DISCOVER YOUR CITY

Campus will guide you through your first steps in France and exploring , your new home.

WELCOME TO MONTPELLIER Production: Rubrik C (91) - Photos: DR - Cover photo: © Laurent (Pictarena), Fotolia - JULY 2020. - JULY photo: © Laurent (Pictarena), Fotolia Production: Rubrik (91) - Photos: DR Cover C YOUR ARRIVAL International Buddy System In Montpellier, you can be assisted by a local student! IN MONTPELLIER / The universities in Montpellier, Nîmes and as well as the Montpellier-Occitanie CROUS propose a free and personalized buddy system A major and centralized international welcome desk for international students. Local French or foreign for university and partner students student volunteers welcome you and provide you with personalized assistance: www.parrainage- In Montpellier, the Service d’Accueil international.fr International Étudiants/Chercheurs (SAIEC), or Welcome and orientation for doctoral students international students and researchers welcome and researchers desk will assist you in your administrative and The Occitanie Est EURAXESS Centre de Services practical matters regardless of your university offers free and personalized assistance for doctoral (Université de Montpellier, Université Paul- students, researchers and their families: Valéry Montpellier 3, Université de Nîmes, www.euraxess-lr.fr Université de Perpignan - Via Domitia). Welcome and Orientation in the Institutions SAIEC is a year-round multi-service welcome platform manned by a multilingual team of Regardless of your institution, please consult the students. Campus France website for orientation. The site presents a series of Information Sheets covering SAIEC can assist you in different ways: the different higher learning institutions: - A personalized road map, the e-international https://www.campusfrance.org > Students > welcome solution presents in a few clicks Documentary resources > Practical information the steps to follow before your arrival and for for students and researchers > Reception setting up once you’ve arrived! arrangements in institutions Access the road map: If you cannot find your school in this list, then go https://languedoc-roussillon-universites.fr/saiec directly to their website. • A one-stop information desk for residence permits for students and researchers National and regional services • An international buddy system (Montpellier, - students: www.etudiant.gouv.fr Nîmes and Perpignan) - doctoral students, researchers and their families: • Euraxess researchers service. www.euraxess-lr.fr - doctoral students, researchers: www.euraxess.fr

Address: Accueil International Étudiants/ Chercheurs (SAIEC), 8 rue de l’École Normale, HOUSING 34000 Montpellier. Hours: Open year-round, Monday to Friday, see IN MONTPELLIER / hours on the site: www.saiec.fr Getting there: Tramway line 1, stop: Stade Phillipidès. There are numerous solutions for housing in Contacts: Montpellier: Student-only accommodations - Information: 04 67 41 67 87. managed by CROUS, student housing and private - Assistance with administrative procedures residences, and rooms in private homes. (bilingual French - English): [email protected] What’s most important is to take care of this as early as possible, before your arrival. Learn more: -Download the practical The Occitanie CROUS guide Étudier à Montpellier, and the Montpellier Nîmes et Perpignan, universities created the available in French and in PHARE system (Point English Hébergement Accueil https://languedoc- et Recherche pour les roussillon-universites.fr/ Etudiants) to provide saiec > Guide international students - Consult the international with general and housing welcome desk site: information. www.saiec.fr

