DISCOVER YOUR CITY
Campus France will guide you through your first steps in France and exploring Reims, your new home.
WELCOME TO REIMS - Photos: DR - Cover photo: ©Elisabeth - Fotolia.com - JULY 2021. - JULY photo: ©Elisabeth - Fotolia.com - Photos: DR Cover Rubrik (91) C Production: YOUR ARRIVAL IN Buddy System You can be assisted by a “buddy” or a family in REIMS / Reims! Thanks to Buddy System and Buddy Family, you One-Stop information desk for students at the can be put in contact with a URCA student or a local Espace Reims Campus family who will help you settle in during your stay at URCA. More information: For many years, the City Council of the Grand Reims and the CROUS of Reims have set up a Buddy System: https://www.univ-reims.fr > Guichet Unique (centralized reception desk) International > Mobilité des étudiants > Venir étudier to assist you in completing the administrative à l’URCA > Buddy system procedures required. Buddy Family: https://www.univ-reims.fr > The Guichet Unique - Espace Reims Campus, International Mobilité des étudiants > Venir étudier à which is open from the end of August to the l’URCA > Buddy Family end of September, is the one-stop shop for Welcome and orientation in the institutions making an initial contact with all student services, including the CROUS, the University - At Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne for of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, the CAF and your welcome and orientation: the Prefecture. - Direction des Études et de la Vie Universitaire (DEVU) which handles international students who are not with an exchange program (degree-seeking Address: students). Guichet Unique - Espace Reims Campus, Contacts: 03 26 91 84 91 or [email protected] 31 rue du Général Sarrail, 51100 Reims. Access: Boulingrin and Gare Centre bus/tram stops. - Direction des Relations Extérieures et du Hours: Développement International (DREDI) which handles - from end August to end September, Monday to international exchange students Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Contacts: 03 26 91 87 60 or [email protected] - from end September to end August, - If you are enrolled in another institution, please from Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 12pm and consult the Campus France website for orientation. from 1pm to 5pm. The site presents a series of Information Sheets Contact: 09 69 39 19 19 or covering the different higher learning institutions: www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr https://www.campusfrance.org > Students > For more information: Documentary resources > Practical information - consult the international pages on the bilingual for students and researchers > Reception website of Université de Reims: arrangements in institutions https://www.univ-reims.fr > International > Mobilité If you cannot find your school in this list, then go des étudiants directly to their website. - download the International Student Guide: Download the guide here: https://www.univ-reims.fr National Services > International Mobilité des étudiants > Venir étudier - students: www.etudiant.gouv.fr à l’URCA - doctoral students, researchers: Welcome and orientation for researchers and http://www.euraxess.fr/fr doctoral students Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) is a member of the Euraxess network which HOUSING organizes greeting of doctoral students and foreign researchers. IN REIMS / Address and phone number: Villa Douce, 9 boulevard de la Paix, 51000 Reims, There are numerous solutions for housing in 03 26 91 84 28. Reims: Student-only accommodations managed Website: https://www.univ-reims.fr > Mobilité des by CROUS, student housing and private enseignants chercheurs - Pôle Euraxess residences, and rooms in private homes What’s most important is to take care of this as early as possible, before your arrival.
