Congratulations! You have just enrolled for one of our Applied MSc programmes! You now need to prepare for your arrival in France so that you can make the most of your time here and concentrate on your studies. Here is our checklist to help you prepare for your arrival in France.
Administrative tasks
The administrative tasks can be a long and unpleasant process, that’s why they must be taken seriously.
First, to study in France, if you are not a citizen of a European Union country, you will need to obtain a student visa. You need to start preparing for your visa one month in advance before your arrival in France. All the information about this visa is available on the government website.
You will need a valid passport and identity card for your journey to France and your arrival. Ensure your passport is still valid, even after your journey in France is over, so that you can return home if necessary.
Enrolling in a French higher education institution
The Etudes en France platform has been set up to facilitate all your registration procedures in a French higher education institution by centralising your procedures. Once you have created your account on the platform, all you have to do is to follow the instructions.
Accommodation
Your accommodation is really important to your future life in France, so it is advisable to start looking for it as soon as possible. Nowadays, almost every procedure can be done remotely, so you can start looking for it before you arrive in France. If you plan to do your research after you arrive, you should consider booking temporary accommodation while you look for your final home.
DSTI has signed a partnership agreement with Studapart, which is a reference for student accommodation in France. This online accommodation service helps to facilitate the process of finding accommodation for international students.
The budget
The tuition fees charged to all DSTI students cover everything from enrolment, course supervision to examinations for the duration of the academic year. However, there are many other elements of your expenses to consider.
Whether it’s the cost of your rent, food, transport or entertainment, it’s important to plan your budget for your life in France (note that the cost of living is higher in Paris than in Sophia Antipolis).
Opening a bank account in France can be very useful because it will allow you to facilitate many procedures (management of bills, subscriptions, reimbursement of health expenses…). In addition, a French payment card allows you to pay your expenses without taxes and avoids having to carry large amounts of cash.
To fully enjoy life in France and to study in good conditions, it is essential to prepare your arrival in France well. The steps and procedures to follow may seem long and tedious, but if you plan ahead and are well organised, everything will go smoothly. To help you, we have put at your disposal the Student Booklet, which contains all the information and procedures related to your arrival in a very detailed way. This document is a real help, do not hesitate to consult it!