DISCOVER YOUR CITY

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

WELCOME TO NÎMES - Photos: DR - Cover photo: © tichr, Fotolia - JULY 2021. - JULY Fotolia photo: © tichr, - Photos: DR - Cover Rubrik (91) C Production: Production: - Download the practical guide to “Studying in YOUR ARRIVAL Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan” (Étudier à IN NÎMES / Montpellier, Nîmes et Perpignan), available in French and in English: https://languedoc-roussillon-universites.fr/saiec > An International Welcome Desk for the university Guide students (in Montpellier) - Consult the international welcome desk site: www.saiec.fr

The town of Nîmes is 60km from Montpellier Buddy System which has an International Welcome Desk for You can be assisted by a “buddy” in Nîmes! The students and researchers - Service d’Accueil universities in Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan International Etudiants/Chercheurs (SAIEC). as well as the Montpellier-Occitanie CROUS The SAIEC will assist you in your propose a free and personalized buddy system administrative and practical matters for international students. Local French or foreign regardless of your university (Université de student volunteers welcome you and provide you Montpellier, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier with personalized assistance: 3, Université de Nîmes, Université de https://www.parrainage-international.fr Perpignan - Via Domitia). Welcome and orientation for doctoral students SAIEC is a year-round multi-service welcome and researchers platform manned by a multilingual team of The Occitanie Est EURAXESS Centre de Services students. offers free and personalized assistance for doctoral students, researchers and their families: www.euraxess-lr.fr SAIEC can assist you in different ways: Your Higher Learning Institution - A personalized road map, the e-international Regardless of your institution, please consult the welcome solution presents in a few clicks the steps Campus France website for orientation. The site to follow before your arrival and for setting up once presents a series of Information Sheets covering you’ve arrived! Access the road map: the different higher learning institutions: https://languedoc-roussillon-universites.fr/saiec https://www.campusfrance.org > Students > - An international buddy system (Montpellier, Documentary resources > Practical information Nîmes and Perpignan); for students and researchers > Reception - Euraxess researchers service arrangements in institutions Address: Accueil International Étudiants/Chercheurs If you cannot find your school in this list, then go (SAIEC), 8 rue de l’École Normale, 34000 Montpellier. directly to their website. Hours: Open year-round, Monday to Friday, see At Université de Nîmes, contact our Service des hours on the site: www.saiec.fr Relations internationales. Bureau de la Mobilité Internationale, Building D, Getting there: Tramway line 1, stop: Stade office D111 (1st floor), Vauban campus, rue du Phillipidès. Docteur Georges Salan, 30000 Nîmes. Contacts: Hours: -Information: 04 67 41 67 87 - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30am to - Assistance with administrative procedures 12:15pm and 1pm to 5pm. bilingual French-English: [email protected] - Wednesday and Friday 8:30am to 12:15pm. Learn more: Contact: 04 46 66 36 46 (switchboard) or - Download the practical guide [email protected] for students in Nîmes which Site: https://www.unimes.fr > international > BenvenutoWelcome venir_etudier_a_unîmes BienvenueBoas-vindas presents more specifically the Bem-vindoWelkomBienvenido Willkommen different Université de Nîmes National and regional services campuses: - students: www.etudiant.gouv.fr https://www.unimes.fr > - doctoral students, researchers and their families: Formations > Inscriptions > étudier http://www.euraxess.fr/fr à Montpellier, Etudiants étrangers > Venir Nîmes, Perpignan Guide pratique pour les étudiants internationaux étudier à Nîmes - doctoral students, researchers: www.euraxess.fr EditioN 2019

