedex
Tél.: 05 61 55 65 00
www.sportu-toulouse.com
• Rennes
Université II, la Harpe
2, rue du Doyen Denis-Leroy
35044 Rennes Cedex
Tél.: 02 99 14 20 31
http://ffsportu.rennes.free.fr/
• Versailles
FF Sport U – CR Sport U Versailles
BP 146
92185 Antony Cedex
Tél.: 01 46 74 63 93
www.sport-u-idf.com
Le siège de la FFSU FF SPORT U
108 avenue de Fontainebleau
94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
Tél.: 01 58 68 22 75 Fax: 01 46 58 12 73
www.sport-u.com
3
Settling in
LA SECURITE SOCIALE
ET LES MUTUELLES
ETUDIANTES
Sécurité sociale
Compulsory insurance cover
Taking out sufficient student insurance, whether
the student is French or a foreign national, essentially goes hand in hand with applying for student
social security in France. This is a version of the
French ‘Sécurité Sociale’ which is adapted for
students (see Chapter 4, p. 114).
EU economic zone citizens who come
to France to study can be exempt from the
procedure of having to apply for student social
security if they have one of the following forms:
E106, E109, E111, E128, E121 or a document
that proves that they have taken out health insurance for themselves or any family members (if
accompanying them) to cover possible medical
expenses during their stay in France.
Health insurance must cover the academic
year (1st October-September of the following year).
Taking out health insurance should be done at
the same time as you enrol at university.
French government grant-holding
students are exempt from paying the
subscription fees.
Conditions for taking out student
insurance cover
To apply for student social security,
You must:
-B
e enrolled in a higher education college that
is registered with the French social security
system;
- Be under 28 years old on the 1st October of
the current academic year. Exceptions can
be made in some cases (long periods of illness, long maternity leave, and long university
studies);
- Be able to produce a document that proves
that you are officially allowed to reside in
France.
Refunding medical expenses
The French Social Security approves consultation charges called “tarifs de convention” (TC).
Affiliation with the Social Security system entitles students to refunds of health expenses.
The percentage of these refunds is calculated
on the basis of the approved charges (between
60% and 100% of the TC depending on the type
of expense).
That is why the student mutual insurance
propose a complementary health service. This is
indispensable to make up the difference between
the TC and the social security reimbursement.
It may even cover expenses that are in excess
of the TC..
Universal health cover
The 27th July 1999 act introduced Universal
Health cover on the 1st January 2000, which
set out to cover basic benefits (C.M.U.) and
mutual benefits (‘CMU complémentaires’). If
basic benefits do not concern the majority of
overseas students because they have student
social security, mutual benefits can be allocated to overseas students whose income or
housing arrangements meet the criteria. Each
person that receives mutual (CMU) benefits
must either find a health insurance broker
or a complementary firm, such as a student
mutual insurance company. For further information on universal health cover, contact the
Department of Health office (‘Caisse Primaire
d’Assurance Maladie’ CPAM) nearest to your
place of study
3
Settling in
Student mutual
insurance companies
(Mutuelles)
In France, students are covered by a special Social Security regime. The National Health
Insurance Fund delegates control of this regime
to the student mutual insurance companies, or
‘Mutuelles’.
In total, 11 Mutuelles are delegated to manage
the system: 10 are regional, and 1 is national.
Since the Social Security system only refunds a
certain proportion of medical fees, the Mutuelles
offer top-up cover tailored to the needs and
expectations of students, and for a relatively
low price. The exact nature of the top-up cover
varies between companies, but all are intended
to offer students the best possible rate of reimbursement.
It is important that students check the level
of reimbursement offered before subscribing to
a Mutuelle. The price is clearly a strong factor
influencing the choice of company, but it is often
a better idea to pay a few Euros more to receive
a higher level of reimbursement and cover which
is more wide-ranging and better adapted to your
needs.
Mutuelles reimburse you for all or part of the
‘ticket modérateur’, which is the name given to the
difference between the fees charged for medical
care, prescription medications and hospital stays
and the amount reimbursed by Social Security.
To respond to the needs of students, the
Mutuelles offer other services in addition to their
healthcare repayments: these can include cover
for Civil Responsibility risk (for damages accidentally inflicted on other people), Accident, Disability
and Assistance.
These services are complemented by car insurance, home insurance and travel insurance policies
which are also available.
La mutuelle des étudiants
Of the 11 mutuelles which govern social security and healthcare reimbursement for students,
La Mutuelle des Etudiants (LMDE) is the only
national company. With a strong presence all
over France and in its overseas territories, LMDE
has 153 agencies and contact centres, as well as a
telephone advice centre with advisors who speak
English and Spanish.
To contact LMDE by telephone, call 3260 and
say “LMDE” (€0.15 VAT/mn).
To make things simpler for students, LMDE
has established a number of ‘instant payment’
arrangements with pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. These arrangements mean that students are
not required to pay any fees up front; in this way,
students are exempt from paying all or part of
their medical fees.
In terms of extra health benefits, LMDE offers
a wide range of services, with five different levels
of cover.
LMDE is aware that good health and risk prevention go hand in hand, so its health insurance
packages contain a strong selection of prevention
measures: vaccinations, contraceptive pill option,
condom option, option for hearing protection.
LMDE recognises that students are increasingly mobile, which is why it offers an ‘Overseas
Student Cover’ guarantee for students who find
themselves left without any healthcare cover, as
can sometimes happen in the weeks or months
before the start of the academic year;
LMDE also offers various insurance policies,
including a Civil Responsibility/Assistance policy,
home insurance (covering everything from rooms
in student halls to shared apartments), car and
motorcycle cover, and even insurance policies to
cover time spent studying or working abroad.
LMDE, in collaboration with its banking partner
the Banque Populaire network, has created an
option which can help students meet the necessary conditions to rent accommodation:
www.labanquedesetudiants.com
Social Security &
student insurance cover
Since 2007, CNOUS has nominated LMDE as
the exclusive provider of healthcare benefits for
students with French government scholarships
(BGF) and students with scholarships from other
countries (BGE).
La Mutuelle des Etudiants
37, rue Marceau
BP 210
94203 Ivry sur Seine
Tel: 32 60, say “LMDE” (€0.15 VAT/mn)
www.lmde.fr
The LMDE centres can be found in the Appendices, Useful addresses p. 212
L’USEM
The 6 Regional Student Mutual Insurance
Companies that make up the USEM (Union
national des Sociétés Étudiantes Mutualistes
régionales) and the 4 FEDME (Fédération des
mutuelles étudiantes) insurance companies manage
the health of students:
- management of the student Social Security
system
- complementary health insurance
- preventive health campaigns
- specialised service for receiving foreign students
The regional student mutual insurance companies pay refunds i the whole of France with
an regional organisation that takes specific local
aspects into account:
3
- The MEP: Mutuelle des Etudiants de Provence,
covers the PACA, Languedoc-Roussillon and
Corsica regions.
- The MGEL: Mutuelle Générale des Etudiants
de l’Est, is in Alsace, Lorraine and ChampagneArdennes.
- The SMEBA: Société Mutualiste des Etudiants
de Bretagne Atlantique, in Brittany and Pays
de la Loire regions.
- The SMECO: (Société Mutualiste des Etudiants
du Centre Ouest) dans les régions Centre et
Poitou Charente, in the Centre and Poitou
Charente regions.
- The SMENO: Société Mutualiste des Etudiants
du Nord Ouest, covers the North Pas de
Calais, Normandie and Picardy regions
- The SMERAG: Société Mutualiste des
Etudiants de la Région Antilles Guyanes,
couvre les Antilles Guyane.
- The SMEREB: Société mutualiste des Etudiants
des Régions Bourgogne et Franche-Comté, is
present in Burgundy and Franche-Comté.
- The SMEREP: Société Mutualiste des Etudiants
de la Région Parisienne, is the mutual insurance company of the Ile de France region.
- The SMERRA: Société Mutualiste des Etudiants
de la Région Rhône-Alpes et Auvergne, covers the Rhône Alpes and Auvergne regions.
- VITTAVI is located in Midi-Pyrénées,
Aquitaine, Limousin and on the Island of
Réunion.
SEM (Société des Etudiants Mutualistes), also a
member of the USEM, manages the dossiers of
students without social security coverage as wellas
those of foreign scholarship holders for regional
mutual insurance companies
For all enquiries:
USEM Paris
Tél.: 01 44 18 37 87
www.usem.fr
All student insurance company addresses
can be found in the ‘Useful addresses’
chapter p.215 or on the website:
www.secuetudiante617.fr
3
Settling in
Learning French as
a foreign language
Sound knowledge of the French language is
one of the main ingredients for a successful stay
in France.
To study in France, you must be able to take
notes, give oral presentations, write essays, read
brochures, do coursework and sit for exams in
French.
Linguistically speaking…
Mastering the French language is all about being
able to understand the French lifestyle and way of
thinking, as well as being able to get into the swing
of everyday life in France. In this way, a study visit
becomes an experience of cultural exchanges and
personal growth.
Learning French prior
to coming to France
Other than being able to understand the
“bare bones” of the French language to take a
French proficiency test, students are strongly
advised to learn French before coming to
France. In this respect, students save their time
and effort and thoroughly prepare themselves
for their stay in France.
The French embassies are a good source of
information for students with regard to French
courses in your town or area, generally a French
Institute or an Alliance Française.
To reach an adequate level of French,
students must have at least a year of regular
French classes, practice conversing in French,
listen to French radio programmes, and read
French newspapers and books.
Learning French in
France
Centres for French as a foreign language in France
The Ministries for Foreign and European
Affairs, Culture and Communication and Higher
Education and Research have entrusted responsibility for implementing this programme to the
International Centre for Pedagogic Studies (CIEP).
The label is awarded for a minimum of 4 years.
The Ministries for Foreign and European
Affairs, Culture and Communication and Higher
Education and Research have entrusted responsibility for implementing this programme to the
International Centre for Pedagogic Studies (CIEP).
The label is awarded for a minimum of 4 years.
The acccreditation of centres for the
teaching of French as a foreign language
in France
The CIEP maintains a register of centres offering courses in French as a foreign language that
are certified “qualité française langue étrangère”:
www.qualitefle.fr. This database is aimed mainly at
the network of French cultural institutions abroad.
It is an invaluable tool for anybody, student or
professional, who is looking to construct their
own personalised learning programme to improve
their French language skills in France.
Some of these establishments are members
of professional networks such as ADECUEFE,
the Alliance Française, the FLE Group, l’Office
National, UNOSEL, SOUFFLE (see page 102).
The register is available in French, German, English
and Spanish.
The offer of certification
in French as a foreign
language
The French Ministries for National and Higher
Education and Research offer a wide range of
qualifications in French (diplomas and tests) to
recognise competence in French, from the lowest
to the highest levels. The offer is available to all,
and is integrated into 6-level scale of the European
Executive common reference for languages of the
Council of Europe.
French National
Diplomas: DILF,
DELF and DALF
DILF – Initial French Proficiency Test
The DILF is for those with a very basic level of
competence in French (level A1.1 in the Common
European Framework of Reference). It represents
a first step towards obtaining the DELF and DALF.
It is primarily for migrant workers.
DELF – standard French proficiency
diploma
DALF – advanced French proficiency
diploma
Details of the units.
The DELF and DALF are official diplomas
issued by the French Ministry of higher education
and research, and indicate an overseas candidate’s
level of proficiency in French. The DELF and
DALF consist of 6 individual units, which correspond to the six levels of the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages.
The tests can be taken in any of the 1000
official examination centres found in 164 countries
including France.
The DELF and DALF diplomas take into
account:
- international standards for testing;
- harmonisation in the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages.
3
The DELF and DALF qualifications are under the
authority of the National Commission for DELF and
DALF whose headquarters are at the CIEP, and which
brings together representatives from the Ministry of
Education, the Ministry for Higher Education and
Research, the Ministry for Foreign and European
Affairs and the Conference of University Directors.
CECR
A1.1
DELF/DALF
User
DILF
A1
DELF A1
A2
DELF A2
B1
DELF B1
B2
DELF B2
C1
DALF C1
C2
DALF C2
elementary
independent
experiment
The 6 diplomas that make up DELF and DALF
are completely independent. This means that
candidates can register for the examination of
their choice, according to their level.
At each level, 4 skills are evaluated: listening,
speaking, reading and writing.
Additional information:
www.ciep.fr/delf/dalf
3
Settling in
Useful information
Who can register?
Do you want to obtain proof of your
command of professional reasons?
You can take the DELF and/or the DALF,
whether you are from overseas or a French citizen
living in a non French-speaking country.
Which diploma?
Different DELF and DALF diplomas are
awarded at each level: so you can take whichever
test you choose. You can equally sit several
units in one session.
Where do I enrol?
Students can register directly with the examination centre, either in France or abroad. You can
enrol in the same country, or in different ones,
with no time limits.
How much does it cost to enrol?
When enrolling abroad, the cost for each
diploma is set by the French embassy service for
cooperation and cultural action and the National
Commission. In France, it is set by the “rectorats”.
Contact the examination centre you wish to use
for current rates. For some diplomas, candidates
must provide proof of a French baccalauréat
qualification or its equivalent.
The junior version of DELF
The junior version of DELF is designed on
the same basis as the standard DELF. Only the
subjects differ: the material takes account of the
areas of interest of young people.
It is aimed at students of secondary school age
and leads to the award of a diploma identical to
the standard version.
Test of knowledge of
French: TCF
The TCF, and its adaptations for specific learners, is standardised and graded. The TCF places
the candidate, for each language competence,
at one of 6 levels of the European Executive
common reference for languages, thus providing
a detailed linguistic profile. Since 2003 TCF has
earned ISO 9001:2000, which guarantees the quality of its design and management. This qualification
is valid for 2 years.
The TCF for the general public: it is aimed at
those wishing to test their abilities in French for
personal or professional reasons.
The TCF for students and future students: the
TCF is a mandatory part of preliminary admission
(DAP), in the first two years at university (Licence
1 or Licence 2) and in schools of architecture.
It is automatically demanded by institutions of
higher education for students who wish to submit
an application for 2nd and 3rd cycle (Licence 3,
Master 1, Master, 2 and Doctorat) in an institution
Useful information
The CIEP
• The CIEP ‘Centre National d’Etudes
Pédagogiques’, which is a State-run establishment that is under the supervision of the
Ministry of Education, is in charge of running
a co-operative that promotes education on
an international scale.
It operates in two areas: languages (French
as a foreign language and foreign-language
teaching in France) and educational engineering;
1, avenue Léon Journault
92318 Sèvres cedex
Tél: 01 45 07 60 00
www.ciep.fr
Settling in
3
The Chamber of
Commerce and
Industry of Paris
examinations (CCIP)
of higher education or Grande Ecole.
The TCF for those in international organisations: this version was designed to meet the needs
of international organisations or intergovernmental organisations (ONU, OCDE, etc.), diplomatic
schools and international relations
Further information:
www.ciep.fr/tcf
The Alliance
Française diplomas
The Alliance Française teaches DALF and
DALF courses which replace its own former
diplomas. It also offers a specific diploma, the
Diploma of Higher French Studies (Diplôme des
hautes études françaises) DHEF, at level C2 offering two options: literature and translation.
For further information, visit the website:
www.alliancefr.org
Diplômes de français professionnel (DFP –
Diplomas in Professional French) are practical,
professionally-tailored certifications awarded by
the CCIP, who assess, at different levels, competence in French applied to the principal areas
of the professional world: business, medicine,
tourism and the hotel industry, law, secretarial
work, science and technical.The examinations are
practical and test the candidate’s level of written
and spoken comprehension in “real professional
life” contexts.
The TEF French proficiency test (Test
d’Evaluation de Français), designed and distributed by the CCIP is an international instrument
of reference for the measurement of competence in French. It can be used in the context of
a higher study project for some of the Grandes
Ecoles business schools, or for an emigration
project aimed at a francophone country.
It is recognized by the French Ministry of
National Education (ministerial decree of 3 Mai
2007), by the Canadian federal government
(Citizenship and Immigration), by the Ministry
for Immigration and Cultural Communities of
Quebec, and by numerous, French-speaking businesses and educational institutions.
The CCIP French tests are available in hard
copy, (TEF and TEFAQ) and in electronic versions:
e-tef and e-tefaq.
For further information, visit: www.ccip.fr.
3
Settling in
University diplomas
The university centres for the study of French
by overseas students offer four diplomas covering
different levels of French language competence and
associated knowledge:
Practical certificate in French language (CPLF)
B1
Diploma in French studies (DEF) B2
Advanced diploma in French studies (DAEF)
C1
Superior diploma in French studies (DSEF) C2
The diplomas are only open to non-French
nationals and are awarded by the Ministry of
Education-authorised universities after consulting the ‘Conseil de l’Enseignment Supérieur’
(Higher Education board).
Candidates must provide proof of qualifications
that are equivalent to the French ‘baccaluréat’.
These four diplomas are taught and taken in
most universities, but some have set up internal
diplomas.
Teacher training
courses in teaching
French
Students or teachers who are preparing themselves for a career in teaching French can take
courses that prepare ‘Diplômes de Français Langue
Etrangère’ (FLE). Over half of universities offer
courses and literature or linguistic ‘licence’ (degree
level) and Masters level courses leading to the
teaching of French as a foreign language. These
national diplomas are open to both overseas students and French nationals and are awarded by the
French universities.
In some universities, students also have the
possibility of studying the didactics of French as a
foreign language, or ‘Didactique du Français Langue
Etrangère (FLE)’ at the Doctorate, or third level.
Many universities in conjunction with
language institutes organise one-year short
courses for prospective teachers of French as
a foreign language (FLE). These courses prepare
students for university diplomas such as the
‘Diplôme Supérieur à l’Enseignement du Français
Langue Etrangère’ (DAEFLE). Information about
these courses is available in the ADPF brochure published by the Ministry of Foreign and
European Affairs and CultureFrance.
Professional
Associations and
Networks
The market for French language teaching in France
includes professional groups, a national network
of Alliances Françaises and the CampusFrance
network.
ADECUEFE: Association of directors of universities for French studies for overseas students. It
brings together 32 centres for French as a foreign
language, based in French universities:
http://cla.univ-comte.fr/adcuefe
ALLIANCE FRANCAISE: founded in 1883,
Alliance Française is a network of 1072 associations established in over 130 countries, and
spreading the French language to all levels of
society: www.alliance.fr.org
THE FLE GROUP: the FLE.fr group of centres
brings together 30 centres specialising in French
as a foreign language: www.fle.fr
L’OFFICE: The national office guaranteeing language courses and visits has 32 members, including
8 schools for French as a foreign language:
www.loffice.org
SOUFFLE: Created in 1990, this association
brings together organisations teaching French as
a foreign language, and has 19 members:
www.souffle.asso.fr
Arriving in France
3
Short teaching
courses
UNOSEL: The national union of organisations
for linguistic visits and for language schools has
70 members of which 3 schools teach French as
a foreign language: www.unosel.com
Overseas teachers wishing to do a short
teaching course can look in the directory of
teacher training centres in collaboration with
CulturesFrance (ex. ADPF).
The INRP (Institut National de la Recherche
Pedagogique) is a national public institution under the control of the Ministries for
National Education, Higher Education and
Research. Its purpose is to develop and stimulate research in the field of education, and it
uses the results of this research to support
national and academic pilot schemes of new
teaching methods.
The INRP plays a mediating role between
scientific research and teachers actively
involved in school education, particularly
through training teachers, but also through
training managers and supervisory staff. Its
aim is to increase understanding and application of innovative didactic and pedagogical
methods.
The INRP has its headquarters, and a large
part of its operations, in Lyon, where it is an
affiliated member of the University of Lyon’s
Research and Higher Education Centre. The
Institut also has teams of researchers working
in Paris, Cachan, Montrouge, Marseille and
Rouen; in this last city the Institut’s research
resource centre is attached to the National
Museum of Education.
The Institut’s research teams are supported
by a strong, nationwide network of partnerships (mixed research units, network of
contributing academics, network of university institutes for teacher training etc.). The
Institut runs programmes all over France,
including research projects which mobilise an
extended network of 825 affiliated education
professionals.
Institut National de la Recherche
Pédagogique (INRP)
19 allée de Fontenay
BP 17424
69347 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél.: 04 72 76 61 00
www.inrp.fr
3
Settling in
For all research on the education system and teaching in France, you can contact
the ‘Centre National de Documentation
Pédagogique’ (CNDP) or the Regional & Area
centres networks (CRDP & CDDP).
Together, these institutions form the
SCEREN group (Cultural support, publishing and resource provision for the national
education system).
This information is available from reference multimedia libraries, video libraries, and
software libraries.
To compliment educational policies, the
CNDP network edits reviews and written
series and produce audio-visual and digital
(especially for television) programmes, videos,
computer programmes.
The CNDP is the official publisher for the
Ministry for National Education and is based
at:
@4, avenue du Futuroscope - Téléport 1
BP 80158
86961 Futuroscope cedex
Tél. : 05 49 49 78 78
[email protected]
They also arrange a lot of promotional
activities with the help of new technology and
communications.
A list of centres is available on the internet
at www.sceren.fr.
They strive to build on information systems, media and communications and educational engineering exchange projects with
foreign countries.
Students can browse and purchase SCEREN
documentation at the ‘Librarie de l’éducation’
(bookshop):
Librairie de l’éducation
13, rue du Four
75006 Paris
Tel. 01 46 34 54 80
[email protected]
www.sceren.com
The CNDP website: www.cndp.fr
© CNDP.
4
Getting into
the swing of
French life
4
Everything you need to know
about finding accommodation
Where can I find offers of accommodation? . .
• A few pointers before you start renting ..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 109
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 110
You are what you eat… . . . . .
Restaurants .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Living expenses. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 111
p. 111
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p. 112
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
French social cover
Healthcare for everyone .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Students healthcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What to do if you have to go to hospital . .
Pharmacies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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p. 114
p. 114
p. 115
p. 115
A modern system of communication
4
On the road in France. . . . . . . . .
Internal flights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public town transport. . . . . . . . .
Postal and telephone services . .
• ‘La Poste’ in a nutshell. .
Internet.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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p. 116
p. 117
p. 117
p. 118
p. 119
p. 119
Consumerism
Frenchbanks. . . . .
Distribution . . . . .
Banking services ..
• The Euro..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A couple of ideas for holidays . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The international student card. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 120
p. 120
p. 120
p. 121
p. 122
p. 122
Media, Culture and Leisure
The French Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The French audiovisuals galaxy .. . . . . . . . .
Theatre, cinema and cultural activities. . .
A museum in each town .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Libraries and sources of information.. . . . .
Boarding houses, lodgings, youth hostels .
Sport and keeping fit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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p. 123
p. 123
p. 123
p. 125
p. 125
p. 126
p. 127
4
Getting into the swing of French life
Everything you need to
know about finding
The property market
Finding a place to live in the large cities
has become difficult, even for French people.
Rental properties (unfurnished or furnished)
are most often found through rental agencies
that serve as intermediaries between the
property owners and renters. You can also
deal directly with a property owner, provided
you are sure to respect all legal formalities.
Renting an apartment with a lease requires
proof of income. The rental agent or property owner will often ask for a guarantee by
a third party, that is, the commitment of a
third person to pay your rent and fees in the
event you do not pay them. A landlord cannot
refuse to accept a deposit from somebody on
the grounds that this person is not French
(legislation of 17 January 2002, article 161).
Generally, monthly income must be four times
the rental payment. If you choose to use a
rental agent, you will be required to pay rental
fees when you sign the lease. These fees can
range from 2.5% to 10% of the annual rental
amount, excluding extra charges. Extra charges
cover maintenance of common space, refuse
removal, water, and in some cases, heat.
In addition to the rental payment, you are
required to subscribe to an insurance policy
with a student insurance company or with a
company of your choice.
On average, rent in Paris is 50% more expensive than rent in the rest of France. You should
expect to pay from €350 to €450 per month for
a room and from €450 to €1000 for a studio
apartment in Paris and the surrounding region.
The average rent in Paris and its surroundings
is twice as high per square metre as in other
regions of France. The average monthly rent for
private rental properties is €22 per square metre
in Paris, between €15 and €21 per square metre
in the surrounding area, and €11 per square metre
in the other regions of France.
Finding a room or a furnished studio without your parent’s guarantee is often difficult
for a young person and even more so if the
person is a foreign national.
In the Paris region and especially in Paris
itself, the problem of finding accommodation
has reached such amazing proportions that
students are recommended to consider other
French university towns if they do not already
have a leasing contract or have made arrangements for accommodation before coming to
France.
Student accommodation services
A whole network of offers of private furnished
accommodation is available to students. You
will find a detailed explanation in the previous
chapter about the CROUS ‘Centres Regionaux
des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires’ Student
accommodation services. They help students
find rooms or studios in student halls of residence and in HLM ‘Habitation à loyer modéré’
accommodation.
The CROUS centres have a private accommodation notice board (see chapter 3 p. 87).
Finding a place to live in Paris starts with the
CROUS.
Home insurance
The tenant must take out multi-risk home
insurance; the lease usually specifies that taking
out home insurance is compulsory.
Student insurance companies offer students
affordable multi-risk insurance packages. You
are advised to read the small print on the insurance contract because insurance cover varies
from one company to another.
Everything you need to know
about finding accommodation
Where can I find offers
of accommodation?
Some student associations receive private
offers of accommodation for their members.
In Paris, for a fee of about €21, students have
access to an accommodation offer notice
board at the following address: UNEL:
Union Nationale des Etudiants Locataires
21, rue du Val de Grâce
75005 Paris
Tél: 01 40 46 86 73
www.upel.fr
In the provinces, some ‘Centres d’information
et de documentation jeunesse’ (CIDJ) display
accommodation advertisements on their notice
boards (See “Useful Addresses” p.192).
Look out for agencies that specialise in
student accommodation that give you a list of
offers only after you have paid a fee.
At the end of the day there is nothing
better than finding a room, flat or apartment
through friends or word of mouth.
4
Hotel room rental
Renting a room in a hotel (for at least a
month) is not the most convenient of arrangements, but it is still a solution. A list of hotels
is available from the CROUS accommodation
services.
Living (& paying rent) in a French host
family
It is possible to stay with a family and pay
rent or to work as an au pair (See Chapter
3, p.80: Working as an au pair). Offers from
French families are available to students at
temporary employment services in CROUS
centres, at CIDJ’s and from some associations
that specialise in housing for students.
‘Les Centres Régionaux des Œuvres
Universitaires et Scolaires’ (CROUS) can give
you addresses of organisations (student associations, student insurance companies, etc.)
in each university town that help students find
a place to live.
Married Students
Married students who are planning on
bringing their family to live with them in France
are advised to work out a sufficient budget
and then start looking for accommodation and
arranging insurance cover on their own.
4
Hotel gradings
The Ministry of Tourism classifies French
Hotels into five categories by stars
*****
****
***
**
*
HRT
HT
Deluxe
Luxury
First class
Good quality (tourist hotel)
Tourist budget hotel (*)
Basic budget hotel
Basic hotel
Most hotels serve breakfast. Many hotels
provide a catering service and a great deal
have lower prices during the off season (mid
November to March). Most very simple hotels
are unclassified. Value for money and price
brackets greatly vary.
Some tourist guides grade hotels differently
and from a more subjective point of view.
They tend to take the quality of service and
the facilities into account where the tourist
authorities only consider the facilities.
A valuable plus of private guides is that they
inform tourists about the price ranges of their
chosen hotels.
(*) NC next to the star rating refers to ‘New classification’
Minimum fee per night:
Paris
***** €230 to €400
**** €140 to €230
*** €80 to €139
**
€55 to €50
*
€35 to €54
Province
€182.94
€125
€65
€50
€25
A few pointers before you start renting
Before committing yourself to an apartment, it is necessary to be familiar with the
exact conditions in which you are renting and
to make sure:
• That you know what is included in the price
of the rent. For example, find out if extra
charges (for the caretaker, cleaning and
maintenance of the building) are included
in the rent. Heating and electricity are not
usually included. If you are staying with
someone, you must find out if provisions,
washing (bed linen), use of the shower, bath
or kitchen are included;
• That you are allowed to have visitors;
• That you ask for a written lease after the
inventory;
• The rent must be paid before moving in and
on the first few days of the month;
• If the tenant wants to leave, they must send
their landlord a letter by registered post
with proof of reception giving a month’s
notice (three months if you are dealing with
an Estate Agent). If the landlord would like
to use their room or studio at the end of
the contract, they equally have one month in
which to do so.
For more information contact the ADIL
‘Agence departementale information logement’ at the local police station. The ADIL
centre addresses are available on the internet
at: www.anil.org
4
French eating habits have changed due
to the stresses and strains of city life,
industrialisation of the food industry and
product internationalisation. And yet the
French still seem to be attached to the
tradition of eating good quality food and
cuisine. In comparison with eating habits in
other countries, the French take pride in their
gastronomy and culinary tradition. France’s
agricultural industry has adapted to French
consumer tastes and trends.
A food market with a wide range of
produce
The French shop mostly in ‘grandes surfaces’
(supermarkets) where they can lay their hands
on a broad range of quality processed foodstuffs (ready-made meals, tinned foods, dairy
products, ready prepared vegetables, etc.).
However, they still shop for fresh produce
at the many covered or open-air markets
(that are often quite picturesque) in town or
those dotted around Paris. They still go to
their local shops for quality produce (cheese,
bread, selected meats and ‘charcuterie’ specialities) or pay a visit to small ‘épiceries’ that are
open until late.
You are what
you eat…
What do the French eat?
The French traditionally prepare 3 meals:
breakfast in the morning; lunch between 12
and 2 o’clock in the afternoon; and the evening
meal at around 8 o’clock. French families get
together at meal times and sit around a table
laid with a traditional dinner service. Other
than ‘le pain’ and ‘le vin’, meals are essentially
made up of a starter, a main dish, cheese and
dessert.
Processed foods, less time for cooking,
and different fads have altered a lot of French
people’s diets. More health-conscious than
before, unlike in the past, they now choose
food that has a lower energy content, which
makes for a lower sugar and fat consumption. Nevertheless, the art of gastronomy and
regional cooking are still going strong even
if world cuisine has obliged them to evolve.
When the French have guests for dinner or
celebrate a special event, their true “culinary”
colours still manage to shine through.
On ordinary days, most French eat simply
and spend less time on everyday meals than
for special occasions. One-third of the French
eat breakfast in a ‘brasserie’ close to their
workplace, in the canteen at work, or in a
fast food restaurant and are partial to the
odd sandwich.
Restaurants
Cheap eats
In France, food-catering services offer a wide
range of meal deals, and places to eat to suit all
pockets (over 120,000 catering outlets (traditional restaurants, cafés-restaurants, cafeterias,
etc.). For a quick bite to eat, your best bet is
‘les cafés-brasseries’ where you can order a
main meal on its own.
Bakeries and ‘charcuteries’ sell sandwiches; small local restaurants have set menus
(between €8,5 and €21); and quick bites can
also be found in pizzerias, Chinese take-aways,
croissant bars, wine bars, crêpe stalls or fastfood joints. University canteens (see Chapter 3,
p. 74) offer a wide range of choices at very
affordable prices.
4
Going out to a restaurant
When going out for a meal to celebrate
a special occasion, consumers are spoilt for
choice when it comes to different cooking
styles and prices. There is the choice between
regional French cuisine, foreign cooking,
theme cuisine (meat, fish, vegetarian restaurants), quality processed food restaurant
chains, and for the real food lovers: ‘la grande
cuisine’ (Gourmet cooking). In January 2008,
new anti-smoking legislation came into force
in France, and forbids smoking in all enclosed
public places. If there is more choice in Paris,
then the best value for food can be found in
the towns and villages of the provinces where
tradition is still very much alive.
Essential Information:
Alimentation
Bread: baguette (250g)
0.85
Potatoes (1kg)
1.20
Rice (500g)
1.99
Rump steak (1kg)
19.90
Cheese (1 camembert)
1.90
Butter (250g)
1.40
Eggs (6)
1.20
Fruit (1kg)
1.52 à 5.34
Milk (1 litre)
> 0.90
Cooking oil (1 litre)
1.83
Table wine (1 litre)
> 1.52
Beer (6x25cl)
2.48
Sugar (1kg)
> 1.29
Ground Coffee (250g)
> 2.30
Tea (100g)
> 2.29
Jam (250g)
> 1.22
Public Transports SNCF
Here are some prices for 2nd class travel, single
ticket (this is just a rough estimate because
there are often a lot of different reductions or
extra charges depending on the train you take,
the dates and times you travel, etc.)
Paris - Nice
98.00 Paris - Bordeaux
56.10
Bordeaux - Toulouse
32.60
Rennes - Lyon
91.60
People under 26 years of age can have a
‘12-25’ rail card that entitles them to good
reductions on train journeys in France.
Running a car (average costs)
1 litre of ‘super’ petrol
1.379
1 litre of ‘gasoil’ (diesel)
1.289
Parking ticket machine
(parking by the hour in Paris) 2.40
Public transport
in Paris
1 book of 10 metro-bus 12
tickets (1 ticket per metro ride or per bus
ride, regardless of the length of the journey
in Paris)
Students under 26 years can apply for an “Imagine R”
transport that enables them to take the bus and the
metro (except OrlyVal) and the suburban trains
that are within their selected zones.
Price for a year’s subscription
to the card:
298.70
2 zones (Paris and surrounding suburbs, including
university campuses of Paris I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII,
and IX)
Everyone else can apply for a ‘carte orange’
transport card, which entitles them to more
or less the same advantages.
Weekly card fare
2 zones 18.35
5 zones
33.40
Average taxi fares (1)
15.50
(1) You will be charged
€1 extra for each piece of luggage.
4
Essential Information:
Examples of average living expenses (continued)
In the Provinces
1 book of 10 bus tickets approx. 7.50
(1 ticket is valid for one journey or for
an hour). In Paris and in other big French
towns, you can call a taxi.
Motorway Toll station fees
Paris/Lyon (461 km)
30.90
Paris/Bordeaux (580 km)
50.90
Pastimes
National Museum visits 3.10 à 8
(permanent collections)
Admission is free in National Museums on
the first Sunday of the month.
Other museums
3.81 à 7.62
Exhibitions approx. 6,10
(on a particular collection, an artist, an era
or theme).
Cinéma
Student rate
Films
5.60
9
Reading
Books (average prices)
15.1
‘Livres de Poche’
2 à10
Music
CD’s
17
Concerts
8 à 120
Free concerts organised by the
‘Maison de la radio’, churches, etc.
The Press
French newspapers
- daily approx. 1.10
- Weeklies
2.50 à 5
Foreign newspapers
1.25 à 2.50
Sport
Sports competitions:
Matches
30.50 à 95
Sports activities:
Ice-skating
approx. 5
Ice-skate hire
approx. 3.80
Swimming
2.60 à 4.60
Trips to the Theatre and Variety shows
Trips to National theatres
Student rate
approx. 12
Opéra Bastille (opéra)
or Garnier (ballet)
9.15 à 120
Various theatres,
music-halls
8 à 40
Cafés-théâtres(2)
8 à 30
Night-clubs, at the W.E
(entry + 1 free drink)
20
Telephone calls
Card of 50 credits 7.50
(on sale in France Telecom agencies
or in ‘cafés-tabacs’)
Snacks
Beer (a half pint)
1.80
Café (at a table)
2.10
Sandwiches
2.90 à 4.50
(2) If you order something (all kinds of drinks) during
the show or when dining.
4
French social cover
The French social security system is renown
for its solid structure. Most French people
benefit from health costs insurance cover,
maternity benefits, family allowance, unemployment benefits, and state pensions. Student
social security is yet another benefit that the
French system provides.
A large part of the French social security
system is funded by employee salaries that
figure on the companies turnover, and also
by allotted tax contributions: ‘contribution
sociale généralisée’ (CSG) and the ‘contribution sociale de solidarité des sociétés’ (CSSS)
as well as direct public taxation.
This system encompasses several areas:
- Insurance cover that offers different policies to cover health expenses (illness and
maternity cover, disability allowance,
cover for accidents in the workplace);
- Job-seekers allowance and complimentary
benefits from associations of the same calibre;
- ‘les Caisses d’allocations familiales’ which
deals with family allowance;
- ‘les Caisses complémentaires de retraite’
which deals with ‘l’allocation supplémentaire’, which provides people over 65 with
a minimum state pension.
Healthcare for
everyone
Medicine
In France, medicine is free of charge.
Everyone is entitled to choose their own
doctor (there are on average 342 doctors
for every 100 000 inhabitants, which can
vary from one region to another). You must
distinguish between National Health doctors,
for example, those who are registered with
the social security. Their doctor visit fees are
fixed in relation to the National Health refunding scale (€22 for a general practitioner and
between €28 and €33 for a specialist doctor)
and non-National Health doctors whose fees
are much more expensive.
Call outs during the night, on Sundays and on
public holidays cost between €30 and €65.
General Practitioners have set days for
visits and appointment times. They will mainly
see patients by appointment. Doctors’ numbers are listed in the Telephone Directory.
Doctors on call
A list of Doctors on call throughout the
night, on Sundays and public holidays is available from pharmacies, police stations, and the
regional daily press.
Emergency Services
In emergencies, three numbers should
be noted: for an ambulance or the ‘service
ambulancier d’aide médicale urgente’ (SAMU), call
15; for Police rescue, call 17; and to report a
fire, call 18. These services will take you to
hospital if and when necessary. If you are calling from a mobile telephone, the emergency
services can be reached on 112.
Student healthcare
Your university or institution of higher learning
will provide preventive medicine and wellness
services called ‘Les services inter universitaires
de médecine préventive et de promotion de
la santé’ (SIUMPPS). A multi-disciplinary team
(doctors, nurses, psychologists, etc.) are at your
disposal throughout the year.
SIUMPPS provides personalised medical visits (required for all first-time registrants to
institutions of higher learning), appointments
on request (consultation, referral, etc.), informational campaigns (contraception, nutrition,
AIDS, etc.), issuance of medical certificates, and
health orientations and screenings for students
arriving in France.
French social cover
The European
Health Card
Since 1 January 2006, the European Health
Card has been available throughout Europe. In
France, it replaces the E111 form and provides
easy access to medical care while abroad. For
full information on this, go to the European
website: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/
healthcard/citoyens_fr.htm#4c
What to do if you have
to go to hospital
Hospital infrastructures
State-run hospitals (there are more than
1000) generally offer a better infrastructure
than their private counterparts.
Most doctors who work in hospitals will
see patients in hospital wards if they do not
have an appointment and will see patients who
have made an appointment in private.
Hospital fees
The fee for a day in hospital varies according
to the type of treatment the patient receives and
which care unit they stay in (coronary, surgery).
The fees are partly reimbursed by social security
(see “Student Social security and Student Insurance
companies”, chapter 3, p. 95). If treatment expenses
in private clinics are more expensive, they are
reimbursed in relation to the National Health
refunding scale, as are doctors’ fees. Nevertheless,
4
for all hospital stays longer than a day, patients
must pay a fee of €16 per day. Student insurance
companies can reimburse foreign students if they
have complimentary cover.
Pharmacies
To purchase most medicine, you must
have a doctor’s prescription to show to the
pharmacist. Pharmacies monopolise medicine
sales. In the provinces, they are open from
9am-7pm and in Paris from 9am-8pm and
some are open until 11pm. They are closed
on Sundays, Monday mornings and public
holidays.
24-hour pharmacies
Like doctors who are on call during the
night, some dispensaries are open all night.
Opening hours are usually displayed on the
door.
Otherwise, you can go to any police station.
The police officers have a list of duty chemists
in their area. But you should always try the
classic emergency numbers or the police stations first to find your nearest duty chemist.
So, you dial 15 for the SAMU (medical help);
17 for the Police, and 18 for the Fire Service.
These emergency numbers are free of charge
and accessible from any telephone, even if the
line has been cancelled, and even if there is
no dialling tone. This is also the case for any
telephone kiosk, and no card or other form
of payment is necessary.
Or consult the following websites:
www.servigardes.fr or www.pharmaciesdegarde.com.
4
A MODERN SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATON
The French Railway system
Famous for halving journey time, the high
speed train network ‘trains à grande vitesse’
(TGV) go to the South East, the South West,
the West and the North from Paris all the way
to international stations. If the rail system has
scaled down its network, it has certainly made
up for it by picking up speed, thus representing
competition for internal air links. The SNCF
‘la Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer’ also
provides big towns with suburban rail transport
(see p. 67).
train stations, SNCF travel centres or look on
the website; or you may call: 08 92 35 35 35
(€0.34 a minute) or the computerised help-line: 36
35 (€0.34 a minute).
On the road in
France
Booking tickets
Motorways in France
The ‘autoroutes’ (over 9300 km worth),
‘routes nationales’, ‘départementales’, ‘communales’ (971,723 km in total) represent a rather
well run and efficient road network.
There are two ways to travel in France.
