International Student Guide

Visa

Students from member countries of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Monaco, and Andorra do not need a visa to study in France.

Students of all other nationalities who would like to stay longer than 90 days in France MUST apply for a long-term student visa.

These students must first register on the Campus France site from their country of residence to obtain a visa application request form.

These students must then apply for a long-term student visa from their nearest French consulate. We strongly recommend that candidates find out what documents they need to provide for their visa request, based on their nationality, especialyyy if they are foreign national living in another country as the requirements will be based on their nationality and not on their country of residence.

IGS will provide newly admitted students with the pre-registration documents needed to request a visa, as well as information about the student visa process.

Depending on the country, the visa application process varies from two to five months.

Housing
IGS helps students find housing that meets their budget: in furnished individual apartments or shared housing with other students, with the CROUS (Centre Régional des Oeuvres Universitaires et Sociales - French housing service) or with host families.

Health - Social security and health insurance
Any student under 28 years-old is automatically entitled to the French social security student plan as well as to all of the rights and advantages associated with it.
Enrollment is mandatory. The cost is €250 for the 2010 / 2011 school year.

Food and eating out
IGS is located in a part of Paris that caters to several thousand students each day. There are many affordable food outlets, such as bakeries, grills, fast-food, ethnic restaurants, and so on.

There is also a university restaurant nearby (avenue de Verdun).

Acces
To get to IGS:

By subway:
- Louis Blanc Station (Lines 7 and 7 bis)
- Château Landon Station (Line 7)

By train:
- Gare de l’Est 5 minutes away
- Gare du Nord 10 minutes away