DISCOVER YOUR CITY
Campus France will guide you through your first steps in France and exploring Montpellier, your new home.
WELCOME TO MONTPELLIER Production: Rubrik C (91) - Photos: DR - Cover photo: © Laurent (Pictarena), Fotolia - JULY 2021. - 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 Perpignan as well as the Montpellier-Occitanie CROUS propose a A major and centralized international welcome desk free and personalized buddy system for international students. Local French or foreign student volunteers for university and partner students welcome you and provide you with personalized assistance: www.parrainage-international.fr In Montpellier, the Service d’Accueil 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 a 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 Regardless of your institution, please consult the platform manned by a multilingual team of Campus France website for orientation. The site students. 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 the Documentary resources > Practical information steps to follow before your arrival and for setting for students and researchers > Reception 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 all your National and regional services procedures (students and researchers): residence permit, CAF (housing benefits) , - students: www.etudiant.gouv.fr CPAM (health insurance PhD students, researchers and their families : • An international buddy system (Montpellier, - The website of the Euraxess Occitanie-Est service Nîmes and Perpignan) center: www.euraxess-lr.fr • The EURAXESS Occitanie-Est Service Center - The website of the Euraxess France portal : for international doctoral students and www.euraxess.fr researchers
Address: Accueil International Étudiants/ Chercheurs (SAIEC), 8 rue de l’École Normale, HOUSING 34090 Montpellier. IN MONTPELLIER / Hours: Open year-round, Monday to Friday, see 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 residences, and rooms in private homes. Learn more: What’s most important is -Download the practical to take care of this as early guide Étudier à Montpellier, as possible, before your Nîmes et Perpignan, arrival. available in French and in The Occitanie CROUS and English the Montpellier universities https://languedoc- created the PHARE system roussillon-universites.fr/ (Point Hébergement saiec > Guide Accueil et Recherche pour - Consult the international les Etudiants) to provide welcome desk site: international students www.saiec.fr with general and housing information. 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 Contact the CROUS Social Services which will take • If you hold a “mineur scolarisé” (enrolled action with your institution. minor) visa and you attained the age of Some establishments have specialized services for majority, you have to request for a “Titre de students with disabilities (assistance for housing, séjour” online on the ANEF website or at the and also transportation and tuition). prefecture where you live within 2 months Université de Montpellier created the Service following your majority. Handiversité to assist students with a disability: https://administration-etrangers-en-france. https://www.umontpellier.fr/campus/handicap interieur.gouv.fr Take note : To renew your student residency permit “Titre de séjour” (VLS-TS), your request FIRST THINGS must be done during the 3rd month before the expiration date of your current “Titre de séjour” FIRST / (permit) on the website: https://administration- etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr ENROLLMENT IN YOUR INSTITUTION This tutorial will help you: https://www.youtube.com/ CVEC watch?v=j_suMJ3fIiw&list=PLpm2evF1qaJe_ Before you can enroll in your institution, you must oq0a-LMIKujAihwAtVEy&index=16 download proof of payment of the Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC) – the student and campus life contribution fee. • To find out more about rights and obligations: - Log in at: https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/ The reception services of your establishment can - For additional information and special cases: guide you in the event of difficulties. https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized www.service-public.fr > Etranger > Titre de séjour > CVEC et document de circulation (Foreigners > Resident Card and Travel Document) Confirm Registration Take note! Even if you have a pre-registration letter, you are not officially enrolled.You must confirm your enrollment with the institution’s Service de la PRACTICAL Scolarité (Admissions) as soon as you arrive. INFORMATION /
RESIDENCE PERMIT (TITRE DE SÉJOUR) OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT If you stay in France for more than 3 months, it GOOD TO KNOW will be much easier day-to-day if you open a bank account, online or in one of the 160 bank agencies • If you have arrived in France with a VLS-TS located in Montpellier. long-term student visa: you must validate it online upon your arrival and imperatively In France, opening a bank account is a right: within the first three months of your stay www.service-public.fr > Argent > Comptes bancaires (in France) on the ANEF (Administration > Droit au compte numérique pour les étrangers en France) website: https://administration-etrangers-en- france.interieur.gouv.fr • If you are an Algerian national or a student with a “Concours” (tests) visa» or a visa with the indication “Carte à solliciter dans les deux mois” (Residency permit is to be requested within 2 months of entry): your residency permit application has to be made at the Prefecture.
4 HEALTHCARE HOUSING INSURANCE In France, receiving medical treatment is practically In France, housing insurance is mandatory. free but you must be insured. Accordingly, signing The “garantie risques locatifs” - rental risk guarantee up for medical insurance is mandatory. - is housing insurance which you can you subscribe with your bank or a private insurance company. Online subscription is also often possible. Login to the https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr site to register, to understand your eligibility and benefits, and to take the necessary steps. SAMU: Call 15 Emergency Medical Services Police emergency: Call 17 in the event of Learn more: violence, theft, robbery. Fire Department: Call 18 in the event of fire, https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized gas leak, water damage, natural catastrophe, or > Health traffic accident. As a student, you can also take advantage of Call 112: European emergency services the university medical services. In these health number that’s accessible from anywhere in services where consultations are free, you’ll be the European Union in addition to the French greeted by a team of doctors, nurses, and social numbers above. workers who can give personalized advice in terms of health and prevention. This is the case for Université de Montpellier LEARNING FRENCH which has a preventive health service with several branches in town: Learning French is an opportunity that’s not to be missed! Find what works best for you: nd • City center: Institut de Biologie, 2 floor, - by consulting the Campus France site or the 4 Boulevard Henri IV, 04 34 43 30 70. Français Langue Etrangère (FLE) - French as a • Richter: Maison des Étudiants Aimé Schoenig, foreign language - centers and universities which Espace Richter, Building B, 1st floor, offer courses at all levels year-round: rue Vendémiaire, 04 34 43 24 26. http://ecolesdete.campusfrance.org • Triolet: Place Eugène Bataillon, Building 20, - by asking in your institution, at city hall, or in your host ground level, 04 67 14 31 48. city’s Maison des Associations - community centers. • Pharmacie: UFR de Pharmacie, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 04 11 75 93 93. FINDING A JOB OR AN INTERNSHIP • IUT de Montpellier: 99 avenue de l’Occitanie, 2 addresses: Building A (medical center), • the Occitanie CRIJ (Centre Régional d’Information 04 99 58 51 57. Jeunesse), the regional youth information center Learn more: has a platform for job and internship offers available https://www.umontpellier.fr > campus > santé/ for young people: https://www.crij.org/fr/ social > handicap • the Jobaviz website, run by the CROUS, can help you find a student job that’s compatible with your ADDITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE studies: http://www.jobaviz.fr/rechercher-un-job- You can also sign up for top-up insurance which etudiant/n:39 will cover all health expenses not covered by the free 1 appointment Good to Know: and compulsory health insurance. • The Forum Entreprises Triolet, organized by Take note: The plans and coverage levels differ several institutions in Montpellier, facilitates from one company to another. To choose a top-up meetings between students and companies for insurance policy which meets your needs and your internships and jobs: budget, you can compare student health insurance https://forum-entreprises-triolet.edu.umontpellier.fr/ plans on a comparison site.
5 - 8 multiplex theaters (town city and surrounding THINGS TO DO area) including two arthouse theaters, Diagonal and IN MONTPELLIER / Utopia (students rates and rewards cards). - ten major museums with reduced rates for students including MOCO – Panacée, the new PLAYING A SPORT multi-site contemporary arts museum: https://www.moco.art/fr. In your institution, contact the Service des Sports for - 30 venues for shows, theater and opera. free access to sports facilities or visit the Université - approximately 20 bookshops including a major de Montpellier website: institution, the Sauramps bookshop You can also http://suaps.edu.umontpellier.fr/ buy and sell used books at Librairie Gibert. Montpellier also has a comprehensive range of - 15 multimedia libraries in 7 neighborhoods in sports and recreational facilities, with 50 supervised Montpellier and 8 outlying towns: activities accessible with the Montpellier Sports https://mediatheques.montpellier3m.fr pass (5 euros): https://www.montpellier.fr > Actions In Montpellier, for going out or staying abreast of > Activités sportives > Carte “Montpellier Sports” events, read the leading regional daily paper, Le Midi Libre, available in newstands or on the Internet: BE ACTIVE https://www.midilibre.fr > montpellier Attend cultural and sporting events, or join a social You can also check the very comprehensive agenda or community group, through one of the numerous on the Montpellier Tourist Office website: local or national student clubs and associations. https://www.montpellier-tourisme.fr > Agenda Contact the Service de la vie étudiante (Student life 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: www.animafac.net or www.letudiant.fr In Montpellier, the Erasmus Student Network is very active and provides an orientation service for international students: http://montpellier.ixesn.fr/
GAINING CULTURE AND PARTYING Montpellier offers many ways to cultivate yourself or TOP party. Theaters, movie theaters, concerts, museums, exhibitions, and festivals are on the program and ATTRACTIONS / most of the time, at reduced cost for students: https://www.montpellier.fr > Actions > l’essentiel de • Place de la Comédie: Montpellier's central square la culture and hub of the town. • The town of Montpellier organizes themed cafés • The Fabre museum: One of Europe's most for public discussion and debate on a variety of beautiful museums. subjects: https://www.montpellier.fr > rechercher • The Peyrou promenade: A royal square with a “Cafés à thèmes” triumphal arch and aqueduct, examples of classical • At Université de Montpellier, the art and culture architecture. service offers access for students to contemporary culture activities: • Medieval streets and alleys with beautiful manor https://www.umontpellier.fr/patrimoine/art-et-culture houses. Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 also has a • Saint-Pierre cathedral: A stunning example of Cultural Center. Take a look at their site: Gothic meridional architecture. http://ccu.univ-montp3.fr/ • Jardin des Plantes: A royal garden created in the th The Montpellier CROUS has created a Pass’culture, 16 century, and now managed by Université de the Yoot, which gives students access to shows at Montpellier. very reduced rates: • The beaches, just 10km from the town center, are https://yoot.fr/ easy to get to by public transport or bike! For entertainment or to pick up some culture, Learn (and see) more: you can choose from: https://www.montpellier-tourisme.fr/
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 Toulouse, 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 2021. - JULY photo: © Laurent (Pictarena), Fotolia Production: Rubrik (91) - Photos: DR Cover C