The fares are based on a basic kilometric price
to which supplements in relation to first or
second-class travel, the type of train, and the
travel dates must be added. You can book by
Minitel, on the web or by telephone; tickets
can be purchased in SNCF travel centres or
in train stations at the ticket office or from
the ticket machines.
Coach travel
There are several fast coach travel companies that provide a national and international
coach service for short to average distance
journeys. The SNCF has a coach service.
Tour operators, travel agents and the SNCF
arrange bus trips to most sights of interest
to tourists.
Reduced fares
There are memberships, reduced rates and
a number of other discounts ‘Carte 12-25’,
‘découverte 12-25’, ‘découverte à deux’. For
all enquiries, you can contact OTU centres,
Travelling by car
All the traffic in France amounts to 708
million passenger-kilometres. Although maintaining an automobile is still expensive (price
of fuel, general maintenance, tolls), motorway
At the wheel:
• You drive on the right.
• The speed limit is generally 130 kph on
motorways (110 kph in the rain) and 50 kph
in built-up areas.
• Drunk driving (over 0.50g/l of alcohol in the
blood) is dealt with very severely, resulting in
the loss of your driving licence.
• Parking in towns (usually pay and display) is
highly regulated. If you park illegally in town
centres, the car may be towed away and you
will have to pay a fine to recover it.
• Stiff fines are exacted for using bus and
taxis lanes.
• Seat bells must be worn in the back as well
as in the front.
• Drivers must always carry their driving
licence, ’carte grise’ (ownership document)
and insurance document.
transport by individually owned cars seems to
be on the rise in France.
Information about itinerary, tariffs, and motorway services and traffic news is available on
the website: www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr
or by telephone: Direct Information Line:
0826 100 200 (calls are free from landlines)
As in many other countries, ‘auto-stop’
exists in France. For information on how
to travel safely and for less, travellers are
encouraged to contact one of the Auto-stop
associations (small registering fee and joint
contribution with the driver to petrol costs):
‘Allo Stop’
30 rue Pierre Sémard
75009 Paris
Tel.: 01 53 20 42 42
www.allostop.net
Internal flights
The many French airline companies have
flights to most big towns in France and offer
a number of reduced fares especially for students.
Where can I find out about flights?
You can ask for information at the OTU,
travel agents, and airline companies or look on
the ADP ‘aéroport de Paris’ website:
www.adp.fr
4
Public town
transport
Bus and metro
In most provincial towns, there are bus or
tramway systems. Some big towns (Marseilles,
Lyon, Lille and Toulouse) have an underground
train service. In the provinces, students usually
benefit from reduced transport fares.
Parisian public transport
In Paris, the underground ‘metro’ system
is the most popular means of transport and
is linked with the ‘réseau express régional
(RER), which has lines running across the
capital city and extend to the suburbs. When
you have time on your hands, a bus ride is a
good way to discover Paris and its surrounding suburbs. All public transport is run by the
‘Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens’
(RATP).
Other than single tickets or books of ten
single tickets, most passengers have weekly
or monthly ‘Carte orange’ transport passes
that are adapted to their travels around the
city (see p.112).
For further information, visit the RATP
web site at www.ratp.fr or call on 32 46
(€0.34 TTC/mn).
RATP telephone enquiries
- 7am to 9pm Monday to Friday
- 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday and public
holidays
4
Postal and telephone
services
‘La Poste’ (the French postal system), whose
emblem is that of an abstract blue bird on a
yellow background, delivers mail, telegrams,
etc. (see ‘La Poste’ in a nutshell p.119).
France Telecom is responsible for telephone services, (landlines and mobiles,) telex,
fax and an Internet service (Orange).
There are some 17 000 Post Offices all
over France. In Paris, the ‘La Poste’ head
office provides “round the clock” service to
the public on rue du Louvres.
Telephone
Under the influence of the ever-expanding
new technology industry and with competition
at its peak, the telecommunications industry
has been noted for its strong economic boom
and lowering of prices abroad.
France Telecom, which provides telephone,
telex, fax, Minitel, and internet access services,
monopolised the telecommunications sector
until early 1998 when other telephone companies such as ‘9 telecom’ (‘le 9’), ‘Télé 2’ (‘le
4’), and ‘Cegetel’, the land line operator, came
onto the scene.
The price of telephone calls depends on
the time you make a call, who you are calling
and the length of the call (from €0.034 per
minute for a local call to €0.091 per minute
for calls to another department).
The mobile telephone sector has been a
great success to date (with 58 million mobile
telephones in use in France 2008).
In France the mobile telephone market is
shared between 3 giant operators: ‘Orange,
‘SFR’ and ‘Bouygues Telecom’. You must subscribe for one or two years and you can renew
your subscription automatically. There are
also ‘pay as you go’ deals (without contracts)
where call costs are a lot higher.
Before choosing a mobile phone, you are
strongly advised to shop around and look at
the different deals on offer from each operator.
If all else fails, there are telephone boxes in
most public places: Post offices, train stations,
metros, shopping centres as well as on the
street. To make calls, you need a telephone
card (‘télécarte’: approx. €7.50 for 50 credits)
or a credit card with a magnetic chip. The
call costs are then directly debited from the
account.
French telephone numbers are made up of
10 digits; the first two digits correspond to
the area code:
01 for Ile de France
02 for the Northwest
03 for the Northeast
04 for the Southeast and Corsica
05 for the Southwest.
To phone France from abroad, dial [00]
then [33], then the number of your correspondent, knocking off the 0.
To phone abroad from France, dial [00],
and then the country code, then the number
of your correspondent.
Information by telephone: 3212
(€3 from a land line, €2.5 with a phone card
from a phone box).
For complimentary information: dial 1014.
To find out about all French Telecom /Orange
services as well as France Telecom/Orange
agency addresses, visit www.orange.fr
4
Useful Information:
‘La Poste’ in a nutshell
At the Post Office, you can carry out the following
transactions:
• send letters and parcels by regular or
recorded delivery post;
• purchase stamps at €0.58 for a package that
weighs 20g or less to be sent anywhere in
Europe. There are self-service stamp machines
in many post offices. Stamps are also sold in
‘tabacs’ or ‘cafés-tabacs’;
• purchase ready-to-send stamped envelopes
and packaging;
• send an urgent document via ‘Chronopost’
that guarantees to send all post in France
in the space of 24 hours, as well as sending
express post abroad;
• to have your post sent ‘poste restante’;
• send faxes;
• make photocopies (each Post Office is
equipped with a photocopier);
• buy phone cards;
• change currency (in some Post offices);
• send or receive postal orders;
• withdraw money or put it into an account:
you can open a Post Office current account
(‘CCP compte courant postal’) in any Post
office.
• For further information about the different
services that ‘La Poste’ has to offer:
visit www.laposte.fr.
• Many Post offices give you the chance to
create your own e-mail address and to surf
the internet.
Internet
Internet is a public network that enables people:
• To open an e-mail account to send as well
as receive electronic messages around the
world in a few seconds;
• To take part in online ‘chat room’ virtual
discussion groups on various topics;
• Make general enquiries and have access
to all kinds of information;
• To download online files, software, images,
music and other free data;
• To make bank account transactions online.
Many banks have currently set up online
banking services so that clients can check
their accounts, pay bills, etc. There are
now more and more services that can be
purchased online.
• There are currently millions of people
who have access to the system: individuals, small and medium-sized businesses,
associations, schools, universities and governments.
4
Consumerism
January 2002 marked the birth of the
European single currency: the Euro. Consumers
in euro zone countries (excluding Great Britain,
Denmark and Sweden) now all, therefore, use
the same moneyin the fifteen countries which
constituted the Eurozone on 1st January 2008
(out of the twenty seven countries of the
European Union).
French banks
Two of France’s biggest banks, of which
two are among the top ten banks in Europe,
have many branches all over France. They are
currently issuing millions of bank credit cards
to their clients.
Not only can these cards be used to pay
for goods and services in the majority of
shops, but you can use them to withdraw
cash from cash points in banks, Post offices,
train stations, airports, shopping centres and
in some department stores. Annual card fees
range from €15 to €40 depending on whom
you bank with.
In the beginning, cards had magnetic strips
and were called memory cards. Now they
have electronic microchips and are used essentially for payment in replacement of cash but
can also be used for other functions.
Distribution
‘Grandes Surfaces’ and
Department stores
The French buy most of their food and
household goods in ‘grandes surfaces’ (supermarkets).
Department stores sell a very wide range of
clothes, books, hi-fi electrical equipment, and
luxury goods (perfume and cosmetics).
Banking services
All foreign nationals who stay in France for
3 months or longer must open a resident’s
bank account.
For stays of 3 months or less, students can
go to a bank or the Post office to open a bank
account ‘compte chèque postal’ (CCP).
A modest amount of money is needed
to open an account. You can put money
from your family and study grants into your
account, if the student is a grant-holder and
their grant company gives them permission
to do so.
To open a resident bank account in euros,
you need three essential documents:
• A Passport
• A resident’s card
• Proof of a fixed home address (telephone
or electricity bill, rent receipt, housing lease,
etc.).
Once you have opened an account, you will
be given a chequebook and/or a credit card.
Chequebooks are usually free of charge. You
are annually charged anywhere between €15
and €40 depending on the type of card and
who you bank with, for a card that is valid
for two years.
Opening an account is usually free.
However, you do have to pay for some services (for example, to stop your card if and
when lost or stolen or when you would like
to close your account).
You can use bankcards to withdraw money
from all Post offices and bank cash points (even
if it is not the same bank). Cash points provide
around the clock services and they accept
several different cards (“Visa”, “Eurocard”,
etc.). You can use your card to pay for goods
worth around €15 plus in shops.
Consumerism
4
Holiday time in France
Each summer in France, economic activity
slows down. Many shops close in August,
there is less traffic in town, and the motorways
become heavily congested.
It is strongly advised to book train and plane
tickets well in advance.
With 5 weeks paid holiday, 65% of French
people go on holiday while millions of foreign
Mail order shopping
Mail order shopping covers a large part of the
consumer market and sends out catalogues displaying their products at very competitive prices.
You can order goods that will be delivered to
your door via minitel, the web, by telephone
or mail order.
tourists come to France for their holidays,
usually staying in hotels, campsites, or rented
houses.
It is a season that gives a student the opportunity to become a tourist and explore the
town they are staying in and to travel around
France.
Specialised boutiques and shopping
arcades
There are plenty of specialised boutiques and
shopping arcades that sell high quality products
and well-known brands of perfume, clothing,
leisurewear and goods, etc.
Student reductions
Some boutiques and shops have student
reductions from 5 to 10% off their goods.
Useful Information
The Euro
The Treaty of Maastricht of 1992 proposed
the introduction of a single European currency to underpin the economic and monetary union. In 1995 the 15 member states
of the European Union agreed on its name,
the euro. They established the conditions,
the timetable and the terms for the change
to the single currency. The coins and notes
were introduced on 1st of January 2002 in
12 countries of the Eurozone with a period
of simultaneous circulation of the euro with
national currencies.
Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom
have, for the time being, decided to stay outside the Eurozone. The other states which
entered the Union in 2004 (Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic
and Slovakia), as well as Romania and Bulgaria,
members of the EU since 1st of January 2007,
have still to satisfy certain economic criteria
in order to join the Eurozone. However, as
soon as they are ready they will join.
In 2009, sixteen member states made up
the Eurozone: Germany, Austria, Belgium,
Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland,
Luxemburg, Holland and Portugal (from
1st of January 2002), Slovenia (from 1st of
January 2007), Cyprus and Malta (from 1st of
January 2008) and Slovakia (since 2009).
4
Useful Information
A couple of ideas for holidays
• Youth Hostels:
- The ‘Fédération Unie des Auberges de
Jeunesse’, which is a member of the ‘Fédération
Internationale des Auberges de Jeunesse’, who
have 170 hostels in France. A year’s membership costs €11 for under 26’s and €16
for 26+. It is the only card that is valid in
over 4200 hostels abroad. To sign up and to
receive a catalogue or a list of French hostels
and their addresses, contact the FUAJ:
Antenne de Paris
27, rue Pajol
75018 Paris
Tel.: 01 44 89 87 27
www.fuaj.org
- The FUAJ advises you to contact
your country of origin’s youth hostel
association to purchase your card and make
reservations.
• ‘Gîtes’ in France:
Their brochures advertise short breaks,
and propose a large choice of houses or
lodgings (weekly or weekend rentals in a
‘Gîte rural’, overnight stay with breakfast in
guestrooms and occasionally a buffet supper). It is one of the most pleasant ways to
explore France when on holiday and to enjoy
some fresh air.
If you would like to find out more about
‘gites’ and would like to receive a national
or regional catalogue of your choice, please
contact:
‘La Maison des gîtes de France
et du tourisme vert’
56, rue Saint-Lazare,
75439 Paris Cedex 9
Tel.: 01 49 70 75 75
You will find all the necessary information
and more, and you can reserve online at:
www.gites-de-France.com
The international student card
The International student identity card
(ISIC) distributed to more than 4 million
students offers more than 37,000 discounts
and services (8,000 in France) in 118 countries worldwide, on flights, cultural activities,
accommodation, entertainment, etc.
All discounts and services are listed in a
brochure provided when the card is bought
at a cost of €12 or €13 if ordered on line
(€12 + €1 Postage & Packaging) all taxes
included.
To find out more, go to the website:
www.carteisic.com
4
Media, culture and leisure
Media, culture & leisure
The wealth and richness of the French
media, cultural environment and attitude to
leisure are second to none. Outside of a university context that is packed with cultural
and leisure activities, students are often spoilt
for choice.
The French media
Freedom of the press
Freedom of expression was fostered in both
the ‘Déclaration des droits de l’Homme et
du Citoyen’ (Human Rights) in 1789 and the
‘liberté de la presse’ in July 1881, that together
represented a fundamental right that paved the
way to pluralism.
French newspapers
The readership of the daily press has been
declining for the last twenty-five years. In
1973, one-half of the French population read
a newspaper every day or almost every day
compared to one-third today. Nevertheless,
the French regional press has gained a much
larger readership of roughly two out of every
three people.
The Paris region is a strong consumer of
national daily newspapers. Almost 49% of the
population of Ile de France read a national daily
fairly regularly, of which 28% read one almost
every day. Only 37% read regional newspapers.
The specialised mainstream newspapers have
grown considerably and have become more
diversified (press for women, radio and television, sports, etc.).
Press editing firms
Press editing companies that play a key
international role in developing links between
countries and that have had to adapt to the
changes in new technology and computerisation are extremely abundant. There are 300
press-editing firms of which 10 are part of an
international set.
Press agencies
There are 200 or so press agencies in
France (newspapers, photography agencies,
audio-visuel companies). The most important
player in the international arena is the ‘Agence
France Presse’ (who boasts a team of over
200 journalists). The ‘Agence France Presse’
supplies the media with news and photographs
and has a following of thousands of worldwide
subscribers.
The French
audiovisual galaxy
Radio and Television are the main sources
of information and entertainment. On average, the French spend 3 hours in front of the
television each day.
State-run broadcasting sector
This is made up of one organisation,
‘Télédiffusion de France’ (TDF), which
monopolises broadcasting in France.
A National broadcasting group named
‘France Télévision’, which owns ‘France 2’, a
general terrestrial television channel, ‘France
3’ that broadcasts different programmes on
11 regional channels, and ‘France 5’, known
as the channel of ‘savoir et connaissance’ for
intellectuals. ‘Radio France’ brings together
national and regional radio stations, offers its
varied audience interests as different as the
news to culture, music and shows.
4
Radio is also a good way of getting people
together to swap ideas on the airwaves and to
hold live debates. ‘Radio-France Internationale’
(RFI) is the nation’s international radio stations
along with overseas television channels and radio
stations: ‘l’outre-mer français’, ‘Radio-France outremer’ (RFO).
The Public sector also owns part of the
Franco-German channel ‘Arte’ which is
responsible for French programmes broadcast
overseas by ‘TV5’. It is supplemented by the
production company, ‘la Société française de
production’ (SFP) and a preservation company,
vocational training and production, ‘l’Institut
national de l’audiovisuel’ (INA), which is now
responsible for all audio-visual works.
Private radio & television
broadcasting sector
The private sector offers TF1 general
terrestrial television, M6, predominantly a
music channel, Canal +, a channel that you
have to subscribe to, and some 250 specialised channels both French and foreign. These
channels are broadcast by satellite or cable
television and show sport, cinema, documentaries, information, and music. There are ten
regional channels and two peripheral channels,
‘TMC’ and ‘RTL’. There are ten or so production companies that supply both national and
private TV programmes.
In terms of radio stations, the French territory is covered by the big regional and
peripheral radio stations that broadcast to
the nation: ‘Europe 1 & 2, RTL, Radio MonteCarlo, Sud Radio’ and several dozen local FM
radio stations, some of which are united by
a network.
The French digital television service (TNT)
made its appearance on 31 March 2005 and
broadcasts digital TV channels throughout
France. Any home equipped with a standard
aerial and a TNT adaptor can receive 18
free channels and around 10 subscription
channels.
Theatre, cinema and
cultural activities
The Parisian privilege
In Paris, about 250 plays and over 300 films
are shown every week. All provincial towns
are equipped with theatres and organise festivals, exhibitions and all kinds of cultural
activities.
Going to the Theatre
Sixty or so theatres are directly attached to
the Ministry of Culture whilst being subsidised by
the local authorities. So-called ‘scènes nationales’
often have several stages under one roof and
exhibition rooms.
There are also a great deal of small private
theatres that belong to town councils and whose
cultural activities are very active arranging variety
shows, film clubs, and exhibitions each year.
Student reductions
Students are entitled to reduced rates
in many theatres and concert halls. Cheap
tickets for some activities can be purchased
at the CROUS.
Going to the cinema
Going to the cinema remains a favourite
pastime and is extremely popular with the
12/25 years of age group, which makes up
half the audience.
The Cinema industry in France accounts for
almost 4,700 projection rooms, of which 732
are ‘d’art et d’essai’ cinemas (that show old
classics or experimental films) and a thousand
are multi-cinema complexes (3,400 projection
rooms). French films make up a large part of
the cinema industry in France (between 120
and 200 films per year), and yet the industry
still finds room to welcome international
films. New films come out in the cinema
every Wednesday in Paris as well as in the
Provinces.
Film clubs
Film-clubs or‘Ciné-clubs’ can be found in
every town. Other than ‘la Cinémathèque
française’, in the Cinema museum at the Palais
de Chaillot, there is the ‘cinémathèque du
Centre Georges-Pompidou’ (Beaubourg) and
the video library in the forum des Halles.
Student reductions
In the majority of cinemas, students can
benefit from special rates by showing their student card. The giant Paris-based French cinema
companies (UGC, Gaumont, and Pathé) offer
special subscription deals and loyalty cards.
A museum
in each town
Museums can be found in every town and
sometimes even in villages. About 73% of
French people visit at least one museum or one
monument each year. The most visited sights
are the Louvre, the Château de Versailles and
the Georges-Pompidou Centre.
France officially counts 33 national museums, half of which are outside of Paris, and
1,078 museums that are ‘classés ou contrôlés’
by the authorities in France who guarantee
their scientific and cultural quality. These generally belong to the territorial communities.
However, alongside these ‘quality assured’
museums, you will find several other establishments (over 8,000 and growing) that are
4
managed by various ministries, associations,
municipalities, institutions or private citizens.
Of note are the ‘Musées de la Ville de Paris’
(Museums of the City of Paris), the Natural
History museum, Army and Navy museums,
the ‘Centre national d’Art et de Culture
Georges-Pompidou’ (Beaubourg) that accommodates the ‘musée national d’Art moderne’
(national museum of modern art), Science and
Technology museums, ‘La Cité des Sciences et
de l’Industrie de la Villette,’ and ‘Futuroscope’
in Poitiers.
Monuments and sites of
archaeological interest
A number of sites of archaeological
interest and historical monuments cling to
France’s ‘patrimoine’. 25,200 monuments are
protected and 3,700 monuments are listed
with a preservation order on them (4,260 of
which are churches and 1,470 are ‘châteaux’).
Thousands of other monuments and sites are
listed but are often in ruins.
Complete lists of all French cultural events
and activities are available on the ministry
of Culture’s portal at www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/actualites/arts/index.htm
Libraries and sources
of information
Public libraries
There are many libraries in all French towns,
including about 4,170 public libraries, and a
hundred or so rural community libraries with
a mobile library service, ‘bibliobus’, and several
thousands of private libraries. 6 million French
people are members of a library.
Specialised libraries
Students have access to the libraries in their
colleges and universities to help them with
4
their research modules. There are additionally
84 university or inter-university libraries and
a dozen or so other libraries and specialist
documentation centres, together with data
banks.
The ‘Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris’
library is open everyday to overseas students:
- mid-October to mid-June, Monday to Friday
from 10am to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday from
1pm to 7pm.
- mid-June to mid-October, Monday to Friday
10am to 7pm.
Five specialised libraries (Germany,
Argentina, Spain, Japan, and Mexico) are also
open to students. For information, visit:
www.ciup.fr/bibliotheque.htm.
The Grand Parisian libraries
Founded in 1386, the ‘Bibliothèque Nationale’
(la BN) in Paris has over 13 million volumes plus
all the ‘presse-information-publications’ for over
two centuries (all publications there-fore are protected from copyright). ‘La Bibliothèque Nationale
de France’ (BNF) has been open to the public on
the Tolbiac campus since December 1996. After
much expansion, it now provides a reading area
that can accommodate 1,600 people and holds
180,000 volumes, 2,500 of which are periodicals.
The collections come with ‘microformes’; there is
a digital library and an audio-visual and multimedia
library. Students have free access to the BNF
where they can look at reference catalogues in the
library, such as the ‘BN-Opale’ (which lists 2 million
books, periodicals and computer file references),
‘BN-Opaline’, etc.
The research library offers 2,000 work booths
for accredited readers. Specialised department
collections including maps, prints, photographs,
manuscripts, coins, medals, antiques, music, and
performing arts will remain at ‘Richelieu’ where
they will be on show again.
For further information, see www.bnf.fr
The Georges-Pompidou Centre’s public
information library, a non-circulating library
that requires no subscription, is very popular
with students.
To learn more, visit www.bpi.fr on the
internet.
Since 1945 the library and the ‘Documentation
française’ centres provide the public and especially
students with several hundred thousand different
works, studies, periodicals, official publications,
documentation files, etc. on political, social and
economic current affairs in France and the rest
of the world.
To learn more, visit www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr.
Boarding houses,
lodgings & youth
hostels
MJC centres (Youth & culture centres)
To take part in cultural activities outside
of university, the ‘Maisons des Jeunes et de la
Culture’ (MJC), which are open to everyone, are
financed by the Ministry of youth and sports and
local authorities. They organise a wide range of
activities for students.
MJC centres double up as good places to
meet people and indulge in leisure activities.
Joining in with the activities (workshops, photo
developing, literature or artistic activities such
as theatre, conferences, film clubs, and exhibitions) at the MJC centres enables students to
see where their strengths lie. There are 600
MJC centres among
11 regional confederations and the MJC
Confederation in France (CMJCF: 900).
For further information or to obtain a list of
the MJC regional centres, contact the FFMJC:
15, rue la Condamine
75017 Paris
Tél.: 01 44 69 82 25
www.ffmjc.org
or the CMJCF:
168 bis, rue Cardinet
75017 Paris
Tél.: 01 44 85 29 50
www.mjc-cmjcf.asso.fr
‘Les Foyers d’éducation populaire’
There are 22 regional unions, 102 departmental federations, and 33,000 affiliated associations
or ‘foyers d’éducation populaire’. Their aim is to
help students meet people and meet personal
goals through activities.
For all enquiries and to obtain a list of regional
‘foyers’, please contact the ‘Ligue Française de
l’enseignement et de l’éducation. Permanente’:
3, rue Récamier,
Tél.: 01 43 58 95 00
www.laligue.org
4
Sport & keeping fit
Taking part in sporting activities
One out of two French people engage in
sport activities from time to time. One out of
ten of them train regularly, and over 6 and a
half million French people are signed up with
the Olympic Federation, of which there are
almost 2 million participants in football and
1.3 million in tennis.
Outside of free sport at university (see
Chapter 3, p. 91), there are towns with public
and private swimming pools, sports halls and
fitness equipment that students can use for
a reduced rate. Thousands of local sporting
associations offer students the chance to train
and to use their communal facilities. Further
information and addresses are available from
the Town hall.
Sports associations
In France there are approximately 700,000
sports associations. 60,000 are created each
year. A lot of them are sports-orientated
(over 20% are football associations), but there
are others that are oriented toward culture,
science, leisure, collectors, games, mutual aid,
etc.
5
STUDYING
IN
FRANCE
French higher education system
A few guidelines ..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 132
Establishments & disciplines
5
Short courses . .
Long courses. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 135
p. 135
Short vocational courses
(BTS, DUT, DEUST)
• ONISEP and CampusFrance. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Higher Education in France” organigram . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 139
p. 140
Studying at a French university
Broad area study subjects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The LMD system.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• The Licence.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Choosing a licence course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Choosing a masters course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Postgraduate research (‘troisième cycle - Doctorat’) ..
Vocational or specialised courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• ‘Licence professionnelle’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• MIAGE, MSG and MST courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• IUP vocational courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• IUFM’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3rd cycle vocational courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• ‘Le Magistère’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• ‘Le DRT’.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Engineering courses at university. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• The Master Pro (former DESS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Health Studies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Studying at one of France’s ‘Grandes Ecoles’
Preparation classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Preparation courses in Literature. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Preparation courses in Economics and Business.
• Preparation courses BCPST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Preparation courses in Science-related subjects.
The ‘Ecoles Normales Supérieures’. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engineering schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Business and management schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other ‘Grandes Ecoles’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other prestigious institutions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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p. 158
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p. 167
Courses in vocational subjects
Social work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aeronautical studies.. . . . . . . . . . .
Agriculture, ‘agri-business’. . . . . .
Paramedical studies. . . . . . . . . . . .
Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creative arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fine arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Professions in cultural heritage. .
Performing arts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Music and opera studies.. . . . . . . .
Dance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio-visual arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Images and Sound.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Journalism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interpreting and translation. . . . .
Other disciplines.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Agricultural Studies. . . . . . . . . . . .
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Making the most of Your studies
Your study plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing courses .. . . . . . . . . . . .
Finding the right path of study .
European programmes. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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5
Studying in France
The French
higher education system
A few guidelines…
A history of French
education
An institution of old tradition
After the Revolution in 1789, at a time when
many public higher education and researchrelated establishments were built, such as ‘le
Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers’
(CNAM) in 1794 and ‘le Musée d’Histoire
Naturelle’, many schools were opened as well
such as ‘Polytechniques’ and in 1794, ‘Ecoles
normales supérieures’ . This was done in order
to accommodate the needs of a growing industrial society.
Over the course of the 19th century, higher
education branched out into three domains:
• ‘Les facultés’ (founded by Imperial demand,
in conjunction with the ‘université de France’
in 1808). Napoléon I used the term ‘université’ to represent all French higher education
establishments, including: ‘lycées’ (colleges),
secondary schools, and schools specialising
in training teachers, lawyers and doctors. A
Headmaster and a Ministry in Paris governed
all of the above schools.
• Specialised schools or ‘grandes écoles’ that
were both educational and research-related
and where admission was based on entry
exam (Ecole normale supérieure, Ecole
polytechnique, Ecole des sciences politiques,
created in 1871, etc.).
• Prestigious schools of scientific study (Collège
de France, Ecole pratique des Hautes
études, Muséum d’histoire naturelle, etc.)
that were not reserved for a select few
students, but that prided themselves on their
excellence in laboratory research.
The current education system
The old system was maintained until 1968.
After the student protests in France in May
1968, the 12th November 1968 act called for
restructuring of the French education system,
with the exception of the ‘Grandes écoles’.
132 - I’m going to france
Faculties were closed down and replaced by
universities to make a connection between
teaching and research. From then on, these multi-disciplinary establishments therefore had the
task of coming up with an original way of combining the three components of study: knowledge,
observation and reflection. Universities gained
independence and opened their doors to everyone, including outsiders.
The 26th January 1984 Higher Education act
laid the legal foundations on which the organisation of today’s legal system for state-run higher
education is currently based.
The State Higher Education Service encompasses all of the post-baccalaureate courses
in universities and schools. It is associated with
various ministries Higher Education and Research,
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and
Sports, the Arts, and Defence). Like the 1968
education act, it was assigned the mission of
developing courses on a cultural and vocational
level, to promote knowledge, culture and good
international relations. It based itself on the basic
principals that were defined in the 1968 act:
autonomy, involvement and multi-faculty learning
whilst adding a new dimension: ‘vocationalisation’
or vocational training.
In order to cater to the increase in demand
(student numbers) for higher education, a new
contracting policy was decided upon by higher
education establishments and the Ministry of
Education, Higher Education and Research’s
administrative body . Through negotiations
with the government, universities and ‘Grandes
écoles’ created four-year contracts that outlined
the missions set by the education system and the
course orientation that was defined by the State.
Each establishment had to define the main points
of their contract, whilst considering:
• its national and international ranking;
• t he increase in the number of students and
its consequences on the courses offered
(diversity, teaching methods, in-house training, vocational training, helping students to
find work experience, etc.);
The French higher education system
A few guidelines…
• Objectives for improving students’ quality
of life;
• Objectives for a national and international
scientific policy;
• Conditions for better organisation of
courses and research into winning combinations of skills.
The ‘contracting’ policy was supported by
more self-governed establishments and is destined to favour the creation of courses that provide students with original skills and initiatives.
U3M plan
Evolution of the current situation made way
for a new plan for the development of higher
education and research, otherwise known as
‘Université du troisième millénaire’ (U3M).
The plan defines the higher education systems’
priorities and the main ideas of their future
projects, including:
• Improving the running of all establishments,
whilst encouraging different organisations
to work together;
• Promoting open-mindedness and international mobility;
• Developing new Information Technology systems ‘nouvelles technologies d’information
et de communication’ (NTIC);
• Developing research.
Funding of the U3M plan will be provided by
the ‘Contrat de Plan Etat – Région’ for the 20002006 period.
Even though student numbers have evened
out, the French higher education system is going
to have to face up to new challenges. These new
5
challenges include the deployment of teaching
staff over the next fifteen years, international
competition in terms of research and courses on
offer, and the development of new Information
Technology systems. These three factors will
play a decisive role in the evolution of academic
organisation and research in higher education.
Perspectives
Since the appeal addressed to the Sorbonne
in 1998 by the four ministers of higher education
of Germany, Italy, Great Britain and France and
the conferences in Bologne (1999) and Prague
(2001), 32 European countries have since started
construction on a European centre for higher
learning, or ‘espace européen de l’enseignement
supérieur’.
Based on the mutual recognition of training quality and diplomas of different national
systems, European harmonisation of diplomas
implies:
• accreditation of education according to a
system of credits or ECTS (European Credit
Transfer System) that can be transferred from
one establishment to another; each course
is weighted with credits that the student
can obtain in one university or even several
different universities;
• Organisation of education in semesters and
instructional units (unités d’enseignements
or UE);
• A plan of advanced studies based on 3 levels of diplomas according to the “L.M.D”
framework: Licence (Bac + 3), Masters
(Bac +5), Doctorate (Bac +8). The licence
is accredited with 180 credits (6 semesters
of 30 credits), the Masters with 120 additional credits (4 semesters of 30 credits)
or 300 credits for the complete curriculum
5
Studying in France
available in two avenues, the professional
Masters and the research Masters, which
leads to the Doctorate, accredited with
120 credits. However, the national diplomas such as the DEUG, the DEUST and
the DUT will continue to be issued at the
intermediate level of 120 credits. Likewise,
the Maîtrise will still be issued after 60 postlicence credits;
-Extended procedures for accrediting
professional (VAE) background that henceforth will take into consideration a candidate’s past work experience. For example,
this procedure allows for the issuance of
a complete diploma on the basis of work
experience alone, presupposing the approval
of a duly mandated committee.
Adopting a harmonised European framework
for advanced education in France implies a modular educational structure aiming to:
• guarantee more flexible, diversified, and multi-disciplinary educational paths according to
the goals and profiles of the students;
• facilitate the process for directional
progression or re-direction by supporting a
structure that provides pathways between
different types of curriculum;
• integrate all forms of mobility between
educational and professional activities by
accrediting experience acquired, and among
countries and educational establishments by
accrediting various types of curriculum;
• to ensure that a diploma will be perfectly
recognisable from one institution to another
and from one country to another, it will be
accompanied by a diploma supplement, or a
descriptive appendix that details the instructional content and aptitude acquired by the
student throughout his university career.
- This reform of the so-called “L.M.D.” is
implemented through a contract that each
institution of higher education will sign with
the Government: the institutions are asked
to work together to spell out their strategies
and to define the course of education within
each discipline as well as the content to be
offered and diplomas to be conferred.
The law concerning the freedom and
responsibilities of the universities
Law nº2007-1199 of 10 August 2007 concerning the freedom and responsibilities of the universities (known as the LRU law or the Pécresse
law), initially entitled the law supporting the
organisation of the new university, and generally
called the Law on the autonomy of universities, is a French law brought in by the Fillon
Government. The bill was announced at the end
of May 2007, and drawn up in June 2007, with the
social partners and organisations representing
students, by the Minister of Higher Education
and Research, Valérie Pécresse. For the French
executive, the law sought three objectives: “to
make university attractive”, “to end the paralysis
of the current governing system” and “to give
research in French universities an international
profile”.
The first of these objectives tackled the problem of the number of students dropping out of
diploma courses after the first year, and the
length of time it took to find employment after
completing a diploma; the second dealt with
the role of mediation previously devolved to
university principals; and the third, the position
of French establishments in international rankings. This new law set up a new organisation
for the universities within one year, and ensure
more automomy within a maximum of five years.
Equally, it changed the system of governing the
university (the roles of central councils and of
university principals) and put into place a system
for pre-enrolment for university. It also included
other measures related to universities.
5
Studying in France
establishments
& disciplines
The French Higher Education system is noted
for its large variety of universities, schools
and colleges, for which the organisation and
entry requirements vary according to the type
of establishment and the kind of course you
want to study.
The higher education system is based on a
complementary three-tier system comprising:
• Universities, state and public multi-faculty
colleges that offer diverse, broad area and
specialised subject courses of all levels based
on a programme of three successive years
of study or ‘cycles’. Universities are open
to students who have a ‘baccalaureate’ or
its considered equivalent, and there is no
selection process.
• ‘Grandes écoles’ (of Science especially),
Technology and Business studies offer students a high level of specialised study that
is geared towards a specific profession.
Applicants are subjected to a strict selection process. ‘Grandes écoles’ are either
run by the state or are public fee-paying
establishments. They report to the Ministry
for Higher Education and Research, or other
Ministries (Food, Agriculture and Fisheries,
Health and Sports, Defence, Economy,
Finance and Industry).
• Specialised schools that cover a wide range of
vocational courses and that offer courses that
are related to a specific profession: Acting,
Nursing, Journalism, etc.
There are numerous course possibilities in
terms of level and length of study. There
are specialised state schools, ‘consular’
schools, which are financially dependent on
the Chambers of Trade & Industry, as well
as public fee-paying schools.
All three establishments offer students both
short and long higher education courses.
Short courses
Short courses range from 2-3 years and are
mostly concerned with industrial, tertiary and
paramedical fields. The following programmes
are diploma courses:
• The ‘Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie’
(DUT) is a two-year programme taught
in one of the ‘Instituts Universitaires de
Technologie’ (IUT) that are part of the universities. Admissions are subject to a selection process.
• ‘Brevet de Technicien Supérieur’ (BTS) is
a two-year programme that is taught at a
‘Sections de Techniciens Supérieurs’ (STS)
in further education colleges; candidates
are admitted on the basis of their application form.
• ‘Diplôme d’Etudes Universitaires Scientifiques
et Techniques’ (DEUST) is offered as a twoyear training course in some universities
and is designed to prepare students for the
world of work. Admissions are subject to
a strict selection process.
Long courses
Long university courses
Universities offer two types of courses that
are based on either broad area subjects or core
subjects, which include traditional university
subjects such as Art, Law, Literature, Languages,
Medicine, Science, Socio-economic and Social
Sciences. Specialised subject courses include a
variety of fields such as Business and Management
studies and Information Technology, etc.
National diploma-awarded studies are
divided into three successive levels of study
or ‘cycles’ .
In addition to the qualifications that are
5
Studying in France
awarded by the Minister of Higher Education
and Research, universities offer students the possibility to take qualifications that are awarded by
and are unique to universities otherwise known
as a ‘Diplôme d’Université’ (DU) or certificates
(like the MS).
Course subjects at
the ‘Grandes Ecoles’
There are different types of ‘grandes écoles’
that each work within their own specific legal
framework. For example, Ministry-governed
(Higher Education and Research, Food,
Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and Sports,
Defence, Economy, Finance and Industry)
institutes or higher education colleges, ‘consular’ schools that are financially dependent on
a Chamber of Commerce & Industry (‘CCIChambre de Commerce et d’Industrie’) and
higher education colleges.
The course subjects on offer in these
establishments are extremely diverse. They
mainly include:
• Long Science and Technology-related
courses, general and more specialised
subjects that are taught at the ‘grandes
écoles’ of Science, which award students
with engineering diplomas qualifications after
consulting the ‘Commission des Titres’
who work with the ‘Ecoles Normales
Supérieures’ (ENS).
• Literature and science-related four-year
courses that are offered in the ‘Ecoles
Normales Supérieures’ (ENS).
• Business and Management studies in the
‘grandes écoles’ of business. A lot of the
State-recognised schools run diploma
courses validated by the Ministry of
Higher Education and Research. The ‘CGE’
‘Conférence des Grandes Ecoles’ award
schools with what is called a ‘label’.
• Instituts d’Etudes Politiques (IEP or ‘Sciences
Po’). There are nine of these schools in
total, the most well known school being
the Paris-based IEP, that all offer high level
study programmes that last for four-five
years, after which students can specialise
in one subject (Civil service, Economics
and Finance, Economic and Social Policy,
International relations).
The ‘Grandes Ecoles’ are particularly noted
for their strict selection process, via an entrance
examination for baccalaureate, ‘classe préparatoire’ or university ‘DU’-‘Diplôme Universitaire’
students. They are not only renown for the
five to six year multi-faculty courses that they
provide, but also for the close working relations that they maintain with industry for training and research purposes. Their international
relations are becoming more and more widely
recognised.
The Grandes Ecoles also offer other courses
such as doctorates, MBAs, MS (Specialist
Masters), Masters Pro, etc.
5
Studying in France
Short professional
training courses
These courses last two to three years and
correspond to ‘premier cycle’ or first level (two
years) or ‘second cycle’ (three years). They are
reserved for post-baccalaureate students or
equivalent qualification and essentially concern
the production and service sectors.
The short courses on offer are preparations
for the following diplomas:
‘Le BTS’
The BTS ‘Brevet de Technicien Supérieur’
is a two-year full-time programme of study
that is taught at STS departments ‘Sections
de Techniciens Supérieurs’ in State or Public
‘lycées’ (further education/sixth form colleges).
Specialised courses are vocational and geared
towards specific professions.
The BTS course includes an eight to twelveweek work placement that counts as an integral
part of the course. There are about a hundred
different ‘Technicien Supérieur’ specialist courses
in agriculture (over a quarter), Business Studies,
Economics, Management, Science and Industry,
services and areas of Paramedical studies.
Applications are assessed via a strict selection
process from February during the students’ year
in ‘classe terminale’ (upper-sixth).
For further information about specialist courses and establishments,
the ONISEP has a good web site:
www.onisep.fr or the CampusFrance
website: www.Campusfrance.org
‘Le DUT’
A broad-based technology course, the
DUT ‘Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie’
prepares students for a career in technology, in some areas of the industry and service
sectors and in technical research. This high-level
technician diploma programme is a two-year
post-baccalaureate course and is taught in IUT’s
‘Instituts universitaires de technologie’, which are
part of universities.
This course entails a lot of time in lessons,
which are divided up into course units or UE
study modules (‘Unité d’Enseignement’) and covers a number of subjects. Diplomas are awarded
to students on the basis of their overall marks
(and any work placements undertaken for 10
weeks or graded work projects). Applications are
assessed via a selection process from February
during the student’s year in ‘classe terminale’.
There are 25 DUT courses, with over thirty
options, which are taught in about one hundred
IUT’s in France.
To find out more about DUT courses
and the IUT’s that offer them, consult the
ONISEP website at www.onisep.fr
or the CampusFrance website:
www.Campusfrance.org
or the Ministry of Education’s website at
www.sup.adc.education.fr/iutlst.
‘Le DEUST’
The DEUST course ‘Diplôme d’Etudes
Universitaires Scientifiques et Techniques’
lasts two years and provides students with
specialised training that prepares them for the
world of work. Over 100 specialist DEUST
courses are on offer, and universities pride
themselves on their close links with the local
and regional industry.
5
Studying in France
Admission procedures vary from one university to another. In fact, students are admitted when they obtain their baccalaureate, on
presentation of an application file, and by other
selection tests if necessary.