2 Other sites for example: HOUSING - https://www.adele.org IN NÎMES / - https://www.immojeune.com - https://www.location-etudiant.fr/ - https://housinganywhere.com/fr/ The Occitanie CROUS and the Montpellier universities • There is also a site managed by the CROUS, created the PHARE system Lokaviz, which includes a listing of student (Point Hébergement accomodations in private homes: Accueil et Recherche https://www.lokaviz.fr/ pour les Etudiants) to • Shared Leases: consult La Carte des Colocs, a provide international national site for shared leases that’s free and simple students with general to use: https://www.lacartedescolocs.fr/ and housing information. • Other solutions available on the Campus France Representatives are present site : www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized > in the SAIEC offices in Accommodation September and in October. Learn more: www.saiec.fr > LE PHARE. The CRIJ d’Occitanie (Centre Régional d’Information GETTING AROUND Jeunesse), the youth information network also publishes a guide to help students find NÎMES accommodations in the region: https://www.crij.org > Se loger > Guide logement Occitanie If you arrive at Montpellier-Méditerranée airport, there is a shuttle between A FEW TIPS Montpellier-Méditerranée airport and the Montpellier-Saint-Roch station in the city center. Short-term housing At the station there are trains for Nîmes. • Nîmes La Cigale Youth Hostel If you arrive at the Nîmes airport, there is a near the town center. shuttle service between Nîmes airport and the 257 Chemin de l'Auberge de Jeunesse. town center of Nîmes. Contact: 04 66 68 03 20. You can arrive directly by train to Nîmes Site: https://www.hifrance.org from Paris (less than 3 hours). Take note! There are two train stations, one in the city • Other types of residences with hotel services: center and the other (Nîmes - Pont du Gard) See the list of accommodations on the Nîmes which is located 14 km from the city: https:// Tourist Office site: www.sncf.com/fr > offres-voyageurs > nimes- https://www.nimes-tourisme.com > préparer mon pont-du-gard-avantages-nouvelle-gare sejour > hébergements The Tango public bus service is available Long-term housing for getting around town and surrounding • CROUS student housing for Montpellier - area: http://www.tangobus.fr > se déplacer Occitanie, local office in Nîmes. (student pass (Pass Etudes) at discount rate). CROUS, Antenne de Nîmes, Cité Universitaire, There are regional trains for getting around 1 rue Matisse, 30000 Nîmes. the region: www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 12pm and 1pm The SNCF and the Region have put €1 to 4pm. tickets in place for local travel in Occitanie: Contact: 04 66 64 18 61 or https://www.ter.sncf.com > tarifs et [email protected] abonnements > EVASIO’ 1€ Website Trouver un logement: Buses are also an option for low-cost travel: https://trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr/ https://fr.ouibus.com/ or https://www.flixbus.fr/ On campus, the CROUS also manages all low-cost For ride-sharing, refer to the collaborative food services (university restaurants, cafeterias, websites: food-trucks, etc.). - local: http://covoiturage.gard.fr/ - national: https://www.blablacar.fr • Private Housing Platforms: The Université de Nîmes private accommodations And for more independence, there is the Tango platform where students can find ads: bike rental service: http://www.tangobus.fr > https://unimes.immojeune.com/ se déplacer > VéloTANGO

3 If you need a guarantor to secure your lodging RESIDENCE PERMIT (TITRE DE SÉJOUR) Visale is a new and free guarantor system: www.visale.fr GOOD TO KNOW If you want to file an application for APL funds • If you have arrived in France with a VLS-TS (Aide Personnalisée au Logement, or personal- long-term student visa: you must validate ized housing aid), it online upon your arrival and imperatively CAF (Caisse des Allocations Familiales) can check within the first three months of your stay your eligibility: 08 10 29 29 29 or www.caf.fr (in France) on the ANEF (Administration If you need housing adapted to numérique pour les étrangers en France) your special needs website: https://administration-etrangers-en- france.interieur.gouv.fr Contact the CROUS Social Services which will take action with your institution. • If you are an Algerian national or a student Some establishments have specialized services for with a “Concours” (tests) visa» or a visa with students with disabilities (assistance for housing, the indication “Carte à solliciter dans les deux and also transportation and tuition). mois” (Residency permit is to be requested Université de Nîmes has a Cellule Handicap to within 2 months of entry): your residency permit provide assistance to students with a disability: application has to be made at the Prefecture. https://www.unimes.fr > Vie de campus > Handicap • If you hold a “mineur scolarisé” (enrolled minor) visa and you attained the age of majority, you have to request for a “Titre de FIRST THINGS séjour” online on the ANEF website or at the prefecture where you live within 2 months FIRST / following your majority. https://administration-etrangers-en-france. interieur.gouv.fr ENROLLMENT IN YOUR INSTITUTION Take note : To renew your student residency CVEC permit “Titre de séjour” (VLS-TS), your request must be done during the 3rd month before the Before you can enroll in your institution, you must expiration date of your current “Titre de séjour” download proof of payment of the Contribution Vie (permit) on the website: https://administration- Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC) – the student and etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr campus life contribution fee. - Log in at: https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/ This tutorial will help you: - For additional information and special cases: https://www.youtube.com/ https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized watch?v=j_suMJ3fIiw&list=PLpm2evF1qaJe_ > CVEC oq0a-LMIKujAihwAtVEy&index=16 Confirm Registration Take note! Even if you have a pre-registration letter, • To find out more about rights and obligations: you are not officially enrolled.You must confirm The reception services of your establishment can your enrollment with the institution’s Service de la guide you in the event of difficulties. Scolarité (Admissions) as soon as you arrive. www.service-public.fr > Etranger > Titre de séjour et document de circulation (Foreigners > Resident Card and Travel Document)