2 • The CRIJ Grand-Est (Centre Régional • There is also a site managed by the CROUS, d’Information Jeunesse), the regional youth Lokaviz, which includes a listing of student information center Champagne-Ardenne accomodations in private homes: provides lots of information to help you find https://www.lokaviz.fr/ your accommodations on its Info Jeunes (youth • Shared Leases: consult La Carte des Colocs, a information) website: https://jeunes-ca.fr/ national site for shared leases that’s free and simple to use: https://www.lacartedescolocs.fr/ A FEW TIPS • Other solutions available on the Campus France site: www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized > Short-term housing Accommodation • The Auberge de Jeunesse de Reims (Reims youth If you need a guarantor to secure your lodging hostel), which is located in a park. Visale is a new and free guarantor system: Address: Centre International de Séjour de www.visale.fr Champagne, 21 chaussée Bocquaine, Parc Léo Lagrange, 51100 Reims. If you want to file an application for APL funds Contact: 03 26 40 52 60. (Aide Personnalisée au Logement, or persona- Site: https://www.cis-reims.com lized housing aid), • For other low price accommodations, use CAF (Caisse des Allocations Familiales) can check the search engine on the Reims Tourist Office your eligibility: 08.10.29.29.29 or www.caf.fr (multilingual) website: https://www.reims-tourisme.com > Hébergements Long-term housing • CROUS (Centre Régional des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires) student housing for Reims. Address: Espace Étudiant Reims Campus, GETTING AROUND 31 rue du Général Sarrail, 51100 Reims. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 12pm and 1pm REIMS to 5pm. Contact: 09.69.36.19.19 To get to Reims, it takes 45 minutes from Site: http://www.crous-reims.fr/ Paris. See the comprehensive dedicated page - https://trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr/ on the URCA website: CROUS Student Guide: https://www.univ-reims.fr/minisite_138/ > http://www.crous-reims.fr > Présentation > Comment arriver ? Le Crous > Guide de l’Étudiant For getting around the city and the suburbs, use CITURA public buses and trams, the On campus, the CROUS also public transport network of the agglomeration manages all low-cost food services of Reims: (university restaurants, cafeterias, https://www.citura.fr/ food-trucks, etc.). There are regional trains for getting around • Private Housing Platforms: the Grand Est region: Other offers for student lodging, managed by private https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est organisms, are also available in Reims: Don’t forget the bus for low-cost travelling: For example, visit: https://fr.ouibus.com/ or - the Studapart site, a university platform for private https://www.flixbus.fr/ housing; one of the Reims business schools is For ride-sharing, refer to the collaborative affiliated:https://www.studapart.com > Rechercher websites, for example par ville > Reims https://www.blablacar.fr - other specialist sites: To be more independent, use rental bikes. - https://www.adele.org/ You can consult the Tourist Office offer: - https://www.immojeune.com/ https://www.reims-tourisme.com > À faire, - https://www.location-etudiant.fr/ À vivre, À voir > Loisirs > Activités sportives > - https://housinganywhere.com Manu Loca Vélo
3 If you need housing adapted to your special needs • If you hold a “mineur scolarisé” (enrolled Contact the CROUS Social Services which will take minor) visa and you attained the age of action with your institution. majority, you have to request for a “Titre de Some establishments have specialized services for séjour” online on the ANEF website or at the students with disabilities (assistance for housing, prefecture where you live within 2 months and also transportation and tuition). following your majority. At Université de Reims, a Mission Handicap https://administration-etrangers-en-france. organization listens, advises and supports students interieur.gouv.fr with disabilities: https://www.univ-reims.fr Take note : To renew your student residency > Vie des Campus > Handicap permit “Titre de séjour” (VLS-TS), your request must be done during the 3rd month before the expiration date of your current “Titre de séjour” (permit) on the website: https://administration- FIRST THINGS etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr FIRST / This tutorial will help you: https://www.youtube.com/ ENROLLMENT IN YOUR INSTITUTION watch?v=j_suMJ3fIiw&list=PLpm2evF1qaJe_ oq0a-LMIKujAihwAtVEy&index=16 CVEC Before you can enroll in your institution, you must download proof of payment of the Contribution Vie • To find out more about rights and obligations: Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC) – the student and The reception services of your establishment can campus life contribution fee. guide you in the event of difficulties. - Connect to https://cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr/ www.service-public.fr > Etranger > Titre de séjour - For additional information and special cases: et document de circulation (Foreigners > Resident https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized Card and Travel Document) > CVEC Confirm Registration Take note! Even if you have a pre-registration letter, PRACTICAL you are not officially enrolled. INFORMATION / You must confirm your enrollment with the institution’s Service