For further information, visit www.onisep.fr or the CampusFrance
website: www.Campusfrance.org
Continuing study after
a BTS, DUT, or DEUST
On the whole, after a DEUST course, students
are ready to enter the world of work.
With a BTS or a DUT, students can continue
study. They can either:
a) Enrol on a complementary BTS or DUT
course. These courses cover a variety of
different fields (mainly tertiary and
industry sectors) and allow students to
specialise in one particular profession or an
additional subject, for example after a DUT,
a student could take the DNTS diploma
course ‘Diplôme National de Technologie
Spécialisée’).
b) Take a vocational course at university: MST
‘Maîtrise de Sciences et Techniques’, MSG
‘Maîtrise de Sciences de Gestion’ or a training course at an IUP ‘Institut Universitaire
Professionnalisé’. For these courses, students
are admitted via a selection process and they
are open to DUT, DEUG / BTS students.
‘La Licence professionnelle’, this new course
enables students with “bac + 2” level studies to
study one of the available subjects in order to
obtain a different qualification or simply to put
them in better stead of finding employment.
It is also possible to take a broad range of
study options at university, but DUT and BTS
students may not necessarily be directly admitted
into the ‘licence’ programme. Each individual university decides into which level of study students
may be admitted.
c) Business schools and some Engineering
schools have similar admissions systems,
whereby DUT and some BTS students must
sit for an entrance examination.
Major areas of study available in IUT
DUT by specialty
• Biological engineering
• Chemistry
• Chemical engineering, Process engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical and industrial information sciences
engineering
• Mechanical and Production engineering
• Thermal and Energy Engineering
• Telecommunications and network engineering
• Hygiene, safety, environment
• Information systems
• Industrial engineering and Maintenance
• Physical Measures
•C
ommunication services and networks
•M
aterials Sciences and engineering
•B
usiness administration
•O
rganisation and production engineering
• S tatistics and data information processing
•M
arketing techniques
• L ogistical and transport management
• Information, communication
• L aw
• S ocial Sciences
•A
dministrative and Business Management
•M
etrology quality control
Higher education:
Short vocational courses
5
Useful information
‘Office National d’Information sur les Enseignements et les Professions’ (ONISEP)
The ONISEP is a French state-governed administrative organisation that is directed by the under
the joint control of the Minister for National
Education and the Minister for Higher Education
and Research.
It works alongside universities, administrative
bodies, professions and co-operative organisations. The ONISEP’s mission is to set up and
make information, guidance and advice available
to all users.
Thirty regional representative offices can be
found in all faculties to provide a variety of information services that are tailored to each region.
For student information and guidance, the
ONISEP offers a selection of products for a wide
range of people, including:
• Guides: a collection of vocational literature that
gives students the ‘low down’ on job marketrelated technical and economical evolution and
on the different professions and their required
qualifications;
• Fact files - practical guides that provide the
answers to the major questions surrounding
areas of study, work, etc.
• Post-study prospects: A review for college
and university students about employment,
professions, and training courses. The answers
to the most frequently asked questions about
post-baccalaureate study, each profession (job
profiles, reports, interviews);
• Infosup’(Information database): provides students with information on higher education
study with a view to helping them plan their
career path.
The above publications are available in bookshops within Paris and the Provinces. To find
out more about regional ONISEP offices and
bookshops you can call: 01 64 80 38 00.
You can order copies of their publications online at the ONISEP web site: www.onisep.fr.
This website also provides further information
about higher education courses in France by level
of study or establishment.
The CampusFrance Agency
Committed to promoting international
university and academic mobility, the
CampusFrance Agency operates under the
aegis of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and
Europe and the Ministries for Higher Education
and Research, Immigration, Integration
and National Identity and International
Development.
The role of CampusFrance is to raise the
profile of the French higher education system
around the world, and to offer students from
other countries a system of support to help
them achieve their goal of studying in France.
CampusFrance provides support in the student’s home country and in France; from the
very first information about French universities, throughout the course of study and right
up until the student’s return home.
The Agency works in partnership with all
of France’s higher education institutions: its
235 institution strong membership includes
almost every single university, grande école,
business school and engineering school in
the country.
CampusFrance also has 113 Centres and
14 offices in 88 countries worldwide. These
‘CampusFrance Centres’ employ almost 250
people, and are intended to provide information and assistance to foreign students
interested in pursuing higher education in
France, from the very first request for information right up to their enrolment at a French
university.
The CampusFrance Agency also runs an international website – campusfrance.org – complemented by 50 region-specific sites in a total
of 26 languages. The site provides details
of the whole range of higher education on
offer in France, through effective and easy
to use information tools. It is through these
local sites that the Agency offers access to
the online registration system for university applications, which is now compulsory
and administered by the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs in thirty countries:
5
Studying in France
5
Studying in France
Studying
at a French university
As universities are constantly evolving to
suit the trends in higher education, they have
to be able to offer students a wide variety
of courses. Alongside more traditional study
programmes, they have developed an array of
vocational and specialist courses. For example,
a specialist course such as Healthcare studies (Medicine, Pharmacy, Ondontology) is only
offered at university.
University status
There are 85 universities in France including
3 INP’s or ‘Instituts Nationaux Polytechniques’
that are classed as scientific, cultural and vocational establishments and are usually large
structures that have their own campuses.
Universities are multidisciplinary institutions that can bring together very diverse
components. They often join forces with
institutes, affiliated schools, laboratories and
research centres as well IUT’s (see beginning
of chapter) and IUP’s ‘Instituts Universitaires
Professionnalisés’.
Universities are multi-faculty establishments,
which are each made up of UFR ‘Unité de
Formation et de Recherche’ subject departments (Creative Arts, Literature, Law, Medicine,
Science, etc). Each university department determines its status and structure.
IUFM’s (Instituts universitaires de Formation
de Maîtres) are also associated with universities.
IUFM’s began training future public primary and
secondary teachers in 1991.
University qualifications
Unlike national degrees, the DU or ‘Diplôme
d’Université’, is only recognised by the
universities who award it. These courses cover
numerous areas of study and course levels (for baccalaureate level, bac + 2, bac + 3, bac + 4, etc).
Long university
courses
When applying for university, students must
choose a discipline (Art, Literature, Science,
Languages, Law, etc.) that is administered by a
UFR. In order to make the right choice, students
are advised to find out as much as possible
about the course, options, specialist subjects,
and procedures for switching disciplines. The
SCUIO or ‘Services Communs d’Information
et d’Orientation’ in all universities give out brochures and booklets with information about
courses and the general running of each university. Students can go to their offices all year
round for relevant information or to speak to
an advisor. A list of different universities’ SCUIO
offices can be found in the Index (see ‘useful
addresses’ at the back of this brochure). You can
also look on the SCUIO appendices p.200.
To find out more, visit the website of the
Ministry for Higher Education and Research:
www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr
or you may look on the individual universities’ websites (see Appendices p. 200) or
CampusFrance: www.campusfrance.org
Broad area study
subjects
Organisation of university education
University study usually consists of three to
eight years of study after the baccalaureate.
5
Studying in France
The LMD System
Licence-Master-Doctorat (LMD)
The new European system organises diplomas
based on 3, 5 and 8 years of Higher Education, in
the form of European credits which can be accumulated. The “Grandes Ecoles” are also involved
in this initiative, particularly the engineering and
business and management schools.
The aims of LMD are:
• to enable European equivalence
• to facilitate student mobility
• to make diplomas more meaningful in the
workplace
The LMD enables:
• multidisciplinary paths of study
• personalised educational paths
• recognition of the diplomas at international
level
The diplomas consist of instructional units
(unités d’enseignement or UE) each with a value
in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
related to the student’s work.
• The credits can be accumulated and transferred from one pathway to another.
• Training is organised in semesters (one semester corresponds to several UE = 30 credits.
The LMD reforms for Masters degrees have
been in place since September 2004.
3 levels: LMD or 3, 5, 8:
• Licence in 3 years (L1, L2, L3)
Bac+ 3 = 180 ECTS
• Master in 2 years (M1, M2)
Bac+ 3 = 300 ECTS
•Doctorat in 8 years, Bac+ 8
ECTS Credits: a European measure of student
work. The diplomas consist of Instructional Units
(UE) each of which has a value in European
credits.
•The credits can be accumulated and transferred from one pathway to another.
•Training is organised in semesters
(one semester = several UE = 30 credits)
The Licence
The licence is a 6 semester course and leads to
180 ECTS credits (30 credits per semester).The
first semester should be regarded as a period of
welcome, initiation and gradual acclimatisation to
university methods to ease the transition from
school to university, to help avoid early drop
outs and encourage success. It introduces students to documentary research methods and
the creation of structured learning; the 2nd and
3rd semesters concentrate on teaching the fundaments of a the discipline and the remaining
semesters involve further study in the discipline
with more specialised teaching.
The licence can be mono or multi-disciplinary, general, applied or professional.
The LMD pathway offers a qualification at
licence level; this option meets student needs
for professional integration. This aspect of the
LMD pathways is reinforced by the development
of Professional Licences.
How to choose the
right ‘Licence’
There are 9 DEUG subjects, of which five
have different mentions. There are also several
multi-disciplinary courses (English Literature,
Literature, Art History, etc.).
5
LICENCE
AES (Administration Economique
et Sociale)
• AES/ General & Territorial Administration
• AES/ Business Administration &
Management
• AES/ Social Development Studies
• AES/ Human Resources
• AES/ Business and International Affairs
• AES/ Economic Techniques & Management
• AES/ Economics and Socio-economic
Science
LAW & POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Law
• Public Administration
• Political Science
ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT
• Economics
• Economics with Analysis & Economic
Policy
• Economics with International Economics
• Economics with Money & Finance
• Economics with Labour Economics &
Human Resources
• Economics with Industrial Economics
• Economics with Economics and Business
Management
• Economics with Economic Techniques &
Management
• Economics with Socio-economic Science
• Economics with Econometrics
CREATIVE ARTS & CULTURAL
STUDIES
• Archaeology
• Applied Art
• Art & Design
• Arts & Design with History of Art
• Performing Arts
• Performing Arts with Dance
• Performing Arts with Cinema studies and
Visual Arts
• Performing Arts with Theatre Studies
• Cultural project and activities
• Art History
• Art History with Archaeology
• Music
LITERATURE AND LANGUAGES
• Literature
• Modern Literature
• Modern Literature with French as a
Foreign Language
• Modern Literature with General &
Comparative Literature
• Modern Literature with Regional Language
& Culture
• Linguistics
• Linguistics with French as a Foreign
Language
• Linguistics with Language Data Processing
• LLCE ‘Langues, Littératures et Civilisations
Etrangères’
LITERATURE AND LANGUAGES
(continuation)
• LLCE / French as a Foreign Language
Each licence ‘LLCE’ is based on one language
• LLCE / Regional Languages and Culture
• LLCE / General & Comparative Literature
• LLCE / Language Data Processing
• LEA ‘Langues Etrangères Appliquées’
(two foreign languages)
• Media & Communication Studies
• Regional Languages & Culture
SOCIAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC
SCIENCE
• Town & Country Planning
• Archaeology
• Archaeology with History of Art
• Ethnic Studies
• Geography
• Geography with Town & Country Planning
• Geography with Environmental Science
• Geography with History
• History
• History with Archaeology
• History with Geography
• History of Art
• History with Archaeology
• History with Regional Languages & Culture
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Educational/Curriculum Studies
• Sociology
5
Studying in France
LICENCE (continued)
THEOLOGY
• Catholic Studies
• Protestant Studies
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
I – MATHEMATICS
• Mathematics
• Mathematics applied to Socio-economic
Science
II – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• Information Technology
III – MECHANICS
• Mécanics
IV – NATURAL SCIENCES
• Physics
• Physical Science with Applied Physics
• Physical science with Physics
• Physical science with Chemistry
• Chemistry with Physics
• Chemistry
V – ENVIRONMENTAL & PLANETARY
SCIENCE
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Science with Geology &
Biology
VI – LIFE SCIENCES & HEALTHCARE
STUDIES
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Biology with Cell Biology & Physiology
• Biology with Human Biology
• Biology with General Biology &
Environmental & Planetary Science
• Healthcare Sciences and Social Sciences
• Healthcare Sciences and Social Sciences
with Public Health
SPORTS & PHYSICAL
EDUCATION STUDIES STAPS (Sciences and techniques of physical and
sporting activities)
• STAPS
• STAPS with Education & Motivity Studies
• STAPS with Sports Training Studies
• STAPS with Sport Ergonomics and
Motivity Studies
• STAPS with Sports Coaching Studies
• STAPS with adapted Physical activities
TECHNOLOGY
I – ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
• Electronics, Electrical Technology, &
Automated Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
II – MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Manufacturing
III – CIVIL ENGINEERING
• Génie civil
IV – MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
• Génie des procédés
NB: The new licences consist of a progressive and multidisciplinary pathway: first there
are two “general” semesters often with
two majors (eg at Lyon II, “Language and
Communication”), followed by specialisation
in one of the two majors.
For more information, go to the ONISEP
website: www.onisep.fr or the CampusFrance
website: www.campusfrance.org.
5
which replaces the Maîtrise, and DEA and DESS
post-graduaute diplomas, is organised into four
semesters. The last two semesters comprise two
academic paths: the Professional Master and the
Research Master. The Maîtrise diploma will be
maintained during a transition period, and will
be issued at the request of the student when the
60 first credits have been obtained.
Which Master
program?
To obtain the Master, Licence graduates have
to obtain 120 additional credits. This new diploma,
Graduates with a Research Master will be
able to prepare a doctoral thesis corresponding
to 480 credits.
Masters
AES (Administration Economique et
Sociale)
•A
ES/General & Territorial Administration
•A
ES/ Business Administration & Management
•A
ES/Social Development Studies
•A
ES/Human Resources
•A
ES/Business & International Affairs
•A
ES/Economic techniques & Management
Studies
•A
ES/Economic Science and Social Sciences
LAW & POLITICAL SCIENCE
• L aw
• L aw with Private sector Law
• L aw with Public sector Law
• L aw with Business Law
• L aw with Law regarding Legal Professions &
Criminology
• L aw with Social Policy
• L aw with Solicitor’s Law
• L aw with European Law
• L aw with International Law
• L aw with Comparative Law
• L aw with French & Foreign Policy
• L aw with Foreign Policy
•P
olitical Science
BUSINESS & MANAGMENT
STUDIES
• E conomics
• E conomics with Analysis and Economics
Policy
• E conomics with International Economics
• E conomics with Money & Finance
• E conomics with Labour Economics &
Human resources
• E conomics with Industrial Economics
• Economics with Economics and Business
Management
• Economics with Economic techniques &
Management
• Economics with Socio-economic Science
• Econometrics
CREATIVE ARTS & CULTURAL
STUDIES
• Archaeology
• Applied Art
• Fine Art
• Fine Art with Art History
• Performing Arts
• Performing Arts with Dance
• Performing Arts with Cinema studies and
Visual Arts
• Performing Arts with Theatre Studies
• Cultural projects and activities
• Art History
• Art History with Archaeology
• Music
LANGUAGES & LITERATURE
• Literature
• Modern Literature
• Modern Literature with French as a Foreign
Language
• Modern Literature with General &
Comparative Literature
• Modern Literature with Regional Language
& Culture
• Linguistics
• Linguistics with French as a Foreign Language
• L inguistics with Language Data Processing
• L LCE ‘Langues, Littératures et Civilisations
Etrangères’
Each ‘LLCE’ Masters is based on one language
5
Studying in France
Masters (continued)
• L LCE / French as a Foreign Language
• L LCE / Regional Languages and Culture
• L LCE / General & Comparative Literature
• L LCE / Language Data Processing
• L EA (Langues Etrangères Appliquées)
(two foreign languages)
•M
edia & Communication Studies
• F rench, foreign language
•R
egional Languages & Culture
SOCIAL SCIENCES &
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SCIENCE
•T
own & Country Planning
•A
rchaeology
• E thnic Studies
•G
eography
•H
istory
•A
rt History
•P
hilosophy
•P
sychology
•C
ognitive Science
• E ducation/Curriculum Studies
• S ociology
THEOLOGY
•C
atholic Theology
•P
rotestant Theology
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
I - MATHEMATICS
•M
athematics
•M
athematics engineering
•A
pplied mathematics and social sciences
II - COMPUTER SCIENCE
•C
omputer science
III - MECHANICS
•M
échanics
IV - MATERIAL SCIENCES
•P
hysics
•P
hysics / physics and applications
•P
hysical sciences / physics
•P
hysical sciences / chemistry
•C
hemistry - physics
•C
hemistry
•M
aterials sciences
V - EARTH SCIENCES
• E arth sciences
• E arth sciences / geophysics
• E arth sciences / geochemistry
• Earth sciences / general geology and biology
• Environmental sciences
VI - LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES
• Biochemistry
• Biochemistry / molecular and cellular biochemistry
• Biochemistry / structural biochemistry
• Biology
• Biology / cellular biology and physiology
• Cellular biology and physiology / molecular and
cellular genetics
• Cellular biology and physiology / physiology
• Cellular biology and physiology / general biology and Earth sciences
• Biology of populations and ecosystems
• Biology of populations and ecosystems / environment
• Health and social sciences
• Health and social sciences / public health
STAPS (Technical sciences and
physical and sports activities)
• STAPS
• STAPS / education and motor skills
• STAPS / sports training
• STAPS / ergonomics of sports and motor
performance
• STAPS / sports management
• STAPS / adapted physical activities
TECHNOLOGY
I – ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
• Electronics & Electrical and Automated
Technology, micro information processing
and Optronics
• Electronics, Electrical and Automated
Technology, Electrical and Power
Technology
Technology, Automation & information
processing
Technology, Telecommunications
Technology, with Data Processing
II – MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
• Mechanical Technology with Mechanical
Design
• Mechanical Technology with Industrial
Automation
5
Masters (continued)
• Mechanical Technology with Thermal &
Hydraulic Machines
• Industrial Manufacturing
III - CIVIL ENGINEERING
• Civil Engineering with the Study of
Materials, Structures and Works of Art
• Civil Engineering with Building Equipment
IV - MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
•M
anufacturing Systems Engineering with
Biotechnology (Ergonomics) & Bio-industry
• Manufacturing Systems Engineering with
Materials Development Studies
•M
anufacturing Systems Engineering with
Energy Conversion
NB: All of the above Masters courses include
a documentation module.
• Manufacturing Systems Engineering with
Chemical Engineering
Postgraduate
research (‘Third
cycle-Doctorat’)
The 3rd cycle is a period of highly specialised
study and training for research. The first year of
the 3rd cycle is devoted to preparation of a DEA
(Diplôme d’Études Approfondies) and is open to
students who hold a Master.
The doctorat (doctorate)
The doctorat is completed in 3 or 4 years
under the authority of a research director. The
degree is conferred after the student defends
a thesis or a presentation of his entire body of
research work.
With a doctorat, students can apply for a
‘senior lecturer’ position in a university.
Doctorate schools are organised into ten
scientific areas, which are further divided into
disciplines. Doctoral Schools tend to base themselves around laboratories and research teams in
thematic and multi-disciplinary departments.
In addition to their scientific involvement,
these schools can help students discover the
range of job prospects on offer to them by
holding seminars, roundtables to further links
between doctorate students, professionals and
people with doctoral degrees. These schools
federate research teams that are assessed
every four years.
CampusFrance offers a complete catalogue of doctoral schools on its website:
campusfrance.org.
Doctorate schools
Doctorate Studies are research-led courses.
They are conducted in Doctorate schools within
a University and are undertaken by students who
have a Master 2 or its considered equivalent.
Scientific branches of study and disciplines
•M
athematics & their interaction
•P
hysics
•P
lanetary and Space Sciences
•C
hemistry
•B
iology, Medicine & Health Studies
•B
ehavioural Science & Humanities
• S ocial Science
• Engineering Sciences
• Science and Technology of information and
communication
• Agronomy, animal and plant production,
agrifood
• Environment, Energy and natural resources
5
Studying in France
Vocational or
specialised courses
Universities run other vocational courses.
There are several different types of university
courses including:
• The ‘Licence Professionnelle’ (bac + 3);
• Two-year vocational diploma courses;
• IUP ‘Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés’
courses offer students who have been in higher
education for a year a three-year vocational
university course that leads to a ‘Maîtrise’.
• Bac +2 level three-year selective entry courses
that award students with a qualified Engineers’
diploma in university in-house schools that
are on a par with the ‘Ecoles d’Ingénieurs’.
Courses last five years in total;
• the Master Pro (ex-DESS, Diploma of Specialist
Higher Studies)
‘Licence professionnelle’
(Vocational ‘licence’)
This new course (established on 17th
November 1999) was launched at the beginning of the 2000 academic year. The ‘licence
professionnelle’ meets the demand for skills and
knowledge in the work world, and runs courses
that are linked to specific fields such Agricultural
or Industrial Production, the Service Sector,
Services to individuals and Community Service.
It is open to bac + 2 (BTSA, BTS, DUT,
DEUST) students whose educational background
is compatible with the ‘licence professionnelle’.
The main aim of the ‘licence professionnelle’ is
to provide students with a vocational qualification that corresponds to their chosen career.
Successful completion of the course gives students.
The educational year combines theoretical
and practical studies, training in tools and methods, a 12 to 16-week work placement, and
completion of a guided work project. The work
placement and guided work project lead to a dis-
sertation accompanied by an oral presentation.
The possibility of students being able to spend
part of their course abroad indicates that the
‘licence professionnelle’ is branching out on an
international level.
The course also enables students to enrol
more easily at universities overseas.
Shortcuts to ‘bac + 4’ courses
The vocational ‘licence professionnelle’ course
enables students to undertake further study in
an IUP (by enrolling in an ‘ingénieur-maître’
course, an MST course or at an ‘Ecole de
Commerce or Ingénieur’ depending on each
establishment’s entry requirements).
5
‘Licence professionnelle’ course subjects
GRICULTURE, FISHING, FORESTRY,
A
LANDSCAPE GARDENING
• Agronomy
• Agricultural production
• Livestock production
• Natural spaces
• Landscaping
PROCESS PRODUCTION
• Industrial production
• Management of Industrial production
• Industrial information systems and
automation
• Industrial transformations
• Agri-food, food industry
• Biotechnology
• Chemical and pharmaceutical sciences
• Transformation of metals
• Construction materials
• Clothing, fashion and textiles
• Plastics processes and composite materials
• Energy and Climatic Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING,
CONSTRUCTION, LUMBER
• Civil Engineering and construction
• Public works
• Building and construction
• Lumber and furnishings
MECHANICS, ELECTRICITY AND
ELECTRONICS
• Mechanics
• Pluritechnical systems maintenance
• Metallic structures
• Electricity and Electronics
MEDIA & COMMUNICATION
STUDIES
•A
ctivities and techniques of communication
•P
ublishing and writing
• S ound, Image, Multimedia
•D
ocumentation resources and databases
•N
etworks and telecommunications
• Information systems and software
SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS
•H
ealthcare
• S ocial action
•H
otel and tourism
• S ports
•C
ultural and Artistic activities
COMMUNITY SERVICE
• L andscape and urban planning
•D
evelopment and protection of cultural
heritage
• E nvironmental protection
• S ecurity
• L egal activities
For further information about course content
and the universities that run the courses, the
Ministry of Higher Education and Research has
a good web site: www.education.gouv.fr/sup/formation/licencepro.htm
or try the ONISEP’s website:
www.onisep.fr.
TRADE AND MANAGEMENT
• Organisational management
• Logistics
• Marketing
• Insurance, banking, finance
• Human resource management
5
Studying in France
MIAGE, MSG & MST courses (Vocational
masters courses)
These vocational bac + 2 level ‘maîtrise’
courses last two years, which means that the
‘licence’ course is skipped. Admissions are subject to a selection process. The MST course
enables students to specialise in a specific area
of the Production and Tertiary sectors and is
also the follow-up to an IUT course. As a rule,
to be admitted to the course you should have a
‘Certificat Préparatoire’.
The MSG course, which is the equivalent of an
‘Ecole de Commerce’ diploma, offers a programme
of study that covers all aspects of Management:
Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, etc. To register for an MSG course, you should have a CPEG
certificate ‘Certificat Préparatoire aux Etudes de
Gestion’.
As the leading vocational course, the MIAGE
diploma offers a training programme in Information
Technology and Management.
These masters courses that are oriented
towards the job market can be complemented by
a Master or enable students to apply for a place in
business and engineering schools.
IUP vocational courses
IUP departments or ‘Instituts Universitaires
Professionnalisés’ were set up in 1992 to meet
the specific needs of employers and were originally designed to train executives in the Industry
and Tertiary sectors. The university-based IUP
departments are divided between the Secondary
sector (about 175) and the Tertiary sector
(about 160).
The Admission procedure is very selective
and bac + 1 is the required entry level according to each university’s special arrangements,
or bac + 2 level, depending on the diploma that
the student has obtained. The same selection
process applies.
The study programme lasts two to three years
and includes scientific and technical study modules,
a work placement of 19 weeks minimum, as well
as complementary classes (Modern Languages,
Communication Studies, etc.).
IUFM’s
In partnership with the universities, 31 IUFM’s
(Instituts Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres)
prepare students for teacher recruitment competitions for primary and secondary public school
positions. The IUFM ensures that students who
succeed in the competitions receive their initial
professional teacher training.
Admission to an IUFM requires a Masters or
an equivalent diploma. Selection procedures vary
by institution, subject matter and competition.
When they begin their course, students choose
between the 1er degré, which leads at the end
of the first year to the CRPE (Concours de
Recrutement des Professeurs des Écoles) competition for schoolteacher recruitment and the
2nd degré, which includes the CAPES (Certificat
d’Aptitude au Professorat de l’Enseignement
Secondaire) certificate for secondary teaching
aptitude, the CAPET (Certificat d’Aptitude au
Professorat de l’Enseignement Technique) certificate for technical teacher aptitutde, the CAPLP2
(Certificat d’Aptitude au Professorat de Lycée
Professionnel 2e grade) certificate for lycée
teacher aptitude, ou the CAPEPS (Certificat
d’Aptitude au Professorat d’Education Physique
et Sportive) certificate for physical education
teaching.
The studies last two years. The first year , which
is completed both at the IUFM and at university, is
devoted to preparation for the competition. At the
end of the first year’s competition, students acquire
the status of “student-teacher” and begin to collect
remuneration. The second year includes a work
placement (4 to 6 hours of teaching in a classroom). There is no age requirement to register
at an IUFM. Candidates must be European Union
nationals or nationals of a state that participates
in the European Economic Area.
3rd cycle vocational
courses
‘Le Magistère’
The ‘Magistère’ is a three-year university
diploma course (and not a National Diploma).
To be able to apply for this course, students
must have a bac + 2 and take an entrance
examination, or have their application assessed.
The programme combines theory and work
placements.
Students also have the possibility to prepare
National Diplomas, including the Master.
‘Le DRT’
On completion of the DRT ‘Diplôme de
Recherche Technologique’ research diploma,
students reach bac + 6 level. The course consists of technological research projects that are
very much geared towards industry. It is exclusively designed for IUP and Engineering school
students. The DRT programme entails twelve to
eighteen months of vocational training.
Engineering courses at university
95 university-based schools run bac + 5
‘Diplôme d’ingénieur’ courses that are recognised
by ‘la Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur’.
They take students at bac + 2 (mostly) and
bac+4 level, on assessment of application, ‘titres’
and via interview.
As it stands, the rapidly expanding universitybased engineering schools have trained a third of
all qualified engineers.
5
The Master Pro (ex-DESS)
The Master Pro (ex-DESS, Diplôme d’Etudes
Supérieures Spécialisées’) amounts to bac + 5
level study. It is a specialised, two-year vocational
course and is taught in UFR’s or in universityaffiliated institutes (and in certain engineering
schools).
The compulsory work placement of a minimum of three months along with experts as visiting lecturers makes for a very popular course.
The Master is open to “second cycle” students
but it is very difficult to get a place. Depending
on which course you apply for, results, student
motivation and all kinds of entrance tests (written
and oral exams and interviews, etc.) determine
whether you are offered a place.
Students are advised to apply for several
Master courses and to find out about each
university’s different enrolment procedures.
Under the new European structure, the DESS
awards students with a Master Pro.
The high-level vocational university courses,
which provide students with promising job
prospects, cover all sectors of activity.
5
Studying in France
Different Master Pro disciplines
ART – AUDIOVISUAL
• Architecture
• Applied arts
• Plastic arts
• Cinema
• Music, Entertainment, theatre and dance
ELECTRONICS AND AUTOMATIC
LAW
• Public administration
• Banking and finance law
• Community and international law
• Comparative law, foreign law
• Economic law, business law
• Environmental law
• Urban planning law
•C
ommunications, information, and new
technologies law
• Property law
• Tax law
• Real estate and construction law
• Medical law, health law
• Notarial law
• Criminal law, criminal science
• Private law
• Judicial law
• Public law
• Social law, labour law
• Human rights law
CIVIL ENGINEERING
ECONOMICS
• Economic policy and analysis
• Banking
• Local development
• Econometrics
• Agricultural economics, rural economics
• Economics of energy
• Business economics
• Development economics
• Economics and employment
• European and international economics
• Industrial economics
• Monetary and financial economics
• E conomic engineering, economic
intelligence
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION - CULTURE
- MULTIMEDIA
• Archives
• Documentation, scientific and technical
information
• Editing
• Cultural project and equipment
management
• Information and communication
• Journalism
• Multimedia
• Museum Science
• Writing
CONTROL ENGINEERING
ÉLECTRICAL ENGINEERING
ENERGY - ELECTRICITY
MANAGEMENT - BUSINESS
• Business administration and management
• Insurance, actuarial science
• Electronic commerce
• International trade
• Merchandising and marketing
• Accounting
• Consumption
• Management controls, audit
• Distribution
• Management of sanitary and social
activities
• Financial management
• Hotel and tourism
• Real estate
• Marketing
• Human resources
• Management science
• Technical sales
COMPUTER SCIENCE
• Databases
• Software engineering
• Digital Imaging, image processing
• Applied computer science
• Management information systems
• Fundamental computer science
5
Different Master Pro disciplines (continued)
COMPUTER SCIENCE
(continuation)
• Industrial computer science
• Artificial intelligence
• Computer integrated manufacturing
• Networks
• Telecommunications
LITERATURE - LANGUAGES
• French as a foreign language
• Applied foreign languages
• Modern literature
• Language science, linguistics
• Translation, interpretation
MATHEMATICS
• Mathematical engineering
• Applied mathematics
• Statistics, probability
MÉCHANICS
• Aeronautics
• Mechanical engineering
HEALTH
• Ergonomics
• Medicine
• Pharmacy
POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Political science
• Defence
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• Acoustics
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Industrial chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Optics
• Physics
• Materials science
• Remote sensing, cartography
EARTH AND NATURAL
SCIENCES
• Agriculture, agronomics
• Agro-food
• Climatology, hydrology
• Ecology
• Environmental science
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Œnology
• Oceanology
LIFE SCIENCES
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Cellular biology
• Biology of organisms and populations
• Molecular biology
• Plant biology
• Biotechnology
• Genetics
• Biological and Medical engineering
• Microbiology
• Neuroscience
• Nutrition, dietetics
SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES
• Social action
• Development
• Anthropology, ethnology
• Education, didactics
• History, art history
• Psychology
• Clinical and pathological psychology
• Cognitive sciences
• Education sciences
• Social sciences
• Sociology
• Theology
• Urban planning
SPORTS
• Activities and sports equipment
management
There are more than 2000 Master Pro programmes throughout the country.
To learn more, visit the ONISEP website under the heading ‘atlas des formations’ at
www.onisep.fr or www.campusfrance.org
5
Studying in France
Health studies
Health Studies, Pharmacy and Odontology
(Dentistry) are taught at university. Admissions
for these subjects are selective. A very good scientific background is required to pass the end of
first year Medicine and Odontology (specifically
required to study Pharmacy) examination. The
schools that teach Midwifery now also require
passing this examination.
In fact the Ministry of Education determines
the maximum student intake for ‘Deuxième
Cycle’ study in each university. This process
is known as the ‘Numerus Clausus’- restricted
intake. Only 10-15% of PCEM (1st cycle of medical studies, 1st year) students are offered a place
on a second year course. 20% of them are offered
a place in a second year Pharmacy course.
The length of each course (which is also
available in 3 cycles) depends on the discipline:
• 9 years preparation for a DE ‘Diplôme d’Etat’National Diploma) in General Medicine.
• 10 to 11 years (depending on speciality) training to become a Doctor in specialised area
of medicine (DE + DES: ‘Diplôme d’Etudes
Spécialisées’).
• Six years training for a DE in Dental Surgery.
Medicine related
studies
First cycle in medicine related studies
‘Le premier cycle d’études médicales’ (PCEM)
consists of two years general science-based
training. In the fist year, students are taught
Physics, Biophysics, Chemistry, Biology and
Social Sciences. They can also complement these
subjects with either modules such as Anatomy,
Embryology, Histology and Cytology. If the student passes the entrance examination ‘concours’,
they can go on a Nurses’ training work placement in a hospital setting. Students are only
allowed to re-sit their first year once.
In the 2nd year (PCEM 2), students are taught
the same subjects, but more in-depth, as well
as ‘Sémiologie Clinique, Biologique’ and ‘Les
Techniques d’Imagerie Médicale’. Students go
on clinically based work placements in hospital
settings.
The second cycle (DCEM)
The ‘Deuxième cycle des études médicales’
is a four-year programme that consists of 1 year
of training in general medicine with hospital
internships, followed by 3 years of classroom
and hands-on education devoted to Pathology
and Therapeutics, the organisation of Health care
systems, Health care & Treatment, Deontology
and medical responsibility.
To go on to the third cycle, students must
complete the courses, hospital internships,
and an internship with a general practitioner,
complete 36 cycles, and obtain the Certificat de
Synthèse Clinique et Thérapeutique.
The third cycle: residence,
resident medical student studies
‘Le troisième’ cycle is made up of two study
components:
- Residency, which lasts 3 years and on completion, enables students to find employment in
general medicine.
- Residency, which after entrance examination
lasts for 4-5 years, orients students towards
a specialised area of medicine.
After examination (for which candidates’ intake
is decided upon by the Ministry of Education), the
work placement student will be put into one
of the following nine disciplines according to
personal preference and the student’s grades.
Specialised areas of medicine, Public Health,
Work medicine, specialised areas of surgery,
Medical Biology, Anaesthesiology, Surgical resuscitation, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Midwifery,
Medical Gynaecology. The work placement student will prepare the DES ‘diplôme d’études
spécialisées’ over a period of study of 4 to 5
years, depending on the discipline.
The national degree of doctor of medicine is
awarded to students who have submitted a
thesis, but in order to work in the medical
profession, students must have obtained the DES
diploma that states their specific skills. These skills
will enable doctors to register with the ‘Conseil de
l’ordre’ (The French Medical Association).
The third cycle of medical studies is currently being redesigned. It will then last 3 years
Health studies
5
Schéma des études de santé
Source: ONISEP
5
Studying in France
for general medicine. Since 2005 all students,
whether they intend to pursue general or
specialised studies in the future, must sit a
competitive exam (concours).
‘Le DESC’
Two or three-year DESC ‘diplôme d’études
spécialisées complémentaires’ programmes of
complementary study are also open to work
placement students who are reading medicine.
Medical related studies: conditions for
overseas students
There are two conditions as regarding being
able to work in the medical profession in France:
you must have French nationality or be a European
Union citizen with relevant European qualifications
to work in the Medical profession.
As a result overseas students who have medical
qualifications, which allow them to work in the
medical profession in their country of origin, must
study medicine at a French university. They do this
by enrolling in a PCEM 1 course, with an entrance
exam at the end of the 1st year in order to obtain
the ‘Diplôme d’Etat de médecine français’. If the
student succeeds and meets the requirements of
their chosen university course, they can continue
studying for a number of years as long as they sit
for written tests on the subjects that they have
studied.
There are also other specialised 3rd cycle
courses that do not allow students to practice
medicine in France:
Residency entrance examinations
(for an overseas candidate)
Overseas doctors who are non-EU citizens
can take a residency entrance examination as an
overseas candidate. The entrance examination is
very selective.
‘Les AFS & les AFSA’
Non-EU overseas doctors, who are
undertaking a specialised area of study, and who
would like to complete their studies in France
can study part of the DES course with a view
to obtaining an AFS ‘Attestation de Formation
Spécialisée’ for 2 to 4 terms during the academic
year. This requires their university’s permission. Specialist Doctors from overseas can take
1 or 2 terms with a view to obtaining an
AFSA (Attestation de Formation Spécialisée
Approfondie) course.
Studies in odontology & pharmacy
Courses on the study of Odontology (Dental
Surgery) last between 6 to 9 years. The first
year (PCEM 1) is open to both Medicine &
Odontology students, who actually undergo the
same examination. At the end of the fifth year of
study, students choose to either:
- Enrol in a short (one-year) 3rd cycle course
where after submitting a thesis students are
awarded a DE diploma ‘Docteur d’Etat’ in
Dental Surgery. They can then envisage a
specialisation.
- Enrol in a (three-year) 3rd cycle residency
course.
The AEA ‘Attestation d’Etudes Approfondies’
is awarded to students who successfully complete
their work placement training. After they have
submitted a thesis, work placement students are
awarded a national degree in Dental Surgery.
The national degree in Doctor of Pharmacy
is awarded to students at the end of a 6, 9, 10
year study programme depending on whether
the student undertook a short 3rd cycle course
in General Pharmacy or a 3rd cycle course in
Specialised Pharmacy.
As with medicine-related courses, strict
entrance examinations are organised at the end
of the first year of study.
5
Studying in France
Studying at one of
France’s ‘Grandes Ecoles’
The ‘Grandes Ecoles’ are one of the French
higher education system’s specialities. They were
set up to offer students an advanced level of
specialised study. Hence excellent exam results
are part of their entry requirements. In return,
graduates are given the pick of job offers in
the job market. The name ‘Grandes Ecoles’ is
associated with some of the oldest and most
prestigious schools, some of which are world
famous: ‘l’Ecole Centrale, l’Ecole Nationale
d’Administration (ENA), l’Ecole des Hautes
Etudes Commerciales (HEC), l’Ecole Normale
Supérieure, l’Ecole Polytechnique’, because they
have trained the leading executive civil servants
and big company key players.
Over the years the ‘Grandes Ecoles’ have
expanded to include a host of establishments
that can be divided into four categories:
- les Ecoles Normales Supérieures
- les Ecoles d’Ingénieurs
(Engineering schools)
- les Ecoles de Commerce et de Gestion
- Various specialised schools
Status
Among the ‘Grandes Ecoles’ there are state
and private schools, which are directed by the
Ministries of Higher Education and Research,
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry
for the Environment, Energy, Sustainable
Development and the Sea, Defence etc
Some schools are part of a university.
Like 60% of engineering schools, ‘Les Ecoles
Normales Supérieures’ are State-run.
Other schools are private or are under the
Chambers of Trade & Industry, which is the case
for most Business & Management schools.
Tuition fees greatly vary according to the
schools.
The ‘Grandes Ecoles’ are higher education
and research institutions that are renown for
their strict entrance selection process. They
offer students long multi-disciplinary broad area
subject courses, with professionals for teachers
as well as close links with the business world. A
lot of emphasis is put on international relations
with compulsory modern language study modules, numerous possibilities of work placement
programmes abroad,and even double diploma
agreements. The CGE ‘Conférence des Grandes
Ecoles’ represents the majority of ‘Grandes
Ecoles’ and has set up an international committee
in order to promote international relations.
Entry requirements/Admissions
‘Grandes Ecoles’ are noted for their selective
admission procedures. Students have to pass
an entrance examination ‘concours’ in order to
obtain a place in one of the ‘Grandes Ecoles’.
For further information you can look on
the CGE’s web site: www.cge.asso.fr which
has links to all the all the ‘Grandes Ecoles’
who are members of the CGE.
Preparation for the exams takes two years.
The ‘classes prépas’ or preparation classes are
offered to students with excellent baccalaureate
results. Students then study for three years after
the entrance examination.
Nevertheless, there is also what is called
an ‘Admission Parallèle’ (similar admission
procedure) for graduates (mostly with a bac
+2) in other disciplines (who have studied at
university or in other institutions). Admission
procedures are also very selective and range
from assessment of application plus test and
entrance examinations, etc.
5
Studying in France
Preparation classes
‘Classes préparatoires’ remain the traditional
route to getting a place in one of the ‘Grandes
Ecoles’; they look for students who work well
under pressure and whose work is above
average.
As a rule, studies last for two years with no
repetition of years allowed.