4 PRACTICAL INSURE YOUR HOME INFORMATION / In France, housing insurance is mandatory. The “garantie risques locatifs” - rental risk guarantee - is housing insurance which you can you subscribe OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT with your bank or a private insurance company. Online subscription is also often possible. If you stay in France for more than 3 months, it will be much easier day-to-day if you open a bank account, online or in one of the 95 bank agencies located in Nîmes. SAMU: Call 15, Emergency Medical Services. In France, opening a bank account is a right: Police emergency: Call 17 in the event of www.service-public.fr > Argent > Comptes violence, theft, robbery. bancaires> Droit au compte Fire Department: Call 18 in the event of fire, HEALTHCARE gas leak, water damage, natural catastrophe, or traffic accident. In France, receiving medical treatment is practically free but you must be insured. Accordingly, signing Call 112: The European emergency services up for medical insurance is mandatory. number that’s accessible from anywhere in the European Union in addition to the French numbers above. Login to the https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr site to register, to understand your eligibility and LEARNING FRENCH benefits, and to take the necessary steps. Learning French is an opportunity that’s not to be missed! Find what works best for you: Learn more: - by consulting the Campus France site or the https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized Français Langue Etrangère (FLE) - French as a > Health foreign language - centers and universities which offer courses at all levels year-round: As a student, you can also take advantage of http://ecolesdete.campusfrance.org the university medical services. In these health - by asking in your institution, at city hall, or in your services where consultations are free, you’ll be host city’s Maison des Associations - community greeted by a team of doctors, nurses, and social centers. workers who can give personalized advice in terms of health and prevention. FINDING A JOB OR AN INTERNSHIP This is the case for Université de Nîmes which has a health and prevention service: Service 4 addresses: Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de - CRIJ d’Occitanie (Centre Régional d’Information Promotion de la Santé (SUMPPS). Jeunesse), the regional youth information center st Site Vauban, rue du Dr Georges Salan, Building D, 1 floor. has a platform for job and internship offers available Hours: Every day except Wednesday 8:15am to for young people: https://www.crij.org/fr/ 12pm and 1:15pm to 5pm. - The Nîmes BIJ (Bureau d’Information Jeunesse du Contact: 04 66 36 45 30 or [email protected] Gard) also proposes other leads: Site: https://www.unimes.fr > Vie de campus > http://gard.infojeune.fr/orloj-nimes-bij/ Santé - The CROUS Jobaviz site to find a student job that’s compatible with your studies: ADDITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE http://www.jobaviz.fr/ You can also sign up for top-up Insurance which - The City of Nîmes official websitepublishes a will cover all health expenses not covered by the free guide, Job’Etud, to find a seasonal job: https:// www. and compulsory health insurance. nimes.fr > Enfance/jeuness > Jeunesse > Travailler Take note: plans and coverage levels differ from one 1 appointment: company to another. To choose a top-up insurance policy which meets your needs and your budget, • The Forum Entreprises Triolet, organised by you can compare student health insurance plans several institutions in Montpellier, facilitates on a comparison site. meetings between students and companies for internships and jobs: https://forum-entreprises-triolet.edu.umontpellier.fr/ 5 - many venues including the Paloma, a current THINGS TO DO international music scene. IN NÎMES / - approx. 15 bookshops, including an institution, the Goyard bookshop in the old town center. - 4 multimedia libraries (including the beautiful TAKE UP A SPORT Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet multimedia library) and a travelling multimedia bus, the Médiabus: In your institution, contact the Service des Sports for http://www.nimes.fr > Culture > Le réseau des free access to sports facilities. bibliothèques de Nîmes > Nos bibliothèques • The Université de Nîmes proposes about 20 free In Nîmes, for going out and staying abreast of supervised activities: https://www.unimes.fr > Vie de current events, campus > Sport à Unîmes - the major daily newspaper, Le Midi Libre, available • In Nîmes, you will find a diverse choice of sports at newsstands or online: facilities or city recreation centers: https://www.midilibre.fr > nîmes http://www.nimes.fr > Sports > Le sport à Nîmes - the Gazette de Nîmes, weekly magazine for general BE ACTIVE information: http://www.lagazettedenimes.fr/ You can also check out the cultural agenda of the Attend cultural and sporting events, or join a social Nîmes Visitor Center: or community group, through one of the numerous https://www.nimes-tourisme.com/fr > A voir à faire local or national student clubs and associations. > Sorties Loisirs Learn more: - contact the Service de la Vie Étudiante office in your institution or consult the clubs and associations pages on the Université de Nîmes website: https://www.unimes.fr > Vie de campus > associations étudiantes - consult the national sites: www.animafac.net or www.letudiant.fr The Erasmus Student Network association (ESN), based in Montpellier, near Nîmes, is a very active association which provides an orientation service for international students. Learn more: http://montpellier.ixesn.fr/ TOP GAINING CULTURE AND PARTYING ATTRACTIONS / Nîmes offers many ways to cultivate yourself or party. Theaters, movie theaters, concerts, museums, Nîmes was awarded the Ville d'Art and History, art exhibitions, and festivals are on the program and and history label in 1986. most of the time, at reduced cost for students: http://www.nimes.fr > Culture > La culture à Nîmes • The Nîmes arena, the city's emblematic monument, is the best conserved Roman • At Université de Nîmes, the Mission Culturelle amphitheatre in the world. organizes and sponsors cultural events: https://www.unimes.fr > Vie de campus > Vie • La Maison Carrée, is the best preserved of Roman culturelle temples. • The City of Nîmes has created a Campus Culture • The Musée de la Romanité: open since 2018, pass which gives students discounts for cultural with contemporary architecture and historical activities: https://www.nimes.fr/ > demandes > archaeological collections. loisirs, culture, conservatoire • The Carré d’Art Jean Bousquet: a contemporary art For entertainment or to pick up some culture, you museum opposite the Maison Carrée. can choose from: • The Fontaine gardens which were created in the - 4 multiplex cinemas, (student rates, rewards card) 18th century, and overlook the Magne tower. including an arthouse theater: the Semaphore. • Place aux Herbes, the square in the heart of the city - 5 major museums, including the brand new Musée at the foot of the cathedral. de la Romanité which presents Roman civilization.