de la Scolarité (Admissions) as soon as you arrive. OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT If you stay in France for more than 3 months, it will be RESIDENCE PERMIT (TITRE DE SÉJOUR) much easier day-to-day if you open a bank account, online or in one of the 110 bank agencies located in Reims In France, opening a bank account is a right: GOOD TO KNOW www.service-public.fr > Argent > Comptes • If you have arrived in France with a VLS-TS bancaires> Droit au compte long-term student visa: you must validate it online upon your arrival and imperatively HEALTHCARE within the first three months of your stay In France, receiving medical treatment is practically (in France) on the ANEF (Administration free but you must be insured. Accordingly, signing numérique pour les étrangers en France) up for medical insurance is mandatory. website: https://administration-etrangers-en- france.interieur.gouv.fr Login to the • If you are an Algerian national or a student https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr site to with a “Concours” (tests) visa» or a visa with register, to understand your eligibility and the indication “Carte à solliciter dans les deux benefits, and to take the necessary steps. mois” (Residency permit is to be requested within 2 months of entry): your residency permit Learn more: application has to be made at the Prefecture. https://www.campusfrance.org > Getting Organized > Health 4 As a student, you can also take advantage of the LEARNING FRENCH university medical services. In these health centers where consultations are free, you will be greeted Learning French is an opportunity that’s not to be by a team of doctors and nurses who can give missed! Find what works best for you: personalized advice about health and prevention. - by consulting the Campus France site or the Français Langue Etrangère (FLE) - French as a This is the case at Université de Reims Champagne- foreign language - centers and universities which Ardenne where there is a Service Universitaire de offer courses at all levels year-round: Médecine Préventive et de Promotion de la Santé http://ecolesdete.campusfrance.org (SUMPPS), located on two sites. - by asking in your institution, at city hall, or in your • SUMPPS Campus Moulin de la Housse, Espace host city’s Maison des Associations - community Santé, Building 8, 51100 Reims. centers. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm (5pm on Fridays). FINDING A JOB OR AN INTERNSHIP Contact: 03 26 91 83 20. 2 addresses: • SUMPPS Campus Croix-Rouge, Building 2, • Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne opened 57 rue Pierre Taittinger, 51100 Reims. a page dedicated to finding jobs and internships: Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm (5pm https://www.univ-reims.fr > Orientation et Insertion on Fridays). > Stages et Emplois > Étudiants Contact: 03 26 91 38 80. • the Jobaviz website, run by the CROUS can help Website: https://www.univ-reims.fr > Vie des you find a student job compatible with your studies: Campus > Sécurité Santé Social > Santé > Santé des http://www.jobaviz.fr/ étudiants (SUMPPS)
SIGN UP FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE THINGS TO DO You can also sign up for top-up insurance which will cover all health expenses not covered by the free IN REIMS / and compulsory health insurance. Take note: The plans and coverage levels differ TAKE UP A SPORT from one company to another. To choose a top-up insurance policy which meets your needs and your • In your institution, contact the Service des Sports budget, you can compare student health insurance for free access to sports facilities. plans on the Internet. At Université de Reims, the Service universitaire des activités physiques et sportives (SUAPS) offers 60 HOUSING INSURANCE supervised and unsupervised activities: In France, housing insurance is mandatory. https://www.univ-reims.fr > Vie des Campus > Sport You can sign up for housing insurance called > Le Service Universitaire des Activités Physique et “garantie risques locatifs” - rental risk guarantee - at Sportives (SUAPS) your bank or a private insurance company. Online • The Ville de Reims and the Grand Reims also offer subscription is often possible. sports facilities accessible to all throughout the year: https://www.reims.fr > Sports et loisirs > Sport en accès libre
SAMU: Call 15 Emergency Medical Services BE ACTIVE Police emergency: Call 17 in the event of Attend cultural and sporting events, or join a social violence, theft, robbery. or community group, through one of the numerous Fire Department: Call 18 in the event of fire, local or national student clubs and associations. gas leak, water damage, natural catastrophe, or Contact your institution’s Service de la Vie Étudiante traffic accident. or visit the national websites: Call 112: European emergency services www.animafac.net or www.letudiant.fr number that’s accessible from anywhere in the European Union in addition to the French Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne: numbers above. - brings together various international associations: https://www.univ-reims.fr > Vie des Campus >