The preparatory classes are generally found
in senior schools (but not all senior schools
have them)
Preparation classes in Literature
These Literature preparation classes are
aimed at successful Baccalaureate ‘L’, ‘ES’ et
‘S’ students who majored in French literature,
History, Philosophy, Modern Language, Latin
and Greek. (1st year: ‘Lettres Supérieures’ or
‘Hypokhâgne’ – and the 2nd year: ‘Première
Supérieure’ or ‘Khâgne’, prepares for the ENS
‘Ecoles Normales Supérieures’, the major business schools, Institutes for Political Studies, the
‘l’Ecole des Chartes’
Preparatory classes in Science related
subjects
These classes are aimed at successful
Baccalaureate S and some STI & STL students
with excellent exam results. They prepare students
for scientific entrance examinations in ‘Grandes
Preparation courses in Literature & Arts
Bac admis
1re année
2e année
Concours et écoles accessibles
Classes préparatoires lettres
L en priorité,
ES,
1re année
“Lettres”
S
S très bon
niveau en
lettres
2e année
ENS Ulm
“lettres”
2e année
ENS
“lettres
et sciences
humaines”
- ENS Ulm “lettres”, ENS lettres
et sciences humaines1 Lyon
- Chartes, concours B (sans latin)
- Ecoles de commerce, “lettres et sciences humaines”2
- Instituts d’études politiques
- ENS Lettres et sciences humaines Lyon,
ENS Ulm “lettres”
- ENS Cachan, section E “langues étrangères”3 (anglais)
Classes préparatoires
lettres et sciences sociales
- ENS Ulm “sciences sociales”
- ENS lettres et sciences humaines Lyon “sciences
économiques et sociales”
- ENS Cachan, section D3 “sciences sociales”
- Ecole nationale de la statistique et de l’administration
économique (ENSAE)
ou “économie”
L, ES, S
Classes préparatoires Chartes
- Chartes, concours A avec latin
L, ES, S
Classes préparatoires Saint-Cyr
lettres
- Ecole spéciale militaire Saint-Cyr “lettres”
ES
L
Bac STI, série
arts appliqués
Classes préparatoires artistiques - ENS Cachan C, section “arts et création industrielle”
Autres bacs avec
parfois mise à
niveau en arts
(1) En 2e année, des classes étoiles (*) préparent en priorité aux ENS, à Centrale, aux Mines et Ponts, et à Polytechnique.
(2) Au 1er janvier 2010 l’ENS Sciences et l’ENS lettres et sciences humaines ont fusionné pour devenir ENS Lyon.
Studying at one of France’s
5
‘PTSI’ (Physics, Technology & Engineeringrelated Science)
• 4 study modules in the 2nd year: ‘MP’
(Mathematics-Physics), ‘PC’ (Physics- Chemistry),
‘PSI’ (Physics & Engineering-related Science), ‘PT’
(Physics & Technology).
Ecoles’ such as the ENS, Engineering schools or
Military schools (Saint-Cyr, Navale, Air).
The two-year preparation programme is divided
into subjects:
• Students have a choice of 3 subject areas in their
1st year:
‘MPSI’ (Mathematics, Physics & Engineeringrelated Science)
‘PCSI’ (Physics, Chemistry & Engineering-related
Science)
BCPST preparatory classes
The BCPST preparatory classes (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science)
are designed for baccalaureate ‘S’ students to prepare them for entrance exams to the Schools of
Agronomy and Veterinary Schools
The examination is common to all but the tests
may be affected by different coefficients depending the course of study: agronomy or veterinary
science.
Preparation courses in Science-related subjects
Bac admis
1re année
(1 trim.)
MPSI
re
S (tout profil)
e
MP(1)
s
ce
ien
sc s
n elle
tio tri
op dus
in
PCSI
PC
option
opt
induion sc
strie ienc
lles es
s
nce
cie
n sielles
o
i
t r
op dust
in
S (tout profil)
STL
spécialités biochimie et
génie biologique
(voire bac STAV)
2e année Concours et écoles accessibles
(2 et 3 trim.)
e
PC(1)
PSI(1)
PTSI
PT(1)
BCPST
BCPST
TB
TB
TSI
TPC
- Principalement les écoles de chimie et
certaines écoles accessibles après les
classes BCPST
TSI
TSI
- Mêmes écoles que pour les classes
MP, PC, PSI, PT (voir ci-dessus)
STL
spécialité chimie de
laboratoire
(voire physique)
- ENS Ulm
- ENS Lyon(2)
- ENS Cachan
- Polytechnique (X)
- Concours commun Mines-Ponts
- Concours commun Centrale-Supélec
- Concours communs Polytechnique
- Concours commun Travaux publics
- Concours commun Arts et métiers,
Paritech, etc.
- Ecoles de l’armée
-C
oncours propres à de nombreuses écoles
-
Concours “Agro-Véto”, ENITA
Écoles vétérinaires
Écoles de chimie
Écoles d’ingénieurs en géologie et
environnement (concours G2E)
- ENS Ulm, Lyon, Cachan
STL
spécialités industrielles
STI
spécialité physique de
laboratoire
(1) En 2e année, des classes étoiles (*) préparent en priorité aux ENS,
à Centrale, aux Mines et Ponts, et à Polytechnique.
(2) Au 1er janvier 2010 l’ENS Sciences et l’ENS lettres et sciences humaines
ont fusionné pour devenir ENS Lyon.
Source: ONISEP
5
Studying in France
The examination is common to all but the
tests may be affected by coefficients which differ depending the course of study: agronomy or
veterinary science.
This common examination also allows access
to certain schools of chemistry and to the ENS
(Ecole Normale Supérieur or Normale Sup’). To
find out more information about the agricultural
and veterinary competitive examinations, visit this
website: www.concours-agro-veto.net
Preparation classes in Economics
and Business
These classes are aimed at students with
baccalaureate ‘S’, ‘ES’, ‘L’, or ‘STT’. They prepare
students for schools of Economics and Business
and the ENS in Cachan (option Economics &
Management) entrance exams.
The two-year study programme is split into
four study options: Science-related modules,
economics-related modules, and technologyrelated modules and specialist ENS (in Cachan)
‘prépas’ modules.
If students are not offered a place in one
of these schools, they can apply to study at
university by validating their level of studies
to match the DEUG level via what is called an
special year.
‘The Ecoles Normales
Supérieures’
Equipped with university-shared research
centres, the four ‘Ecoles Normales Supérieures’
remain the traditional route for teacher training and
advanced research. Once students have passed the
entrance examination, pupils or ‘normaliens’ study
for a university diploma: ‘licence’, ‘master’ or ‘magistère’, or DEA in a subject that they have already
studied at school. The course lasts four years.
Third and fourth-year study consist of preparation
for teaching examinations and the ‘agrégation’,
which is the highest competitive examination for
teachers in France.
Conditions for admission and ‘normalien’ (student at an ‘Ecole Normale
Supérieure’) status
Students who have come to the end of a
two-year preparation class can apply for a place
at an ‘Ecole Normale Supérieure’. Students are
selected via entrance examinations that vary
from one discipline to another.
All French and EU award winners are
entitled to four years paid study and commit
themselves to working for the State for ten
years.
Preparation classes in
Economics and Business
Bac admis
1re année et 2e année
Concours et écoles accessibles
S tout profil
ES profil maths
(exceptionnel)
Prépas économiques
et commerciales
option scientifique (ECS)
-C
oncours des écoles de commerce
option scientifique
- ENS Cachan économie-gestion
ES tout profil
L profil math
Prépa économique
et commerciale
option économique (ECE)
-C
oncours des écoles de commerce
option économique
- Concours d’admission à Saint-Cyr
STG
Prépa économique
et commerciale
option technologique (ECT)
- Concours des écoles de commerce
option technologie
ES
S
L
parfois STG
Prépa économique - ENS Cachan
options: économie, droit et
gestion; économie, méthodes
quantitatives et gestion
- Concours ENS Cachan économie-gestion ou
droit, économie et gestion
- École de commerce
- École nationales de la statistiques
Source: ONISEP
Ex-ENS pupils can take advantage of temporary employment as part-time heads of teaching
at university, these students are known as AMN
‘allocataires moniteurs normaliens’.
This title allows them to receive financial aid to
finish a thesis for a doctor’s degree that are usually started in the ‘Ecoles Normales Supérieures’,
and will prepare them for a career as an academic
in higher education or research.
ENS entry requirements
for overseas students
Non-EU citizens are also admitted via entrance
examination. They do not receive income, but in
some circumstances are entitled to financial aid.
Overseas students are allowed to attend
certain lessons as unregistered students,
5
for which admission is via assessment of
application. Some ENS’s have introduced
international exchange programmes where
they act as a host university to ‘pensionnaires étrangers littéraires ou scientifiques’
(literature or science students who have
post-‘licence’ qualifications from various
overseas universities) who come to work on a
research project.
The study periods at the ENS range from 6
to 9 months for which enrolment fees can be
subsidised by the government.
The ‘International Selection’ process for
the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS)
Every year, the ENS runs an ‘International
Selection’ which gives 20 overseas students (in
literature or the sciences) the opportunity to
study at the university for three years. Successful
applicants are provided with accommodation on
the ENS campus and receive a monthly living
allowance.
Information on the entrance exams:
École Normale Supérieure,
45 rue d’Ulm - 75230 Paris cedex 05
Tél. 01 44 32 28 03
‘Les Ecoles Normales Supérieures’
and their specialist subjects
ENS Paris
(Literature, Social Sciences & Natural
Sciences)
45, rue d’Ulm
Tel: 01.44.32.30.00
www.ens.fr
ENS de Lyon
15, Parvis René Descartes,
BP 7000
69342 Lyon Cedex 07
Tel: 04 37 37 60 00 (siège)
Tel: 04 72 72 80 00 (site Jacques Monod)
www.ens-lyon.eu
ENS de Cachan
(Sciences & Technology: Mathematics,
Physics, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering,
Mechanics, Civil Engineering & Electrical
Engineering; Applied Art, Economics &
Management; Social Sciences, English)
61, avenue du Président Wilson
94235 CACHAN CEDEX
Tel: 01.47.40.20.00
www.ens-cachan.fr
The ENS in Cachan is spread over two
campuses; there is one in Cachan and
another in Ker-Lann, near Rennes.
Regional campus in Brittany
Ker Lann Campus
Avenue Roberet Schuman
35170 Bruz
Tel: 02.99.05.93.00
www.campuskerlann.com
5
Studying in France
Engineering schools
Over 240 schools offer engineering diploma
courses in France and the large majority of them
are recognised by ‘l’Instance officielle d’habitation
des formations’: la CTI (Commission des titres
d’ingénieurs). The qualified engineer’s diploma is
a long training programme (five years minimum)
that is taught in a CTI-authorised higher education institution.
Engineering schools fall into two categories:
broad area subject schools and specialised subject schools that offer a wide variety of courses:
Agronomics, Physics, Biology, Mechanics,
Electronics, etc. Broad area subject schools
tend to be more selective (‘Centrale’ = School
of Arts & Manufacturing, Mines = Schools of
Mining Engineering, Polytechnics, etc.).
Admissions
A post-bac engineering training course lasts
5 years. The first two years of study may be
taught in different institutions depending on each
school’s admissions procedure.
Most schools take bac + 2 students after their
‘classes préparatoires scientifiques et techniques’. Applicants should expect fierce competition.
The following schools use the same entrance
exam procedures: The following schools use
the same entrance exam procedures: for example Agronomy/Veterinary Science Mines/Pont,
Centrale/Supélec and the Ecole Polytechnic.
Other schools take students at bac + 2 level
that have a Science-related DEUG or, perhaps,
a DUT, through a strict admissions procedure
either by assessing a student’s application or
via interview. Engineering courses at university
come under this category.
Some schools take students straight after
the baccalaureate, giving priority to the best
science students.
The schools often come together to organise
the selection process (INSA, ENI, Ecoles de la
FESIC), which consists of an assessment of student
applications, entrance tests, and interviews with
a panel. The 3 Technology Universities (UTBM,
UTC, UTT) use the same selection process.
The ‘Grandes Ecoles’ have different admission
procedures for bac + 4 ‘maîtrise’ students.
Engineering studies last between 3-5 years
depending on the student’s level of education. In addition to basic scientific studies,
engineering courses combine broad-based
applied technology studies, general training
and an important practical training - usually in
the form of work placement in a company and
an end of year project.
The Engineer’s diploma awards students
with a Master (bac + 5) that is recognised
throughout Europe.
Diplomas awarded
The engineering schools essentially award
engineering diplomas, but also doctorates,
MBAs, Specialist Masters, Pro Masters, Research
Masters and Pro licences.
Most of the diplomas can be obtained through
the VAE – Validation of Work Experience.
Descriptions of diplomas are available through
the schools’ websites.
Types of establishments
The majority of engineering schools,
including the most prestigious of them are
state-run. Different ministries (Economy,
Industry and Employment, Defence, Food,
Agriculture and Fisheries; etc.) may direct
them, but the Ministry of Higher Education
and Research governs most of them.
There are also public schools and some consular schools.
State-run schools tuition fees remain within
the student budget (roughly €500 to €1000 per
year), but tuition fees are considerably higher in
public schools.
Lists of accredited schools that run qualified
engineer’s courses are published every year in
an official newsletter.
Engineering school entry
requirements for overseas students
The French selection process is essentially
aimed at students who have taken advanced studies in mathematics and physics, which makes the
Engineering diploma course all the more difficult
to get into. There are, however, specific study
routes designed to help students:
• Special entrance examinations for overseas
students who have the considered
equivalent of the baccalaureate and who have
5
already taken a preparation class to prepare
them for overseas engineering schools’
entrance exams, for example ‘Centrale’,
‘Supélec’, or for students who have studied
Mathematics and Science at an advanced level
‘Polytechnique’
• Schools that take students with baccalaureatelevel study offer them courses specifically for
overseas students such as the 1st cycle course
EURINSA, ASINSA, AMERINSA (in the INSA
programmes), CHEMIST (in the Chemistry
Schools of the Gay Lussac Federation) students,
for example, UTC ‘Université Technologique
de Compiègne’
• The European school that takes students with
the considered overseas equivalent of 1st cycle
Various engineering-related courses
Recherche publique
ou
Recherche/développement
dans l’industrie
Industrie et
Services
Thèse
3 ans
MS
M2
(Master 2)
École
d’ingénieurs
5 ans
avec
prépa
intégrée
École
d’ingénieurs
3 ans
Prépa
2 ans
M1
(Master 1)
DUT
2 ans
BTS
2 ans
5
Studying in France
level study, for example, EEIGM at the INP in
Lorraine
• Partnerships between French and overseas
institutions, offering joint French and overseas Engineer’s diplomas. Overseas students
currently make up approximately 17% of
student intake in the Engineering schools,
which are members of the CGE (Conference
des Grandes Ecoles).
In order to gain more international recognition, recent trends have shown that Engineering
schools are grouping together.
For further information, the CEFI
(Committee on Engineering training)
has a good website: www.cefi.org
Paris Tech
ParisTech, Institute of Science and Technology,
is centre of excellence for higher education and
research; it bring together the ten most prestigious engineering schools in France. The quality of
the teaching staff, the extensive range of scientific
and technical disciplines covered give ParisTech
a status comparable with the top universities
in the world. Moreover ParisTech is the only
French member of the IDEA League, an alliance
of the leading European Technology universities
(notably Imperial College, London, TU Delft,
ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen).
ParisTech offers a very high level of training
courses for engineering students, at Master and
Doctorate level. All programmes aim to give the
students a scientific and managerial training to
enable them to take up positions of responsibility
in a corporate or research environment, or in
the higher levels of the civil service.
For further information see www.paristech.fr
* Founder member schools of ParisTech:
• AgroParisTech
• Arts et Métiers ParisTech
• Chimie Paris
• Ecole des Ponts
• Ecole Polytechnique
• ENSAE ParisTech
•
•
•
•
ENSTA
ESPCI
Mines Paris
TELECOM ParisTEch
Business and
management schools
In addition to the university courses
in Economics and Management (IAE, IUP,
Masters’ degree in management, etc.), ‘Grandes
Ecoles’ offer their own courses in Business and
Management. About one hundred mainly public
or consular institutions (which are governed by
the Chamber of Commerce & Industry) offer
students bac + 4 or + 5 courses.
About seventy of these schools offer courses
under the direction of the Ministry of Education,
and theirs are the only diplomas that are recognised throughout Europe.
Of such schools, close to thirty are members
of the CGE ‘Conférence des Grandes Ecoles’. In
the CGE, these schools form the ‘Chapitre des
Grands Ecoles de Management’.
To name a few: HEC ‘Ecole des Hautes Etudes
Commerciales’, the ESSEC ‘Ecole Supérieure
des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales’,
the ESCP ‘Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de
Paris’, the EDHEC ‘Ecole des Hautes Etudes
Commerciales de Lille’, the EM in Lyon, and the
ESCP-EAP or the Sup de Co ‘Ecoles Supérieures
de Commerce’.
The education is costly, often 5,000 to 10,000
euros per year.
Admissions
Applicants must take an entrance examination
according to their level, after the baccalaureate
and after a preparation class at bac + 2, bac + 3
or bac + 4 level.
Certain schools join together to recruit
students via the same entrance examination, such
as is the case for the following different levels of
entry: Post-baccalaureate - exam ACCESS and
SESAM; Post-Preparation class - collective stock
5
Other
of examinations belonging to and organised by
the Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Paris
and ECRICOME; bac + 3 or 4 - TREMPLINS,
PROFILS, etc.
The most recognised schools generally
subject post-preparation class applicants to
entrance examinations.
There are also similar admissions procedures
(mostly entrance tests) for bac + 2 students.
Several management schools have integrated
preparation classes.
Training
The majority of ‘Grandes Ecoles’ offer students
advanced-level courses in management that focus
on maintaining close links with industry and professionals who contribute to class content and
structuring.
Even though they are renown for their broadbased study courses, Business & Management
Schools also have a whole host of specialised
subject courses on offer, especially in the last year
of study: Auditing, Finance, Marketing, Human
Resources, Accounting, etc.
These institutions pride themselves on maintaining good international relations, and some
schools even have joint French and overseas
diplomas.
For further information, the FNGE ‘Fondation
nationale pour l’enseignement de la gestion
des entreprises’ has a good website at www.
fnege.net or try the CGE’s website: www.
cge.asso.fr.
Ecole Nationale d’Administration
The ENA’s ‘Ecole Nationale d’Administration’
that was founded in 1945 was originally designed
to train high-ranking civil servants and government
administration executives.
With a selective admissions procedure involving an entrance examination, the ENA offers
places to students who have bac + 3 or bac + 4
level study. Most students have studied a diploma
course at the IEP ‘Institut d’Etudes Politiques’.
There are two international ‘cycles’ aimed at
qualified foreign civil servants who have an excellent command of the French language:
- The short International ‘cycle’ lasts for 9
months and a lot of course emphasis is put
on the construction of the European Union.
- The long International ‘2e cycle’ course
(where foreign students are taught the exact
same programme as the schools French
students).
The admission procedure is very selective.
For more information, visit their web site:
www.ena.fr under ‘Actions internationales’.
Les Instituts d’Etudes Politiques
There are nine IEP’s in France that go by the
name of ‘Sciences-Po’, with the most prestigious
of all the schools being in Paris. The Paris-based
IEP is an independent establishment that offers a
five-year study programme with a year abroad.
The eight IEP’s in Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux,
Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Rennes, Strasbourg and
Toulouse are officially attached to the universities
and have just set up a four-year programme with a
year spent abroad, in industry or at university.
Applicants are subjected to an entrance exam
according to their level of study: post-baccalaureate; bac + 1, often with a year’s preparation
class; bac + 2; or even bac + 3. The Admissions
procedure is very strict at all levels.
The broad-based but advanced level of study
in ‘1er cycle’ emphasises a rigorous methodology, both written and oral. Studies in “Poli Sci”
5
Studying in France
(law, economics, history, political sciences, culture
and society, modern languages) cover multiple
disciplines and emphasise interrelationships in the
contemporary world.
After a year’s broad-based study, students must
specialise in a particular interest.
In the second year study, there are four departments (Public Service, Economics and Finance,
Economic & Social Policy, International Relations,
which includes a module on Europe) on offer to
students.
Certain IEP offer more diversified specialisations.
For the 3rd cycle of study, the Paris IEP offers
several Masters courses that award students with
a doctorate in a variety of disciplines.
Other IEP’s welcome an increasing number
of foreign students each year by offering them a
diplôme d’établissement.
For further information, you can look on the
‘IEP de Paris’ web site: www.sciences-po.fr under
‘Sciences Po International’.
Ecole Nationale des Chartes
‘l’Ecole Nationale des Chartes’ trains
palaeographer archivists.
Students who have completed a two-year
‘prepa’ class, a ‘licence, or a Master are eligible
to take the entrance test. In some circumstances,
overseas students can get in to the course as an
unregistered student: www.enc.sorbonne.fr
Overseas students in the IEP
The IEP in Paris offers overseas students
International study programmes in the 2nd year
of ‘1er cycle’ study, as well as an International
Political Science cycle one-year diploma
course.
This cycle is open to overseas bac +3 students
of the same discipline. Candidates are selected
on the basis of application assessment and a
French proficiency test.
‘Instituts d’études politiques’
web addresses
IEP d’Aix en Provence
www.iep-aix.fr
IEP de Paris
www.science-po.fr
IEP de Bordeaux
www.sciencespobordeaux.fr
IEP de Rennes
www.sciences-po.rennes.fr
IEP de Grenoble
www.sciences-po.upmf-grenoble.fr
IEP de Strasbourg
www.iep.u-strasbg.fr
IEP de Lille
http://iep.univ-lille2.fr
IEP de Toulouse
www.sciencespo-toulouse.fr
IEP de Lyon
http://.iep.univ-lyon2.fr
5
Other prestigious
institutions
Ecole Nationale Supérieure
des Sciences de l’Information
et des Bibliothèques
The ENSSIB runs eighteen-month training
courses for public library librarians. Students
with bac + 3 minimum may apply. The school
offers its own diploma courses along with ‘3e
cycle’ national courses in collaboration with the
University of Lyon 1.
The school also welcomes overseas students.
For further information: www.enssib.fr
Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire
A National Vet’s diploma is required to
practice a profession allied to the veterinary
profession and the training courses on offer
at the ENV ‘Ecoles Nationales Vétérinaires’ in
Maisons-Alfort (near Paris), Lyon, Toulouse &
Nantes.
Students who have done a year’s ‘prepa véto’
or a BTS or DUT in similar subjects must pass a
very selective entrance exam. This exam allows
students to enter directly into the 2nd year
of the 1er cycle. After 3 years in the 2e cycle,
students can earn the DEFV (Diplôme d’Etudes
Fondamentales Vétérinaires’), which allows students to study in the ‘3e cycle’, a one to five year
study programme where students must submit a
thesis with or without a specialised subject and
a doctorate research project.
In addition to universities and ‘Grandes
Ecoles’, there are prestigious state-run institutions that are mainly very old and are dedicated
to research.
These establishments run their own diploma
courses as well as national diploma courses at
‘3e cycle’ level.
Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes
(EPHE)
The EPHE is divided into three departments
and specialises in or a BTS or DUT Environmental
Science, the Life sciences, History, Philology and
Religious studies. They run two-year courses
where students have to submit a dissertation
in a specialised area of research. The EPHE also
run doctorate research courses. There are no
specific entry requirements to get into a course
as an unregistered student.
For further information: www.ephe-sorbonne.fr.
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences
Sociales (EHESS)
The EHESS runs two-year diploma courses
where students must submit a dissertation in
a specialised area of research. The EHESS also
runs doctorate courses.
The EHESS is an advanced level researchled institution that specialises in Social Sciences.
They offer the school’s own three-year diploma
course along with national diploma courses at
‘3e cycle’ level.
Admissions are subject to assessment of students’ applications and research projects.
For more information: www.ehess.fr.
5
Studying in France
Le Collège de France
‘Le Collège de France’ neither prepares exams
nor runs diploma courses. Classes are open
to the public without pre-registration and are
free of charge. It is an essentially independent and autonomous research-led institution,
which brings together distinguished teachers
who plan their courses around the topics that
they choose.
For further information
www.college-de-france.fr
55
Studying in France
Courses in vocational
subjects
A wide range of course subjects
Whilst keeping an eye on economic activity,
these vocational courses are noted for their
diversity and combination of different subjects.
There are short and long courses, state and
public schools, national diplomas and diplomas
that are unique to each different school. If you
choose to study in a public institution, you must
carefully consider the costs involved and have a
very in-depth knowledge of the course content
and the extent to which it is recognised by different professions.
Some professions can be prepared for in specialised schools (i.e.: Architecture, Nursing, etc.),
others, however, (Journalism, Restoration of art,
etc.) can be studied at university or in one of the
‘Grandes Ecoles’.
Social work
Social aid courses (Psychological & Medical support, Social & Cultural activities, Social & Family
Policy, Social work, Special Needs Education)
last two to three years. There are (bac + 2
level) national diploma courses, and BTS or DUT
courses in some of these subjects.
Go to the Ministry of Employment, Social
Affairs, and Solidarity website, click on Social
Affairs:
www.travail-solidarite.gouv.fr/espaces/social/793.html
Aeronautical studies
Technician and pilot training schemes
Several institutions provide techniciantraining courses in the aeronautical field or in civil
aviation as well as pilot training schemes.
Two IUP’s offer training in industrial engineering (Bordeaux 1, Aix-Marseille, 2 and 3).
There is one specialised ‘Grande Ecole’:
‘l’École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile’ (ENAC)
in Toulouse, that runs traffic controller, Pilot,
Engineering and Civil aviation superior technician training courses.
For further enquiries:
ENAC
7, avenue Édouard-Belin - BP 4005
F 31055 Toulouse Cedex 4
FRANCE
Tel.: 05 62 17 40 00
www.enac.fr
Agriculture,
‘agri-business’
For a full list of courses and institutions specialising
in higher education in the fields of agriculture and veterinary medicine, see pages 178-179 or go to the
Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries’ website:
www.portea.fr
Paramedical studies
Several institutions run training courses in
Nursing, Psychiatric nursing, Occupational therapy,
Midwifery (after passing the competitive exam at
the end of the 1st year of medical studies) and other
specialised Paramedical studies: Paediatric nursing,
Physiotherapy, Electroradiology, functional examination, Optics, Chiropody. The training courses
for these professions last from 2 to 4 years. The
majority of them are taught in schools or institutes
that are governed by the Ministry for Health. Other
courses are taught at university or in Ministry of
Education-run schools.
Further information about these professions
and their corresponding training courses
can be found on the Ministry of Health and
Sports’ web site:
www.sante.gouv.fr/htm/pointsur/metiers
5
Studying in France
Architecture
In France, Architect diploma training courses
are regulated. Only students with national
diplomas (DPLG, DENSAIS, DESA which are
protected by the State) can work as architects.
There are courses in the 20 Ministry of Culture
and Communication-governed ‘Ecoles Nationales
d’Architecture’ where students can study for a
‘Diplôme d’Architecte’ DPLG, which is a government-awarded diploma. There are two other
architect-training courses: an “Engineering” module that is taught in the Architecture department
of ‘l’Ecole Nationale des Arts et Industries de
Strasbourg’ and offers a ‘Diplôme d’Architecte’
DENSAIS course.
A public or fee-paying course, is offered by
‘l’Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture à Paris’ at the
end of which a ‘Diplôme d’Architecte DESA’ is
obtained.
Architectural Studies are organised in three
two-year cycles.
The first two cycles are authorised by the
higher education system.
1st cycle is open to baccalaureate students
and students with the considered equivalent of
study to the baccalaureate, relevant professional
experience or personal achievements that enable
them to start at 1st cycle. The 1st cycle course
in Architecture is a national diploma of higher
education.
‘Deuxième cycle’ or 2nd cycle is open to students who have completed a 1st cycle course in
architecture or its considered equivalent and to
students who have relevant professional experience or personal achievements that enable them
to start at 2nd cycle level. The course is made up of
course modules and requires students to submit a
dissertation. The 2nd cycle course in architecture
is a national diploma of higher education.
‘Troisième cycle’ or 3rd cycle consists of preparing the ‘Diplôme d’Architecte’ - DPLG that is
made up of three modules. 1) Project, seminars,
vocational training, 2) One-term’s work placement and a personal end of year project, 3) Or in a
specialised professional area (DPEA, Master Pro),
or in the form of a research project (Research
Master).
A list of architectural schools is listed in the appendices: p.234.
Foreign year abroad students should pick up
a pre-registration form either from the ‘Ecole
d’Architecture’ of their choice (see the addresses
of the schools, listed in the appendices)or from the
French Embassy in their country of origin or
residence.
A sound knowledge of the French language is
required when handing in the application form.
Schools and Embassies’ cultural services arrange
French language tests in February to correspond
with tests that are taken in universities.
Creative arts
Fine Art
In addition to the four Ministry of Higher
Education and Research-governed schools,
‘Ecole Boulle’, ‘Ecole Duperré’, ‘Ecole Estienne’,
and ‘Ecole Olivier de Serres’, 56 Ministry for the
Arts-directed institutions offer students higher
education courses in fine Art. There are also
numerous national, regional and local art schools
across France.
There are two types of Ministry for
Arts-directed schools:
- Schools that run specific diploma courses
such as the ENSBA, ENSAD & ENSCI.
- Schools that run National diploma courses
such as the DNSEP, DNAP & DNAT.
SCHOOLS THAT PREPARE SPECIFIC
DIPLOMAS
École Nationale Supérieure des
Beaux-arts (Fine Arts) - ENSBA
The ENSBA is designed to teach young art
students painting techniques, sculpture and how
to use multimedia. A lot of emphasis is put on
theory.
Students are recruited on the results of a competitive exam, and their prior work and records
are assessed before admission (age limit: 4).
The studies last 5 to 6 years. At the end of
their final year, students are awarded ‘le Diplôme
National Supérieur d’Arts Plastiques’ (DNSAP).
This diploma course corresponds to ‘niveau II’
level study.
ENSBA
14, rue Bonaparte - 75006 Paris
Tel: 01 47 03 50 00
Further information is available on the
school’s website: www.ensba.fr
École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts
Décoratifs - ENSAD
The ENSAD offers students the following
training (4 years of courses):
- ‘Diplôme National Supérieur d’Art Décoratif’
(DNSAD), which covers 14 different subjects.
- ‘Certificat d’Etudes Spécialisées’ (computer
aided design, multimedia, publication-press,
furniture design).
Students have to sit for an entrance examination when applying for 1st , 2nd and 4th year level
of study and for the advanced cycle of research
and innovation. Admissions for 3rd year level
study are based on the student’s qualifications.
ENSAD
31, rue d’Ulm - 75240 Paris cedex 05
Tel.: 01 42 34 97 00
Further information about courses and
entry requirements, consult the school
website: www.ensad.fr
5
École Nationale Supérieure de
Création Industrielle - ENSCI
After a 3 to 5 year course, the ENSCI awards
students the ‘Diplôme de Créateur Industriel’
(bac + 5) in the field of industrial design and
textile design.
These schools run courses of varying length
that depend on the students’ qualifications. The
number of years of study for each student is
determined via entrance examination.
ENSCI
48, rue Saint Sabin - 75011 Paris.
Tel: 01 49 23 12 12
For more information about this school,
you can look at their website:
www.ensci.com
DIPLOMAS AWARDED BY SCHOOLS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION IN FRANCE OR
THE FRENCH TERRITORIES
There are three national diploma courses
that are taught in 6 National schools: ‘Ecoles des
Beaux-arts de Bourges’, Cergy-Pontoise, Dijon,
Limoges-Aubusson, Nancy, Nice and 42 ‘Ecoles
Territoriales’ that are governed by the Ministry
of Culture and Communication.
The Ministry of Culture and Communication
awards the following national diplomas:
National Diploma in Art and Techniques
(DNAT with modules in Graphic design,
Space design, Industrial design). It is a two-year
programme of study.
National Diploma in Fine Arts (DNAP)
is also a three-year course.
It is made up of three modules: Art,
Communication & Design.
Higher National Diploma in Fine
Arts (DNSEP) is a five-year course. Students
must choose one of the following modules:
Art, Communication or Design. The DNSEP
corresponds to ‘niveau II’ level study.
5
Studying in France
The entry requirements for these schools
were decided upon in the 6th March and 10th July
1997 acts. Each institution organises their own
entrance exams, which consist of a practical test,
a written exam to test student’s general culture,
and an interview with an admissions panel in
relation to the student’s application.
Students must have a baccalaureate or
qualifications that are considered the equivalent
by ‘la Commission Nationale d’Equivalence’.
Art studies are organised in the following
manner:
The short cycle prepares for the DNAT with
three options: Graphic design, Spatial design, or
Product design.
The long cycle is divided into two parts:
- One programme of 2nd and 3rd year study
that leads to the DNAP diploma;
- A 4th and 5th year study project that leads
to the DNSEP diploma.
There are three possible options: Art,
Communication, or Design, but not all the
schools offer the complete coursework for all
three options.
Information on the requirements and the
operation of these schools can be obtained from
the following address:
Ministère de la Culture
et de la Communication
Délégation aux arts plastiques,
département des enseignements,
de la recherche et de l’innovation
3, rue de Valois
Tél: 01 40 15 75 70
www.culture.gouv.fr
Professions
in cultural heritage
The professions in cultural heritage cover
a wide number of disciplines. Some of these
professions are closely related to knowledge/
expertise of French culture (art historians, mediators), others to its preservation, conservation,
and protection (protecting the cultural heritage,
designing historical monuments), but also its restoration (painting restorers, artisans, etc.).
Institut National du Patrimoine
This consists of two departments:
• Le Département des Conservateurs,
which offers eighteen-month training in the
conservation of the cultural heritage of the
State, the city of Paris, and the local governments. Recruitment occurs through an external competitive exam and by internal exam.
Institut National du Patrimoine
2, rue Vivienne - 75002 Paris
Tel.: 01 44 41 16 41
www.inp.fr.
• Department of Restorers, which offers 7
5 year concentrations. Admission is based on
a competitive examination open to applicants
20 to 30 years of age.
The National Institute for Heritage
Department of Restorers
93210 La Plaine Saint-Denis
Tel: 01 49 46 57 00
www.inp.fr
École du Louvre, focusing more directly on
art history. It takes 1st cycle baccalaureate students or students with a considered equivalent
who must take a grading test (Application forms
are available between December and February
preceding the academic year). The 1st cycle level
study programme lasts three years at the end of
which a diploma in extended research is awarded.
In order to get into the 2nd cycle level of study
(a one year course), students must have taken
a 1st cycle course with either a masters in Art
history or Archaeology or its considered overseas (bac + 4) equivalent. At the ‘Ecole du
Louvre’, students are awarded with the follow-
ing diplomas: ‘Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures de
l’École du Louvre’, according to the terms of
the three-year ‘3e cycle’ level of research, or the
‘Diplôme Spécial de Muséologie’; ‘Diplôme de
Recherche de l’Ecole du Louvre’ (3e cycle)
Ecole du Louvre
Palais du Louvre Porte Jaujard
Place du Carrousel
Tel.: 01 55 35 18 35/18 00
www.ecoledulouvre.fr
University offerings are also very numerous
and are updated frequently.
Performing arts
Drama
We must draw students attention to the fact
that a lot of French universities run theatre studies courses (1st, 2nd & 3rd cycle), for example:
Caen, Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq, Paris III, Paris X,
Rennes II, etc.
Among the many Drama schools, three establishments run intensive, free courses that are widely
recognised in the Performing Arts industry:
École Supérieure d’Art Dramatique du
théâtre national de Strasbourg (TNS). The
National Theatre in Strasbourg offers a threeyear training course for actors, set designers,
stage managers, and directors-playwrights. There
is an entrance exam and students must be 18
years of age, have bac +2 or a baccalaureate with
two years work experience and a sound knowl-
5
edge of the French Language. Students can enrol
between November and February. Professional
actors or Stage directors can enrol for a year’s
work placement.
ESAD-TNS
Théâtre National de Strasbourg
1, av. de la Marseillaise - BP 40184
Tel.: 03 88 24 88 08
www.tns.fr/ecole-superieure-art-dramatique.html
Le Conservatoire National Supérieur
d’Art Dramatique de Paris (CNSAD)
takes select students via entrance examination.
Students enrol in January and are offered places
in March or April and register in June. Students
must be aged between 18 and 24 years of age
on the 1st October in the year they apply for the
entrance exam. Applicants must have completed
at least one year of theatrical training under a
professional who recommends their application.
The studies last three years.
CNSAD
2, bis rue du Conservatoire
75009 Paris
Tel.: 01 42 46 12 91
www.cnsad.fr
École Nationale Supérieure des Arts
et Techniques du Théâtre (ENSATT, formerly
‘Ecole de la rue Blanche’) offers a three year
training course for theatre administrators, actors,
costume designers, set designers, stage managers,
sound and lighting engineers. Students are selected
via an entrance examination which is open to
candidates aged between 18 and 25 years of age,
who have a bac + 2 or a baccalaureate with two
years work experience and a sound knowledge of
the French language. Students may enrol between
February and March. All courses award students
with an ENSATT diploma.
ENSATT
42, rue Soeur Bouvier
69322 Lyon Cedex
Tel.: 04 78 15 05 05
www.ensatt.fr
To find out more about Drama & Melodrama
courses, information is available at the Centre
National du Théâtre:
136, rue Legendre, 75017 Paris
Tel.: 01 44 61 84 85
cnt.asso.fr
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Studying in France
Circus studies
There are two Ministry of Culture and
Communication governed schools of Circus
Arts. ‘L’École Supérieure des Arts du
Cirque’ (ESAC), at Châlons in Champagne,
organises national and regional entrance
exams. Students must be 18-25 years of age.
‘l’Ecole Nationale du Cirque’ at Rosnysous-Bois, organises a pre-selection and a selection procedure in July, based on an exam. The
Académie Annie Fratellini in Saint-Denis is
also a Ministry of Culture and Communicationsupported establishment renowned for its vocational preparation courses.
Music
& opera studies
Courses in music are available in over three
hundred local leisure centres. ‘Les Conservatoires
Nationaux de Région’ (CNR), ‘Les Écoles
Nationales de Musique et de Danse’ (ENMD),
‘Les Écoles Municipales de Musique et de Danse
Agréées’ (EMMDA), which are all directed by
the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
There are also two ‘Conservatoires Supérieurs
de Musique’ in Paris & Lyon.
National and municipal conservatories
of music & dance
Students who wish to apply for a place at a
CNR, an ENMD or an EMMDA must take an
entrance exam. These institutions offer technical
courses that are designed to give students amateur skills; some of the courses prepare students
for working life in their chosen field.
To apply for a place in one of the ‘conservatoires nationaux supérieurs’ students must take an
entrance examination (the required age bracket
depends on which instrument the student wants
to play).
The average course lasts four years. The
programmes help students to decide between
a career as a solo artist, composer or member
of an orchestra.
There are also schools (CEFEDEM) for students who want to become music & dance
teachers, in which they can take a National
diploma teaching course.
Universities
About twenty universities have a music
department and offer DEUG, ‘licence’, a Master
in Music or a ‘Diplôme Universitaire de Musicien
Intervenant’ (DUMI) (see Higher education establishments & disciplines at the beginning of this
chapter).
5
The Universities of Nice & Paris VIII offer
license and Master courses in Performing Arts
with a concentration in Dance.
Audio-visual arts
Dance
There are plenty of dance academies and
classes. The national conservatories of music and
dance in Paris and Lyon provide training in classical
and modern dance. The studies last for 4 years.
These institutions respectively issue a Diplôme
Supérieur de Danse and a Diplôme National
d’Etudes Supérieures Choréographiques.
Three Ecoles Supérieurs for dance are run by
the State:
• L’École Nationale Supérieure
de Danse de Marseille
20, bd Gabès
Tél.: 04 91 32 72 72
www.ecole-danse-marseille.com
• Le Centre National de Danse
Contemporaine d’Angers
17, rue de la Tannerie
BP 50107
Tel.: 02 44 01 22 66
www.cndc.fr
• L’Ecole supérieure de danse
Rosella-Hightower
5 rue de Colmar
06400 Cannes
Tél.: 04 93 94 79 80
www.cannesdance.com
Studio National des Arts
Contemporains du Fresnoy
The school of Fresnoy (Studio National des
Arts Contemporains) is an institution that specialises in advanced level study of creative and
visual arts, which brings together all the arts
under one roof: Fine Art, Photography, Cinema
& Film Studies, Video, New Technology applied
to Sound & Image, Music, Dance, etc. The diploma
courses last two years. This school is aimed at bac
+ 4 level students or students with relevant work
experience. Students are selected on the basis of
their entrance examination and interview.
‘Le Fresnoy’
Studio national des arts contemporains
22, rue du Fresnoy
BP 80179
59202 Tourcoing cedex
Tel: 03 20 28 38 99
www.lefresnoy.net
Images and sound
Photography
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure LouisLumière (ENSLL, - ‘Vaugirard’), located in the
Paris region in ‘Noisy-le-Grand’, subjects applicants
who are under 27 and who have a bac + 2 to an
entrance examination. At the end of the threeyear study programme, students are awarded
the ‘Diplôme Supérieur d’Etat’ for each course
concentration (photography, cinema, sound).