2 Representatives are present in the SAIEC offices in • Shared Leases: Consult La Carte des Colocs, a September and in October national site for shared leases that’s free and simple to use: https://www.lacartedescolocs.fr/ Learn more: www.saiec.fr > Le PHARE • Other solutions available on the Campus France The CRIJ (Centre Régional d’Information site: www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized > Jeunesse), the youth information center for the Accommodation Occitanie Region, publishes a guide for better housing in the region: https://www.crij.org > Se If you need a guarantor to secure your lodging loger > Guide logement Occitanie Visale is a new and free guarantor system: www. A FEW TIPS visale.fr If you want to file an application for APL funds Short-term housing (Aide Personnalisée au Logement, or persona- • the Youth Hostel, in the town center, impasse Petit lized housing aid), Corraterie/rue des Ecoles Laïques, CAF (Caisse des Allocations Familiales) can check +33 (0)4 67 60 32 22. your eligibility: 08 10 29 29 29 or www.caf.fr Site: www.fuaj.org/Montpellier • other types of residences: see the Montpellier Tourist Office for a complete list of residences with hotel services: https://www.montpellier-tourisme.fr/ > hébergements > résidences de tourisme Long-term housing • CROUS student housing for Montpellier - GETTING AROUND Occitanie MONTPELLIER 2 rue Monteil, 34000 Montpellier. Access: Tramway line 1, stop: Boutonnet. If you arrive at Montpellier-Méditerranée Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. airport, see the website for information about The international student service is open: Monday, how to get to your destination: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 12pm https://www.montpellier.aeroport.fr > accès by appointment only, and Friday from 1pm to 4pm > en transports publics without appointment. In town and the surrounding areas, use the Contact: 04 73 34 64 14. Tisséo public transportation network (bus Website: http://www.crous-montpellier.fr/ and tramway), day and night: The website Trouver un logement: http://www.tam-voyages.com/ https://trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr/ There are regional trains for getting around On campus, the CROUS also manages all low-cost the region: www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie food services (university restaurants, cafeterias, The SNCF and the Region have put 1€ food-trucks, etc.). tickets in place for local travel in Occitanie: • Private Housing Platforms: some of the https://www.ter.sncf.com > tarifs et private institutions in Montpellier are members abonnements > EVASIO’ €1 of Studapart, a private housing platform: www. Buses are also an option for low-cost travel: studapart.com https://fr.ouibus.com/ or Find other private housing by visiting, for example, https://www.flixbus.fr/ the following sites: For ride-sharing, refer to the collaborative - https://www.adele.org websites: - https://www.location-etudiant.fr > Montpellier - COMUE carpooling service: - https://www.immojeune.com https://comue-lr.coovia.fr - https://housinganywhere.com/fr/ - local website: • There is also a site managed by the CROUS, http://covoiturage.montpellier-agglo.com/ Lokaviz, which includes a listing of student - national website: https://www.blablacar.fr accomodations in private homes: And for greater independence, use the free https://www.lokaviz.fr/ bikes available in 50 spots around the town: http://www.tam-voyages.com > s’informer > Vélomagg

3 If you need housing adapted to your special needs GOOD TO KNOW Contact the CROUS Social Services which will take • If you arrive in France with a VLS-TS action with your institution. long-term student visa: You must validate it Some establishments have specialized services for online within three months of arrival: students with disabilities (assistance for housing, https://administration-etrangers-en-france. and also transportation and tuition). interieur.gouv.fr Université de Montpellier created the Service Handiversité to assist students with a disability: • If you are an Algerian national or a student https://www.umontpellier.fr/campus/handicap with a “concours” (tests) visa or a “mineur scolarisé” (enrolled minor) visa or a visa with the indication “carte à solliciter dans les deux mois” (residence permit to be requested FIRST THINGS within 2 months of entry): Depending on your institution, your residence permit application is FIRST / made at the Préfecture or with the Service des Relations Internationales at your campus. ENROLLMENT IN YOUR INSTITUTION In Montpellier, this is done at SIAEC for the Préfecture de l’Hérault. CVEC Take note: To renew your residence permit, Before you can enroll in your institution, you must you must apply within two months prior to its download proof of payment of the Contribution Vie expiration date. Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC) – the student and campus life contribution fee. - Log in at: https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/ - For additional information and special cases: https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized PRACTICAL > CVEC INFORMATION / Confirm Registration Take note! Even if you have a pre-registration letter, OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT you are not officially enrolled.You must confirm If you stay in France for more than 3 months, it your enrollment with the institution’s Service de la will be much easier day-to-day if you open a bank Scolarité (Admissions) as soon as you arrive. account, online or in one of the 160 bank agencies located in Montpellier. RESIDENCE PERMIT (TITRE DE SÉJOUR) In France, opening a bank account is a right: Apply for your residence permit www.service-public.fr > Argent > Comptes bancaires > Droit au compte • At SAIEC, Service Accueil Étudiants/Chercheurs, the International Welcome Service and your one- stop for residence permits for international sutdents HEALTHCARE and researchers. The Préfecture de l’Hérault has In France, receiving medical treatment is practically a desk specifically for students/researchers in free but you must be insured. Accordingly, signing this location. A team of multi-lingual students is up for medical insurance is mandatory. also available to assist you year-round in your administrative procedures. Depending on your situation (first application or Login to the renewal, type of visa) it may be possible to file your https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr site to application online: https://languedoc-roussillon- register, to understand your eligibility and universites.fr/saiec/visas-et-titres-de-sejour benefits, and to take the necessary steps. Address: 8 rue de l’École Normale, 34090 Montpellier. Contact: 04 67 41 67 87 or [email protected] Learn more: Hours: Monday to Friday, year-round. See the hours at: www.saiec.fr https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized • Learn more about your rights and obligations: > Health www.service-public.fr > Etranger > Titre de séjour et document de circulation 4 As a student, you can also take advantage of the university medical services. In these health services where consultations are free, you’ll be SAMU: Call 15 Emergency Medical Services greeted by a team of doctors, nurses, and social Police emergency: Call 17 in the event of workers who can give personalized advice in terms violence, theft, robbery. of health and prevention. Fire Department: Call 18 in the event of fire, This is the case for Université de Montpellier gas leak, water damage, natural catastrophe, or which has a preventive health service with several traffic accident. branches in town: Call 112: European emergency services number that’s accessible from anywhere in nd • City center: Institut de Biologie, 2 floor, the European Union in addition to the French 4 Boulevard Henri IV, 04 34 43 30 70. numbers above. • Richter: Maison des Étudiants Aimé Schoenig, Espace Richter, Building B, 1st floor, rue Vendémiaire, 04 34 43 24 26. LEARNING FRENCH • Triolet: Place Eugène Bataillon, Building 20, Learning French is an opportunity that’s not to be ground level, 04 67 14 31 48. missed! Find what works best for you: • Pharmacie: UFR de Pharmacie, - by consulting the Campus France site or the 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 04 11 75 93 93. Français Langue Etrangère (FLE) - French as a • IUT de Montpellier: 99 avenue de l’Occitanie, foreign language - centers and universities which Building A (medical center), offer courses at all levels year-round: 04 99 58 51 57. http://ecolesdete.campusfrance.org Learn more: - by asking in your institution, at city hall, or in your host https://www.umontpellier.fr > campus > santé/ city’s Maison des Associations - community centers. social > handicap FINDING A JOB OR AN INTERNSHIP ADDITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE 2 addresses: You can also sign up for top-up insurance which • the Occitanie CRIJ (Centre Régional d’Information will cover all health expenses not covered by the free Jeunesse), the regional youth information center and compulsory health insurance. has a platform for job and internship offers available Take note: The plans and coverage levels differ for young people: https://www.crij.org/fr/ from one company to another. To choose a top-up • the Jobaviz website, run by the CROUS, can help insurance policy which meets your needs and your you find a student job that’s compatible with your budget, you can compare student health insurance studies: http://www.jobaviz.fr/rechercher-un-job- plans on a comparison site. etudiant/n:39 HOUSING INSURANCE 1 appointment Good to Know: In France, housing insurance is mandatory. • The Forum Entreprises Triolet, organized by The “garantie risques locatifs” - rental risk guarantee several institutions in Montpellier, facilitates - is housing insurance which you can you subscribe meetings between students and companies for with your bank or a private insurance company. internships and jobs: Online subscription is also often possible. https://forum-entreprises-triolet.edu.umontpellier.fr/

