Prepare your stay

If you are a student from the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Andorra, Monaco and Switzerland, you are exempt from visa and temporary residence permit requirements. You can come to France with a valid ID card or a passport.

Visa
If you are not a national from one of the countries listed above, it will be necessary to apply for a ‘long stay’ visa marked ‘student’ approximately 99€) at the French consular services in your country of residence. French consular services may require other documents in addition to your acceptance at HEAR and a proof that you have sufficient financial means to live in France (approximately: 615€/month). Find detailed guidelines to get your visa on the official French diplomatic website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

Residence permit
In some cases, students with a one-year visa do not need a temporary residence permit and must go to the OFII, the procedure is explained upon reception of the visa. Other students must apply for a temporary residence permit at the prefecture of Strasbourg or Mulhouse.

Mulhouse: Sous-Préfecture – 2 place du Gal de
Gaulle, 68100 Mulhouse – www.haut-rhin.gouv.fr

Strasbourg: Préfecture – 5 place de la République,
67073 Strasbourg – www.bas-rhin.pref.gouv.fr

To apply for a temporary residence permit (approximately 77€), you must submit the original and a photocopy of the following documents:
• your passport
• an enrollment certificate
• a proof of financial resources (same given for the visa application)
• a proof of residential address
• a birth certificate
• 3 ID pictures

Main expenses
The average monthly budget for a student is estimated between 350€ and 750€. It can vary between Strasbourg and Mulhouse and also depends on your personal lifestyle.

Montly expenses:
Rent: 200 – 500€
Food: 100 – 150€
Leisure: 50 – 100€

Local prices:
1 one-way Tram/Bus ticket: 1.50 – 1.70€
1 monthly Tram/Bus pass: 19 – 24.20€
1 student meal: 3.25€
1 fastfood meal: 5 – 10€

1 regular meal: 15 – 25€
1 cinema ticket: 4 – 7€
1 concert/show/theater ticket: 6 – 60€ (see page
41 for information on Carte Culture)

One time expenses:
French phone SIM card: 4€
Bike: 40 – 100€
Annual housing insurance: 10-50€
Monthly top-up health insurance (mutuelle): 20 – 40€
Other set-up expenses (phone + electricity, etc.): 100€
French Student Social security scheme: 215€

Mobility Grants
Ask your home institution
If you are an exchange student, please check which grants you can apply for with the help of the International Office of your home institution.

Campus France
Depending on your home country, you can find scholarship on Campus France that could help you to finance your studies in France.
campusbourses.campusfrance.org

• Valid passport or ID card (original and photocopy)
• Visa (for students from non-EU/EEA countries)
• ID photos
• Valid European Health insurance card (students from EU countries)
• Proof of international health insurance
• Proof of liability insurance
• Sufficient cash (deposit for a room, tickets etc.)

• Bank statement to prove sufficient financial means (615€/month)
• Proof of Scholarship
• Birth certificate translated into French
• Copies of the pay slips and accommodation certificates of your parents or relatives
• Unlocked phone for French SIM card
• Your printed portfolio

By plane
Mulhouse
Euroairport www.euroairport.com
From the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, a shuttle bus connects the airport to the Saint Louis’s train station. There you can continue by
train, ter SNCF, to Strasbourg. www.ter.sncf.com

Prevailing price level:
Saint-Louis – Mulhouse 6,10€
Saint-Louis – Strasbourg 23,10€

Strasbourg
The Strasbourg international airport www.strasbourg.aeroport.fr welcomes flights from more than 200 destinations. A shuttle train connects the airpost to the train station (9 min ride, 4.30€) www.ter.sncf.com

By train
A high speed train (TGV) connects Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (Terminal2) to Strasbourg (2:30 ride)

The SNCF en.voyages-sncf.com offers many regular trains to Strasbourg and Mulhouse from Paris and other major cities in France and Europe. Fares vary a lot depending on the date of purchase.

Prevailing price level:
Paris – Strasbourg 25 – 70€
Paris – Mulhouse 30- 90€

By bus
The bus companies Eurolines, Flixbus and Megabus cover over 1 500 destinations in Europe.
www.eurolines.fr
www.flixbus.fr
freu.megabus.com

Bus stops:
Mulhouse: avenue du Général Leclerc
Strasbourg: 1, place de l’Étoile

By Car sharing
Within France the cheapest way to travel is by car sharing using Blablacar. www.blablacar.fr

Housing in Mulhouse and Strasbourg
HEAR does not have on-campus accommodation. However, the International Office can provide a list of offers for shared flats or apartments to rent
(mostly offers from our outgoing students).

Student housing in Strasbourg
A few rooms in the Strasbourg student residency (Paul Appell & La Robertsau) can be reserved through the HEAR International Office.
If you are interested please contact international@hear.fr

CROUS – Student residencies
Centre Régional des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires is a public organisation which provides students rooms for rent at low rates.