ENSLL
7 allée du Promontoire - rue de Vaugirard
93161 Noisy le Grand Cedex
Tel.: 01 48 15 40 10
www.ens-louis-lumiere.fr
5
Studying in France
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Métiers
de l’Image et du Son (FEMIS) tends to accept
students more after entrance examination than
on account of their application form. Students
must have a bac + 2 or a baccalaureate and 4
years work experience in cinema and be able
to present a personal project to the admissions
panel. Students can apply between February
and April. The selection procedure takes place
during July, September & October. The Institute
offers students courses in the following specialised areas: Script-writing, Filming, Special
Effects, Sound Engineering, Image, Scenery,
Production, Management, and Promotion.
Studies last 38 months and result in a level 1
diploma (bac +5).
FEMIS
6, rue Francoeur
75018 Paris
Tel.: 01 53 41 21 00
75018 Paris
www.lafemis.fr
Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la
Photographie d’Arles (ENSP) selects students with a DEUG in an art-related subject,
a CEAP or their considered equivalents via an
entrance exam. ‘L’école d’Arles’ runs a national
diploma course: ‘Diplôme de l’Ecole Nationale
de la Photographie’ (DNEP). ‘Ecole nationale
Supérieure de la photographie’
16, rue des Arènes - BP 10149
13631 Arles Cedex
Tel.: 04 90 99 33 33
www.enp-arles.com
International City for Comics and the
Image. The most famous private establishment
is the National Centre for Comics and the Image
in Angoulême, which offers a one year Master
in game design and interactive digital media
(Bac +5) to students with Bac + 3.
Cité de la Bande Dessinée
121, rue de Bordeaux
16023 Angoulême cedex
Tel.: 33 - 05 45 38 65 65
www.cnbdi.fr
Some universities offer complete coursework
in Cinema & Film studies: the universities of
Aix-Marseille I, Bordeaux III, Caen, Lille III, Lyon
II, Metz, Montpellier III, Nancy II, Paris I, Paris III,
Paris VII, Paris VIII, Paris X and Rennes II.
For more information, contact: Le ministère
de la Culture and Communication, Direction
de la musique et de la danse, du théâtre
et des spectacles 53, rue Saint-Dominique
75007 Paris Tel.: 01 40 15 88 84 or visit the
web site (very complete on all artistic areas
of study):
www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/infos-pratiques/
formations/index-formations.htm
Journalism
There are nine types of training accredited
by ‘La Convention Collective des Journalistes’.
Acceptance is highly competitive. The two oldest
schools are the most highly rated: ‘Le CFJ’ in Paris
and ‘l’ESJ de Lille’:
‘Le Centre de Formation des Journalistes’
(CFJ) selects candidates via entrance examination.
Students must have at least bac + 2 level study, but
most applicants have a bac + 4. The age limit for
applying is 25 years. The course lasts two years,
(which consists of a ‘section journaliste’ and a
‘section journaliste-reporter d’images’).
CFJ
35, rue du Louvre
75002 Paris
Tel.: 01 44 82 20 00
www.cfpj.com
‘l’École Supérieure de Journalisme de
Lille’ (ESJ) selects students via an entrance test.
Students must have at least bac + 2 level study.
Another admission procedure is organised for
overseas students. The course lasts two years.
ESJ
50, rue Gauthier-de-Châtillon
59046 Lille cedex
Tel.: 03 20 30 44 00
www.esj-lille.fr
The IUT of the University of Bordeaux III
and Tours are equipped with a media & communication department, which specialises in
journalism.
‘l’Institut des hautes Etudes en Sciences de
l’Information et de la Communication’ (Université
de Paris IV - CELSA) admits students on the
basis of a competitive exam and offer Licences,
Masters and Doctorates.
‘Le Centre Universitaire d’Enseignement du
Journalisme’ (Université de Strasbourg III)
offers a Professional Masters in journalism.
‘l’Ecole de Journalisme et de Communication’
(Aix-Marseille II - CTMC) run a Professional
Masters in journalism, and three DU courses.
‘l’Ecole de journalisme de Toulouse’.
Interpreting and
translation
The existing Interpreting & Translation
studies are either offered by universities or are private. These programmes usually last two to three
years and are of a particularly high level. Students
are taken at DEUG or ‘licence’ level. Two schools
specializing in this area, ESIT and ISIT, are members
of the CIUTI (International Permanent Conference of
University Institutes of Translators and Interpreters),
a sign of their quality.
‘Ecole Supérieure d’Interprètes et de
Traducteurs’ (ESIT) at ‘Paris III-Sorbonnenouvelle’ runs the following diploma courses:
Masters’ degree ‘Master LEA’ that is allied to specialised Translation, editorial translation, economic
and technical translation, Master in conference
interpreting, European masters’ degree in interpre-
5
tation, Master & Doctorate in the technology of
translation and Master in French sign language.
There are several different admission levels at
the ESIT (bac + 2, bac + 3). Applicants are required
to take a competitive examination for which registration takes place in February.
ESIT
Centre Universitaire Dauphine
Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
75775 Paris cedex 16
Tel.: 01 44 05 42 05
www.univ-paris3.fr/esit/index.html
A Private institution, ‘l’Institut Supérieur
d’Interprétation et de Traduction’ (ISIT)
that is taught at ‘l’Institut Catholique de Paris’,
runs specialised courses in technical translation
(Terminology, International Affairs) as well as a
Conference Interpreter training course, at the
end of which students are awarded with an ISIT
diploma. Students are admitted on the basis of
passing an entrance exam, for which registration
commences in July and selection takes place in
September.
ISIT
12 rue Cassette
Tel.: 01 42 44 33 16
www.isit-paris.fr
Other disciplines
There are also specialised courses in Insurance,
Banking, Commercial Property & Civil Engineering,
Business, Management & Sales, Electronics,
Electricity Security, Media & Communication,
Real Estate, Mechanics, Paramedical Studies,
Textile design, Tourism, Transport, etc, which
are on offer in a whole host of private and
consular institutions. These private or consular
institutions include chambers of commerce &
industry, chambers of trade or professional
institutions federations or workers unions.
There are so many of them that it is impossible
to mention them all (see “Useful Addresses” or
“Specialised information centres” at the back of the
brochure p. 227).
Almost all of these courses at different levels
are taught in ‘technicien supérieur’ departments
within IUT’s and University departments (see
beginning of this chapter) or at one of the ‘Grandes
Ecoles’ (see section on ‘Grandes Ecoles’).
5
Studying in France
Agricultural HIGHER Studies
Life-size training
The Grandes Ecoles
A Unique study in a
natural environment
•
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•
•
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•
•
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Agronomy
Biotechnologies
Environment
Rural and urban development and
improvement
Food Sciences
Veterinary medicine
Research and development
Professional degrees
Post Bac engineer
Initial engineering training after preparatory
classes
Engineer through apprentices hip
Ongoing engineering training
DPLG landscape gardening
Certificates in higher studies
Veterinary
Masters
Doctorates
Specialised Masters degrees
Engineering for bridges, waterways and
forests (IPEF), Public veterinary health
inspector (ISPV)
Route to qualification
After the Bac
Entrance examinations in certain schools open
to students holding Bac S (Public: INH, Angers;
Agrocampus Ouest; Private: WSA, Angers; EI,
Purpan; ESB, Nantes; ESITPA, Rouen; ISA, Lille;
ISARA, Lyon; Institut Polytechnique, La Salle
Beauvais).
Level Bac+2
• Examination A – general option open to students enrolled in preparatory classes BCPST
“biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental sciences” or biochemistry/biology option
open to students enrolled in preparatory
classes TB “technology and biology”.
Tel: 01 44 08 16 29
www.concours-agro-veto.net
• Examination B open to students enrolled in
the 2nd or 3rd year of study for a general or
professional degrees in life sciences, environmental sciences or materials sciences, and
holding a professional degree.
Tel: 01 44 08 16 29
www.concours-agro-veto.net
• Examination C open to holders of certain BTS,
BTSA or DUT
Tel 05 57 35 07 22
www.concours-agro-veto-bordeaux.fr
• Parallel admission requirements in private
schools.
Level Bac+3 / Bac+4
Parallel admission requirements in private
schools.
Professional placement
From 0 to 6 months after completion of
studies
© ministère de l’Alimentation, de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche.
Higher agricultural education
training courses
International activities
• Enrolment in the European area of higher education following Licence, Master or Doctorate
courses.
• Offer of Masters for international students
• Offer of Double Diploma courses with universities
• International partnerships
• Student study visits and student-researcher
exchanges
• Study courses abroad
5
Room for scientific research
The institutions which provide higher education in agriculture work in close partnership with
national research bodies (INRA, CEMAGREF,
AFSSA, IFREMER, INSERM, CNRS, etc.) to guarantee the highest level of expertise.
A rich student life
• Dynamic campuses with excellent sporting
facilities
• An encouraging, convivial atmosphere with
many student societies
• Personal guidance in your professional
project
5
Studying in France
MAKING THE MOST
OF YOUR STUDIES
All students ask themselves the same questions about choosing a course that will lead to
their chosen profession and will give them good
job prospects. This is why it is so important that
students should find out as much as they can
about the different courses available to them
before making their final choice.
A few “preliminary” pointers…
The French higher education system is made
up of a variety of many different disciplines and
institutions. This is why before making your final
choice, you should contact a student information
& guidance centre such as the CampusFrance
abroad, ONISEP .
You may also consider contacting ‘Les Services
Universitaires d’Information et d’Orientation’
(SCUIO) that have an office in every university, specialised information centres concerning
vocational courses or French Embassy Cultural
Services in your country of origin.
Whether you are planning to enrol on a 1st
‘premier’ or 2nd ‘second cycle’ course, you will
need to produce:
-Proof of your qualifications (diplomas) and
their certified translation in French.
-A detailed description of your educational
background, including schools attended, subjects
studied, grades and exam results.
-A Cover letter.
-Proof (a certificate) of your French language
ability.
The next step: period of study in France
In this guide students are bound to find information that will help them to choose between
a short or long course of study and to pick a
subject that is well suited to their study plan.
In the index of this guide you will find
university addresses and web sites.
www.onisep.fr or the CampusFrance website: www.campusfrance.org
Your study plan
First things: self-assessment
Drawing up a study plan is all about working
out in advance which course you would like to
take, whilst taking your previous school and
university exam results into account. If you want
to enrol on a 1st cycle course ‘premier cycle’, you
must find out which French baccalaureate your
secondary studies correspond to. If you want to
enrol on a 2nd or 3rd cycle course ‘deuxième’ or
‘troisième cycle’, you must also work out what
your studies represent in terms of the number
of years studied after the French baccalaureate
(for example bac + 1, 2, 3, etc). You should
also be well aware of your level of French and
your ability to express yourself in French in a
‘university study’ context.
Students are strongly advised to start organising their studies in October or November preceding the year in which you plan to start your
course and to contact the schools that you are
interested in applying to as soon as possible.
Changing courses
Vocational and technical higher education
study programmes (see ‘vocational courses’ at
the beginning of this chapter) have thoroughly
taken root alongside the more traditional singlesubject study programmes. Some institutions
also run multi-disciplinary courses. The ‘Grandes
Ecoles’ have a system whereby students have
the possibility of registering after the course
has started.
In some circumstances it is also possible to
change level or discipline after your course has
started in order to refine your studies.
Therefore, you must think carefully about
what you want to do with your qualifications in
the future, so as to avoid getting bogged down
with a subject that holds no suitable prospects
for you. You should never hesitate to talk to a
teacher or a career advisor.
Making the most of your studies
5
European programmes
Erasmus study
courses and study
visits in Europe
The first choices you make set the foundations
for your studies and, therefore, determine how
much flexibility you have and to what extent
you can deviate from your course if and when
necessary.
Making your time and studies in France worthwhile depends on maturity, your ability to make
the most of your studies and the career plans
you have in mind for yourself.
Finding the rightpath
of study
You can move from university to one of
the ‘Grandes Ecoles’, and vice versa, obtain
preparatory class equivalents in a university, put
the finishing touches on a ‘Diplôme Universitaire
de Technologie’ (DUT), or simply change discipline. All of the above is possible, under certain
conditions for example for grantholders with the
governing institution’s permission.
There are special procedures that have to
be respected when changing courses. Further
information about the different possibilities and
formalities to be dealt with (cover letter, evaluation of application, test) will be available from
the host establishment.
The mobility of students, as well as teachers
and other staff, has played a fundamental role in
the creation and provision of higher education
in Europe
The Erasmus programme was twenty years
old in 2007. It encourages mobility in Europe
by allowing students to undertake a period of
study or work experience in another European
country.
In 2010, there were 31 countries participating
in the Erasmus programme:
- the 27 member states: Germany, Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain,
Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg,
Malta, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Czech
Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, United
Kingdom, Sweden,
- Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Turkey
- Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia for outgoing mobility only
Mobility of study and work placement mobility
can be combined into the university course.
Erasmus study visits
From the second year of studies onwards, a
student may study abroad for a period of between
3 and 12 months in a European institution which
has a partnership agreement with their own
university. Students studying abroad take exams
in their host university, and these grades can
count towards their degree. a European partner
establishment. through the European system of
credits transfer and accumulation (ECTS).
All areas of study are included.
5
Studying in France
The Erasmus work placement
From the second year of studies onwards, a
student may undertake a European work placement, lasting from 3 to 12 months (except for
shorter courses such as the BTS, for which the
minimum duration is 2 months). Before departure, the student signs a placement agreement.
Finance
Erasmus students may be eligible for an
Erasmus grant. In 2007-2008, the contractual
rate agreed between the Agence EuropeEducation-Formation France and France’s higher
education institutions was €180 per month for
international studies and €430 per month for
international work placements.
Universities and schools are then free to
distribute this grant money according to their
own criteria and in line with the requirements
of the European Commission, which explains the
disparity in amounts of grant actually allotted to
students in different institutions
To take part in the Erasmus programme contact your international relations service.
The Erasmus Mundus Masters
Erasmus Mundus courses are integrated study
programmes offered by consortia of prestigious
higher education institutions, sometimes including institutions from countries outside Europe.
All Erasmus Mundus courses run in at least
two European countries and lead to recognised qualifications (double diplomas, multiple
diplomas or points contributing to qualifications awarded by the institutions in the consortium). These courses are characterized by
a very high academic standard and an ability to
attract and engage some of the world’s most
talented students and teachers. These courses
are open to everybody, and students enrolled
in these programmes may be eligible for merit
scholarships.
For example, a European student with a scholarship receives €500 per month as a maintenance
allowance at Master’s level, and €2800 at PhD
level.
Students from all over the world can apply
for these courses. They should address their
application directly to the institution responsible
for the management of their chosen Erasmus
Mundus course.
For a list of all courses available:
At Master’s level:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/
results_compendia/selected_projects_action_1_
master_courses_en.php
At PhD level:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/
results_compendia/selected_projects_action_1_
joint_doctorates_en.php
6
Keeping
in contact
with France
6
Keeping in contact with France
A network of contacts Building a network during
your stay in France. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintaining and expanding your
Network after your return home . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Keeping in touch with France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 186
p. 186
p. 187
6
Keeping in contact with France
Building a network
during your stay in
France
Your stay in France is of course focused
on education, but it should also be filled with
the discovery of our country, its language,
and its culture.
It is also an excellent time to establish
friendly and professional contacts that will be
useful to you and to what you want to achieve
when you return to your own country.
The goal is to return home not only
with diplomas, but with a full address book,
not to mention those indispensable email
addresses.
Membership in an alumni association of a
Grande Ecole or registration in the alumni lists
maintained by the universities or university
associations is also useful.
Maintaining and
expanding your
network after
you return home
The moment you return, contact the
French Embassy – the Cooperation and
Cultural Action department. Each embassy
has a person in charge of maintaining relations
with grant holders, even after their return.
They can put you in touch with associations of former grant holders, clubs for French
speakers, where you can meet with others
who have studied in France, and work with
them to promote stronger relations with
France.
To find addresses in the cultural action
and cooperation network (cultural
action and cooperation divisions of
embassies, institutions and cultural centers, research institutes, and Alliances
Françaises), visit the web site of the
French Ministry of Foreign and European
Affairs:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/annuaire
Maintain and expand your linguistic skills by
attending Alliances Françaises meetings, and
access information both general and specific by
visiting the resource centers of French cultural
institutions. You may also attend or participate
in conferences, or be asked to run seminars if
you have the right skills.
Alliances Françaises centers
The Alliances françaises centers are locally
based associations whose mission is to promote
the teaching of the French language and French
culture.
Throughout more than 100 countries the
Alliances Françaises and cultural centres offer
French classes and a variety of cultural and artistic
activities and events.
To find the list of addresses, visit the web
site: www.alliancefr.org
Keeping in touch
with France
Radio-France Internationale - RFI
One easy way of maintaining your links
with France is to listen to French radio
programmes. Stations such as Radio-France
Internationale (RFI) broadcast on short-wave
radio, FM, and satellite.
To obtain RFI’s radio programme guide with
the different frequencies and broadcast times
for each continent, visit the RFI web site:
www.rfi.fr, particularly the heading “Nous écrire” The service that handles relations with
listeners and website visitors will answer you
by email.
Télévision
Two television channels also offer a range
of television programmes in French: CFI
(Canal France International), and TV5, which
broadcasts across Europe, Asia, Africa and
America.
To find out more, visit their web sites:
www.cfi.fr, www.tv5.org
6
There is also now access to French
channels via a satellite dish (Euronews
in French, Arte and France 5 - which are
free, and TPS network and Canalsat where you pay).
Subscriptions
Newspapers & magazines (weeklies, special
monthlies) allow you to keep abreast with
French current affairs. Read, for example, the
weekly selection from the French newspaper
‘Le Monde’ for foreign students and French
expatriates.
For more information go to:
www.lemonde.fr
www.lefigaro.fr http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/index.html
Internet
The web site of the Ministry of Foreign
and European Affairs has several sections
that are updated continually, with themes
such as “current events in the government”
(L’actualité gouvernementale). This provides
links to public sites featuring the main topics in
French current events, facilitating searches for
those visiting the web site who live in other
countries. www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
And whether before, during, or after
your stay in France, the Internet portal
francecontact.net should assist you with
finding useful information on France and
keeping in contact with France.
Appendices
Useful addresses
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 192
Education office telephone
numbers and addresses
p. 198
University welcome, orientation
& professional student insertion
services (SCUIO) & international
university relations offices
(by institution)
p. 200
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Research and Higher Education Centres
..
p. 213
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 215
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 219
ME (mutuelles de l’étudiant)
branch addresses
Mutuelles de l’USEM
branch listing and addresses
‘Cité internationale universitaire de Paris’
affiliated establishments
p. 227
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tourist offices (in university towns)
Specialised schools
. . . . . . .
p. 229
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 231
Specialised information centres
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Map of the ‘académies’ and towns
. . . . . . . . . .
p. 242
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 244
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 250
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 254
Abbreviations explained
Useful web sites
Index
p. 239
The CNOUS and the CROUS
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Overseas French Government
Grant-holder
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 256 p. 261
Appendices
Useful addresses
• Accueil familial des jeunes étrangers
23, rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris
Tél. : 01 42 22 50 34
[email protected]
www.afje-paris.org
Stagiaires familiaux à Paris et en province.
• Agence CampusFrance
79, avenue Denfert-Rochereau
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 63 35 00
• Agence Universitaire
de la Francophonie (AUF)
4, place de la Sorbonne
75005 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 41 18 18
www.auf.org
Its goal is to achieve University international cooporation and intercultural dialogue
throughout the world.
• Agence pour l’enseignement français
à l’étranger (AEFE)
19-21, rue du Colonel Pierre Avia
75015 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 69 30 90
www.aefe.diplomatie.fr
• Alliance française
101, boulevard Raspail
Tél. : 01 42 84 90 00
www.alliancefr.org
• Association des foyers
internationaux (AFI)
144, rue Henri Barbusse
95100 Argenteuil
Tél. : 01 34 34 16 50 14
www.afi.asso.fr
• CulturesFrance (ex-AFAA/ADPF)
1 bis, avenue de Villars
75007 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 69 83 00
www.culturesfrance.com
• Association nationale
des docteurs ès sciences (ANDÈS)
62 Bis, rue Gay Lussac
Tél. : 01 43 37 51 12
www.andes.asso.fr
Publishes a helpful guide for doctorate and postdoctorate education (approximately €40).
• Bibliothèque nationale de France
François Mitterrand
Quai François-Mauriac
Tél. : 01 53 79 59 59
www.bnf.fr
• Centre d’entraînement
aux méthodes d’éducation active
(CEMEA)
Association Nationale
24, rue Marc Seguin
Tél. : 01 53 26 24 24
www.cemea.asso.fr
• Centre d’études et de recherches
sur les qualifications (CEREQ)
10, place de la Joliette
BP 21 321
Tél. : 04 91 13 28 28
- antenne parisienne
11, rue Vauquelin
75005 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 08 69 10 (by appointment)
www.cereq.fr
Appendices
• Centre d’information
et de documentation jeunesse (CIDJ)
101, quai Branly
Tél. : 01 44 49 12 00
Fil Info Jeunes : 0825 090 630
www.cidj.asso.fr
• Centre international de séjour
de Paris (CISP) Service de réservation
21, rue Saint Fargeau - BP 313
Tél. : 01 43 58 96 00
[email protected]
www.cisp.fr
• Centre international de séjour
Léo Lagrange (auberge de jeunesse)
107, rue Martre
92110 Clichy
Tél. : 01 41 27 26 90
[email protected]
www.fuaj.org
Specialising in transient groups
• CIEP - Centre international
d’études pédagogiques
1, avenue Léon-Journault
92318 Sèvres Cedex
Tél. : 01 45 07 60 00
www.ciep.fr
• Centre national de documentation
pédagogique (CNDP)
29, rue d’Ulm,
Tél. : 01 55 43 60 00
www.cndp.fr
• Centre national d’enseignement
à distance (CNED)
Télé-Accueil-Téléport 4
bd Léonard de Vinci
BP 60200
86980 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex
Tél. : 05 49 49 94 94(Monday to Friday from
8:30am to 6pm)
www.cned.fr
• Centre National des Œuvres
Universitaires et Scolaires (CNOUS)
- Siège :
69, quai d’Orsay
Tél. : 01 44 18 53 00
Fax : 01 44 18 53 72
www.cnous.fr
- Sous Direction des Affaires
Internationales (SDAI) :
6, rue Jean-Calvin
BP 49
Tél. : 01 44 18 53 00
Fax : 01 55 43 58 00
• Centre national de la recherche
scientifique (CNRS)
Délégation Paris - Michel Ange
3, rue Michel-Ange
Tél. : 01 44 96 40 00
www.cnrs.fr
• Centre nautique des Glénans
Quai Louis Blériot
Tél. : 01 53 92 86 00
www.glenans.asso.fr
• Cité de la musique
Parc de la Villette
221, avenue Jean Jaurès
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 84 45 00 / 44 84
www.cite-musique.fr
• Cité des sciences et de l’industrie
Parc de la Villette
30, avenue Corentin Cariou
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 05 70 00
(from monday to friday)
Réservations Groupes : 01 40 05 12 12
Serveur vocal : 01 40 05 80 00
www.cite-sciences.fr
• Club alpin français
Fédération française des clubs alpins
et de montagne
24, avenue Laumière
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 72 87 00
www.ffcam.fr
• Club des lecteurs d’expression
française (CLEF)
Ministère de la Coopération
20 rue Monsieur
75007 PARIS
Tél. 01 47 83 15 92 / 15 93
The Club promotes and distributes AfroCarribean Literature (they have their own
review ‘Notre librairie’ and organise travelling
exhibitions with teaching themes).
See CulturesFrance.
• Collège de France
11, place Marcelin Berthelot
Tél. : 01 44 27 12 11
www.college-de-france.fr
• Comité d’études sur les formations
d’ingénieurs (CEFI)
7, rue Lamennais
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 42 89 15 73
www.cefi.org
• Commission française
pour l’UNESCO
57, bd des Invalides
75007 Paris Cedex
Tél. : 01 53 69 39 07 ou 32 39
www.unesco.org
Patronage of Post-‘maîtrise’ courses in
connection with UNESCO programmes
• Conservatoire national des arts
et métiers (CNAM)
292, rue Saint Martin
F-75141 Paris Cedex 03
Tél. : 01 40 27 20 00
www.cnam.fr
• CulturesFrance
1 bis, avenue de Villars
75007 Paris 292
Tél. : 01 53 69 83 00
www.culturesfrance.com
• Documentation française (La)
29, quai Voltaire
Tél. : 01 40 15 71 10
www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr
Bookshop, Library & Documentary
Collection
Opening hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Friday : 9am to 6pm, Thursday : 9am to 7pm.
• Fondation Entraide Hostater
40, rue Rouelle
75015 Paris
Tél. : 01 45 77 24 90
Grants & Academic service
• Fédération française des maisons des
jeunes et de la culture (FFMJC)
15, rue de la Condamine
75017 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 69 82 25
www.FFMJC.org
• Fédération française de ski (FFS)
50, rue des Marquisats
BP 2451
74011 Annecy Cedex
Tél. : 04 50 51 75 90
www.ffs.fr
• Fédération nationale des offices
de tourisme et syndicats d’initiative
(FNOTSI)
11 rue du Faubourg Poissonniere
75009 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 11 10 30
www.tourisme.fr
Appendices
• Fédération unie des auberges
de jeunesse (FUAJ)
27, rue Pajol
75018 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 89 87 27
www.fuaj.org
• Institut catholique de Paris
21, rue d’Assas
Tél. : 01 44 39 52 00
www.icp.fr
pour l’enseignement de la gestion
des entreprises (FNEGE)
2, avenue Hoche
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 29 93 60
www.fnege.net
• Institut de recherche pour
le développement (IRD)
Le Sextant
44 boulevard de Dunkerque
CS 90009
13572 Marseille cedex 02
Tél. : 04 91 99 92 00
www.ird.fr
• Fondation santé des étudiants
• Institut national de la santé et
• Fondation nationale
de France
8, rue Émile-Deutsch-de-la-Meurthe
BP 147
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 45 89 43 39
Regroupe 11 établissements sanitaires et 8
structures médico-sociales sur tout le territoire où les étudiants peuvent être soignés tout
en leur permettant de poursuivre leurs études
www.fsef.net
• Foyer international d’accueil de Paris
(FIAP)
30, rue Cabanis
750l4 Paris
Tél. : 01 43 13 17 00
www.fiap.asso.fr
This hostel accomodates transient young
people and students.
• Groupement professionnel des
organismes d’enseignement du
français langue étrangère (SOUFFLE)
Espace Charlotte
83260 La Crau
Tél. : 08 70 40 74 34
www.souffle.asso.fr
• Agence de promotion du Français
Langue Etrangère (FLE)
5, rue Marceau
34000 Montpellier
Tél. : 06 30 53 51 44
www.fle.fr
de la recherche médicale (INSERM)
101, rue de Tolbiac
Tél. : 01 44 23 60 00
www.inserm.fr
• Inter service migrants (ISM)
251 rue du Faubourg Saint Martin
75010 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 26 52 50
Info-migrants: anonymous and free information service for foreign students and professionals at 01 53 26 52 82 everyday,except
weekends, from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm
to 4 pm. Approved translators, information
and interpretation services for foreigners
in France
www.ism-interpretariat.com
• Jeunesses musicales de France (JMF)
20, rue Geoffroy L’Asnier
75004 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 61 86 86
www.lesjmf.org
• L’Étudiant
27, rue du Chemin Vert
Tél. : 01 48 07 41 41
www.letudiant.fr
• Ligue française de l’enseignement
et de l’éducation permanente
3 rue Récamier
Tél. : 01 43 53 97 33
www.ligueparis.org
• Ligue française pour les auberges
de la jeunesse (LFAJ)
Bâtiment K
67, rue Vergniaud
75013 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 78 78
Heures d’ouverture : du Lundi au Vendredi
De 9H à 13H et de 14H à 17H.
www.auberges-de-jeunesse.com
• Ministère des affaires étrangères
et Europèennes
- Direction générale de la coopération internationale
et du développement
- Service de la stratégie, des moyens et de
l’évaluation
- Service de la coordination géographique
- Direction de la coopération culturelle et du français
- Direction du développement et de la coopération technique
- Direction de la coopération scientifique, universitaire et de recherche
- Direction de l’audiovisuel extérieur et des techniques de la communication
244, boulevard Saint-Germain
75303 Paris 07 SP
Standard téléphonique : 01 43 17 90 00
• Ministère de l’Alimentation,
de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche
- Direction générale de l’enseignement et de
la recherche (DGER) - Bureau des relations
européennes et de la coopération internationale
1ter, avenue de Lowendal
75007 Paris 07 SP
- Service d’information
Tél. : 01 49 55 52 52
www.portea.fr
www.agriculture.gouv.fr
• Ministère de la Culture
et de la Communication
Formation aux métiers de la culture :
www.culture.fr/culture/infos-pratiques/formations
- Internet culturel : www.culture.fr
3, rue de Valois
Tél. : 01 40 15 80 00
- Board of Management for Architecture &
Cultural Heritage (Subboard of Management
for courses, professions & research related to
Architecture & Urban Studies)
3, rue de Valois
Tél. : 01 40 15 80 00
- Board of Managment for Architecture
(dept. for teaching of Architecture & Architectural
research)
- Bureau des enseignements
3, rue de Valois
Tél. : 01 40 15 32 59
- Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP)
Tour Atlantique
1, place de la Pyramide
92911 Paris-La Défense
Tél. : 01 46 93 99 50
www.cnap.fr
- Board of Management for Music,Dance,
Theatre & Performing arts (DMDTS)
53, rue Saint Dominique
75007 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 15 80 00
- Service de documentation et d’information
3, rue de Valois
Tél. : 01 40 15 87 78 (de 14h30 à 18h)
www.culture.gouv.fr
• Ministère délégué à la Coopération
et à la Francophonie
15, rue Monsieur
75700 Paris 07 SP
Tél. : 01 53 69 30 00
Appendices
• Ministère de la Jeunesse, de l’Éducation
Nationale et de la Recherche
110, rue de Grenelle
75357 Paris 07 SP
Tél. : 01 55 55 10 10
- Direction des relations européennes et internationales et de la coopération (DREIC)
1, rue Descartes
75005 Paris
Tél. : 01 55 55 75 30
Direction générale pour l’enseignement
supérieur et l’insertion professionnelle (DGESIP)
97-99, rue de Grenelle
75007 Paris
Tél. : 01 55 55 63 00
• Office Franco-Allemand pour
la Jeunesse (OFAJ)
51, rue de l´Amiral-Mouchez
75013 Paris
Tél : 01 40 78 18 18
www.ofaj.org
• Office Français de l’Immigration
et de l’Intégration
48, rue de la Roquette
75011 Paris
Tél. : 01 55 28 19 40
www.ofii.fr
• Société d’Encouragement
aux Métiers d’Aart (SEMA)
Viaduc des arts
23, avenue Daumesnil
75012 Paris
Tél. : 01 55 78 85 85
http://metiersdart-artisanat.com
• Société française d’exportation
des ressources educatives (SFERE)
8, avenue des Minimes
F-94306 Vincennes Cedex
Tél. : 01 41 74 70 00
www.sfere.fr
• UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy
750352 Paris 07 SP
Tél. : 01 45 68 10 00
www.unesco.org
• Union centrale des arts décoratifs
(UCAD)
Palais du Louvre
107 - 111, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 55 57 50
www.ucad.fr
• Office Français de Protection
des Réfugiés et Apatrides (OFPRA)
201, rue Carnot
94136 Fontenay-sous-Bois Cedex
Tél. : 01 58 68 10 10
www.ofpra.gouv.fr
Opening hours : 9am to 3pm
• ONISEP
12 mail Barthélémy-Thimonnier, LOGNES,
77437 Marne-la-Vallée Cedex
Tél. : 01 64 80 36 15
Numéro AZUR : 0810 012 025
ou : 01 77 77 12 25
www.onisep.fr
Education office
telephone numbers
and addresses
• Aix-Marseille
Place Lucien-Paye
Tél. : 04 42 91 70 00
www.ac-aix-marseille.fr
• Amiens
20, boulevard d’Alsace-Lorraine
BP 2609
Tél. : 03 22 82 38 23
www.ac-amiens.fr
• Besançon
10, rue de la Convention
25030 Besançon Cedex
Tél. : 03 81 65 47 00
www.ac-besancon.fr
• Bordeaux
5, rue Joseph de Carayon-Latour
BP 935
33060 Bordeaux Cedex 01
Tél. : 05 57 57 38 00
www.ac-bordeaux.fr
• Caen
168, rue Caponière
BP 6184
14061 Caen Cedex
Tél. : 02 31 30 15 00
www.ac-caen.fr
3, avenue Vercingétorix
Tél. : 04 73 99 30 00
www.ac-clermont.fr
• Corse
Boulevard Pascal Rossini
BP 808
20192 Ajaccio Cedex 4
Tél. : 04 95 50 33 33
www.ac-corse.fr
• Créteil
4, rue Georges Enesco
Tél. : 01 57 02 60 00
www.ac-creteil.fr
• Dijon
51, rue Monge
BP 1516
21033 Dijon Cedex
Tél. : 03 80 44 84 00
www.ac-dijon.fr
• Grenoble
7, place Bir-Hakeim
BP 1065
Tél. : 04 72 80 60 60
www.ac-grenoble.fr
• Guadeloupe
Assainissement
BP 480
Tél. : 0590 93 83 83
www.ac-guadeloupe.fr
• Guyane
Route de Baduel
BP 6011
97306 Cayenne Cedex
Tél. : 0594 25 58 58
www.ac-guyane.fr
• Lille
20, rue Saint Jacques - BP 709
59033 Lille Cedex
Tél. : 03 20 15 60 00
www.ac-lille.fr
• Limoges
13, rue François Chénieux
87031 Limoges Cedex
Tél. : 05 55 11 40 40
www.ac-limoges.fr
• Lyon
92, rue de Marseille - BP 7227
69354 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél. : 04 72 80 60 60
www.ac-lyon.fr
Education offices telephone numbers & addresses
• Mayotte
BP 76
97600 Mayotte
Tél. : 0269 61 10 24
www.ac-mayotte.fr
• Martinique
Haut de Terreville
97279 Schœlcher Cedex
Tél. : 0596 52 25 00
www.ac-martinique.fr
• Montpellier
31, rue de l’Université
Tél. : 04 67 91 47 00
www.ac-montpellier.fr
• Nancy-Metz
2, rue Philippe de Gueldres
BP 13
54035 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 86 20 20
www.ac-nancy-metz.fr
• Nantes
La Houssinière
BP 72616
Tél. : 02 40 37 37 37
www.ac-nantes.fr
• Nice
50, avenue Cap de Croix
06181 Nice Cedex 02
Tél. : 04 93 53 70 70
www.ac-nice.fr
• Orléans-Tours
21, rue Saint-Étienne
Tél. : 02 38 79 38 79
www.ac-orleans-tours.fr
• Paris
47, rue des Écoles
Tél. : 01 40 46 22 11
www.ac-paris.fr
www.sorbonne.fr
• Poitiers
5, cité de la Traverse
BP 625
Tél. : 05 49 54 70 00
www.ac-poitiers.fr
• Reims
1, rue Navier
51082 Reims Cedex
Tél. : 03 26 05 69 69
www.ac-reims.fr
• Rennes
96, rue d’Antain
CS 10503
35705 Rennes Cedex 7
Tél. : 02 23 21 77 77
www.ac-rennes.fr
• La Réunion
24, avenue Georges Brassens
Le Moufia
97702 Saint-Denis Messag Cedex 9
Tél. : 02 62 48 10 10
www.ac-reunion.fr
• Rouen
5, rue de Fontenelle
76037 Rouen Cedex
Tél. : 02 32 08 90 00
www.ac-rouen.fr
• Strasbourg
6, rue de la Toussaint
67975 Strasbourg Cedex 6
Tél. : 03 88 23 37 23
www.ac-strasbourg.fr
• Toulouse
PIace Saint Jacques
Tél. : 05 61 17 70 00
www.ac-toulouse.fr
• Versailles
3, boulevard de Lesseps
Tél. : 01 30 83 44 44
www.ac-versailles.fr
University
welcome,
orientation and
professional
student insertion
services by
institute, (SCUIO)
and offices of
international
university relations
(SRI)
The BUIIO, CAIO, CELAIO, CIO, MRIP,
OCO, POIP. SCUIO, SCAOIP, SCUIO,
SCUIO-IP, SIO, SIOE, SIOU, SUIOP centres
provide information about university courses
and study programmes.