5 Vie étudiante > Les Associations étudiantes > TOP Associations internationales - organizes many activities for international ATTRACTIONS / students: https://www.univ-reims.fr > International > Mobilité des étudiants > Venir étudier à l’URCA Reims, the city where the Kings of France were > Activités pour les étudiants > Activités pour les crowned, has been a listed City of Art and History étudiants internationaux since 1987. CROUS de Reims has a list of all clubs and • The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, the associations for international students: coronation site, is one of the most beautiful Gothic https://www.crous-reims.fr > International > cathedrals of France and a listed World Heritage site Associations by UNESCO. GAINING CULTURE AND PARTYING • The Palais du Tau, which was the palace of the archbishops where the kings of France stayed • Reims offers many ways to cultivate yourself during their coronation. or party. Theaters, museums, movie theaters, • The Place Royale, with its classical Louis XVI exhibitions, and festivals are on the agenda and architecture. most of the time, at reduced cost for students: https://www.reims.fr > Culture et patrimoine • The Museum of Fine Arts, with its beautiful collections ranging from the Renaissance to the • You can also consult the activities offered by the present day. Service Universitaire de l’Action Culturelle (SUAC) , the department for cultural action at Université de • The chapel of Our Lady of Peace (Notre-Dame-de- Reims: la-Paix) or the Foujita chapel, which is an amazing https://www.univ-reims.fr > Vie des Campus > construction entirely designed by the eponymous Culture > Culture Japanese artist. For entertainment or to pick up some culture, you • The Carnegie Library, an Art Deco masterpiece. can choose from: • The cellars of the major champagne houses of - 2 large theaters (in and around the city), including Reims, more than 100km of galleries to be explored Cinéma-Opéraims in the Reims city center. (and champagne to be tasted in moderation!). - 9 major museums, including the Planetarium of • Parc de Champagne, 54 acres of parkland south of Reims to go on a journey of discovery under the the city. stars: https://www.reims.fr > Culture et patrimoine > Les structures et actions culturelles > Le For more information, consult the Tourist Office Planétarium website: - a dozen auditoriums, including the Manège, which https://www.reims-tourisme.com > L’essentiel de is a listed historic monument site and national Reims theater.. - a dozen bookshops and a network of 8 municipal multi-media libraries: https://www.bm-reims.fr/ • In Reims, for going out or staying abreast of events, read the leading regional daily paper, L’Union, available in newsstands or on the Internet: http://www.lunion.fr/ You can also consult: - the agenda on the Reims Tourist Office website: https://www.reims-tourisme.com/agenda - the Trésor, a municipal website for culture in Reims: https://www.infoculture-reims.fr/
6 IMPORTANT SEPTEMBER • TaVieDeCampus, back-to-school student days at ANNUAL EVENTS / the University with CROUS participation. • European Night of Research at the University of JANUARY Reims. • Reims Scènes d’Europe, each year a European • Journées du Patrimoine (heritage days), free visits country is given pride of place with a variety of of cultural sites. different artforms (theater, dance, music), reduced OCTOBER rates. • World Student Night, a big festive evening for MARCH international students, in partnership with the City • Printemps de la Recherche (Spring Research Council, the CROUS, the University and the ESN Festival), to discover the research laboratories of the association. University and dialogue with the researchers. • I Love Reims Campus: the City Council and the • Le Grand Défi: A blind wine-tasting challenge CROUS organize two weeks of sporting and artistic (URCA). Please drink responsibly. challenges. • Fête de la science in the University laboratories. APRIL • Run in Reims, run while exploring the city. • Cultures en Fête (International Students’ Day), an intercultural day which showcases international For more information, see the City of Reims students (URCA). website: https://www.reims-tourisme.com > L’Essentiel de MAY Reims > Incontournables > Grands évènements • Nuit Européenne des Musées (European Night of the Museums), for free access to all museums in Reims. JUNE • Fête de la Musique: Music everywhere in town (free concerts). • The Johannine Festivals, revisiting Joan of Arc and her era in Reims (permanent and itinerant events). JULY • The Flâneries Musicales, 100 concerts performed by celebrated classical music and jazz musicians, located in prestigious or unusual venues and most of which are free.
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
Grand Reims: REIMS, 300,000 residents the largest city in Reims: the Marne department, one of residents the 10 departments 190,000 of the Grand Est nd 2 CITY IN THE REGION 31,000 students region
GRAND-EST Université de Reims REGION, Champagne-Ardenne: th 4 French region students in terms of hosting 21,000 on the Reims campus foreign students (28,000 international including international students students) 10% Université de Reims 4 doctoral schools, 480 doctoral students including 200 foreign students
REIMS IS RANKED AMONG THE BEST CITIES IN FRANCE WHERE IT’S GOOD 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/grand-est-551 - Photos: DR - Cover photo: ©Elisabeth - Fotolia.com - JULY 2021. - JULY photo: ©Elisabeth - Fotolia.com - Photos: DR Cover CAMPUS FRANCE 28 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 PARIS - 01 40 40 58 58 - www.campusfrance.org Rubrik (91) C Production: