Life in France

Settling in

As soon as you arrive, make sure to complete the following 3 steps.

1/ Pay your contribution to campus and student life (CVEC)

This is the first step to complete, before any other. It is mandatory to register in your higher education institution. You can even complete this step before coming to France. You can pay it online at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr. You can also pay in cash at your local post office. Make sure to keep the proof generated after your payment. You will have to provide it during your registration in your institution.

The contribution to campus and student life is paid to the CROUS to facilitate the reception of students and their social, health, cultural and sports follow-up. It also finances prevention activities in relation with health.

For more information, check out our article about the 10 things you need to know about the CVEC

2/ Register in your higher education institution

Go to the international relations department of your host institute. While there, get the information you will need to the study in France. Then go to the enrolment department to finalise your enrolment, pay your tuition fees and pick up your student card.

3/ Validate your residence permit

If you came to France with a long stay visa used as residence permit (VLS-TS in French), you must validate your visa as soon as you arrive in France. The process is entirely digital: you can do everything remotely, at home, on your computer. You must validate your visa within 3 months of arriving in France at the latest.

Please visit: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr

To find out more, visit How to validate your long-stay visa (Visa Long séjour) upon your arrival in France?

Getting access to healthcare

Studying in France is an exciting opportunity, but it comes with essential administrative steps, such as registering for social security and considering additional health insurance, known as “mutuelle.” Here is a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the healthcare coverage system in France.

Social security in France

WHAT? Registering for social security is free and mandatory for all students in France, including international students. It provides partial refunds for medical expenses, including doctor's visits and medical check-ups.

WHEN? In France, as soon as possible after your academic registration.

HOW? Visit Ameli (available in FR, EN and ES). When you submit your form, you will be given a provisional social security number. Once your registration has been validated, you will be able to download your definitive Social Security registration certificate (attestation de droits).

To register, you need:

Proof of ID (passport)
Proof of civil status (birth certificate)
Valid student visa
Certificate of enrolment

Need help? Call 36 46 (free service + cost of call) or watch our tutorials.

Who must register?

European students without a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Non-European students.

Who doesn't need to register?

European students with a valid EHIC or a temporary certification. Their health expenses will be refunded similarly to their home country, provided that the card is valid until the end of the academic year.
British students with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

The GHIC

As a UK resident, you can request a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for temporary stays while studying. Please note that you will have to pay the fees upfront and they will be reimbursed upon presentation of receipts known as "feuilles de soin" given by the GP and the pharmacies. You will then be refunded once you return to the UK.

For more detailed information, you can visit the UK government website.

The "Carte Vitale"

Who is entitled to a Carte Vitale?

To obtain a Carte Vitale, you must have a social security number. The Carte Vitale can be ordered directly from your Ameli account ("Mes démarches" section).

It certifies your registration and entitlement to health insurance.
It is valid throughout France (including both metropolitan France and overseas territories).

What does the Vitale card contain?

Your Carte Vitale is your insurance card, it contains all the information you need to ensure partial reimbursement of your healthcare costs and coverage in the event of hospitalisation.

It is not a payment card.

Complementary health insurance (Mutuelle)

Is it mandatory? No.

Why do you need it? State healthcare in France is not entirely free; it involves partial payment from patients. Complementary health insurance, or mutuelle, helps increase the refund for healthcare expenses. It ensures that you have comprehensive health insurance coverage while living in France.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of mutuelles available:

If you have a low income, the Solidarity Supplementary health insurance helps you avoid some healthcare expenses.

Getting healthcare in France: the basics

To receive better medical care and optimal reimbursements for your healthcare throughout your studies, take the following steps:

Appoint a doctor in France as your general practitioner to coordinate your healthcare with monitoring that matches your state of health and to receive better reimbursements (70% instead of 30%). Your general practitioner is the one who:

knows you best, because they care for you on a regular basis;
guides your coordinated healthcare path (they are your preferred contact point to refer you to other healthcare professionals);
manages your medical record by centralising all information relating to your care;
provides you with personalised preventive care including, for example, vaccination checks, screening, help to stop smoking, etc.

How can I find a general practitioner?

The Ameli healthcare directory lists all healthcare professionals and establishments (addresses, opening times, care provided and average rates).
You can also use the app Doctolib.

Under 25? Benefit from the health prevention check-up!

Assurance Maladie offers you the option of attending a preventive health check-up up to the age of 25. The objective is to review your health and address the subjects of your choice with health professionals, in complete confidentiality. This check-up offered by Assurance Maladie takes place in a health check centre.

Finding work

There are many ways for foreign graduates to find work in France. Depending on your nationality, you may not need a temporary residency permit. These tips are mainly for alumni of French higher education institutions.