Académie d’Aix-Marseille
Marseille
• Université Aix-Marseille I
Service des Relations Internationales
Bureau A216
29, avenue Robert Schuman
Tél. : 04 42 95 32 00 (Aix)
SUIO
(Literature, Languages, Art, Communication,
Social Science)
address as above
Tél. : 04 91 10 32 23
SUIO (Science and Technology)
Saint-Charles - Faculté des sciences
3, place Victor Hugo
13001 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 10 60 58
www.up.univ-mrs.fr
• Université Aix-Marseille II
58, boulevard Charles-Livon
Tél. : 04 91 39 65 00
SCUIO address as above
Tél. : 04 91 39 65 17
SCUIO Luminy
163, avenue de Luminy
Tél. : 04 91 82 93 89
SCUIO Sciences Economiques
14, avenue Jules Ferry
13621 Aix-en Provence Cedex
Tél. : 04 42 91 48 84
SCUIO
27 Boulevard Jean Moulin
Tél. : 04 91 32 43 57
www.univmed.fr
• Université Aix-Marseille III
Service des Relations internationales
10 Rue de la Fourane
13090 Aix-en-Provence
Tél. : 04 42 17 14 20
POIP address as above
Tél. : 04 42 21 59 87
Antenne de Marseille-Saint-Jérôme
Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen
13013 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 28 81 18
POIP
Antenne de Marseille Canebière
110/112 Centre Universitaire de la Canebière
13001 Marseille
Tél. : 04 96 12 61 73
www.univ.u-3mrs.fr
• Avignon
Université d’Avignon
et des Pays du Vaucluse
74, rue Louis-Pasteur
84029 Avignon Cedex 1
Tél. : 04 90 16 25 58 / 74
Tél. : 04 90 16 25 85
www.univ-avignon.fr
Appendices
Académie d’Amiens
Amiens
Académie de Bordeaux
Bordeaux
• Université de Picardie Jules Verne
• Université Bordeaux I
Chemin du Thil
BP 2716
Tél. : 03 22 82 72 72
BUIIO
11, rue des Francs-Mûriers
Tél. : 03 22 82 64 00
www.u-picardie.fr
Compiègne
351, cours de la Libération
33405 Talence Cedex
Tél. : 05 40 00 60 40
Espace Conseil Orientation Emploi
Address as above
Tél. : 05 40 00 63 71
SCUIO
Avenue Michel Serres
47000 Agen
Tél. : 05 53 48 06 40
www.u-bordeaux1.fr
• Université de Technologie
• Université Bordeaux II
rue Personne de Roberval - BP 20529
60200 Compiègne Cedex
Tél. : 03 44 23 46 93
www.utc.fr
Académie de Besançon
Besançon
• Université de Franche-Comté
Délégation générale aux Relations
internationales et à la Francophonie
(DGRIF)
6e étage du CLA
6 rue Plançon
25030 Besançon cedex
Tél. : 03 81 66 50 36
www.univ-fcomte.fr
Belfort
• Université de technologie de Belfort
et de Montbéliard
Site de Sévenans
90010 Belfort Cedex
Tél. : 03 84 58 35 75
CIO
3, rue Vivaldi
25200 Montbéliard
Tél. : 03 81 98 18 95
www.utbm.fr
146, rue Léo Saignat
Tél. : 05 57 57 13 02
SCUIO (Science,Health,Sport)
address as above
Tél. : 05 57 57 13 81
SCUIO (sciences humaines)
3 Ter place de la Victoire
Tél. : 05 57 57 18 04
www.u-bordeaux2.fr
• Université Bordeaux III
Université Michel de Montaigne
Domaine universitaire
33607 Pessac Cedex
Tél. : 05 57 12 47 47
SCUIO-IP
address as above
Tél. : 05 57 12 45 00
www.u-bordeaux3.fr
• Université Bordeaux IV
Avenue Léon-Duguit
33608 Pessac Cedex
Tél. : 05 56 84 85 86
SCUIO
Tél. : 05 56 84 85 49
www.u-bordeaux4.fr
Pau
• Université de Pau et des Pays de
l’Adour
Avenue de l’Université
BP 576
64012 Pau Cedex
Tél. : 05 59 40 70 00
SCUIO-IP (sciences et technologies,
lettres, langues, sciences économiques, droit)
address as above
Tél. : 05 59 40 70 90
SCUIO-IP
(droit, sciences économiques, lettres)
77, rue Bourgneuf
64100 Bayonne
Tél. : 05 59 57 41 61
www.univ-pau.fr
Académie de Caen
Caen
• Université de Caen-Basse Normandie
BP 5186
14032 Caen Cedex
Tél. : 02 31 56 60 78
SUIO (sciences et technologies, droit,
sciences politiques,économie, gestion,
lettres, langues, sciences humaines, santé,
sport)
Campus 1 - Bâtiment Lettres
Niveau 1 - Porte LE 112
14032 Caen Cedex
Tél. : 02 31 56 55 12
www.unicaen.fr
Académie de Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
• Clermont-Ferrand I
49, boulevard François Mitterrand
BP 32
Tél. : 04 73 17 72 71 / 72 77
SUIO
Service de l’étudiant
47 Boulevard François-Mitterrand
BP 32
63001 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex
Tél. : 04 73 17 72 20
www.u-clermont1.fr
• Clermont-Ferrand II
Université Blaise Pascal
34, avenue Carnot
4e étage
BP 185
Tél. : 04 73 40 61 37
SCUIO (sciences et technologies, lettres,
langues, sciences humaines, sport)
Carnot
Tél. : 04 73 40 62 70
Cézeaux (MVE)
Tél. : 04 73 40 51 40
www.univ-bpclermont.fr
Académie de Corse
Corte
• Université Pascal-Paoli
7, avenue Jean Nicoli
BP 52
20250 Corté
Tél. : 04 95 45 02 23
POIP
Campus Grossetti
Bâtiment PPDB
BP 52
20250 Corté
Tél. : 04 95 45 00 21
www.univ-corse.fr
Appendices
Académie de Créteil
Villetaneuse
• Université Paris XII-Val de Marne
• Université Paris XIII
61, avenue du Général-de-Gaulle
Niveau dalle
Tél. : 01 45 17 12 61
SCUIO
Bâtiment i3 - niveau dalle
Centre multidisciplinaire de Créteil
Tél. : 01 45 17 12 14 / 12 17
SCUIO
Bureau 206 - Bâtiment C - IUT
Avenue Pierre Point
77127 Lieusaint
Tél. : 01 64 13 41 89
www.univ-paris12.fr
Marne-la-Vallée
• Université de Marne-La-Vallée
Bâtiment Copernic
Bureau Fosbury
5, bd Descartes - Champs-sur-Marne
77454 Marne-La-Vallée Cedex 2
Tél. : 01 60 95 70 19 / 70 18
SCUIO
Address as above
Tél. : 01 60 95 74 74
www.univ-mlv.fr
Saint-Denis
• Université Paris VIII Saint-Denis
2, rue de la Liberté
Bâtiment. G - salle 220
93526 Saint-Denis Cedex
Tél. : 01 49 40 65 36 / 70 68
SCUIO
Bâtiment A - salle 347
Tél. : 01 49 40 67 15 / 67 17
www.univ-paris8.fr
99 avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément
grand hall - Bureau L 101
93430 Villetaneuse
Tél. : 01 49 40 30 02
SCUIO-IP
Address as above
Tél. : 01 49 40 30 30
www.univ-paris13.fr
Académie de Dijon
Dijon
• Université de Bourgogne
Maison de l’université
Esplanade Erasme
BP 27877
21078 Dijon Cedex
Tél. : 03 80 39 50 00
SIO Address as above
Tél. : 03 80 39 52 40
www.u-bourgogne.fr
Académie de Grenoble
Chambéry
• Université de Haute-Savoie
Division des Relations Internationales
27, rue Marcoz - BP 1104
F-73011 Chambéry Cedex
Tél. : 04 79 75 85 85
SCUIO
9, rue de l’Arc-en-Ciel
74940 Annecy le Vieux Cedex
Tél. : 04 79 75 91 70
SCUIO
378, rue de la République
73011 Chambéry Cedex
Tél. : 04 79 75 91 70
www.univ-savoie.fr
Grenoble
• Université Grenoble I
621 avenue Centrale
BP 53
38041 Grenoble Cedex 09
Tél. : 04 76 51 45 13
CELAIO
BP 53
Tél. : 04 76 51 46 21
www.ujf-grenoble.fr
• Université Grenoble II
Bureau 217, 2e étage
151, rue des Universités
38400 Saint-artin d’Hères
Tél. : 04 76 82 56 98
SCUIO domaine universitaire
38040 Saint-Martin-d’Hères Cedex 09
Tél. : 04 76 82 55 45
CIOsup Sciences Sociales
151, rue des Universités - BP 47
Tél. : 04 76 82 55 45
www.upmf-grenoble.fr
• Université Grenoble III
Bâtiment Z - RdC
1180, avenue centrale
38400 Saint Martin d’Hères
Tél. : 04 76 82 41 11
SIO
1180, avenue Centrale
Bâtiment A
1er étage
Tél. : 04 76 82 43 11
www.u-grenoble3.fr
• INP Grenoble
46, avenue Félix-Viallet - BP 47
Tél. : 04 76 57 47 52
www.inpg.fr
Académies de la Guadeloupe,
de la Guyane, de la Martinique
• Université des Antilles-Guyane
Campus universitaire de Pointe-Fouillole
BP 250
Tél. : 05 90 48 32 27
SCUIO-IP
Campus de Saint-Denis
BP 792
97337 Cayenne Cedex
Tél. : 05 94 29 62 37
SCUIO-IP
Campus de Schoelcher - BP 7004
97275 Schoelcher Cedex
Tél. : 05 96 72 73 18
SCUIO-IP
Campus de Fouillole
BP 250
97157 Pointe-à-Pitre
Tél. : 05 90 48 30 31
www.univ-ag.fr
Académie de Lille
Arras
• Université d’Artois
9, rue du Temple - BP 10665
62030 Arras Cedex
Tél. : 03 21 60 37 00
Tél. : 03 21 60 37 15
www.univ-artois.fr
Dunkerque
• Université du Littoral
1, place de l’Yser - BP 1022
59375 Dunkerque Cedex 1
Tél. : 03 28 23 73 99 / 74 26
SUAIO
Bâtiment de la BULCO
55 avenue de l’Université - BP 5526
Tél. : 03 28 23 75 50
www.univ-littoral.fr
Appendices
Lille
• Université Lille I
Académie de Limoges
Limoges
Bâtiment A3
Cité Scientifique
59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex
Tél. : 03 20 43 67 13
SUAIO
bibliothèque universitaire
Avenue Carl Gauss
Tél. : 03 20 05 87 39
www.univ-lille1.fr
• Université de Limoges
• Université Lille II
Académie de Lyon
Lyon
42, rue Paul Duez
59800 Lille
Tél. : 03 20 96 43 43
BAIP
42, rue Paul Duez
59800 Lille
Tél. : 03 20 96 52 73
www.univ-lille2.fr
• Université Lille III
Domaine universitaire du “Pont de bois”
Bâtiment A, 2e étage
Bureaux A 300 à A 311
BP 60149
Tél. : 03 20 41 64 90
SUAIO address as above
Tél. : 03 20 41 62 46
www.univ-lille3.fr
Valenciennes
• Université de Valenciennes
et du Hainaut-Cambrésis
Le Mont-Houy,
59313 Valenciennes Cedex 9
Tél. : 03 27 51 77 31
SIO address as above
Tél. : 03 27 51 10 32 / 10 33
www.univ-valenciennes.fr
Direction de la Coopération Internationale
88, rue du Pont Saint Martial
87000 Limoges
Tél. : 05 55 14 90 16
SCUIO
88, rue du Pont St Martial
87000 Limoges
Tél. : 05 55 14 90 70
www.unilim.fr
• Université Lyon I
Maison de l’université
1e étage
43, boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918
69622 Villeurbanne Cedex
Tél. : 04 72 44 80 07
SOIE address as above
Tél. : 04 72 44 13 83
SOIE (Filières santé)
Domaine Rockefeller
Niveau 0-A
8, avenue Rockefeller
69373 Lyon Cedex 8
Tél. : 04 78 77 70 92
www.univ-lyon1.fr
• Université Lyon II
Division des Relations Internationales
16, quai Claude Bernard
69365 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél. : 04 78 69 74 53
SCUIO Campus Porte des Alpes
5 avenue Pierre Mendès France
69676 Bron Cedex
Tél. : 04 78 77 23 42
www.univ-lyon2.fr
• Université Lyon III
6, cours Albert Thomas
BP 8242
69365 Lyon Cedex 08
Tél. : 04 78 78 73 93
SCUIO
6, Cours Albert Thomas - Salle Olympie
69008 Lyon Cedex 08
Tél. : 04 78 78 78 40
www.univ-lyon3.fr
Saint-Etienne
• Université Jean-Monnet
21, rue Denis Papin
42023 Saint-Étienne Cedex 2
Tél. : 04 77 43 79 70
SCUIO
34, rue Francis Baulier
Tél. : 04 77 42 17 16
www.univ-st-etienne.fr
Académie de Montpellier
Montpellier
• Université Montpellier I
Espace Richter
Rue Vendémiaire - Bâtiment E
CS 29555
Tél. : 04 67 82 12 56
SCUIO
5 boulevard Henri IV
CS 19044
Tél. : 04 67 41 76 00
www. univ-montp1.fr
• Université Montpellier II
Place Eugène-Bataillon
Tél. : 04 67 14 30 43
Tél. : 04 67 14 30 61
www.univ-montp2.fr
• Université Montpellier III
Bâtiment “Les Guilhem”
203-209
Route de Mende,
Tél. : 04 67 14 20 62
Tél. : 04 67 14 23 42 / 23 44
www.univ-montp3.fr
Perpignan
• Université de Perpignan
52, avenue Paul Alduy
66860 Perpignan Cedex
Tél. : 04 68 66 81 07
SCUIO-IP address as above
Tél. : 04 68 66 20 40 / 20 43
www.univ-perp.fr
Académie de Nancy-Metz
Metz
• Université de Metz
Ile du Saulcy
BP 80794
57012 Metz Cedex 1
Tél. : 03 87 54 77 77
SIOU-OEI address as above
Tél. : 03 87 31 50 40
www.univ-metz.fr
Nancy
• Université Nancy I
24-30, rue Lionnois
BP 60120
54003 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 54 50 54 32
SCUIO / DEMAIN
Espace de Services Aiguillettes - ESA
Campus Aiguillettes
Rue du Jardin Botanique
54600 Villers-Les-Nancy
Tél. : 03 83 68 40 84
www.uhp-nancy.fr
Appendices
• Université Nancy II
34 Cours Léopold
CS 25 233
54052 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 34 54 28
SCUIOP
4, rue de la Ravinelle
CO 26
54035 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 54 50 37 80
www.univ-nancy2.fr
• INP Lorraine
2, avenue de la Forêt-de-Haye
BP 3
F-54501 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 59 59 59
www.inpl-nancy.fr
Nantes
• Université de Nantes
Division des relations internationales
BP 13522
F-44035 Nantes cedex 1
Tél. : 02 53 46 21 62
SUIO
110 boulevard Michelet
BP 42212
Tél. : 02 40 37 10 00
www.univ-nantes.fr
• Université Catholique de l’Ouest
3, place André-Leroy
Tél. : 02 41 81 66 42 / 67 55
www.uco.fr
Académie de Nantes
Angers
Académie de Nice
Nice
• Université d’Angers
• Université de Nice Sofia-Antipolis
40, rue de Rennes
BP 73532
49035 Angers Cedex
Tél. : 02 41 96 23 15
SUIO
Maison des étudiants
2, boulevard Beaussier,
Tél. : 02 41 22 69 20
www.univ-angers.fr
Le Mans
• Université du Maine
Maison de l’Université
Avenue Olivier Messiaen,
72085 Le Mans Cedex 9
Tél. : 02 43 83 30 05 / 30 28
SUIO address as above
Tél. : 02 43 83 30 66 / 30 67
www.univ-lemans.fr
89 Avenue Georges V
06 046 Nice Cedex
Tél. : 04 92 07 66 15
SCUIO
Bâtiment Petit Valrose
Avenue Joseph Vallot
06108 Nice Cedex 2
Tél. : 04 92 07 69 20
www.unice.fr
Toulon
• Université du SUD Toulon et du Var
Avenue de l’Université - BP 20132
Tél. : 04 94 14 29 09
DOSI
Université du Sud Toulon-Var
BP 20132
Tél. : 04 94 14 14 22 14 / 26 22 / 20 04
www.univ-tln.fr
Académie d’Orléans-Tours
Orléans
• Université d’Orléans
Orléans La Source
BP 6749
Tél. : 02 38 49 47 95
SUIO
Maison de l’étudiant - 1e étage
Rue de Tours
BP 6749
Tél. : 02 38 41 71 72
www.univ-orleans.fr
Tours
• Université François-Rabelais
8, rue des Tanneurs
1e étage
37000 Tours Cedex
Tél. : 02 47 36 67 04
SUIO
116, bd Béranger - 1e étage
37042 Tours Cedex
Tél. : 02 47 36 81 70
www.univ-tours.fr
Académie de Paris
• Université Paris I
Maison internationale
58 boulevard Arago
75013 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 07 76 79
SCUIO
Centre PMF
Bureau C 901 - 9e étage
90, rue de Tolbiac
75013 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 07 88 56
www.univ-paris1.fr
• Université Paris II
Aile Soufflot - Esc. M - 2e étage
12 place du Panthéon
75231 Paris Cedex 5
Tél. : 01 44 41 55 31 / 55 33
CIO
Immeuble Notre Dame des Champs
4e étage - Centre Assas
92, rue d’Assas
75006 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 41 58 84
www.u-paris2.fr
• Université Paris III
13, rue de Santeuil
Tél. : 01 45 87 48 48
Tél. : 01 45 87 40 01
www.univ-paris3.fr
• Université Paris IV
1, rue Victor Cousin
Tél. : 01 40 46 33 76
Tél. : 01 40 46 26 14 / 32 48
www.paris-sorbonne.fr
• Université Paris V
Service des Affaires Européennes
et des Relations Internationales
12, rue de l’École de Médecine
Tél. : 01 40 46 17 70
Tél. : 01 40 46 16 50
www.univ-paris5.fr
• Université Paris VI
Parvis Jussieu - Tour centrale
4, place Jussieu,
Tél. : 01 44 27 26 74
CAIO address as above
Tél. : 01 44 27 33 66 / 39 70
www.upmc.fr
Appendices
• Université Paris VII
5, rue Thomas Mann
Aile A - 2e étage
Case courrier 7140
75013
Tél. : 01 57 27 55 35
SCUIOP address as above
Tél. : 01 57 27 71 31
www.univ-paris-diderot.fr
• Université Paris-Dauphine : Paris IX
Place du Maréchal de Lattre-de-Tassigny
Bureau P039
Tél. : 01 44 05 41 50
Tél. : 01 44 05 44 05
www.dauphine.fr
• Service des Relations internationales
2, rue de Lille
2e étage
Tél. : 01 49 26 42 78
Service information - communication
2, rue de Lille
Tél. : 01 49 26 26 02
www.inalco.fr
Académie de Poitiers
Poitiers
• Université de Poitiers
15, Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu (Hôtel PINET)
Tél. : 05 49 45 30 87
SCUIO (Planète Info)
Maison des étudiants
101, avenue du Recteur Pineau
Tél. : 05 49 45 33 81
www.univ-poitiers.fr
La Rochelle
• Université de la Rochelle
23, avenue Albert Einstein
17071 La Rochelle Cedex 9
Tél. : 05 46 45 87 19
MRIP address as above
Tél. : 05 46 45 26 77
www.univ-larochelle.fr
Académie de Reims
Reims
• Université de Reims
Villa douce
14, boulevard de la Paix
51097 Reims Cedex
Tél. : 03 26 91 83 59
SIOU - Croix Rouge
Rue Rilly-la-Montagne
51100 Reims Cedex
Tél. : 03 26 91 87 55
SIOU - UFR Sciences
Campus Moulin de la Housse
Bâtiment 5
rue des Crayères
51687 Reims Cedex
Tél. : 03 26 91 85 30
www.univ-reims.fr
Troyes
• Université de Technologie
12, rue Marie Curie
BP 2060
10010 Troyes Cedex
Tél. : 03 25 71 76 00
SIOU
9, rue de Québec
BP 396
10026 Troyes Cedex
Tél. : 03 25 42 46 39
www.utt.fr
Académie de Rennes
Brest
• Université de Bretagne Occidentale
3, rue des Archives
CS 93837
29238 Brest Cedex 3
Tél. : 02 98 01 81 56
SUAOIP
20, avenue Victor-le-Gorgeu
CS 93837
29238 Brest Cedex 3
Tél. : 02 98 01 63 17
www.univ-brest.fr
Rennes
• Université Rennes I
2, rue du Thabor
CS 46510
35065 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 23 23 36 71 / 39 52
SOIE
8, rue Kléber
35000 Rennes
Tél. : 02 23 23 39 79
www.univ-rennes1.fr
• Université Rennes 2
- Haute Bretagne
Place du Recteur Henri le Moal
CS 24307
35043 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 99 14 10 91
SUOIP address as above
Tél. : 02 99 14 13 91
www.uhb.fr
• Université de Bretagne Sud
Centre Kerneur
BP 92116
Paquebot / salle Jamaïque
2e étage
56321 Lorient Cedex
Tél. : 02 97 87 66 70
SUIO
Centre Kerneur
rue Comtesse de Ségur
56321 Lorient Cedex
Tel. : 02 97 87 11 25
www.univ-ubs.fr
Académie de la Réunion
La Réunion
• Université de La Réunion
Campus universitaire du Moufia
15, avenue René Cassin
BP 7151
97715 Saint-Denis Messag Cedex 9
Tél. : 00 262 262 93 83 21
SUAIO address as above
Tél. : 00 262 93 81
www.univ-reunion.fr
Académie de Rouen
Le Havre
• Université du Havre
Maison de l’étudiant
2e étage
25, rue Philippe Lebon
76600 Le Havre Cedex
Tél. : 02 32 74 42 27
SUIO
50, rue Jean-Jaques Rousseau
BP 1123
76063 Le Havre Cedex
Tél. : 02 32 74 42 29
www.univ-lehavre.fr
Appendices
Rouen
• Université de Rouen
Haute Normandie
17, rue Lavoisier
76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan Cedex
Tél. : 02 35 14 61 36
SUIO
Rue Lavoisier
Tél. : 02 32 76 93 73
www.univ-rouen.fr
Académie de Strasbourg
Mulhouse
• Université de Haute Alsace
Maison de l’Université
Bureau 1er étage
2, rue des Frères Lumière
68093 MULHOUSE Cedex
Tél. : 03 89 33 63 02
SIO
1, rue Alfred-Werner
68093 Mulhouse Cedex
Tél. : 03 89 33 64 40
www.uha.fr
Strasbourg
A multidisciplinary university created by the merging of three previous universities (University of
Strasbourg I, University of Strasbourg II and
University of Strasbourg III
Académie de Toulouse
Toulouse
• Université Toulouse I Capitole
2 rue du Doyen-Gabriel-Marty
Tél. : 05 61 63 39 25
SCUIO
Place Anatole-France
31042 Toulouse Cedex
Tél. : 05 61 63 37 28
www.univ-tlse1.fr
• Université Toulouse II
Maison de la Recherche
5, allées Antonio Machado
Tél. : 05 61 50 36 46
SIOU address as above
Tél. : 05 61 50 45 15
www.univ-tlse2.fr
• Université Toulouse III
118, route de Narbonne
Tél. : 05 61 55 66 24
Tél. : 05 61 55 61 32
www.ups-tlse.fr
• INP Toulouse
6, allée Émile Monso
BP 4038
Tél. : 05 34 32 30 00
www.inp-toulouse.fr
• Université Strasbourg I
4, rue Blaise-Pascal
F-67081 Strasbourg cedex
Tél. : 03 68 85 00 00
Espace Avenir
Orientation - Stage - Emploi
22 rue René Descartes
67000 Strasbourg
Tél : 03 68 85 63 00
www-ulp.u-strasbg.fr
Académie de Versailles
Cergy-Pontoise
• Université de Cergy-Pontoise
Site des Chênes
Tour des Chênes, 3e étage
33, boulevard du Port
95011 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex
Tél. : 01 34 25 62 45
RdC de la Tour des Chênes
(face entrée Chênes 2)
Tél. : 01 34 25 63 22
www.u-cergy.fr
Evry
• Université d’Évry-Val d’Essonne
4, boulevard François Mitterand
91025 Évry Cedex
Tél. : 01 69 47 70 00
SCUIO
Bâtiment Maupertuis
rue du Père André Jarlain
91025 Évry Cedex
Tél. : 01 69 47 71 76
CIO
110 Place de l’Agora
91000 Évry
Tél. : 01 69 36 09 00
www.univ-evry.fr
Nanterre
• Université Paris X-Nanterre
200, avenue de la République
Bâtiment A
Tél. : 01 40 97 76 27 - 40 98
SCUIO
Bâtiment E - RdC
Bureaux E14 - E19 - E01
Tél. : 01 40 97 75 34
www.u-paris10.fr
Orsay
• Université Paris-Sud : Paris XI
Direction des Relations Internationales
Bâtiment 407 - 1er étage
91405 Orsay Cedex
Tél. : 01 69 15 30 84 / 30 85
SCUIO (sciences et technologie, sport)
Bâtiment 311 - 1er étage
Le Moulin
91405 Orsay Cedex
Tél. : 01 69 15 54 47
SCUIO - OCO (droit, économie, gestion)
Bâtiment B - rez de chaussée bas
54, boulevard Desgranges
92331 Sceaux Cedex
Tél. : 01 40 91 18 38
SCUIO - OCO (pharmacie)
Bâtiment A - Hall d’Honneur
5, rue Jean-Baptiste Clément
92290 Chatenay-Malabry
Tél. : 01 46 83 53 29
www.u-psud.fr
Versailles
• Université de Versailles -
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
Direction des Relations Internationales
Bâtiment d’Alembert
47, boulevard Vauban
78047 Guyancourt Cedex
Tél. : 01 39 25 58 21
SCUIO
(Centre for Social Sciences and
Humanities, Centre for Legal and
Political Sciences)
Bâtiment Vauban
Mezzanine Bureau 101
78047 Guyancourt
Tél. : 01 39 25 56 10
SCUIO (Centre for Sciences and Medicine)
Bâtiment Fermat
Bureau 1202
45, avenue des Etats-Unis
Tél. : 01 39 25 46 10
www.uvsq.fr
Appendices
Territoires d’outre-mer
Tahiti
• Université de la Polynésie française
BP 6570
98702 FAA’A
Tahiti
Polynésie française
Tél. : 689 803 931
CIDO
Campus d’Outumaoro - PUNAAUIA
Tél. : 689 803 954
www.upf.pf
Nouméa
• Centre universitaire
de Nouvelle Calédonie
BPR4
98851 Nouméa Cedex
Nouvelle Calédonie
Tél. : 00 687 26 58 77
SCUIO
Présidence - Campus de Nouvelle
BP 4477
98847 Nouméa Cedex
Tél. : 00 687 26 58 00
www.univ-nc.nc
Research and
Higher Education
Centres
These Research and Higher Education Centres
group together French research and higher
education institutions with the intention
of creating more visible academic entities,
particularly with a view to the international
rankings.
• Pôles de recherche
et d’enseignement supérieur
d’Aix-Marseille
3, Avenue Robert Schuman
Tél. : 04 42 17 25 42
www.univ-bordeaux.fr
de Bordeaux
166 cours de l’Argonne
33000 Bordeaux
Tél. : 05 56 33 80 80
www.univ-bordeaux.fr
de Grenoble
470 avenue de la Bibliothèque
BP 52
38402 St. Martin d’Hères Cedex
Tél. : 04 76 82 83 84
www.grenoble-universites.fr
d’Ile de France Sud
Les Algorithmes
Bâtiment Euripide
91190 Saint-Aubin
Tél. : 01 69 35 60 34
www.universud-paris.fr
de Paris Est
Cité Descartes
Champs-sur-Marne
77454 Marne la Vallée, Cedex 2
Tél. : 01 60 95 79 00
www.univ-paris-est.fr
de Lille Nord de France
1 bis rue Georges Lefèvre
59044 Lille Cedex
Tél. : 03 20 29 85 60
www.univ-lille-nord-de-france.fr
de Lyon
Caserne Sergent Blandan
37, rue du Repos
69361 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél. : 04 37 37 26 70
www.universite-lyon.fr
de Montpellier Sud France
163, rue Auguste Broussonnet
34090 Montpellier
Tél. : 04 67 41 93 33
www.poluniv-mpl.fr
de Lorraine
34 cours Léopold
CS 25233
54052 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 54 50 54 00
http://vers.univ-lorraine.fr
de Rennes
5 boulevard Laënnec
35000 Rennes
Tél. : 02 23 23 79 79
www.ueb.eu
de Strasbourg
11, rue Silbermann
67000 Strasbourg
Tél. : 03 88 60 01 01
www.univ-strasbourg.fr
de Toulouse
15 rue des Lois
31000 Toulouse
Tél. : 05 61 14 80 10
www.univ-toulouse.fr
Student insurance compagnies
BRANCH
ADRESSES
Addresses of agencies and offices of the
Mutuelle des Etudiants (LMDE).
For opening times, go to www.lmde.com
Click on “Your Agency” (“Votre Agence”).
• Avignon
Centre universitaire
74, rue Louis Pasteur
84029 Avignon Cedex 1
• Belfort
Quartier Bougenel
32 rue Gaston Deferre
90000 Belfort
There is a central helpline for the Mutuelle
des Etudiants. All calls are handled by
bilingual advisors (French, English and Spanish)
• Besançon
To contact LMDE advisors, call 3260 and say
“LMDE” (€0.15 /mn)
• Blois
Locaux MGEN
5 rue Copernic
41260 La Chaussée St Victor
• Aix-en-Provence
3, rue Granvelle
25000 Besançon
rue des Allumettes
Résidence de l’Arche
• Bordeaux
• Alès
• Bourges
• Amiens
• Brest
• Angers
• Brive
c/o Mutuelle Existence
29 bis, Quai Boissier de Sauvages
30100 Alès
5, rue Porion
80000 Amiens
55, boulevard du roi René
49000 Angers
• Angoulème
24, cours de l’Argonne
Locaux MGEN
13 rue Faraday
18000 Bourges
6, place de la Liberté
29000 Brest
Locaux MGEN
4 Bd Pierre Brossolette
19100 Brive la Gaillarde
Locaux Mutuelle 403
16 rue de Périgueux
16000 Angoulème
• Caen
• Annecy
• Cergy
Galerie l’Emeraude du Lac
4, rue Jean Jaurès,
74000 Annecy
• Arras
58 rue Grassin Baledans
62000 Arras
68 rue de Bernières
140000 Caen
Université de Cergy “Les Chênes”
Bâtiment Administratif
1er étage - Bureau 117
33 Bd du Port
95000 Cergy
• Chambéry
68, rue des Fréziers
73000 Chambéry
• Chartres
• Evry
Université d’Evry
RdC Bâtiment Mauperthuis
91000 Evry
Locaux MGEN
4 rue St Georges sur Eure
28114 Luce Cedex
• Grenoble
• Châteauroux
• La Rochelle
Locaux MGEN
Rue Max Hymans
36017 Châteauroux Cedex
28, cours Jean-Jaurès
38000 Grenoble
27, avenue des Amériques
17000 La Rochelle
• La Roche-sur-Yon
57, boulevard François Mitterand
Galerie de l’Empire
3, Place Napoléon
85000 La Roche-sur-Yon
• Compiègne
• Le Havre
UTC - Salle A611
Centre B. Franklin
rue Roger Couttolenc
60200 Compiègne
• Corte
7, avenue Jean Nicoli
20250 Corte
• Créteil
Université Paris XII Créteil
Parvis du Campus
61, avenue du Général-de-Gaulle
94000 Créteil
• Dijon
33, rue Nicolas Bornier
21000 Dijon
• Dunkerque
Centre universitaire de la Citadelle
220, avenue de l’Université
Bureau 434
BP 5526
37, rue Demidoff
76600 Le Havre
• Le Mans
Espace de Services Universitaires
20, avenue René Läennec
72000 Le Mans
• Lille
96/98, rue de l’Hôpital Militaire
59800 Lille
• Limoges
8bis, rue Adrien Dubouché,
87038 Limoges Cedex
• Lorient
56, Boulevard Léon Blum
56100 Lorient
• Lyon
Agence Les Quais
19, rue de Marseille
69007 Lyon
• Marne la Vallée
Université Marne la Vallée
Bâtiment Copernic – Bureau 022
77420 Champs sur Marne
35000 Rennes
• Marseille
• Nîmes
• Metz
• Orléans
• Mont de Marsan
• Orsay
• Montluçon
• Paris 5
rue du Prado
13006 Marseille
8, boulevard Sérot
57000 Metz
Locaux MGEN
455 avenue Eloi Ducom
40000 Mont de Marsan
Bâtiment de l’administration de l’IUT
Avenue Aristide Briand
03100 Montluçon
8, rue Deyron,
30000 Nîmes
9 Bd de Verdun
45000 Orléans
Université Paris XI
Bâtiment 332
91400 Orsay
e
Accueil Luxembourg
6 rue des Fossés Saint Jacques
75005 Paris
• Montpellier
Accueil Jussieu
10, rue Linné
75005 Paris
Université Paul Valéry
Route de Mende
34199 Montpellier Cedex
Université Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle
Centre Censier
13 rue de Santeuil
75005 Paris
4, rue Jules Ferry - Immeuble le Régent
• Mulhouse
Bâtiment MCA
5, boulevard de l’Europe - 1er étage
68100 Mulhouse
• Nancy
13 rue de la Ravinelle
54000 Nancy
• Paris 13
e
• Paris 16
e
Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne
Centre PMF Tolbiac
90 rue de Tolbiac
75013 Paris
• Nanterre
Université Paris V René Descartes
IUT
143 avenue de Versailles
75016 Paris
• Nantes
Université Paris IX Dauphine
Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
75016 Paris
Hall Bâtiment E
92000 Nanterre
1, rue Pierre Chéreau
44000 Nantes
• Narbonne
Avenue Pierre de Coubertin
11000 Narbonne
• Nice
18, avenue Thiers
06000 Nice
• Paris 18
e
161 rue Marcadet
75018 Paris
• Pau
53, rue Carnot
64000 Pau
• Perpignan
42, avenue Paul Alduy
• Poitiers
16, rue des Vieilles Boucheries
• Quimper
IUT
Bâtiment A - 3e étage
2, rue de l’Université
29000 Quimper
• Reims
8, rue Jeanne d’Arc
51100 Reims
• Rennes
• Saint Quentin
Locaux MGEN
41 avenue du Centre
78057 Saint Quentin
• Strasbourg
10, rue de l’Abreuvoir
• Toulon
Université de Toulon et du Var
Avenue de l’Université
Bâtiment A
• Toulouse
97, rue Riquet
31007 Toulouse
Accueil Centre Ville
29, quai Chateaubriand
35000 Rennes
• Tours
Accueil Campus Villejean
Université Rennes 2 Haute Bretagne
Bâtiment EREVE
35000 Rennes
• Troyes
• Rouen
23, rue Bouffier
26000 Valence
15, rue du Grand Pont
76000 Rouen
• Saint-Brieuc
1, place Haute du Chai
22000 Saint-Brieuc
• Saint-Denis
Université Paris VIII
Rez-de-chaussée de la Bibliothèque
Avenue de Stalingrad
93200 Saint-Denis
• Saint-Étienne
64, rue du 11 Novembre
42000 Saint-Étienne
• Saint Martin d’Hères
Carreau Rive Gauche
Domaine Universitaire
38400 Saint Martin d’Hères
4 bis, rue Paul-Louis Courrier
37059 Tours
58 rue Général Saussier
10000 Troyes
• Valence
• Valenciennes
19, rue Tholozé
59300 Valenciennes
• Vannes
13, avenue Victor-Hugo
56000 Vannes
• Versailles
UVSQ Versailles
Bâtiment Fermat
45 avenue des Etats-Unis
78000 Versailles
• Vichy
18bis, rue du Maréchal-Foch
03200 Vichy
• Vienne
Mutuelles de l’USEM
branch listing &
addresses
• Villetaneuse
USEM (Union nationale des Sociétés
Etudiantes Mutualistes régionales)
250, rue Saint Jacques
75005 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 18 37 87
www.usem.fr
30 avenue Général Leclerc
Espace Saint Germain
Immeuble Antarès
38200 Vienne
Université Paris 13
Hall des Associations
Local de l’AFEV
93000 Villetaneuse
• Villeurbanne
Agence la Doua
Campus de la Doua Double Mixte
43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918
69100 Villeurbanne
• Guadeloupe - Pointe à Pitre
32 Centre Commercial Blanchard
Rond Point Blanchard
97110 Pointe à Pitre
19 rue Achille René Boisneuf
97110 Pointe à Pitre
• Martinique - Fort de France
7, rue Garnier Pagès
97200 Fort de France
MEP (Mutuelle des étudiants
de Provence)
Numéro unique de renseignements sur la
sécurité sociale étudiante :
Tél. : 04 26 317 929
www.mep.fr
• Aix-en-Provence
2, rue Reine Jeanne
• Avignon
74, rue Louis Pasteur
84000 Avignon
• Marseille
176, boulevard Baille
13005 Marseille
• Guyane - Cayenne
Campus de Saint-Denis
RdC Bâtiment E
Avenue D’Estrées
97300 Cayenne
• Montpellier Centre
• Réunion - Saint Denis
• Montpellier Faculté
• Réunion - Sainte Clotilde
• Nice
317 C rue Maréchal Leclerc
97400 Saint Denis
Campus Universitaire du Moufia
15 Avenue René Cassin
97490 Sainte Clotilde
• Réunion - Le Tampon
Campus Universitaire du Tampon
Rue du Général Ailleret
97430 Le Tampon
3, place de la Canourgue
34000 Montpellier
20, avenue du Docteur-Pezet
34090 Montpellier
36, rue de la Buffa
06000 Nice
• Nîmes
21 A, rue Clérisseau
30000 Nîmes
• Perpignan
11, rue Pountet de Bages
66000 Perpignan
• Toulon/La Garde
• Reims 2
MGEL (Mutuelle Générale
des Etudiants de l’Est)
www.mgel.fr
• Strasbourg
UTV
192, avenue de l’Université
• Charleville - Mézières
19, rue Irénée Carré
08000 Charleville - Mézières
Tél. : 03 24 59 90 00
• Colmar
34, rue du Grillenbreit
68000 Colmar
Tél. : 03 89 24 26 43
Campus Sciences / IUT
49, rue Houzeau Muiron
51097 Reims Cedex
Tél. : 03 26 88 62 46
4, rue de Londres
67000 Strasbourg
Tél. : 03 88 60 26 26
• Troyes
76, rue du Général de Gaulle
10000 Troyes
Tél. : 03 25 73 09 10
• Vandoeuvre
3, boulevard des Aiguillettes
54500 Vandoeuvre
Tél. : 03 83 54 86 86
• Épinal
18, quai du Musée
88000 Épinal
Tél. : 03 29 82 61 60
• Metz
Espace Etudiant MGEL
11, boulevard Sérot
57000 Metz
Tél. : 03 87 30 34 14
• Mulhouse
45, avenue du Président Kennedy
68100 Mulhouse
Tél. : 03 89 32 04 67
• Nancy
44, Cours Léopold
BP 4208
54042 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 30 03 00
• Reims 1
Centre commercial La Rafale
Campus Croix Rouge
34, rue Rilly la Montagne
51100 Reims
él. : 03 26 87 79 79
SEM (Société des Etudiants Mutualistes)
et SMEREP (Société Mutualiste des
Etudiants de la Région Parisienne)
Adresse courrier SEM
BP 519 Paris Denfert Rochereau
Tél. : 01 56 54 36 36
Adresse courrier SMEREP
BP 617,
75662 Paris cedex 14
Tél. : 01 56 54 36 34
www.smerep.fr
• Cergy
Site Universitaire “Les Chênes”
La Tour, 2e étage, bureau 214
33 boulevard du Port
95011 Cergy Pontoise
• Créteil
Université Paris-Val de Marne
Niveau dalle,
à côté de la maison de l’étudiant
61, avenue du Général de Gaulle
94000 Créteil
• Marne-la-Vallée
Université de Marne-la-Vallée
Bâtiment Copernic-Cité Descartes
Champs sur Marne
5, boulevard Descartes
77454 Marnes-la-Vallée Cedex 2
• Nanterre
• Laval
2, rue du Lieutenant
BP 622
53006 Laval Cedex
[email protected]
• Le Mans
Bâtiment E – Salle E2 RDC
92000 Nanterre
34, avenue F. Mitterrand
BP 24066
72004 Le Mans Cedex 2
[email protected]
• Orsay
• Le Mans
Université de Paris Sud, Centre Orsay
Bâtiment 332, 2e étage
91405 Orsay Cedex
• Paris 6
e
54, boulevard Saint-Michel,
75006 Paris
• Saint-Denis
Université de Vincennes - Saint-Denis
Campus Nord
Rue Georges Guynemer,
93200 Saint-Denis
• Université d’Evry Val d’essonne
hall du Bâtiment Maupertuis - local BW17
Rue du Père André Jarlan
91025 Evry Cedex
SMEBA (Société Mutualiste
des Etudiants de Bretagne-Atlantique)
www.smeba.fr
• Angers
42 boulevard du Roi-René, BP 50705
• Brest
32, rue du Professeur-Langevin
BP 93151
29231 Brest Cedex 3
[email protected]
Antenne Campus - 3, avenue Laennec
72004 Le Mans Cedex
[email protected]
• Lorient
2, rue Armand Guillemot
BP 255,
56102 Lorient Cedex
[email protected]
• Nantes
7 allée Duguay Trouin
BP 73305
[email protected]
• Quimper
4, place de Locronan
BP 1356
29103 Quimper Cedex
[email protected]
• Rennes
4, rue Victor-Hugo
BP 30814
35108 Rennes Cedex 03
[email protected]
• La Roche-sur-Yon
2, place du Marché
BP 377
85009 La Roche-sur-Yon Cedex
[email protected]
• Cholet
La novathèque
5, boulevard Pierre LecoqBP 513
49305 Cholet Cedex
[email protected]
• Saint-Brieuc
2 place Waldeck Rousseau
BP 223
22002 Saint-Brieuc Cedex 01
[email protected]
• Vannes
11 bis, rue Hoche
BP 373
56009 Vannes Cedex
[email protected]
SMECO (Société Mutualiste
des Etudiants du Centre Ouest)
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
www.smeco.fr
• Niort
13, rue Alsace Lorraine
79000 Niort
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Orléans
2, rue Saint-Paul
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Poitiers
73, rue de la Cathédrale
86036 Poitiers Cedex 01
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Tours
4, rue Chanoineau
37000 Tours
Tél. :0 810 052 000
• Angoulême
Espace Saint Martial
5, boulevard Berthelot
16000 Angoulème
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Blois
16, rue Saint Lubin
41000 Blois
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Bourges
14, rue Calvin
18000 Bourges
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Chartres
16, rue aux Ormes
28000 Chartres
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Châteauroux
31, rue de la Poste
36000 Châteauroux
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• La Rochelle
Le Gabut
3, quai de la Georgette
17000 La Rochelle
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
SMENO (Société Mutualiste
des Etudiants du Nord-Ouest)
Tél. : 0 805 400 012
3620 dites “SMENO”
www.smeno.com
• Amiens
18, rue Jean Catelas
80000 Amiens
• Caen
40, avenue de la Libération
BP 20
14005 Caen Cedex 1
• Le Havre
2 à 4, rue Voltaire
76087 Le Havre
• Lille - Le Furet du Nord
15, place du Général-de-Gaulle
BP 315
59026 Lille Cedex
• Lille - Vauban
59040 Lille Cedex
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Rouen
• Auxerre
• Valenciennes
• Belfort
• Villeneuve d’Ascq
• Besançon
7, place Colbert
BP 86
20 avenue Clémenceau
BP 599
59308 Valenciennes Cedex
Galerie du Ventoux/Furet
18, Boulevard de Valmy
59650 Villeveuve d’Ascq
6, rue Marie Noël
89000 Auxerre
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
3, rue Metz-Juteau
90000 Belfort
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
22, rue Ronchaux
25000 Besançon
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Châlon sur Saône
SMERAG (Société Mutualiste des
Etudiants de la Région Antilles-Guyane)
13, Porte de Lyon
71100 Châlon sur Saône
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Guadeloupe
• Dijon
27, rue Achille René Boisneuf
97110 Pointe à Pitre Cedex
Tél. : 05 90 89 29 30
• Guyane
Campus “Service Campus” de Saint-Denis
97335 Cayenne
Tél. : 05 94 25 21 84
• Martinique
35, rue Schoelcher
97200 Fort de France Cedex
Tél. : 05 96 72 82 00
SMEREB (Société Mutualiste
des Etudiants des Régions
Bourgogne - Franche-Comté)
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
www.smereb.fr
11 ter, boulevard Voltaire
21000 Dijon
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Le Creusot
34, rue Maréchal Leclerc
71200 Le Creusot
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Lons le Saunier
Maison de l’emploi et des services
1000 rue des Gentianes
39000 Lons Le Saunier
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Mâcon
37, rue de la Barre
71000 Mâcon
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Nevers
Résidence des Chauvelles
20, rue Charles-Roy
58000 Nevers
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
SMERRA
(Société Mutualiste des Etudiants des
Régions Rhône-Alpes et Auvergne)
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
www.smerra.fr
• Annecy
4, rue Saint François de Sales
74000 Annecy
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Bourg en Bresse
1, rue Gabriel Vicaire
01000 Bourg en Bresse
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Chambéry
123, rue Michaud
73000 Chambéry
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
Centre Viaduc
63, boulevard Côte-Blatin
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Grenoble Centre
15, rue Saint-Joseph
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Grenoble Campus
Le Grand Sablon
2, avenue de l’Obiou,
38700 La Tronche
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Lyon - La Manufacture des Tabacs
5, cours Albert Thomas
69003 Lyon
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Lyon - Les Quais
38, rue Chevreul
69007 Lyon
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Lyon - La Doua
128 A Boulevard du 11 Novembre
69100 Villeurbanne
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Montluçon
03100 Montluçon
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Roanne
14, place de l’Hôtel de Ville
42300 Roanne
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Saint-Étienne
37, rue du 11-Novembre
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Valence
34, avenue du Président-Herriot
26000 Valence
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
• Vienne
2, cours Brillier
38200 Vienne
Tél. : 0 810 052 000
VITTAVI
Tél. : 0 825 825 715 (€0.15 TTC/mn)
www.vittavi.fr
• Agen
Centre universitaire d’Agen
2, quai de Dunkerque
47000 Agen
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Agen
2, rue Emile Sentini
47000 Agen
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Aire sur l’Adour
• Castres
• Albi
• Colomiers
• Auch
• Condom
33 rue Gambetta
40800 Aire sur l’Adour
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
19 boulevard de Lude
81000 Albi
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
Centre Commercial Carrefour
Avenue du Corps Franc Pommiès
3200 Auch
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Bayonne
20 allée Paulmy
64100 Bayonne
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Bayonne
22 allée Marcel Suares
64100 Bayonne
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Biscarrosse
65 avenue Georges Clemenceau
40600 Biscarosse
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Blaye-les-Mines
1 bis avenue d’Albi
81400 Blaye-les-Mines
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Bordeaux
21, place de la Victoire
33000 Bordeaux
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Bordeaux
65 avenue Thiers
33000 Bordeaux
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Brive
30, avenue de Paris
19100 Brive
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
40 rue Villegoudou
81100 Castres
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
Centre commercial
2 passage du Périgord
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
20 rue Gambetta
32100 Condom
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Dax
5 cours de Verdun
40100 Dax
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Limoges
41, rue des Tanneries
87000 Limoges Cedex
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Mérignac
36 avenue de la Somme
33700 Mérignac
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Mimizan
7 rue du Théatre
40200 Mimizan
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Mont de Marsan
Allée de la Capère
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Mont de Marsan
32 rue Gambetta
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Mont de Marsan
28 allée Brouchet
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Muret
139 avenue Jaques Douzans
31600 Muret
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Paris
• Toulouse
7 rue des Lois
31000 Toulouse
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
18 rue du Faraday
75017 Paris
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
Les mutuelles étudiantes régionales
disposent de 170 points d’accueil en France.
• Pau
Consultez le site internet : www.vittavi.fr
10 place Georges Clémenceau
64000 Pau
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Périgeux
Site Universitaire
Rue du Doyen Lajugie
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Saint Denis
Campus Universitaire Le Mouffia
15 avenue René Cassin - BP 7151
97715 Saint Denis Cedex 9
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Saint Jean de Luz
55 Boulevard Victor Hugo
64500 Saint Jean de Luz
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Saint Paul Lès Dax
384 avenue de la Résistance
40990 Saint Paul Lès Dax
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Saint Vincent de Tyrosse
27 avenue Nationale
40230 Saint Vincent de Tyrosse
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Tarbes
8, rue Jean Perrin
65000 Tarbes
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
• Tartas
233 cours Saint Jacques
40400 Tartas
Tél. : 0 825 825 715
La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris
La Cité
Internationale
Universitaire de
Paris
• Fondation Danoise
• CIUP
37, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 82 02
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 64 00
www.ciup.fr
• Collège d’Espagne
7 E, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 32 00
• Collège Franco-britannique
9 B, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 58 10 40 00
• Collège Néerlandais
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 50 00
• Maison de l’Institut
7 H, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 12 50
• Fondation Deutsch de la Meurthe
• Fondation des États-Unis
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 80 68 80
• Fondation Hellénique
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 58 10 21 00
• Fondation de Monaco
47 A, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 48 00
• Fondation Rosa Abreu de Grancher
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 43 13 58 00
National Agronomique
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 05 79
• Fondation Suisse
• Fondation Argentine
• Centre International
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 29 00
• Fondation Avicenne
27 D, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 29 00
• Fondation Biermans-Lapôtre
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 72 00
7 K, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 10 10
de Courts Séjours
André Honnorat, Robert Garric
et Victor Lyon
Tél. : 01 43 13 65 00
• Maison de l’Arménie
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 10 60
• Maison des Arts et Métiers
1, avenue Pierre-Massé
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 42 53 15 61
• Maison de l’Asie du Sud-Est
• Maison du Maroc
• Maison du Brésil
• Maison du Mexique
• Maison du Cambodge
• Maison de Norvège
• Maison du Canada
• Maison des Provinces de France
• Maison Heinrich Heine
• Maison des Étudiants Suédois
• Maison de l’Inde
• Maison de Tunisie
• Maison des Industries
• Résidence André de Gouveia
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 43 13 58 00
7 L, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 58 10 23 00
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 58 40 83 00
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 68 70
27 C, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 13 00
7 R, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 80 78 00
Agricoles et Alimentaires
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 67 00
• Maison de l’Italie
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 63 00
• Maison du Japon
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 12 12
• Maison du Liban
9 E, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 27 50
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 80 20 89
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 16 18 00
7 N, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 55 55
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 80 61 00
7 F, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 80 81 50
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 62 77 00
7 P, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 78 65 00
• Résidence Lucien Paye
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 80 75 75
Résidences hors 14e arrondissement
• Résidence Lila
2 à 20 avenue René Fonck
Porte des Lilas
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 72 33 98 70
• Résidence Quai de Loire
41 bis, quai de la Loire
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 78 09 06 30
Specialised schools
Offices de
tourisme des villes
universitaires
• Aix-en-Provence
2, place du Général-de-Gaulle
BP 160
13100 Aix-en Provence
Tél. : 04 42 16 11 61
www.aixenprovencetourism.com
• Amiens
6 bis, rue Dusevel
BP 1018
Tél. : 03 22 71 60 50
www.amiens-tourisme.com
• Angers
7, place Kennedy
BP 15157
Tél. : 02 41 23 50 00
www.angers-tourisme.com
• Besançon
2 Place de la Ière Armée Française
25000 Besançon
Tél. : 03 81 80 92 55
www.besancon-tourisme.com
• Bordeaux
12, cours du 30 Juillet
33000 Bordeaux
Tél. : 05 56 00 66 00
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
• Brest
Place de la Liberté
BP 91012
29210 Brest Cedex 1
Tél. : 02 98 44 24 96
www.brest-metropole-tourisme.fr
• Caen
Hôtel d’Escoville
Place Saint-Pierre
14000 Caen
Tél. : 02 31 27 14 14
www.tourisme.caen.fr
Place de la Victoire
Tél. : 04 73 98 65 00
www.clermont-fd.com
• Dijon
11, rue des Forges
BP 82296
21022 Dijon Cedex
Tél. : 0 892 700 558 (€0.34 TTC/mn)
www.dijon-tourism.com
• Fort de France
76, rue Lazare Carnot
97206 Fort De France
Tél. : 05 96 60 27 73
www. tourismefdf.com
• Grenoble
Maison du Tourisme
BP 227
38000 Grenoble
Tél. : 04 76 42 41 41
www.grenoble-tourisme.com
• Le Mans
rue de l’Étoile
72000 Le Mans
Tél. : 02 43 28 17 22
www.lemanstourisme.com
• Lille
Palais Rihour
Place Rihour
BP 205
59002 Lille Cedex
Tél. : 0 891 56 20 04 (€0.225 TTC/mn)
www.lilletourisme.com
• Limoges
12 Boulevard de Fleurus
87000 Limoges
Tél. : 05 55 34 46 87
www.tourismelimoges.com
• Lyon
Pavillon du Tourisme
Place Bellecour
BP 2254
69214 Lyon Cedex 02
Tél. : 04 72 77 69 69
www.lyon-france.com
• Marseille
4, La Canebière
13001 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 13 89 00
www.marseille-tourisme.com
• Metz
2 Place d’Armes
BP 80367
57007 Metz Cedex 1
Tél. : 03 87 55 53 76
http://tourisme.mairie-metz.fr
• Montpellier
30, allée Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Esplanade Comédie
34000 Montpellier
Tél. : 04 67 60 60 60
www.ot-montpellier.fr
• Nancy
Place Stanislas
BP 810
54011 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 35 22 41
www.ot-nancy.fr
• Nantes
7, rue de Valmy
BP 64106
Tél. : 0 892 464 044 (0,34 TTC/mn)
www.nantes-tourisme.com
• Nice
Office du Tourisme et des Congrès
5, Promenade des Anglais
BP 4079
06302 Nice Cedex 04
Tél. : 0 892 707 407 (€0.34 TTC/mn)
www.nicetourisme.com
• Nîmes
6, rue Auguste
30000 Nîmes
Tél. : 04 66 58 38 00
www.ot-nimes.fr
• Orléans
2, place de l’Étape
45000 Orléans
Tél. : 02 38 24 01 61
www.tourisme-orleans.com
• Paris
25, avenue des Pyramides
75001 Paris
Tél. : 0 892 683 112 (€0.34 TTC/mn)
www.parisinfo.com
• Pau
Place Royale
BP 1508
64036 Pau Cedex
Tél. : 05 59 27 85 80
www.pau.fr
• Perpignan
Palais des Congrès
Place Armand Lanoux
BP 40215
Tél. : 04 68 66 30 30
www.perpignantourisme.com
• Pointe à Pitre
5 square de la Banque
BP 555
97166 Point à Pitre Cedex
Tél. : 05 90 82 09 30 ou
0820 017 018 (€0.12 TTC/mn)
www.lesilesdeguadeloupe.com
• Poitiers
45, Place Charles de Gaulle
86009 Poitiers
Tél. : 05 49 41 21 24
www.ot-poitiers.fr
Specialised schools
• Reims
2, rue Guillaume de Machault
51100 Reims
Tél. : 0 892 701 305 (€0.34 TTC/mn)
www.reims-tourisme.com
• Rennes
11, rue Saint-Yves
CS 26410
35064 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 99 67 11 10
www.tourisme-rennes.com
Specialised schools
Écoles d’agriculture et Écoles
des sciences et techniques du vivant
et de l’environnement
Angers
• École Supérieure d’Agriculture
25, place de la Cathédrale - BP 666
76008 Rouen Cedex 1
Tél. : 02 32 08 32 40
www.rouentourisme.com
d’Angers (ESA)
55, rue Rabelais
BP 30748
Tél. : 02 41 23 55 55
www.groupe-esa.com
• Saint-Étienne
• AGROCAMPUS OUEST
• Rouen
16, avenue de la Libération
Tél. : 04 77 49 39 00
www.tourisme-st-etienne.com
• Strasbourg
17, place de la Cathédrale
BP 70020
Tél. : 03 88 52 28 25
www.ot-strasbourg.fr
• Toulon
334, avenue de la République - Le Port
83000 Toulon
Tél. : 04 94 18 53 00
www.toulontourisme.com
• Toulouse
Donjon du Capitole
BP 38001
Tél. : 05 61 11 02 22
www.ot-toulouse.fr
• Tours
65 rue de Saint-Brieuc
CS 84215
35042 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 23 48 50 00
www.agrocampus-ouest.fr
Beauvais
• Institut Polytechnique
LaSalle Beauvais (IGA-ISAB)
rue Pierre Waguet
BP 30313
F-60026 Beauvais Cedex
Tél. : 03 44 06 25 25
www.lasalle-beauvais.fr
Bordeaux
• École Nationale d’Ingénieurs
des Travaux Agricoles de Bordeaux
(ENITA)
1, cours du Général de Gaulle
CS 40201
33175 Gradignan Cedex
Tél. : 05 57 35 07 07
www.enitab.fr
78/82, rue Bernard Palissy
BP 4201
37042 Tours Cedex
Tél. : 02 47 70 37 37
www.ligeris.com
Clermont-Ferrand
Maisons-Alfort
• École nationale d’ingénieurs
des travaux agricoles de ClermontFerrand (ENITAC)
Site de Marmilhat
63370 Lempdes
Tél. : 04 73 98 13 13
www.enitac.fr
• École nationale vétérinaire d’Alfort
(ENVA)
7, avenue du Général de Gaulle
94700 Maisons-Alfort Cedex
Tél. : 01 43 96 71 00
www.vet-alfort.fr
Dijon
• AgroSup Dijon
26, boulevard du Docteur Petitjean
BP 87999
21079 Dijon Cedex
Tél. : 03 80 77 25 25
www.agrosupdijon.fr
Lille
• Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture (ISA)
59046 Lille Cedex
Tél. : 03 28 38 48 48
www.isa-lille.fr
Lyon
• Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture
de Rhône-Alpes (ISARA-Lyon)
23, rue Jean Baldassini
69364 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél. : 04 27 85 85 85
www.isara.fr
• VetAgro Sup
Campus vétérinaire de Lyon
1, avenue Bourgelat
69280 Marcy l’Étoile
Tél. : 04 78 87 25 25
www.vet-lyon.fr
Marseille
• École nationale supérieure
du paysage de Marseille (ENSP)
31, Boulevard d’Athènes
13232 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 91 00 25
www.ecole-paysage.fr
Montpellier
• Montpellier SupAgro
Centre international d’études
supérieures en sciences agronomiques
2, place Pierre Viala
Tél. : 04 99 61 22 00
• Montpellier SupAgro
Antenne de Florac
1101, avenue Agropolis
BP 5098
Tél. : 04 67 61 70 00
www.supagro.fr
• SupAgro Florac
9, rue Célestin Freinet
BP 35
F-48400 Florac
Tél. : 04 66 65 65 65
www.cep.educagri.fr
Nantes
• École Supérieure du Bois (ESB)
Atlanpole - BP 10605
rue Christian Pauc
Tél. : 02 40 18 12 12
www.ecolesupbois.asso.fr
Specialised schools
• Ecole Nationale, Vétérinaire,
Agroalimentaire et de l’alimentation
Nantes-Atlantique
Site de la Chantrerie - Atlanpôle
BP 40706
Tél. : 02 40 68 77 77
www.oniris-nantes.fr
Paris
• Institut des sciences et industries du
vivant et de l’environnement - issu du
rapprochement de l’Engref, l’Ensia et
l’Ina P-G (AgroParisTech)
Siège
16 rue Claude Bernard
F-75231 Paris Cedex 05
Tél. : 01 44 08 16 61
www.agroparistech.fr
• AgroParisTech - ENGREF
Strasbourg
• École nationale du génie de l’eau
et de l’environnement de Strasbourg
(ENGEES)
1, quai Koch
BP 61039
Tél. : 03 88 24 82 82
www-engees.u-strasbg.fr
Toulouse
• École d’ingénieurs de Purpan
75, Voie du TOEC
BP 57611
Tél. : 05 61 15 30 30
www.esa-purpan.fr
• École nationale vétérinaire de
Centre de Paris
19, avenue du Maine
Tél. : 01 45 49 88 00
www.agroparistech.fr
Toulouse (ENVT)
23, chemin des Capelles
BP 87614
Tél. : 05 61 19 38 00
www.envt.fr
Rennes
• École nationale de formation
• Institut supérieur des sciences
agronomiques, agroalimentaires,
horticoles et du paysage
(Agrocampus Ouest)
65, rue de Saint-Brieuc
CS 84215
35042 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 23 48 50 00
www.agrocampus-ouest.fr
Rouen
• École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs
et de Techniciens pour l’Agriculture
(ESITPA)
3 rue du Tronquet
BP 40118
Tél. : 02 32 82 92 00
www.esitpa.org
agronomique de Toulouse (ENFA)
BP 22687
2 route de Narbonne
31326 Castanet Tolosan Cedex
Tél. : 05 61 75 32 32
www.enfa.fr
Versailles
• École nationale supérieure du
paysage de Versailles (ENSP)
10, rue du Maréchal Joffre
RP 914
Tél : 01 39 24 62 00
www.versailles.ecole-paysage.fr
Écoles d’architecture
Marne La Vallée
Bordeaux
• École d’architecture de la ville
& des territoires à Marne La Vallée
10-12, avenue Blaise Pascal
Champs-sur-Marne
74447 Marne La Vallée Cedex 2
Tél. : 01 60 95 84 00
www.marnelavallee.archi.fr
d’architecture et de paysage
de Bordeaux
740 cours de la Libération
BP 70109
33405 Talence Cedex
Tél. : 05 57 35 11 00
www.bordeaux.archi.fr
Clermont-Ferrand
d’architecture de Clermont-Ferrand
71, boulevard Côte Blatin
63000 Clermond-Ferrand
Tél. : 04 73 34 71 50
www.clermont-fd.archi.fr
Grenoble
• École d’architecture de Grenoble
60 avenue de Constantine
BP 2336
Tél. : 04 76 69 83 00
www.grenoble.archi.fr
Lille
d’architecture et de paysage de Lille
2, rue Verte
Quartier de l’Hôtel de Ville
59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq
Tél. : 03 20 61 95 50
www.lille.archi.fr
Lyon
• École Nationale Supérieure
d’Architecture de Lyon
3, rue Maurice Audin
BP 170
69512 Vaulx-en-Velin Cedex
Tél. : 04 78 79 50 50
www.lyon.archi.fr
Marseille
d’architecture de Marseille
184, avenue de Luminy
Case postale 924
Tél. : 04 91 82 71 00
www.marseille.archi.fr
Montpellier
d’architecture de Montpellier
179, rue de l’Espérou
Tél. : 04 67 91 89 89
www.montpellier.archi.fr
Nancy
d’architecture de Nancy
2, rue Bastien-Lepage
BP 40435
54001 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 30 81 00
www.nancy.archi.fr
Nantes
d’architecture de Nantes
6 quai François Mitterrand
BP 16202
44262 Nantes cedex 2
Tél. : 02 40 16 01 21
www.nantes.archi.fr
Paris
Rouen
• École d’architecture de Rouen
Saint-Etienne
d’architecture Paris-Val de Seine
3 quai Panhard et Levassor
75013 Paris Cedex
Tél. : 01 72 69 63 00
www.paris-valdeseine.archi.fr
d’architecture Paris-Malaquais
14, rue Bonaparte
Tél. : 01 55 04 56 50
www.paris-malaquais.archi.fr
d’architecture Paris-Belleville
60 boulevard de la Villettel
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 38 50 00
27, rue Lucien Fromage
BP 04
76161 Darnétal Cedex
Tél. : 02 32 83 42 00
www.rouen.archi.fr
d’architecture de Saint-Etienne
1, rue Buisson
BP 94
42003 Saint-Etienne Cedex 1
Tél. : 04 77 42 35 42 (public)
www.st-etienne.archi.fr
Strasbourg
d’architecture Paris-la-Villette
144, avenue de Flandre
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 65 23 00
www.paris-lavillette.archi.fr
d’architecture de Strasbourg
8, boulevard du Président Wilson
BP 10037
Tél. : 03 88 32 25 35
www.strasbourg.archi.fr
• École spéciale d’architecture
Versailles
254, boulevard Raspail
75014 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 47 40 47
www.esa-paris.fr
Rennes
d’architecture de Rennes
44, boulevard de Chézy
CS 16427
35064 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 99 29 68 00
www.rennes.archi.fr
d’architecture de Versailles
Petite Écurie du Roy
5, avenue de Sceaux
BP 674
Tél. : 01 39 07 40 00
www.versailles.archi.fr
Écoles d’arts plastiques
Limoges
Aix-en Provence
• École nationale supérieure d’art
• École supérieure d’art
d’Aix-en-Provence
Rue Émile Tavan
Tél. : 04 42 91 88 70
www.ecole-art-aix.fr
Angoulême
• École européenne supérieure
de l’image (EESI)
134, rue de Bordeaux
16000 Angoulême Cedex
Tél. : 05 45 92 66 02
www.eesi.eu
Arles
de la photographie
16, rue des Arènes
BP 10149
13631 Arles Cedex
Tél. : 04 90 99 33 33
www.enp-arles.com
Clermont-Ferrand
• École supérieure d’art
de clermont communauté
25, rue Kessler
Tél. : 04 73 17 36 10
www.esacc.fr
de Limoges-Aubusson (ENAD)
19, avenue Martin Luther King
BP 73824
Tél. : 05 55 43 14 00
• Place Villeneuve
23200 Aubusson
Tél. : 05 55 83 05 40
www.ensa-limoges-aubusson.fr
Lyon
• École nationale des beaux-arts
de Lyon (ENBA)
Les Subsistances
8 bis quai Saint Vincent
69001 Lyon
Tél. : 04 72 00 11 71
www.enba-lyon.fr
Marseille
• École supérieure des beaux-arts
de Marseille (ESBAM)
184, avenue de Luminy Marseille
13009 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 82 83 10
www.esbam.fr
Montpellier
• École supérieure des beaux-arts de
Le Mans
Montpellier agglomération (ESBAMA)
130, rue Yehudi Menuhin
34000 Montpellier Agglomération
Tél. : 04 99 58 32 85
http://esbama.free.fr
• École supérieure des beaux arts
Paris
du Mans
28, avenue Rostov-sur-le-Don
72000 Le Mans
Tél. : 02 43 47 38 53
http://esba-lemans.fr
des beaux-arts (ENSBA)
14, rue Bonaparte
Tél. : 01 47 03 50 00
www.ensba.fr
des arts décoratifs (ENSAD)
31, rue d’Ulm
Tél. : 01 42 34 97 00
www.ensad.fr
• Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne
MASTERS : conservation-restauration des biens
culturels/conservation prévention du patrimoine.
Université de Paris I
17, rue Tolbiac
75013 PARIS
Tél. : 01 45 83 33 57
www.univ-paris1.fr
de création industrielle (ENSCI)
48, rue Saint Sabin
75011 Paris
Tél. : 01 49 23 12 12
www.ensci.com
Écoles des métiers de l’image et du son
Poitiers
• École nationale supérieure des
• École européenne supérieure
de l’image (EESI)
26 rue Jean Alexandre
86000 Poitiers
Tél. : 05 49 92 66 02
www.eesi.eu
Rennes
• École des beaux-arts de Rennes (ERBA)
34, rue Hoche
35000 Rennes
Tél. : 02 23 62 22 60
www.erba-rennes.fr
Écoles pour les métiers du patrimoine
Paris
• Institut nationale du patrimoine
(INP)
Galerie Colbert
2, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 41 16 41
www.inp.fr
• Institut de Formation des
Restaurateurs d’œuvres d’Art
93210 La plaine Saint-Denis
Tél. : 01 49 46 57 00
www.inp.fr
Paris
métiers de l’image et du son (FEMIS)
6, rue Francoeur
75018 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 41 21 00
www.lafemis.fr
Louis-Lumière (ENSLL)
7, allée du Promontoire
rue de Vaugirard
93161 Noisy-le-Grand Cedex
Tél. : 01 48 15 40 10
www.ens-louis-lumiere.fr
• École d’Art Maryse Eloy
Métiers de la communication visuelle,
design graphique, publicité et multimédia
Campus principal
1, rue Bouvier
75011 Paris
Tél. : 01 58 39 36 60
www.ecole-maryse-eloy.com
Tourcoing
• Le Fresnoy
Studio national des arts contemporains
22, rue du Fresnoy
BP 80179
59202 Tourcoing Cedex
Tél. : 03 20 28 38 00
http://lefresnoy.net
Écoles de la mode
Lyon
Paris
• Conservatoire national supérieur
• Mod’Art International
École de la création et
de management de la mode
1, rue Bouvier
75011 Paris
Tél. : 01 58 39 36 70
www.mod-art.org
Écoles pour le théâtre, la musique,
la danse et le spectacle vivant
Avignon
• Institut supérieur des techniques
musique et danse de Lyon (CNSMD)
3, quai Chauveau - C.P. 120
F-69266 Lyon Cedex 09
Tél. : 04 72 19 26 26
www.cnsmd-lyon.fr
• École nationale supérieure des arts
et techniques du théâtre (ENSATT)
4, rue Soeur Bouvier
69322 Lyon Cedex 05
Tél. : 04 78 15 05 05
www.ensatt.fr
Le Mans
du spectacle d’Avignon (ISTS)
Espace Saint Louis
20, rue Portail Bocquier
84000 Avignon
Tél. : 04 90 14 14 17
www.ists-avignon.com
• Institut technologique européen
Châlons en champagne
Paris
• École supérieure nationale des arts
• Conservatoire national supérieur
du cirque (CNAC)
CDDP Marne
1 rue du Docteur Calmette
BP 518
51007 Châlons en Champagne
Tél. : 03 26 21 12 43
http://www.crdp-reims.fr/polecirque
Charleville-Mézières
• École nationale supérieure des arts
de la marionnette (ESNAM)
7, place Winston Churchill
08000 Charleville-Mézières
Tél. : 03 24 33 72 69
www.marionnette.com
des métiers de la musique (ITEMM)
71, avenue Olivier Messiaen
72000 Le Mans
Tél. : 02 43 39 39 00
www.itemm.fr
d’art dramatique (CNSAD)
2 bis, rue du Conservatoire
75009 Paris
Tél. : 01 42 46 12 91
www.cnsad.fr
• Conservatoire national supérieur de
musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP)
209, avenue Jean-Jaurès
75019 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 40 45 45
www.cnsmdp.fr
Strasbourg
• École nationale d’art dramatique du
Théâtre national de Strasbourg (TNS)
1, avenue de la Marseillaise
BP 40184
Tél. : 03 88 24 88 00
www.tns.fr
Specialised
information centres
Most centres are happy to provide information about course subjects and professions on
the spot, by phone or by post.
Aeronautical Studies
• Groupement des industries françaises
aéronautiques et spatiales (GIFAS)
8, rue Galilée
75116 Paris Cedex
Tél. : 01 44 43 17 00
www.gifas.asso.fr
Agriculture
• Ministère de l’Alimentation,
de Agriculture et de la Pêche
Bureau des relations européennes et
de la coopération internationale et de
l’enseignement agricole (BECI)
1ter, avenue de Lowendal
75700 Paris 07 SP
Tél. : 01 49 55 52 52
www.portea.fr
The Arts
• Société d’encouragement
aux métiers d’art (SEMA)
Viaduc des arts
23, avenue Daumesnil
75012 Paris
Tél. : 01 55 78 85 85
www.metiersdart-artisanat.com
• Centre national du théâtre (CNT)
134, rue Legendre
75017 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 61 85 85
www.cnt.asso.fr
• Union centrale des arts décoratifs
(UCAD)
Musée des arts décoratifs
107, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 55 57 50
www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
• Fédération française des écoles
de cirque (FFEC)
7 rue Taylor
75010 Paris
Tél : 01 44 52 13 13
www.ffec.asso.fr
Insurance
• Association paritaire pour l’emploi
dans les sociétés d’assurance (APESA)
51, rue Saint-Georges
75009 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 20 43 53
www.emploi-assurance.com
• Fédération française des sociétés
d’assurances (FFSA)
26, boulevard Haussman
Tél. : 01 42 47 90 00
www.cdia.fr
Commercial property
• Fédération nationale des travaux
publics (FNTP)
3, rue de Berri
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 13 31 44
www.fntp.fr
Chemistry
• Union des industries chimiques (UIC)
92800 Puteaux
Tél. : 01 46 53 11 80
www.uic.fr
Commercial property
• Chambre de commerce
et d’industrie de Paris
Bureau pour l’information et l’orientation
professionnelle (BIOP)
2, rue de Viarmes
75040 Paris Cedex 1
The BIOP is only available under appointment.
If you need more information or want to make
an appointment with consultants
Tél. : 01 55 65 60 00
www.ccip.fr/biop
• Fondation nationale pour
l’enseignement de la gestion
des entreprises (FNEGE)
2, avenue Hoche
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 29 93 60
www.fnege.net
• Chambre des métiers et de
l’artisanat de Paris (CMAP)
Bureau de la formation
72/74, rue de Reuilly,
Tél. : 01 53 33 53 33
www.cm-paris.fr
• Centre de formation et de
documentation sur l’environnement
industriel (ACFCI-CFDE)
45, avenue d’ Iena
BP 3003
Tél. : 01 40 69 37 00
www.acfci.cci.fr
Engineering
Publishing & The Book Trade
• Comité d’études sur les formations
d’ingénieurs (CEFI)
7, rue Lamennais
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 42 89 15 73
www.cefi.org
• Centre for training and expertise for
Media & Communication
publishing, journalism and communications. (ASFORED)
Centre de formation et d’expertise pour
les métiers de l’édition, de la presse et de la
communication.
21, rue Charles-Fourier
75013 Paris
Tél. : 01 45 88 39 81
www.asfored.org
The study of Energy
• Agence de l’environnement et
• Centre de formation et de
perfectionnement des journalistes
(CFPJ)
35, rue du Louvre
75002 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 82 20 00
www.cfpj.com
Information Technology & Electronics
• Fédération des industries électriques,
de la maîtrise de l’énergie (ADEME)
27, rue Louis Vicat
Tél. : 01 47 65 20 00
www.ademe.fr
électroniques et de communication
(FIEEC)
11 rue Hamelin
Tél. : 01 45 05 70 70
www.fieec.fr
Environmental Studies
• Conseil national des ingénieurs
• Association française des ingénieurs
et techniciens de l’environnement
(AFITE)
22, rue de Dunkerque
75010 Paris
Tél. : 01 40 23 04 50
www.afite.org
et des scientifiques de France (CNISF)
7, rue Lamennais
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 13 66 88
www.cnisf.org
Printing & The Paper Trade
Théâtre
• Union nationale de l’imprimerie
• Centre national du théâtre
et de la communication (UNIC)
68, boulevard Saint-Marcel
75005 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 08 64 46
www.com-unic.fr
• Institut pour la recherche et
la formation professionnelle
des industries papetières (IRFIP)
154, boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 53 89 24 70
www.irfip.org
134, rue Legendre
75017 Paris
tél. : 01 44 61 84 85
www.cnt.asso.fr
Transport
• Association française des transports
(AFT-IFTIM)
Service information
46, avenue de Villiers
Tél. : 01 42 12 51 91
www.aft-iftim.com
Advertising
Miscellaneous
• Association des agences conseils
en communication (AACC)
40, boulevard Malesherbes
Tél. : 01 47 42 13 42
www.aacc.fr
• Alliance française des designers
Social Work
• Centre d’études supérieures
des matières premières (CESMAT)
60, boulevard Saint-Michel
Tél. : 01 46 34 76 18
www.cesmat.asso.fr
• Centre de Formation
aux Professions Éducatives et Sociales
(CFPES-CEMÉA IDF)
62 Avenue de la République
93306 Aubervilliers Cedex
Tél. : 01 48 11 27 90
www.cfpes.com
• Ministère du travail, des relations
sociale et de la solidarité
127 rue de Grenelle
75700 Paris SP07
Tél. : 01 44 38 38 38
Travail Info Service : 0 821 347 347 (€0.12/mn)
www.metiers.santesolidarites.gouv.fr
Textiles-The Clothing Industry
c/o La Maison des photographes
121, rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
Tél. : 01 42 71 55 85
www.alliance-francaise-des-designers.org
• Fédération des industries
de la parfumerie
33, avenue des Champs-Elysées
75008 Paris
Tél. : 01 56 69 67 89
www.febea.fr
• Groupe ISIPCA
34-36 rue du Parc de Clagny
78000 Versailles
Tél. : 01 39 23 70 00
www.isipca.fr
• Union des industries textiles
37-39, rue de Neuilly - BP 121
92110 Clichy Cedex
Tél. : 01 47 56 31 00
www.textile.fr
Map of the ‘académies’
(regional educational
authorities) and towns
France has 30 regional education authorities
(académies), including 4 in the overseas departments
For the ‘académies’ in Aix-Marseille, Nancy-Metz, Corsica, the Universities
are respectively: Aix-en-Provence, Nancy, Ajaccio.
An ‘academie’ is an institution, which deals with the administrative side
of education.
Ain................................................................................................................. Lyon
Aisne.................................................................................................. Amiens
Allier............................................................... Clermont-Ferrand
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence................ Aix-Marseille
Alpes (Hautes-)............................................... Aix-Marseille
Alpes-Maritimes........................................................................ Nice
Ardèche.................................................................................. Grenoble
Ardennes......................................................................................... Reims
Ariège......................................................................................... Toulouse
Aube....................................................................................................... Reims
Aude...................................................................................... Montpellier
Aveyron.................................................................................. Toulouse
Bouches-du-Rhône..................................... Aix-Marseille
Calvados.............................................................................................. Caen
Cantal............................................................ Clermont-Ferrand
Charente..................................................................................... Poitiers
Charente-Maritime...................................................... Poitiers
Cher................................................................................................. Orléans
Corrèze...................................................................................... Limoges
Corse-du-Sud............................................................................ Corse
Haute-Corse.............................................................................. Corse
Côte-d’Or........................................................................................ Dijon
Côtes-d’Armor................................................................... Rennes
Creuse.......................................................................................... Limoges
Dordogne............................................................................ Bordeaux
Doubs........................................................................................ Besançon
Drôme...................................................................................... Grenoble
Eure........................................................................................................ Rouen
Eure-et-Loir........................................................................... Orléans
Finistère........................................................................................ Rennes
Gard...................................................................................... Montpellier
Garonne (Haute-)................................................... Toulouse
Gers.............................................................................................. Toulouse
Gironde.................................................................................. Bordeaux
Hérault.............................................................................. Montpellier
Ille-et-Vilaine.......................................................................... Rennes
Indre................................................................................................. Orléans
Indre-et-Loire..................................................................... Orléans
Isère............................................................................................. Grenoble
Jura................................................................................................ Besançon
Landes....................................................................................... Bordeaux
Loir-et-Cher......................................................................... Orléans
Loire........................................................................................................... Lyon
Loire (Haute-).................................. Clermont-Ferrand
Loire-Atlantique.................................................................Nantes
Loiret.............................................................................................. Orléans
Lot................................................................................................... Toulouse
Lot-et-Garonne.......................................................... Bordeaux
Lozère................................................................................. Montpellier
Maine-et-Loire......................................................................Nantes
en
Ac
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71
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2A
2B
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27
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Map of the ‘académies’ (regional educational authorities) and towns
Manche.................................................................................................. Caen
Marne................................................................................................... Reims
Marne (Haute-)..................................................................... Reims
Mayenne........................................................................................ Nantes
Meurthe-et-Moselle...................................... Nancy-Metz
Meuse................................................................................ Nancy-Metz
Morbihan..................................................................................... Rennes
Moselle............................................................................ Nancy-Metz
Nièvre.................................................................................................... Dijon
Nord.............................................................................................................Lille
Oise..................................................................................................... Amiens
Orne......................................................................................................... Caen
Pas-de-Calais.....................................................................................Lille
Puy-de-Dôme..................................... Clermont-Ferrand
Pyrénées-Atlantiques.......................................... Bordeaux
Pyrénées (Hautes-)................................................ Toulouse
Pyrénées-Orientales...................................... Montpellier
Rhin (Bas-)..................................................................... Strasbourg
Rhin (Haut-)................................................................ Strasbourg
Rhône....................................................................................................... Lyon
Saône (Haute-)............................................................ Besançon
Saône-et-Loire........................................................................... Dijon
Sarthe................................................................................................ Nantes
Savoie........................................................................................ Grenoble
Savoie (Haute-).......................................................... Grenoble
Paris (Ville de)............................................................................ Paris
Seine-Maritime....................................................................... Rouen
Seine-et-Marne.................................................................... Créteil
Yvelines................................................................................... Versailles
Sèvres (Deux-).................................................................. Poitiers
Somme............................................................................................ Amiens
Tarn............................................................................................... Toulouse
Tarn-et-Garonne....................................................... Toulouse
Var................................................................................................................ Nice
Vaucluse...................................................................... Aix-Marseille
Vendée............................................................................................. Nantes
Vienne............................................................................................. Poitiers
Vienne (Haute-)............................................................. Limoges
Vosges.............................................................................. Nancy-Metz
Yonne..................................................................................................... Dijon
Territoire de Belfort........................................... Besançon
Essonne................................................................................... Versailles
Hauts-de-Seine............................................................. Versailles
Seine-Saint-Denis............................................................. Créteil
Val-de-Marne.......................................................................... Créteil
Val-d’Oise............................................................................ Versailles
Guadeloupe.................................................. Antilles-Guyane
Martinique....................................................... Antilles-Guyane
Guyane................................................................. Antilles-Guyane
Réunion...................................................................................... Réunion
The table above allows one to see which ‘académie’ belongs to which department. The map opposite shows
the department in which each ‘académie’ is located. All the Paris universities come under the ‘académie
de Paris’, with the exception of: l’Université de Vincennes/Paris VIII-Saint-Denis, l’Université de Paris-Valde-Marne/Paris XII, l’Université de Paris-Nord/Paris XIII & l’Université de Marne-la-Vallée dépendent de
l’académie de Créteil ; l’Université de Nanterre/Paris X, l’Université de Paris-Sud/Paris XI, l’Université de
Cergy-Pontoise, l’Université d’Evry-Val-d’Essonne & l’Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
de l’académie de Versailles.