Students need to create an account
www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr an fill out an online application (DSE – Dossier Social Etudiant) dp.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr before April 30^th.

Students applying after April 30^th will be on a waiting list. Please write to: audrey.wirrmann@crous-strasbourg.fr

CROUS offices
Mulhouse
1, Rue Alfred Werner
t.+33 (0)3 89 33 64 644

Strasbourg
1, Boulevard de la Victoire
t. + 33 (0)3 88 21 28 00

Rental and flatshare
You can also find a studio, a furnished room or a flatshare on these websites:

Student offer:
• www.adele.org
• www.clous-mulhouse.cnous.fr
• www.crous-strasbourg.fr
• www.leclubetudiant.com
• www.mgellogement.fr
• www.relais-Étudiants.com
• www.lokaviz.fr

Flatshare:
• www.appartager.com
• www.colocation.fr
• www.coloctoit.com
• www.lacartedescolocs.fr
• www.lacartedescolocs.fr
• www.recherche-colocation.com

General offer:
• www.immoregion.fr
• www.leboncoin.fr
• www.lecoindelimmo.com
• www.topannonces.fr

Temporary accommodation
Hostels
If you would like to stay in a hostel for a night or two while you visit apartments:
• www.fuaj.org
• www.ciarus.com

BnB
• www.airbnb.com

Free accomodation
• www.couchsurfing.org
• www.talktalkbnb.com get a free room in exchange for communication in your native language.

Housing budget
Garant | Housing Garantor
Your landlord might ask for a Garantor (a person who takes responsibility of the rent if it isn’t paid anymore) before signing the lease. Consequently, we strongly advise you to bring with you copies of the pay slips and accommodation certificates of your parents or relatives who would be ok to take this responsibility. If you can’t find a garantor you can apply to the French goverment garantor organisation (CLE) on lokaviz website. www.lokaviz.fr

Frais d’agence | Agency fees
If you find your accommodation via a renting agency, you will generally have to pay a month’s rent in agency fees. Also, beware of the agencies offering access to a list of accommodations available. The access to this list usually costs around 150€ and this sum will not be reimbursed, even if you do not find any accommodation through this agency.

Caution | First deposit
Rent prices in Strasbourg and Mulhouse can vary between 200€ and 500€ per month (180€ in a student residency room). A first deposit will be required before you move in ; it usually equals 1 month rent. This deposit will be refunded at the end of your stay if there hasn’t been any damage to the property. There is also a mandatory subscription to annual housing insurance that can cost between 6€ and 50€.

APL | Housing financial assistance
You should check as soon as possible whether you are eligible for housing financial assistance in France. The Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) is a French state assistance fund which can provide housing aid called APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement). The level of help depends on your income, type of housing and rent paid. In case of shared property, every tenant can benefit, but only with regards to the proportion of the rent. Each individual must apply separately.

For more information, please read the CAF brochure in English which explains the procedure step-by-step. www.caf.fr

CAF office
Mulhouse
26 Avenue Robert Schuman

Strasbourg
18 Rue de Berne

During your stay in France, you might be required to show proof of subscription to one or several types of insurance such as liability insurance, housing insurance or health insurance.

Assurance responsabilité civile | Civil liability
insurance If you unintentionally caused damage to another person or his/her property, your insurance agency will deal with the claim (this insurance is required to use or borrow certain equipment at HEAR).

Assurance logement | Housing insurance
By subscribing to this insurance, the apartment or room you rent and your possessions are covered against the risks of flood/fire damage or against burglary. This insurance often includes civil liability insurance but do check before subscribing. See below contact and addresses for LMDE and MGEL agencies in Strasbourg and Mulhouse.

Assurance Maladie | Health insurance
Health insurance is a complex but essential point you will need to review before coming to France.

Exchange Students
As an exchange student, you are not required to register to French social security, but you must bring one of the 3 documents below:
• a European health insurance card (only students from EU/EEA). This card should be requested at your local health services agency in your home country. If you pay for healthcare services in France, this card will enable you to forward your requests for reimbursements to your health agency in your country.
• or a certificate of private insurance providing full coverage for medical risks, without restrictions related to cost, valid for the duration of the stay in France.
• or a SE401-Q-104 form issued by the Régie d’Assurance Maladie du Québec (only studentsfrom Quebec).

Regular students
If you don’t have one of the 3 elements above or if you are a regular student, you need to subscribe to French Social Security: French Social Security (Sécurité Sociale or Sécu) is the state institution providing financial assistance to one’s healthcare expenses. As an exchange student, you have the right to subscribe to the student social security scheme*.
The subscription for the academic year 2016-17 costs 215€

*If you are over 28 years old you cannot subscribe to student social security scheme, please enquire about the general social security scheme at the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) in Strasbourg or Mulhouse.

Social security works with reimbursement rates which allow from 15 to 70% of the total medical service fees to be reimbursed to the beneficiaries. If you subscribe, you will be given a carte vitale that should be presented during visits to all healthcare professionals: doctors, medical
specialists, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies. This card allows quick reimbursements of 15 to 70% of your healthcare expenses, and an additional 30% for those who have subscribed to top-up/complementary insurance.

Mutuelle | Complementary insurance
Social Security only reimburses part of your healthcare expenses. Mutuelle/complementary insurance will cover all or part of the difference
between the medical service fee and the French social security reimbursement rate. In Strasbourg and Mulhouse there are two student
health insurance agencies, LMDE and MGEL.

LMDE
www.lmde.com

Strasbourg
6C, place d’Austerlitz
t: +33 (0)1 40 92 54 85

MGEL
www.mgel.fr

Mulhouse
45, avenue du Président Kennedy
t: +33 (0)3 89 32 04 67

Strasbourg
4, Rue de Londres
t : +33 (0)3 88 60 26 26

Regular social security scheme
If you are not eligible for the Student social security scheme, please go to the CPAM (Caisse primaire Assurance Maladie) for general social security subscription.

CPAM
www.ameli.fr
Mulhouse
26, Avenue Robert Schuman

Strasbourg
6, Rue de Lausanne

MGEN
www.mgen.fr
Mulhouse
10, Rue Gustave Hirn

Strasbourg
4, Rue Henri Bergson Hautepierre

Whether you are insured in France or in your home country, you are generally required to pay medical expenses as they occur: when visiting a doctor, buying prescribed medicine or for medical tests. Then you can ask to be reimbursed by your health insurer. A general doctor may charge from 20€ to 25€ for a consultation.

Types of payment vary: doctors usually accept checks and credit cards, some might not accept cash.

The following medical center are accessible and English-friendly:

SUMPS
The SUMPS (Service Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de Promotion de la Santé) is a student organisation in Strasbourg and Mulhouse which gives access to certain medical services (medical check, vaccin, social and psycological assistance etc.). The annual registration fee to these services costs around 5€ (please see HEAR Academic affairs offices to register)

Mulhouse
Service santé de l’UHA
1 rue Alfred Werner
Maison de l’étudiant – 1^er étage
t. +33 (0)3 89 33 64 45

Strasbourg
6, rue de Palerme
Monday to Thrusday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm
Friday from 8.30am to 5pm
t. +33 (0)3 68 85 50 24
sumps@unistra.fr

Centre de santé MGEN | Healthcare center
Mulhouse
Possibility to go see a nurse Maison de l’Étudiant

1, rue Alfred Werner
t. +33 (0)3 89 33 64 47
linda.wendling@uha.fr

Strasbourg
Consultation with a general doctor is possible without an appointment. Appointments are mandatory for consultations with medical specialists, you can schedule an appointment by email.

4, Place du Pont aux Chats
t. +33 (0)3 88 21 14 60
consultation642@mgen.fr

Opening a bank account in France is not mandatory but it can be useful during your stay in France. For some regular payments (phone or rent) or for other transactions (such as refund from healthcare expenses or transfer of housing aid money), you might be asked to provide a RIB (Relevé d’Identité Bancaire), which provides your bank account details. It is available on your bank statements and in your check book. You can also print a RIB at an ATM machine or ask for one in your bank.

To open a bank account you will in most cases need to present the following documents:
• Your ID, your residency permit (titre de séjour),
• a proof of address including your name and address, (rent contract, phone bill), or a certificate from your landlord (attestation d’hébergement) with a copy of his/her ID and a bill with his/her name.

In order to communicate with your French friends and fellow students we recommend you to acquire a French phone number as quickly as possible.

Please give your French phone number to the International Office who might call you in case of emergencies.

Main and cheapest operators in France:
• www.b-and-you.fr starting at 2.99€/month
• www.sfr.fr – offer RED de SFR starting at 2.99€/month

• www.sosh.fr – starting at 4.99€/month
• www.virginmobile.fr – starting at 5.99€/month

Monthly payments are called forfait. Make sure to choose a forfait sans engagement as opposed to 12 months or 24 months contracts. You can compare online forfait prices on touslesforfaits or lebonforfait websites
www.touslesforfaits.fr
www.lebonforfait.fr

Emergencies (from mobile phones): 112
Medical emergency (SAMU): 15
Police: 17
Fire Brigade: 18

SOS Médecin | Home visiting doctor
You can reach a doctor anytime of the day and night who can come directly to your home.

More information on SOS Médecin website
www.sos-medecins67.fr
t +33 (0)3 88 75 75 75