THINGS TO DO IN MONTPELLIER /

PLAYING A SPORT In your institution, contact the Service des Sports for free access to sports facilities or visit the Université de Montpellier website: http://suaps.edu.umontpellier.fr/ Montpellier also has a comprehensive range of 5 sports and recreational facilities, with 50 supervised - 15 multimedia libraries in 7 neighborhoods in activities accessible with the Montpellier Sports Montpellier and 8 outlying towns: pass (5 euros): https://www.montpellier.fr > Actions https://mediatheques.montpellier3m.fr > Activités sportives > Carte “Montpellier Sports” In Montpellier, for going out or staying abreast of BE ACTIVE events, read the leading regional daily paper, Le Midi Libre, available in newstands or on the Internet: Attend cultural and sporting events, or join a social https://www.midilibre.fr > montpellier or community group, through one of the numerous You can also check the very comprehensive agenda local or national student clubs and associations. on the Montpellier Tourist Office website: Contact the Service de la vie étudiante (Student life https://www.montpellier-tourisme.fr > Agenda service) or consult the clubs and association pages on the Université de Montpellier website: https:// www.umontpellier.fr > campus > vie associative You can also consult the national sites: TOP www.animafac.net or www.letudiant.fr ATTRACTIONS / In Montpellier, the Erasmus Student Network is very active and provides an orientation service for international students: http://montpellier.ixesn.fr/ • Place de la Comédie: Montpellier's central square and hub of the town. GAINING CULTURE AND PARTYING • The Fabre museum: One of Europe's most beautiful museums. Montpellier offers many ways to cultivate yourself or party. Theaters, movie theaters, concerts, museums, • The Peyrou promenade: A royal square with a exhibitions, and festivals are on the program and triumphal arch and aqueduct, examples of classical most of the time, at reduced cost for students: architecture. https://www.montpellier.fr > Actions > l’essentiel de • Medieval streets and alleys with beautiful manor la culture houses. • The town of Montpellier organizes themed cafés • Saint-Pierre cathedral: A stunning example of for public discussion and debate on a variety of Gothic meridional architecture. subjects: https://www.montpellier.fr > rechercher • Jardin des Plantes: A royal garden created in the “Cafés à thèmes” 16th century, and now managed by Université de • At Université de Montpellier, the art and culture Montpellier. service offers access for students to contemporary culture activities: • The beaches, just 10km from the town center, are https://www.umontpellier.fr/patrimoine/art-et-culture easy to get to by public transport or bike! Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 also has a Learn (and see) more: Cultural Center. Take a look at their site: https://www.montpellier-tourisme.fr/ http://ccu.univ-montp3.fr/ The Montpellier CROUS has created a Pass’culture, the Yoot, which gives students access to shows at very reduced rates: https://yoot.fr/ For entertainment or to pick up some culture, you can choose from: - 8 multiplex theaters (town city and surrounding area) including two arthouse theaters, Diagonal and Utopia (students rates and rewards cards). - ten major museums with reduced rates for students including MOCO – Panacée, the new multi-site contemporary arts museum: https://www.moco.art/fr. - 30 venues for shows, theater and opera. - approximately 20 bookshops including a major institution, the Sauramps bookshop You can also buy and sell used books at Librairie Gibert.

6 IMPORTANT SEPTEMBER • MUSE, an one-day student orientation event ANNUAL EVENTS / organised by Université de Montpellier and the Grandes Écoles. MAY • European Researchers Night where researchers • The FISE, Festival International des Sports meet the general public. Extrêmes, the international extreme sports festival • The Internationales de la Guitare, an international and the biggest competition of its type in Europe guitar festival with concerts and meetings with (free). artists. • The Comédie du Livre, a free book and reading • Journées du Patrimoine (heritage days), free visits festival, meetings with authors, debates and of cultural venues. workshops. OCTOBER • European Museum Night, another to way to • Fête de la Science in the Université laboratories. discover museums, and for free. • Cinémed, an international festival of Mediterranean JUNE films with 200 shown from around the • Fête de la Musique with music everywhere in town Mediterranean region. (free concerts). Learn more: • Festival des Architectures Vives, ephemeral https://www.montpellier-tourisme.fr > Agenda > Les contemporary architecture in the old town center. événements phares JULY • Montpellier Dance Festival: 300 companies from around the world dance for 10 days (many free shows). • Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier: hundreds of concerts with varying themes including classical, electronic and jazz music for several weeks. AUGUST • The Estivales: Every Friday, festive events for discovery of local producets and food, arts and crafts, conferences.

To stay informed and attuned to others and the world, to share and dialogue with students, follow social media where Campus France has an especially strong presence! Don’t forget to join the France Alumni network. Take part in SHARE discussion groups on various subjects, take advantage of cultural outings, and consult job and internship offers. PARTICIPATE

7 THINGS TO KNOW

Montpellier: MONTPELLIER, CAPITAL OF THE HÉRAULT residents 280,000 department and 1 of the 4 th major towns in the Occitanie 50% of the THE 7 LARGEST region, with , population is under CITY IN FRANCE. Over Perpignan and Nîmes 34 years of age 5 million tourists every year

OCCITANIE REGION, Montpellier: RD 3 FRENCH REGION 70,000 in terms of hosting students foreign students (over 30,000 international including 10,000 students) international students

MONTPELLIER WAS RANKED 3rd BEST CITY IN FRANCE WHERE IT’S GOOD TO LIVE AND STUDY (awarded by L’Etudiant magazine)

Most of the information presented in the Campus France City Information Sheets concerns all international students regardless of their institution. In France, in each of the host cities, most foreign students study at universities. Accordingly, the City Information Sheets attach great importance to them without overlooking the other higher education institutions even if it is not possible to list them all here with their specific information. For more information on the institutions’ welcomes and orientations: https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/recherche/categorie/occitanie-552

CAMPUS FRANCE MONTPELLIER 87 avenue Jacques Cartier, 34000 Montpellier Place de l’Europe station By appointment 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 3:30pm. Contact: 04 67 58 92 12 or [email protected] CAMPUS FRANCE 28 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 PARIS - 01 40 40 58 58 - www.campusfrance.org Production: Rubrik C (91) - Photos: DR - Cover photo: © Laurent (Pictarena), Fotolia - JULY 2020. - JULY photo: © Laurent (Pictarena), Fotolia Production: Rubrik (91) - Photos: DR Cover C