Students coming under an exchange agreement must comply with the following steps :

Step 1. They must be nominated by the International Relations Office of their home institution. It is the responsibility of this office to send us the nomination @international prior to the nomination deadline.

Step 2. Nominated students must retun to @international the following documents, prior to the application deadline :

• The application form duly completed and signed
• A learning agreement approved and signed by the home institution
• A recent photo
• A CV
• A cover letter
• Transcript of records
• Language certificate (French or English)
• Table on the cost of living in France, duly signed by the applicant

Step 3. Admitted students will receive their notification of admission within 2 weeks

Formalities to enter in France: Visa Processing

Incoming students are advised to prepare the following prior to their arrival in France

European Students (EU27 + Swiss + Norway + Iceland + Liechtenstein)

• A valid ID or passport is necessary to enter in France.
• Make sure that the period of validity of your ID or passport covers your whole stay in France.

Non-European Students

• The Long Stay Visa, valid as Residence Permit for Students (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour, mention Etudiant – “VLS-TS Etudiant”), is mandatory to study in France for a period from 4 months to one year.
• You can alternatively apply for a Temporary Long Term Visa (VLS-T “Etudiant”), explained here.
• If you are not sure whether or not you need a visa, check here.
• First, check if you are subject to the “Etudes en France” procedure. The list of the countries whose citizens are subject to the “Etudes en France” procedure is available here
• If you are subject to the “Etudes en France” procedure, you must create an online file at the “Etudes en France” website.  This file is considered by the French Authorities as your application to study in France, even though you have previously applied or been accepted by Télécom SudParis. It is important to include your acceptance letter from Télécom SudParis in your file.

The French Authorities will first review your application from an academic perspective, more especially to evaluate the coherency between your educational and/or professional background and the studies you intend to follow at Télécom SudParis.

If the academic assessment is positive, your visa application will automatically be forwarded to the French Consulate in your country.

• If you are not subject to the “Etudes en France” procedure, please contact the French Consulate in your country. The list of French Embassies and consulates around the world is available here.

IMPORTANT:

• Depending on the country where you make your application, it can take between 1 and 2 months to obtain your visa.
• Pay great attention to the kind of visa you apply for. Once in France, you cannot change your immigration status or your visa. To do so, you will have to return to your home country and apply for a new visa.

• The VLS-TS “Etudiant” visa:

You will find information about the VLS-TS “Etudiant” visa here.

• The visa you obtained in your country allows you to travel freely outside France and return to France within three months after your arrival in France.

Validating your visa will allow you continue travelling outside and returning to France after these first three months. Visa validation is subject to a tax (60 € in 2020) and the process is digital: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/

IMPORTANT: If you travel outside France without a validated visa, you will be required to apply for a new visa to return to France.

 Relevant websites:

https://www.campusfrance.org/en/student-long-stay-visa

https://www.campusfrance.org/en/the-temporary-long-term-visa-or-vls-t

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/studying-in-france/

• Having difficulties in obtaining your visa?

Send an e-mail to international@telecom-sudparis.eu with your full name, the program that you have been admitted to at Télécom SudParis, your application number and the Consulate where you have submitted your application.

Purchasing insurance

Mandatory health insurance

European Students (EU27 + Swiss + Norway + Iceland + Liechtenstein) should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in their home country. Your healthcare expenses will be reimbursed under the same conditions as if you were in your country.

You should obtain your EHIC in your home country prior to your arrival in France. Make sure that it is valid until the end of your stay. European students who do not hold an EHIC and students from other countries must apply for French National Healthcare (Sécurité Sociale). The French healthcare system will cover you until the end of your stay in France, and will reimburse on average 60% of your healthcare expenses.

• • As it takes time to process your application, you are strongly advised to apply for French National Healthcare (Sécurité Sociale) as soon as you are definitively admitted at Télécom SudParis. The application is mandatory and free of charge. You can register online. The whole process is explained here:
  • The French National Healthcare coverage is back-dated to the date of registration at Télécom SudParis. This means that all care received after your registration at Télécom SudParis is covered.

Optional supplemental health insurance:

• To be fully reimbursed for medical expenses, you can purchase a supplemental health insurance policy. Supplemental health insurance is not mandatory but highly recommended. If you are interested, you can check the websites of these two companies, which specialize in student policies:
  • https://www.lmde.fr/mutuelle-sante/international/i-come-to-study-in-france
  • https://worldpass.heyme.care/fr
• Your medical reimbursements will depend on the coverage selected and the subscription fee. They can reach 100%.

Mandatory Comprehensive Accommodation Insurance

• Comprehensive Accommodation Insurance (“Assurance habitation”) covers expenses from fire, theft, water etc., as well as damage you might cause at your neighbors’ place.
• You will be required to purchase an insurance policy if you choose off campus housing. If you choose housing in our student residence, La MAISEL, fees for comprehensive accommodation insurance are included in the monthly rent.

Mandatory Personal Liability and Repatriation Insurance

• The aim of a Personal Liability Insurance (“Assurance Responsabilité Civile”) is to cover the financial consequences of personal injuries, material or financial damage you may cause to others (and not to yourself).
• Personal Liability Insurance is generally included in a Supplementary Health Insurance policy and in Accommodation Insurance.
• You are free to purchase your Personal Liability and Repatriation Insurance from any insurance company. The following companies specialize in insurance for students:

https://www.acs-ami.com/en/

https://heyme.care/fr/assurance

https://www.lmde.fr/mutuelle-sante/les-offres-surcomplementaires-lmde

Optional Travel Insurance

• The French National Healthcare will cover you once your registration is completed and your registration must be completed upon your arrival on campus.
• As you may have no insurance between your departure from your country and your arrival on our campus we advise you to purchase travel insurance so that you will be covered until your arrival on campus and your registration is complete.
• You might be able to benefit from travel insurance if you pay for your plane ticket with a credit card providing such a policy. We advise you to check this before purchasing any additional insurance.