Working while studying

With a student visa, you can work to support your studies. More information: Working while studying in France

Staying in France when you graduate to find a job

In order to stay in France after graduating, British students must have a promise of employment or a work contract. Look at the different requirements depending on the type of job you get here. Your company should be able to tell you which visa suit you better.

At the end of your studies and after obtaining a French higher education diploma, you can apply for a temporary "job seeker/ new business creator" residence permit (Carte de séjour "recherche d'emploi/ création d'entreprise") allowing you to look for a job or set up your own company in France. A certain level of study is required. Researchers who have completed their research may also apply.

Depending on your nationality, you may also benefit from the APS - temporary resident permit: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Gabon, Tunisia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovinia, India.

Creating your company

More information: How to start a company in France?

Tips on finding a job in France

Job hunting in France and in the UK are quit similar, so let us highlight the main differences:

France has specific websites for job hunting. France Travail (Employment Centre) and APEC (Association Pour l'Emploi des Cadres, the Agency for the employment of Managers in France) are the main ones. Otherwise, LinkedIn and numerous other websites you may already be familiar with can be used to that end.
Make a "French" CV. CVs in France, contrary to the UK, are shorter and more concise, and are changed depending on the job you are applying for. Put as little text as possible and keep everything on one single page (recruiters spend less than 10 seconds on each CV). Extracurricular activities are appreciated, but professional experiences are always prefered. Therefore, list as many jobs, traineeships or voluntary works as you can.
Take advantage of your master's traineeship. The internship is often mandatory at master's level. It gives you the opportunity to develop some understanding of the corporate world and apply the theory and skills. If your programme does not require an internship, nothing is preventing you from doing one anyway: it is a good way to strengthen your CV and develop a professional network that you can later mobilise.
Rely on alumni networks with France Alumni. Whether you want to work in France or come back to the UK, alumni associations are very important, and can have chapters all around the world. Rely on the neworks from your institution or your specific programme, and ask if they happen to have a UK chapter. Register on France Alumni and connect with other people like you!

Travelling

Taking the Train

Trains in France are some of the fastest, cleanest and most efficient in Europe. They are managed by one company: the SNCF. You can book all your trips with one single app: SNCF Connect. You can even use this app to buy tickets for the Parisian public transportation system!

Train tickets are very affordable: local and regional trains (TER) have a fixed price and only cost between 5 and 30 euros on average. High speed trains (TGVs) are a bit more expensive but the low-cost alternative OUIGO can offer you long distance, hig-speed travel for less than 20 euros.

Still to expensive? You can buy regional cards and benefit from reductions on TERs from your specific region, suscribe to TGV Max and take as many TGVs as you want (off peak hours) for 79€ a month, the Pass Rail for unlimited travel all summer for 49€, the Carte Avantage Jeune (12-27) or Adulte (27-59) to benefit from up to 25% reduction on TGVs and Intercités thanks to capped prices. Check out SNCF's website for more up to date prices and information.

You can easily travel to all of western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. You can even take the train from London to Paris thank to the Eurostar. The Interrail Pass can even allow to travel across Europe on a budget.

Taking the Bus

Exploring France by intercity bus is a budget-friendly and convenient way to experience the country's diverse landscapes, charming villages, and bustling cities. Several companies now operate extensive intercity bus networks across France, connecting major cities, regional centers, and even smaller towns. The main operators are Flixbus and BlaBlaCar Bus.

Car-Pooling

Carpooling in France, mainly through BlaBlaCar, is an affordable and popular alternative for intercity travel. The platform connects drivers with passengers heading the same way, offering a cost-effective and social way to journey across the country. With a user-friendly app, verified profiles, and safety features, it’s a convenient option for both short and long trips, allowing travelers to experience France with locals while saving money.

Driving

If your UK driving licence was first issued before 1 January 2021

Your licence is recognised in France for as long as it is valid. Paper licences are usually valid until you are 70. For plastic photocard licences, the expiry date is on the front. If your UK licence has expired, or has less than 6 months’ validity remaining, you must exchange it for a French licence. You do not need to take a driving test. You can only exchange your licence if it is due to expire within 6 months. If you do not have a valid reason to request an exchange, your application will not be processed.

If your UK driving licence was first issued on or after 1 January 2021

Your licence will be recognised for 1 year from the date of issue of your residency permit (carte de séjour). If you intend to stay in France for longer than 1 year, you must exchange your UK licence for a French licence during this initial 1-year period. You do not need to take a driving test.

Flying

Planes are primarily used for international travels. There are 45 airports in France, the main ones being Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly.

MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR STAY