6 • The Pont du Gard, 20km from Nîmes, built in the JULY - AUGUST st 1 century CE, a spectacular aqueduct, classed the • Thursdays evenings in Nîmes: all summer, themed UNESCO world heritage list. markets and concerts in the city center squares. For more information, consult the Nîmes Tourist • Les Nuits de Nemaus, for a journey back in time in Office website: the Roman arenas (image projections, sound and https://www.nimes-tourisme.com/fr > A voir à faire light, live equestrian show). > Lieux à découvrir SEPTEMBER • Journées du Patrimoine (heritage days), free visits of cultural venues. IMPORTANT OCTOBER ANNUAL EVENTS / • International student reception ceremony: The town welcomes all their new international students! • Fête de la Science in the university laboratories. JANUARY • Nîmes Métropole Jazz Festival with jazz concerts • Flamenco Festival with flamenco concerts, in Nîmes and the surrounding area (special student conferences, presentations and more (special rates). student rates). For more information, see the City of Nîmes APRIL website: • Roman weekend activities and entertainment in http://www.nimes.fr > Découvrir Nîmes > the town: Parades, gladiator battles and cart races Evénements incontournables in the Arena! MAY • European Museum Night: another to way to discover museums, and for free. • Feria de Pentecôte, for bullfighting enthusiasts. JUNE • Fête de la Musique, music everywhere in town (free concerts). • Rendez-vous aux Jardins: free activities and entertainment in the Jardins de la Fontaine.

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 PARTICIPATE cultural outings, and consult job and internship offers.

7 THINGS TO KNOW

Greater Nîmes: City of Nîmes: 240,000 residents 150,000 residents rd 3 largest city of the Occitanie region, after Toulouse and Montpellier

NÎMES IS THE CAPITAL 12,500 OF THE GARD, one of the 13 departments students in Nîmes and of the vast French Occitanie region, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gard, an increase the Pyrénées of 30% in 10 years

including 4,500 NÎMES, 22 CENTURIES OF HISTORY, at Université de Nîmes where 20% are international 300 days of sunshine per year... students

rd OCCITANIE REGION, 3 FRENCH REGION for hosting foreign students (over 30,000 international students).

Nîmes, RANKED AMONG FRENCH CITIES AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND STUDY (AWARDED BY L’ÉTUDIANT 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 2021. - JULY Fotolia photo: © tichr, - Photos: DR - Cover 87 avenue Jacques Cartier, 34000 Montpellier Place de l’Europe station By appointment only 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 3.30pm. Contact: 04 67 58 92 12 or [email protected] Rubrik (91) C CAMPUS FRANCE

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