We recommend that International students budget around 1000 euros per month for living expenses in France. This includes accommodation and local transportation.

How much money you need depends on your habits. The following table lists the most common expenses for students. International transportation costs and tuition fees are not included in the following table.

-  Birth certificate translated into French by a certified translator in your country.

-  Wedding certificate if you come with your spouse.

-  Certified copies of your degrees and grades.

-  Warm clothes for winter, which might be colder than in your country.

- Adapter for electronic devices (computer, hair dryer, etc.) 220 volts plug for France.

Register on the Welcom’ website

• Welcom’ is a student association dedicated to assisting foreign students when they arrive for the first time in acclimating themselves to campus life and to living in France in general.
• Once you get your visa and flight ticket, please register on the Welcom’ website.

Purchase the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC)

• Student and Campus Life Contribution (Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus – CVEC) is an annual fee aimed which contributes to improving campus services, more especially for extra-curricular activities, health, culture, and athletics. The cost is 92 €.
• All students, both national and foreign, enrolled in a degree-granting program in France pay this fee.
• Exchange students are not required to pay this fee.
• For more information : https://www.campusfrance.org/en/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-student-and-campus-life-contribution-cvec-0
• CVEC can be paid online or in cash:
  • Online payment:
    • Register at the site: https://www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr/
    • Then connect to the dedicated CVEC site: https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/
    • Enter the city in which you are studying and proceed to payment with a debit or credit card.
    • Download and retain the proof of payment (“attestation”), which you will need to show in order to finalize your registration at Télécom SudParis.
  • Cash payment at the post office in France:
    • Register at the site: https://www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr/
    • Then connect to the dedicated CVEC site: https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/
    • Download a payment notice.
    • Pay at any post office. Within two business days, you will receive a proof of payment by e-mail.
    • Download and retain the proof of payment (“attestation”), which you will need to show to finalize your registration at Télécom SudParis.
  • Even if you are exempt from the CVEC, you must register at https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/ and download a notice of exemption:
    • Register at the site https://www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr/
    • Then connect to the dedicated CVEC site https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/
    • Download the notice of exemption (“attestation”).
    • Safeguard this notice as you will need to show it when you finalize your registration at Télécom SudParis.

IMPORTANT: Télécom SudParis cannot finalize your registration without your CVEC notice of payment or exemption.

French classes

• This year due to the sanitary crisis, intensive French language classes will be provided online from September 15 to September 25, 2020. Your program starts at the end of this intensive.
• Please find more information about learning French before your arrival at this site: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/learning-French

Opening a Bank Account

• Opening a bank account is one of the most urgent things to do once you arrive on campus.
• We advise you to apply for an international Visa or Master Card, as they are accepted in almost all shops and supermarkets. American Express is recognized as well but is far less accepted.
• If you have a pin code, almost all ATMs will allow you to withdraw euros with your credit card. Be sure to check with your bank for charges applied when you use your card. If your account is funded with foreign currency, we advise you to check the exchange rate and bank charges.
• If you change money before arriving in France, remember to ask for small denomination banknotes. It is EXTREMELY difficult to get stores, and even banks, to accept banknotes greater than €100.
• We advise you not to carry large sums of cash.
• Opening a bank account is easy. Only the following documents are required :
  • Valid ID (passport, residence card, id card),
  • Accommodation certificate or proof of accommodation.
• In Evry like in every town in France, you will find large banks such as BNP Parisbas, Société Générale, Crédit Lyonnais and others. These banks have both physical agencies and online services. Many online banks, without agencies, have emerged in the last few years.

Purchase a French subscription for your mobile phone

• Purchasing a subscription from one of the French cellular networks will definitely be cheaper than using a subscription from a foreign operator, unless the latter has partnership agreements. There is a large selection of subscriptions choose from. You can either purchase prepaid SIM cards or pay a monthly subscription, if you have a bank account in France.
• To purchase a subscription, the following documents are required:
  • Valid ID (id card, passport, residence card)
  • Bank details, for a bank account opened in France
  • French operators offer several packages. Some of them include unlimited plans for SMS, calls within France and even calls in selected foreign countries.
• The most popular French mobile operators are :
  • Orange: https://boutique.orange.fr/mobile
  • SFR: https://www.sfr.fr/offre-mobile
  • Bouygues Telephone: https://www.bouyguestelecom.fr/forfaits-mobiles/sans-engagement
  • Free: http://mobile.free.fr/
• To help you select a mobile subscription we suggest the following:
  • Analyze your needs: Do you phone a lot? Do you intend to phone in your home country? Do you use online solutions like messenger or WhatsApp? Do you use online services? Etc.
  • Ask the French students, especially the students from Welcom’ who will be your very first contacts on the campus.

Activate your Télécom SudParis email account and internet access

• You will receive your login and password for computer access by email. You will also receive a Télécom Sud-Paris email ID that has to be used for any future communication with your teachers and the Administration.
• Do not forget to update your personal information on the Student Portal by using your login and password.
• To get Internet in your room, contact MINET, a student association responsible for the management of both wireless and wired networks at the TSP Student residence “La MAISEL”.
• For more information: https://www.minet.net/en/
• The cost of an annual subscription to internet through MINET is 50 €