Abreviations explained
ACP : Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique
BGF : Boursier du gouvernement français
ADEME : Agence de l’environnement et de
la maîtrise de l’énergie
BIOP : Bureau pour l’information et
l’orientation professionnelle
ADIL : Agence départementale information
logement
BNF : Bibliothèque nationale de France
ADPF : Association pour la diffusion de
la pensée française
AEFE : Agence pour l’enseignement français
à l’étranger
AES : Administration économique et sociale
AFAA : Association française d’action artistique
AFI : Association des foyers internationaux
AFITE : Association française des ingénieurs
et techniciens de l’environnement
AFS : Attestation de formation spécialisée
AFSA : Attestation de formation spécialisée
approfondie
AFT : Association française des transports
AMN : Allocataire moniteur normalien
ANDES : Association nationale des docteurs
ès sciences
APESA : Association paritaire pour l’emploi
dans les sociétés d’assurance
APL : Aide personnalisée au logement
ASFORED : Association nationale pour
la formation et le perfectionnement
professionnel dans les métiers de l’édition
AUDECAM : Association universitaire pour le
développement, l’éducation et la communication en Afrique et dans le monde
AUPELF : Association des universités partiellement ou entièrement de langue française
BAPUE : Bureau d’accueil des professeurs
d’universités étrangères
BELC : Bureau pour l’enseignement de la
langue et la civilisation française à l’étranger
BGE : Boursier de gouvernement étranger
BP : Boîte postale
BT : Brevet de technicien
BTS : Brevet de technicien supérieur
BTSA : Brevet de technicien supérieur agricole
CAAE : Certificat d’aptitude à l’administration
des entreprises
CCP : Compte courant postal ou Centre de
chèques postaux
CDDP : Centre départemental de documentation pédagogique
CDIA : Centre de documentation et d’information de l’assurance
CE : Communauté européenne
CEAP : Certificat d’études d’arts plastiques
CECSMO : Certificat d’études spécialisées formation spécifique en orthodontie
CEE : Communauté économique européenne
(maintenant UE)
CEDEX : Courrier d’entreprise à distribution
exceptionnelle
CEFI : Comité d’études sur les formations
d’ingénieurs
CELAIO : Cellule d’accueil, d’information et
d’orientation
CELSA : Centre d’études littéraires et scientifiques appliquées
CEMEA : Centre d’entraînement aux méthodes d’éducation active
CEREQ : Centre d’études et de recherches
sur les qualifications
CESAP : Certificat d’études supérieures d’arts
plastiques
CESEM : Centre d’études supérieures
européennes de management
CNSAD : Conservatoire national supérieur
d’art dramatique
CESMAT : Centre d’études supérieures des
matières premières
CNSM : Conservatoire national supérieur de
musique
CFDE : Centre de formation et de
documentation sur l’environnement industriel
CNT : Centre national du théâtre
CGE : Conférence des Grande Écoles
CPAM : Caisse primaire d’assurance maladie
CFJ : Centre de formation des journalistes
CPGE : Classes préparatoires aux grandes
écoles
CFPJ : Centre de formation et de perfectionnement des journalistes
CRDP : Centre régional de documentation
pédagogique
CIDJ : Centre information documentation
jeunesse
CROUS : Centre régional des œuvres
universitaires et scolaires
CIEP : Centre international d’études pédagogiques
CUEJ : Centre universitaire d’enseignement du
journalisme
CIO : Centre d’information et d’orientation
DAE/FLE : Diplôme d’aptitude à
l’enseignement du français langue étrangère
CIUP : Cité internationale universitaire de
Paris
CLOUS : Centre local des œuvres universitaires et scolaires
CMOPC : Conception et mise en œuvre de
projets culturels
CNAM : Conservatoire national des arts et
métiers
DAEU : Diplôme d’accès aux études universitaires
DALF : Diplôme approfondi de langue
française
DCCF : Direction de la coopération culturelle
et du français
DCEM : Deuxième cycle d’études médicales
CNBDI : Centre national de la bande dessinée
et de l’image
DCST : Direction de la coopération scientifique et technique
CNDC : Centre national de danse contemporaine
DEA : Diplôme d’études approfondies
CNDP : Centre national de documentation
pédagogique
CNED : Centre national d’enseignement à
distance
CNES : Centre national d’études spatiales
CNISF : Conseil national des ingénieurs et scientifiques de France
CNOUS : Centre national des œuvres
universitaires et scolaires
CNR : Conservatoire national de région
CNRS : Centre national de la recherche
scientifique
DEFV : Diplôme d’études fondamentales
vétérinaires
DELF : Diplôme d’études en langue française
DERBH : Diplôme d’études et de recherches
en biologie humaine
DES : Diplôme d’études supérieures
DES : Direction de l’enseignement supérieur
DESC : Diplôme d’études spécialisées
complémentaires
DESS : Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées
DEUG : Diplôme d’études universitaires
générales
DEUST : Diplôme d’études universitaires
scientifiques et techniques
DGCID : Direction générale de la coopération
internationale et du développement
DIS : Diplôme interuniversitaire de spécialisation
DMA : Diplôme des métiers d’art
DNAP : Diplôme national d’arts plastiques
DNAT : Diplôme national d’art et technique
DNESC : Diplôme national d’études
supérieures chorégraphiques
DNSEP : Diplôme national supérieur
d’expression plastique
DNTS : Diplôme national de technologie
spécialisée
DOM-TOM : Départements et territoires
d’outre-mer
DPLG : Diplômé par le gouvernement
DRAC : Direction régionale des affaires
culturelles
DSAA : Diplôme supérieur d’arts appliqués
DU : Diplôme d’université
DUMI : Diplôme universitaire de musicien
intervenant
DUT : Diplôme universitaire de technologie
EA : École de l’air de Salon-de Provence
EAP : École européenne des affaires
ECA : École du commissariat de l’air
ECAM : École centrale des arts et manufactures
ECAT : École du commissariat de l’armée
de terre
EDHEC : École des hautes études commerciales
EEA : Électronique, électrotechnique, automatique
ENAC : École nationale de l’aviation civile
ENI : École nationale des Impôts
ENI : École nationale d’Ingénieurs
ENITA : École nationale d’ingénieurs des
travaux agricoles
ENM : École normale de musique
ENP : École nationale de photographie d’Arles
ENP : École nationale de police
ENS : École normale supérieure
ENSAAMA : École nationale supérieure des
arts appliqués et des métiers d’art
ENSAD : École nationale supérieure des arts
décoratifs
ENSAE : École nationale de la statistique et de
l’administration économique
ENSAE : École nationale supérieure de
l’aéronautique et de l’espace
ENSAM : École nationale supérieure des arts
et métiers
ENSATT : École nationale supérieure des arts
et techniques du théâtre
ENSBA : École nationale supérieure des
beaux-arts
ENSCI : École nationale supérieure de
création industrielle
ENSI : École nationale supérieure d’ingénieurs
ENSLL : École nationale supérieure Louis
Lumière
ENSP : École nationale supérieure de la police
et École nationale de la santé publique
ENSSIB : École nationale supérieure des
sciences de l’information et des bibliothèques
ENTM : École nationale des travaux maritimes
EEE : Espace économique européen
ENTPE : École nationale des travaux publics
de l’État
EGC : École de gestion commerciale
EP : École polytechnique (see X)
EHESS : École des hautes études en sciences
sociales
EPHE : École pratique des hautes études
EN : École navale de Brest
EPIC : Établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial
ENA : École nationale d’administration
EPSCI : École de management international
EPST : Établissement public à caractère
scientifique et technique
FFMJC : Fédération française des maisons des
jeunes et de la culture
ESA : École spéciale d’architecture et École
supérieure d’agriculture
FIAP : Foyer international d’accueil de Paris
ESAAD : École supérieure des arts appliqués
Duperré
ESAC : École supérieure des arts et de la
communication
ESAD : École supérieure d’art dramatique
(TNS)
ESC : École supérieure de commerce
ESCE : École supérieure du commerce
extérieur
ESCP : École supérieure de commerce de Paris
ESEAIG : École supérieure Estienne des arts
et industries graphiques
FICG : Fédération de l’imprimerie et de la
communication graphique
FLE : Français langue étrangère
FMI : Fonds monétaire international
FNEGE : Fondation nationale pour
l’enseignement de la gestion des entre-prises
FNSU : Fédération nationale du sport
universitaire
FSU : Fonds de solidarité universitaire
FUAJ : Fédération unie des auberges de jeunesse
GECM : Groupe des écoles du commissariat
de la marine
ESIT : École supérieure d’interprétation et de
GIFAS : Groupement des industries françaises
aéronautiques et spatiales
traduction
HEC : Hautes études commerciales
ESJ : École supérieure de journalisme
HIV : Human Immuno-deficiency Virus
ESM : École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
HLM : Habitations à loyer modéré
ESNAM : École supérieure nationale des arts
IAE : Institut d’administration des entreprises
de la marionnette
ICN : Institut commercial de Nancy
ESSEC : École supérieure des sciences
économiques et commerciales
IECS : Institut d’études commerciales supérieures
ESUCA : École supérieure de cadres
interprètes-traducteurs
ETE : Emplois temporaires étudiants (CROUS)
ETPA : École de photographie de Toulouse
EUDI : École universitaire d’ingénieurs
EUDIL : École universitaire d’ingénieurs de
Lille
FAO : Food and agricultural Organization
FAVE : Fonds d’aide à la vie étudiante
FEMIS : Institut de formation et
d’enseignement pour les métiers de l’image et
du son
FFIEE : Fédération française des industries
électriques et électroniques
IEJ : Institut d’études judiciaires
IEP : Institut d’études politiques
IFI : Institut de formation internationale
IFROA : Institut français de restauration des
œuvres d’art
IIAP : Institut international d’administration
publique
INA : Institut national de l’audiovisuel
INALCO : Institut national des langues et
civilisations orientales
INAPG : Institut national agronomique
Paris-Grignon
INP : Institut national polytechnique
INRA : Institut national de la recherche
agronomique
INRP : Institut national de la recherche
pédagogique
MIAS : Mathématiques, informatique et
application aux sciences
INSA : Institut national des sciences appliquées
MJC : Maison des jeunes et de la culture
INSEE : Institut national de la statistique et des
études économiques
MP : Maths-physique
INSERM : Institut national de la santé et de la
recherche médicale
INTD : Institut national des techniques documentaires
IRFIP : Institut pour la recherche et la formation des industries papetières
ISCA : Institut supérieur commercial en alternance
ISIC : International Student Identity Card
ISIM : Institut des sciences de l’ingénieur de
Montpellier
ISIT : Institut supérieur d’interprétation et de
traduction
ISTC : International Student Travel Card
IUFM : Institut universitaire de formation des
maîtres
MPU : Médecine préventive universitaire
MSG : Maîtrise de sciences de gestion
MST : Maîtrise de sciences et techniques et
Missions scientifique et technique
NFI : Nouvelle formation d’ingénieurs
OMI : organisation maritime internationale
(Nations Unies)
OMM : Organisation météorologique mondiale
ONISEP : Office national d’information sur les
enseignements et les professions
ONU : Organisation des Nations Unies
ONUDI : Organisation des Nations Unies
pour le développement industriel
PC : Physique-chimie
PCEM : Premier cycle d’études médicales
IUP : Institut universitaire professionnalisé
PIB : Produit intérieur brut
IUT : Institut universitaire de technologie
PNB : Produit national brut
LEA : Langues étrangères appliquées
PSI : Physique et sciences de l’ingénieur
LFAJ : Ligue française pour les auberges de
jeunesse
PT : Physique et technologie
LLCE : Langues, littératures et civilisations
étrangères
RER : Réseau express régional
MAC : Maison d’activités culturelles
MAF : Mathématiques appliquées aux sciences
fondamentales
RATP : Régie autonome des transports parisiens
RFI : Radio-France international
RFO : Radio-France outre-mer
RMI : Revenu minimum d’insertion
MASS : Mathématiques appliquées et sciences
sociales
RU : Résidence/Restaurant universitaire
MBA : Master of business administration
MDE : Maison de l’étudiant
SCUIO : Service commun universitaire
d’information et d’orientation
MEP : Mutuelle des étudiants de Provence
SEM : Société des étudiants mutualistes
MER : Mutuelles étudiantes régionales
SESAME : Session d’épreuves spécifiques à
l’admission au management international et
européen
MGEL : Mutuelle générale des étudiants de l’Est
MIAGE : Maîtrise de méthodes informatiques
appliquées à la gestion
SAMU : Service d’aide médicale d’urgence
SFERE : Société française d’exportation des
ressources éducatives
SFP : Société française de production
SIDA : Syndrome d’immunodéficience acquise
SIO : Service d’information et d’orientation
SMC : Salaire minimum de croissance
SMEBA : Société mutualiste des étudiants de
Bretagne-Atlantique
SMECO : Société mutualiste des étudiants du
Centre-Ouest
SMENO : Société mutualiste des étudiants du
Nord-Ouest
SMERAG : Société mutualiste des étudiants de
la région Antilles-Guyane
SMEREB : Société mutualiste des étudiants de
la région de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
SMEREP : Société mutualiste des étudiants de
la région Parisienne
SMERRA : Société mutualiste des étudiants de
la région Rhône-Alpes
SMESO : Société mutualiste des étudiants du
Sud-Ouest (maintenant VITTAVI)
SNCF : Société nationale des chemins de fer
français
SNV : Sciences de la nature et de la vie
SOUFFLE : Groupement professionnel des
organismes d’enseignement du français langue
étrangère
TGV : Train à grande vitesse
TPC : Technologie, physique et chimie
TSI : Technologie et sciences industrielles
TVA : Taxe sur la valeur ajoutée
UCAD : Union centrale des arts décoratifs
UE : Unité d’enseignement et Union Européenne
UFDI : Union française des designers industriels
UFR : Unité de formation et de recherche
UIC : Union des industries chimiques
UIT : Unité internationale de télécom-munications (nations unies)
UNEF : Union nationale des étudiants de
France
UNESCO : United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
URSSAF : Union pour le recouvrement des
cotisations de sécurité sociale et d’allocations
familiales
USEM : Union des sociétés étudiantes
mutualistes régionales
UTBM : Université technologique de BelfortMontbéliard
UTC : Université de technologie de
Compiègne
UTT : Université technologique de Troyes
X : École polytechnique (see EP)
SSM : Sciences des structures et de la matière
STAPS : Science et technique des activités
physiques et sportives
STI : Sciences et technologie industrielle
STL : Spécialité physique de laboratoire et de
procédés industriels
STS : Section de techniciens supérieurs
SUPÉLEC : École supérieure d’électricité
SVT : Sciences de la vie et de la Terre
TCF : French knowledge test
TDF : Télédiffusion de France
Useful web sites
www.cge.asso.fr
The site for the Conférence des Grandes
Écoles (CGE) provides direct access to the
individual sites of each member school.
www.cnous.fr
On the ‘Centre national des œuvres universitaires et scolaires’ web site you will find some
of the information contained in this brochure, as
well as additional useful information about how
to make the most of your study period in France
in terms of culture, places to eat, employment,
etc. From here you can access the sites of each
CROUS directly.
Under ‘Venir en France’ on the Ministry of
Foreign and European Affairs web site there
is plenty of practical information about living in
France and organizing you study period.
There is also a list of addresses of Foreign
Embassies & Consulates in France.
The French Ministry of Education’s web site
has specific information for overseas students about entry requirements for higher
education courses:
www.education.gouv.fr/int/default.htm
as well as a detailed description of the French
higher education system:
http://www.education.gouv.fr/cid26
/l-enseignement-superieur.html
and a list of all the State-run higher education
universities, schools & colleges:
www.education.gouv.fr/sup/default.htm
www.enic-naric.net
The NARIC, ‘Centre national d’information sur
la reconnaissance académique des diplômes’
web site is designed to provide students with
useful information about which qualifications
are formally recognised & meet higher education entry requirements in France.
You will also find a NARIC centre in every
EU country.
http://appliweb.dgri.education.fr/annuaire/ed_ur.htm
A doctorate study & Research module directory is available on the Ministry of Research
web site.
http://www.bdsp.ehesp.fr/Webs/Default.asp
‘l’École Nationale de la Santé Publique’ created this web site in order to offer foreign
students a directory of all the different French
health related studies.
www.onisep.fr
The ONISEP have the richest databank of
information about higher education in France.
You can have access to the information by
looking under ‘domaine’ (subject area), ‘niveau
d’études’ (level of study) and by institution
under ‘Atlas des formations’.
www.campusfrance.fr
In charge of promoting France’s “supply” of higher education courses, ‘l’agence
CampusFrance’ gives you all the information
you need to know about how to go about
studying in France. Some of the web pages are
reserved for the student web site.
Useful web sites
www.egide.asso.fr
The Egide (formerly known as ‘le centre
international des étudiants et stagiaires’)
organisation welcomes overseas students and
interns, and helps students to choose a study
programme and prepare for their study period
via their web site.
www.phosphore.com
The on-line University & college students’
information magazine features information
on ‘Grandes Écoles’ and university course
subjects. It also has on-line temporary job
vacancies.
www.lemonde.fr
The ‘Le Monde’ on-line web site features
a section on education, providing students
with information “fact-files” on courses at
the ‘Grandes Écoles’ & the 3rd cycle level
of study.
www.sudoc.abes.fr
L’agence bibliographique de l’enseigne-ment
supérieur (Higher educations publications
agency) has a web site that enables you to
look for and track down all kinds of collections (books, pamphlets) that are published
by French universities.
Europe
http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/home.jsp?language=fr
PLOTEUS is a service of the European
Commission. This portal lists and explains
educational and training possibilities throughout Europe.
www.socrates-leonardo.fr
The site of the Socrates-Leonardo France
agency provides information on the possibilities for student transfers within Europe.
www.europe-education-formation.fr
The website of the French member agency of
the European Education and Training initiative, containing useful information on student
mobility in Europe.
www.touteleurope.fr
French website Toute l’Europe offers information on the European Union, what it does
and how it functions. The site also provides
practical information on travelling, relocating
to another country, and the legal rights of
European citizens.
www.euroguidance.net
The aim of Euroguidance is to promote mobility
and develop a European dimension in orienta-
www.cidj.asso.fr
For further information about CIDJ centres
‘Information jeunesse’ in France, log on to this
web site and click on the map of France that is
in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
tion. If you are intending to study or undertake
a training course in another European Union
country, then Euroguidance can help you by
providing support with the orientation system
in your own country.
Pratique
www.aeroportsdeparis.fr
The ‘Aéroports de Paris’ web site features
information about flight scheduling as well as
maps of Orly Airport and Roissy Airport.
www.carteisic.com
The ISIC (International Student Identity Card),
which is issued by OTU agencies has a web
site that features information about how to
obtain an ISIC card and the reductions (on
cinema, museum, theatre tickets, and travel)
for cardholders.
www.franceguide.com
The ‘Maison de la France’ /French Government
‘virtual’ Tourist Office features an ‘espace
jeunes’ “young peoples’ section” along with a
number of interesting links to provide visitors
with detailed tourist information.
www.doucefrance.com
This web site is a practical guide that is
made up of ‘theme’ web sites, including gastronomy, Leisure & Culture, Tourism, & the
Economy.
www.cybercafes.com
This site offers a directory of almost 4000
cybercafés located in over 140 countries
www.ratp.fr
The web site of the Paris railway network
(RATP) gives all the information you need
about public transport in Paris, the suburbs
and outside Paris.
www.sncf.fr
The web site of the French railway network
(SNCF) gives all the information you need about
bookings, travel conditions and also sells tickets
for all trains that leave from France.
www.taxi-paris.net
All you need to know about taxis in Paris:
information, rules, prices, bookings, airport
transfers.
www.directetudiant.com
The generalist web site dedicated to placement searches in France.
www.bienvenueenfrance.net
A web site managed by the association
CERISE, with the support of the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs and Europe, that provides
information and interactive assistance for
international students
www.justlanded.com/français/France
Information for foreign students just arrived
in France, offering advice on a variety of
subjects (accommodation, jobs, transport,
renting, health, telephone companies, social
activities, meetings, discussion groups, etc.)
Useful web sites
www.club-international.org
Le Club International des Jeunes in Paris is an
association which welcomes international students staying in Paris, and encourages cultural
exchanges and social links between young
people and students from France and from
overseas. Every week it organises a number
of cultural and social activities: walking tours
and visits to monuments in the city, conversation and language workshops, excursions and
trips, themed evenings, friendship café, visits
to restaurants, etc.
www.mapiaule.com
Offers of rented accommodation, flat shares,
ads for accommodation wanted, standard
letters, directory of student lodgings, FAQs,
information on legislation, financial assistance,
the formalities, “tricks” and tips for finding
accommodation
www.eurolines.fr
Eurolines offers over 1500 European destinations by coach, leaving from over 90 French
towns.
www.jobetudiant.net
Jobetudiant.net lists student jobs offers, free
of charge, and puts you in contact with people recruiting students for temporary work,
seasonal jobs, etc.
INDEX
Your Host Country
Arriving in Paris
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p.59
. ...............................................................................
p.68
Driving in France
Grants
pp 63 & 68
..............................................................................................
p.120
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Residents Card
Student Card
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International students’ card
Reductions
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Services
Cutural Policy
Addresses
................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.............................................
Qualifications
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
documentation
Studies
Grant allowances
Applying for a grant
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customs Regulations
CROUS
pp.62 & 116
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Luggage
Banking
...............................................................................
French qualifications
Equivalent qualifications
French as a foreign language
...............................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.....................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCUIO
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. ..............................................................................................
TRAINING
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing subjects
Short courses
Long courses
French language
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........................................
.........................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p.55
p.55
pp 70, 71 & 72
p.120
pp 124 & 125
p.59 to p. 64
p.73
p.82
p.87
p.140
p.181
p.102
p.103 & 104
p.200
p.132
p.181
p.135
p.135
p.98
Index
grandes écoles
Enrolment
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p.157
p.47
p.54
p.68
p.69
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p.75
p.108
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p.119
.......................
University Canteens
.. . . . . . . .
University halls of residence
Other solutions
Average price guide
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p.112
p.74
............................................
p.95
. ................................................................................................
p.91
Social Security
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Language Tests
Employment
Universities
Conditions
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public Transport
visa
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................
Average living expenses
sport
Provisional admission
Cost – university fees
Administrative enrolment
Pedagogical enrolment
.............................
Accomodation
‘La Poste’
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..........................
Airports
Train station
Rates
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temporary employment
‘Au pair’
Work permit
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........................................................................................
.....................................................................................................
p.49
p.65
p.67
p.66
p.79
p.80
p.79
pp.141 et 200
p.50
The CROUS
and the CNOUS
With a presence in 183 towns and cities throughout France.
The CROUS agencies work within each Académie. CNOUS is the national agency.
• CNOUS
• CROUS de CLERMONT-FERRAND
• CROUS d’AIX-MARSEILLE
• CROUS de CORTE
69 quai d’orsay
75007 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 18 53 00
www.cnous.fr
6 avenue Benjamin Abram
Tél. : 04 42 16 13 13
www.crous-aix-marseille.com.fr
• CROUS d’AMIENS
25 rue Étienne Dolet
Tél. : 04 73 34 44 00
www.crous-clermont.fr
22 avenue Jean Nicoli
BP 55
20250 Corte
Tél. : 04 95 45 30 00
www.crous-corse.fr
25 rue Saint Leu
BP 541
Tél. : 03 22 71 24 00
www.crous-amiens.fr
• CROUS de CRÉTEIL
• CROUS des ANTILLES-GUYANE
• CROUS de DIJON
• CROUS de BESANÇON
• CROUS de GRENOBLE
• CROUS de BORDEAUX
• CROUS de LA RÉUNION
• CROUS de CAEN
• CROUS de LILLE
Campus universitaire de Fouillole
BP 444
Tél. : 05 90 89 46 60
www.crous-antillesguyane.fr
38 avenue de l’Observatoire
BP 31021
25001 Besançon Cedex 3
Tél. : 03 81 48 46 62
www.crous-besancon.fr
18 rue du Hamel
CS 11616
Tél. : 05 56 33 92 00
www.crous-bordeaux.fr
23 avenue de Bruxelles
BP 85153
14070 Caen Cedex 5
Tél. : 02 31 56 63 00
www.unicaen.fr
70 avenue du Général de Gaulle
Tél. : 01 45 17 06 60
www.crous-creteil.fr
3 rue du Docteur Maret
BP 51250
21012 Dijon Cedex
Tél. : 03 80 40 40 40
www.crous-dijon.fr
5 rue d’Arsonval
BP 187
Tél. : 0 810 06 40 69
www.crous-grenoble.fr
20 rue Hippolyte Foucque
97490 Sainte-Clotilde
La Réunion
Tél. : 02 62 48 32 32
http://crous-reunion.fr
74 rue de Cambrai
59043 Lille Cedex
Tél. : 03 20 88 66 00
www.crous-lille.fr
The CROUS and the CNOUS
• CROUS de LIMOGES
39 G rue Camille Guérin
BP 93630
Tél. : 05 55 43 17 00
www.crous-limoges.fr
• CROUS de LYON-SAINT ÉTIENNE
• CROUS de POITIERS
15 rue Guillaume VII - Le Troubadour
BP 629 - 86022 Poitiers Cedex
Tél. : 05 49 60 88 00
www.crous-poitiers.fr
• CROUS de REIMS
59 rue de la Madeleine
69365 Lyon Cedex 07
Tél. : 04 72 80 17 70
www.crous-lyon.fr
34 boulevard Henry Vasnier
BP 2751
51063 Reims Cedex
Tél. : 03 26 50 59 00
www.crous-reims.fr
• CROUS de MONTPELLIER
• CROUS de RENNES
• CROUS de NANCY-METZ
• CROUS de ROUEN
• CROUS de NANTES
• CROUS de STRASBOURG
• CROUS de NICE-TOULON
• CROUS de TOULOUSE
2 rue Monteil
BP 5053
Tél. : 04 67 41 50 00
www.crous-montpellier.fr
75 rue de Laxou
54042 Nancy Cedex
Tél. : 03 83 91 88 00
www.crous-nancy-metz.fr
2 boulevard Guy Mollet
BP 52213
Tél. : 02 40 37 13 13
www.crous-nantes.fr
18 avenue des Fleurs
06050 Nice Cedex 1
Tél. : 04 92 15 50 50
www.crous-nice.fr
• CROUS d’ORLÉANS-TOURS
17 avenue Dauphine
Tél. : 02 38 22 61 61
www.crous-orleans-tours.fr
• CROUS de PARIS
7 place Hoche
CS 26428
35064 Rennes Cedex
Tél. : 02 99 84 31 31
www.crous-rennes.fr
3 rue d’Herbouville
76042 Rouen Cedex 1
Tél. : 02 32 08 50 00
www.crous-rouen.fr
1 quai du Maire Dietrich
BP 50168
Tél. : 03 88 21 28 00
http://crous-strasbourg.cnous.fr
58 rue du Taur
BP 7096
Tél. : 05 61 12 54 00
www.crous-toulouse.fr
• CROUS de VERSAILLES
145 bis boulevard de la Reine
BP 563
Tél. : 01 39 24 52 00
www.crous-versailles.fr
39 avenue Georges Bernanos
Tél. : 01 40 51 36 00
www.crous-paris.fr
CNOUS
6, rue Jean Calvin - BP 49 - 75222 Paris Cedex 05
Gare Montparnasse
Gare d’Austerlitz
Gare de Lyon
Gare du Nord
Gare de l’Est
Aéroport du Bourget
accès par la Porte de la Villette
Aéroport d’Orly
accès par la Porte d’Italie
Gare Saint Lazare
Aéroport Roissy - Charles de Gaulle
accès par la Porte de Bagnolet
I’d like to make a suggestion (pages .........) :
I noticed some mistakes (pages .........) :
Help us improve the
“I’m going to France”
brochure by filling out and sending
us this questionnaire.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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From:
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Address:
Please cut along the dotted line and return
this questionnaire in a stamped envelope
to the following address:
CNOUS
SDAI
6, rue Jean Calvin
BP 49
75222 PARIS CEDEX 05
The overseas student
French government
grant-holders guide
2010
The overseas French
government grant-holder
The overseas French
If you have been awarded a grant from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, then this
booklet is intended for you. Its aim is to inform students about the formalities regarding the
grant scheme for overseas students. The scheme explains the grant-holders status and informs
them of their rights and the rules and regulations, which go hand in hand with the grant scheme.
In accordance with the ministerial legislation act of 27th December 1983), that introduces
and modifies the French government grant scheme each year. The scheme also provides
information about the ‘Centre National des Œuvres universitaires et scolaires’ regional centres,
which provide grant-holders with a reception centre, academic and administrative follow-up
during their stay.
A warm welcome on
arrival: The CNOUS
Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport
- Roissy Terminal 2F
The CNOUS Overseas French government
grant-holder reception centre is open from 7am
to 10pm all year round (including weekends
& public holidays). You will find the CNOUS
welcome desk at Gate 4, on the ‘Arrivals’ floor
(except December 24th, 25th and 31st and January
1st).
On arrival at the reception centre students
will be welcomed and may or may not be provided with accommodation depending on the
time and date of arrival. They will then be
transferred to the care of the CROUS for their
region.
- Roissy Terminal 1
Scholarship students are entitled to take the
Roissyval train free of charge, in a shuttle bus
to Roissy 2F where they will be greeted at the
CNOUS welcome desk(Terminal 2F, ‘Arrivals’
level, at Gate 4). If they wish, they can go directly
to Paris by getting on the Air France coach n°4,
which leaves from Terminal 1, ‘Arrivals’ level
at Gate 34, Terminal 2A & 2C, Exit 2 in 2C.
Coaches to Paris leave every 15 minutes from
6am-11pm. The fare is €16.50. Once in Paris,
you can take a taxi from ‘Gare Montparnasse’
train station, to the CNOUS office at 6 rue Jean
Calvin 75005 Paris Metro Place Monge. Office
hours are Mon-Fri. 9am-5pm.
263
Orly airport (South of Paris)
OrlyBus to Place Denfert-Rochereau. The Air
France Coach departs from Exits B and C at Orly
West and Exit L at Orly South, every 30 minutes
between 6:15 and 23:15. Price: €11.50. From
Place Denfert-Rochereau, the grant holder can
take a taxi to the CNOUS (reception office).
Taxis
If you cannot use the metro (underground)
because you have a lot of luggage you can always
call a taxi. Do not forget to ask the taxi driver
for a receipt.
Make sure you take a taxi that has a ‘lit up
taxi’ sign on its’ roof and not a ‘voiture de
place’ (people carrier), otherwise you will not
be refunded. You will be refunded on the basis
of a set price.
Contacting the CNOUS directly
As soon as you arrive (or the next first working day), grant-holders can report, if necessary,
from 9am onwards, to the CNOUS office in the
entrance hall on the ground floor 6, rue Jean-Calvin,
75005 Paris, tel.: 01 55 43 58 48, metro: CensierDaubenton or Place Monge on line nº 7) at 9 am.
The CNOUS office greets grant-holders at:
Reception centre at Roissy Airport CDG
Terminal 2F on the ‘Arrivals’ level at Gate n° 4
all year round (with the exception of 24th, 25th,
31st December & 1st January) from 7am - 10pm;
Reception desk: Centre Albert-Châtelet (lobby on
the ground floor) 8, rue Jean-Calvin, Weekdays
from 9 am - 5 pm.
What to do if you have a problem
You must call the ‘Accueil des boursiers
étrangers’ department in Paris straight away:
01 55 43 58 48
264
Grants:
a general outline
Conditions for eligibility
Each year the French government awards
a certain number of study or research grants
to overseas students in France. The French
Embassy’s cultural service is in charge of
nominating those eligible for a grant.
To whom these grants are awarded depends
on the applicants specific projects envisaged in
conjunction with a ‘coopérative’ scheme, the
governments’ priorities and the decision of
several mixed panels of judges.
Grant-holders rights and the rules &
regulations to be abided by
The legislation acts that have established the
formalities regarding the grant scheme of the
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs for
overseas citizens apply to students, interns and
research students. Grant-holders benefit from
a number of services that come with the grant
scheme, but must in turn respect the obligations
that it holds. If students do not abide by the
regulations, funding may be withdrawn.
One grant per student…
Students are not allowed to combine two
French grants, a French grant and a grant from
an international institution or a grant and
regular paid employment.
Conditions for Study
Grant-holders are committed to follow the
course for which he has been awarded the grant.
Students are expected to keep in regular contact
with the CROUS’s administrative offices, informing them of their whereabouts and any changes
of address during their stay.
The overseas French
The different benefits
available
Academic follow up
To change courses students must ask for
permission to do so well in advance. However
students are very rarely permitted to change
courses once enrolled. The application form
that grant-holders fill out commits them to
the course for which they have been awarded
financial aid. The same applies to any changes of
educational institution or region.
The deadlines for handing in all questionnaires
or reports required for applying to study in France
must be respected.
Enrolment certificates, teacher’s references
and examination results must also reach the registry office on time. If the grant-holder is absent
over a long period of time without explanation or without informing their senior lecturer/
course manager, they could risk temporary
withdrawal of financial aid from the Ministry of
Foreign and European Affairs.
What if you decide to leave France?
Grant-holders are not supposed to leave
France for personal reasons or for their studies
without informing the CROUS, who will transmit
your application to the CNOUS and will then
assess your situation.
French government grant-holders are entitled
to one or several of the following four benefits:
‘l’allocation d’entretien’ (maintenance grant),
‘l’allocation de voyage’ (Travel grant), ‘la couverture
sociale’ Social Security cover and ‘les frais de formation’ (Tuition fees).
Maintenance grants
The maintenance grant is designed to help
fund the students’ stay.
The basic monthly maintenance grant allowance is fixed each year by a governmental legislation act.
The allocated monthly grant depends on the
beneficiary’s qualifications and level of study. The
current minimum monthly maintenance grant
allowance is roughly €607. Rent and charges
are paid for by the student, intern or research
student. ‘La caisse d’allocation familiale’ can
contribute to a students’ rent by allocating them
housing benefit/ ‘allocation logement à caractère
social’ (ALS).
Further information about conditions for
eligibility for the benefit and the amount of
allowance allocated is available at the CROUS.
If the student has to go to hospital, he/she
will continue to receive the maintenance grant
during the first and second month of their stay in
hospital. During the following two months, the
allowance received will be reduced. The student
will normally receive half the original grant allowance. If the hospital stay exceeds four months
the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
will either continue awarding half the original
allowance or consider sending the patient back
to their country of origin.
Travel expense grants
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
will decide as to whether your travel & luggage
expenses will be partially or fully reimbursed. You
265
are expected to purchase the most inexpensive
tickets. Either the CNOUS will issue you with a
ticket or the CNOUS will refund the your travel
expenses at a special rate. Grant-holders’ travel
expenses in France (for the journey to the town
that they are going to stay in) are covered.
First contact
First-time grant-holders stopping off in
Paris before going on to their final destination
grant-holders are entitled to the following:
An all expenses paid hotel room for the night
if they arrive late at night or 3 nights if they arrive
on a Friday night (must be avoided if and when
possible), as well as all travel expenses paid for
the journey to your final destination.
The journey to France
When the Ministry of Foreign and European
Affairs agrees to cover the costs of the journey
from the grant-holders’ homeland to France
it covers:
- By plane: the journey from your nearest
airport to the airport nearest your place of
study in France,
- By train: 2nd Class travel from your nearest
train station to the train station, which is nearest
to where you are going to study in France.
- By boat: the journey from the nearest port
in your home country to the port that is nearest
your place of study in France, plus the journey
from the port to your actual place of study.
Holiday Travel
To go back to your home country for a holiday, a Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
grant-holder can have their travel expenses
reimbursed, providing that the four conditions
are met:
- The grant was awarded for a period of at
least 18 months (language classes included).
- The grant-holder obtained good exam
results.
- The grant-holder has not travelled over the
past nine months.
266
- They have nine months of grant left to be
awarded.
Once the above conditions for eligibility have
been met, the length of the stay cannot exceed
the set holidays of the educational institution in
which the grant-holder is enrolled.
Holiday time can only be taken during official
holiday periods in the academic year and may
not be prolonged without justified study-related
reasons.
Going back to your home country
Whenthe Ministry of Foreign and European
Affairs agrees to pay for the students’ journey
back to their home country, the conditions for
covering the expenses of the single ticket are the
same as those for the return ticket. For example
you must purchase the most inexpensive ticket.
This may include (with the exception of language
student grant-holders & teacher training student
grant-holders who are in France for a short stay)
an extra 10 kg of luggage. In this case the air fare
charges are covered with a coupon issued by an
administrative body or an exchange value for the
corresponding amount.
20kg of special equipment may be transported
free of charge and special handling can be arranged
for works of art. If your luggage exceeds the
passengers allowance, land or sea transport can
be arranged for the equivalent of the charges
by air based on 10kg. If the grant-holder greatly
exceeds their luggage allowance they will have to
foot the courier service bill (for surplus goods)
themselves.
To take advantage of this benefit, grant-holders
must have three more months of grant allowance
left and should be considered as being in good
standing, regarding their status as an overseas
citizen in a foreign country. They must also be
able to provide the necessary proof of eligibility for student social security. Students whose
grants cover less than a years study have fifteen
days in which to meet the requirements. You
must apply for your travel benefits at least a
month before your grant expires.
The overseas French
If the grant-holder does not have student
social security, the Ministry of Foreign and
European Affairs covers their health care
expenses. Only the grant-holder is accounted
for, with the exclusion of their partner or any
children.
Covering your travel expenses
The grants service will directly pay for travel
expenses, but the grant-holder may receive the
ticket fare in cash if they purchased the ticket
themselves, if they purchased a car in France,
or if they came to France in their own car. In
the latter case, the grant-holder must produce
a logbook that proves that the car is registered
in their name, (in France this is called the ‘carte
grise’), their driving licence and sufficient car
insurance cover that applies to driving in France.
Refunding of travel expenses (by road) is calculated
on the basis of the most economical and direct
route that can be taken.
Social Security cover
Registering for Student Social Security
If you have student social security cover
it means that you are entitled to the same
advantages and benefits as the French in regards
to health care. This includes being refunded a
large part of health care expenses: visits to the
doctor, medical or surgical treatment, medicine
and stays in hospital.
Grant-holders are automatically registered
for student social security if they study in a
social security accredited institution and if the
student is under 28 on the 1st October of the
year they apply, unless special allowances are
made for them.
‘Les mutuelles’
Student Insurance Companies
Whether the grant-holder is affiliated to
student social security or not, they must take
out a student insurance policy with one of the
‘mutuelles’. A year’s health care contributions
are taken care of by the French government
which, enables grant-holders to benefit from complimentary cover that in some cases may cover
100% of health care expenses. This is partly covered by social security, including welfare abroad
whilst on a work placement or undertaking
compulsory study, social security and accident
cover, etc. (see chapter 3: Social security and
student health insurance companies p.95).
Repatriation on medical grounds
If the grant-holder is judged unwell enough
(or if their health is at risk due to pregnancy) to
not be able to see through their study period,
the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs may
make arrangements to send the grant-holder
back to their home country. If this is the case,
the grant-holder will continue to receive social
security contributions until the grant expires if
they are not well enough to travel. The grantholder must see a doctor (chosen by the Ministry
of Foreign and European Affairs’ administrative
office) who will then issue them with a doctor
certificate as proof of their inability to travel.
Repatriation in the event of death
Burial or repatriation of the remains is also
covered.
267
Enrolment fees
Usually your grant company will pay your
university or school, or your teacher (for
example, in the case of art students) directly
for your enrolment fees. The student can be
reimbursed the enrolment fees if they are able
produce proof of payment. As a rule, in universities,
grant-holders are exempt from paying the basic
enrolment fees.
Course fees
The grant covers basic tuition fees. For all
other expenses that are directly associated with
the grant-holders study programme you will
need to ask for authorization of payment from
your grant office or fromthe Ministry of Foreign
and European Affairs.
Books and other study materials
An annual allowance is awarded to grant-holders that plan to stay in France for three months
or longer, to cover the costs of buying books
and other study materials.
Grant-holders, who plan to stay for less than
three months, may receive the allowance after
their course manager has been consulted and the
Grant Company has assessed their situation.
Printing & Word processing students’
work (dissertations, thesis, projects, etc)
Printing & word processing expenses for thesis,
dissertation for the Master, or a work placement
report are usually paid for by the grant company,
depending on their budget. These costs can only be
covered if the grant-holder can produce authorization from their grant company, two estimates and
certified proof from the course or work placement manager stating the nature of the course,
the required number of copies of the work to
be handed in and the date. The costs will either
be paid directly to the printing/photocopying firm
or the grant-holder will be reimbursed the sum,
providing that they can produce the receipt for
268
the services used. Typing, word processing and
photocopying of the grant-holders work cannot
be carried out by private persons unless the grantholder has special permission to do so due to
the nature of their work. Students may also be
refunded a set amount if they purchase computer
hardware in order to type up their work instead
of being reimbursed the printing costs. Doctorate
students may apply for reimbursement of computer
hardware expenses as from the second year of
their thesis (3rd year of their research course).
Grant-holders must agree to refund the costs if
they do not finish their thesis or dissertation (for
more information, contact the CROUS). The grantholder is also expected to take out theft insurance
for the hardware.
Specific fees
Additional compulsory equipment fees that
apply to certain courses (Architecture, Fine
Art, Geology, Hotel management, Music, etc.)
are paid for, according to the grant company’s
budget and providing that grant-holders produce
proof of the costs that their course involves in
relation to the length of the grant.
(Study-related) Travelling grants
Grant-holders can also apply for funding of
travel expenses, work placements, tests,
entrance examinations, or study trips. In order
to be reimbursed you will need authorization
from your grant company. They will then discuss
the matter (i.e. the importance of the trip, the
length and destination, the costs involved, transport, daily allowance, whether or not you should
continue to receive maintenance grant, the question
of the visa & vaccinations, etc) with your course
manager. The allowance awarded will depend on
the country you are going to.
Subscription fees
Just before coming to France students on a
‘troisième cycle’ level course or French teachers
in their home country, can sign up for a years
The overseas French
subscription to a specialised topic magazine
(in French), which corresponds to the course
or work placement to be followed in France.
Subscription fees must not exceed the research
grant allowance. (This does not include shortterm language students or teacher training students, who have taken out grants)
Special cases
Social Security cover grants
French cultural services award social security
grants to French government grant-holders, as
they are eligible for this service. They may also
benefit from the CNOUS reception centres’
services on their arrival in France, but are not
entitled to free transport from Paris to the
Provinces. The CROUS cultural activities are
also open to them. They are equally exempt
from paying university enrolment fees, but are
not entitled to any other benefits.
Going back to your
home country
Just before grant-holders leave France the
CROUS asks them to fill in a questionnaire that
aims to find out what they thought of their stay
and records their criticisms and suggestions
in order to improve the CNOUS reception
service.
It is also designed to collect ex-grant-holders
new addresses and telephone numbers, so if they
wish to keep in touch with France.
Co-financed Grants
In the majority of cases these grants are either
a social security benefit that is awarded by the
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs or ‘allocation d’entretien’/ a maintenance grant (often
associated with other benefits), which is awarded
by another French or overseas institution.
269
Thanks
The CNOUS (National Centre for University and School Affairs) would like to
thank everyone who has contributed to updating this document:
ADIL, Aéroport de Paris, 2E2F Agency, AgroParistech, Air France, CampusFrance, CCIP,
CDEFI, CGE, CIDJ, CIEP, CISP, CIUP, CNDP, CPU, EGIDE, FFSU, INRP, INSEE, LMDE,
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ministry
for the Budget, Public Accounts and Civil Service (The Information and Communication
Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes), Ministry of Culture and
Communication, Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Employment, Ministry of Education
(Directorate for European and International Relations and Cooperation/Directorate General
for Higher Education/Delegation for Development and International Affairs), Ministry for
Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Work, Social Relations and Solidarity, OFII
(Immigration Control Directorate), ONISEP, ParisTech, RATP, SNCF, USEM.
270

5 - French Embassy in Ireland

Transcription

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