Academic Registration

Course registration

Before the semester begins and during Orientation Week, you will have to choose the classes you want to take. Your choice of courses should correspond to the year-by-year progression. All students should make an appointment with the Dean in order to fill out a course selection form and get it approved.
If for any reason, a change in course selection needs to be made after classes have begun, this should be done during or immediately following the first week of class. A Drop/Add form must be filled out and approved by the Dean. It is not possible to drop or add courses after the second week of class – all courses chosen will be paid for and a grade will be recorded whether you attend the class or not.

• Exchange students :

Before leaving your university, you will make a Learning Agreement with the Dean of your program in your university and will choose your classes with his or her consent. You can choose classes from any year but there might be a scheduling conflict. There can also be modifications at the start of the school year. The ISG will give you a school transcript when final grades have been processed (approx 5 weeks afetr final exams) to validate the credits in your home university.

Logistics before departure

Health Insurance

• Insurance for European Students

IMPORTANT: Students will be officially registered only once they have presented evidence of health insurance, repatriation and civil liability coverage.

Students from the European Union must request a “European Health Insurance Card” (former E111/128) at their Health Center before leaving their country. This card insures minimal coverage during their stay in France.
Since this insurance covers only a small part of medical and dental treatments, it is strongly recommended to subscribe to a plan which provides additional coverage.

You can do so in 2 different ways:

• You can subscribe to an additional insurance policy in your country before departure.
• You can take out complimentary health insurance (you'll get more info upon arrival in France)

• Insurance for Non European Students

Students coming from non-European countries and studying in France for a period over 3 months have the same duties and rights as French students: they have to subscribe to the French State health insurance policy for 1 year.

This insurance is mandatory and additional to a repatriation and civil liability coverage. It covers only the medical part and its cost is more or less 200€. Subscription to this insurance will be done upon arrival during orientation week.

Since this insurance covers only a small part of medical and dental treatments, it is strongly recommended to subscribe to an additional coverage. You can do so in 2 different ways:

• You can subscribe to an additional insurance policy in your country before departure.
• You can take out complimentary health insurance (you'll get more info upon arrival in France)

Visa and “carte de séjour”

If your stay in France lasts for more than three months, you must get a long-term student visa before your arrival in France. You must request the visa form at the French consular services in your country of residence at least 3 months before your departure.

If you are a native of an E.U. country or Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or San Marino, no entry visa is required. You need a valid passport for the duration of your stay in France. To be allowed to stay longer than 3 months, you need to get a residence permit from the Préfecture de Police - Carte de Séjour once you arrive in France.

If you are native from a country not listed above, you need a valid passport and a visa to study in France. Once you come to France, you will need to apply for the residence permit (Carte de séjour).

THE CONSULAR LONG TERM STUDENT VISA

It is issued for 3 to 6 month stays and may be given for up to 9 months in some cases. It entitles the holder to enter and stay in France. When you arrive in France, it is the only visa that entitles you to get a residence permit, the document that is indispensable for more than 6 months stays (note, however, that not all long-stay visas automatically guarantee you a residence permit).

IMPORTANT: you need to get a visa “long séjour” (long-stay visa), visa code D, which stipulates : "demande de carte dès l'arrivée en France". This visa is essential in order to get your resident permit - CARTE DE SEJOUR. Please also note that many visas exempt students from obtaining a “carte de séjour” ("dispense temporaire de carte de séjour") and therefore the student cannot obtain the housing benefit from the French state (information will be available upon arrival). If your visa states 'dispensé de carte de séjour', then you will not be able to apply for a “carte de séjour”. As a general rule, if you are staying for less than 6 months, your visa will state that you are exempted from obtaining a “carte de séjour” (dispensé de carte de séjour).

THE MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA: THE SCHENGEN SHORT STAY VISA

The Schengen area is made up of 13 countries that have signed a treaty eliminating border controls and checks, and allowing people to travel freely in the area. The Schengen area is made up of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden, Czech Rep, Slovakia.

Free travel within the area applies not only to nationals of the signatory countries of the Schengen treaty, but also to all EU nationals. Non-EU nationals who stay in the Schengen area also benefit from the same freedom of travel if they have a multiple entry short-stay Schengen visa.

• Some useful links :

For further information : www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

To check if you need a visa : www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

List of French consulates and diplomatic representatives abroad :
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr - www.expatries.diplomatie.gouv.fr

RESIDENT PERMIT / CARTE DE SEJOUR

The “Carte de séjour” is the official document from the French government that allows you to live in France.

• Students from the European Union / European Free Trade Area :

While you do not need a student visa to enter France, you must obtain a “Carte de Séjour” if you stay in France for more than three months. The “Carte de Séjour” is needed for you to be a legal resident in France and helps tremendously when you need to apply for various services (for instance to get the housing benefit, and to open a bank account)

• Students from outside the European Union / European Free Trade Area :

If your student visa has the words "carte de séjour à solliciter" or "voir carte de séjour", then you are required to obtain a “Carte de Séjour”. Generally, this is the case if you stay in France for more than three months. The “Carte de Séjour” is needed for you to be a legal resident in France and helps tremendously when you need to apply for various services (for instance to get the housing benefit, and to open a bank account)
Once you've arrived in France and found a place to live, apply for your “Carte de Séjour” as soon as you can, for you need an address in France to obtain your “Carte de Séjour”.

You will get more information and help during Orientation week.

CHECKLIST

Below is a summary of the documents you will need to get before you come to Paris.

Most of these documents are necessary in order to get the French Resident Permit. Only original copies will be accepted and you should also bring duplicates of all documents.

• Bank Account

We strongly recommend foreign students to open a bank account in France, especially for those staying more than a semester. This way they will be able to receive the APL housing benefit. During orientation week we will give you a list of banks, ISG partners.

• Housing

Finding a place to stay in Paris can sometimes be quite difficult so we strongly recommend that you start looking before you leave your country. Housing will cost you between 600 and 1000 Euro/month for a student ( first months are more expansive, agencies’ fees, deposit, …) and insurance is mandatory ( around 100€ a year)

Here is a range of housing costs :

• Temporary: A night in a 2 star hotel is 100 Euro. But you can find a hostel for 30 Euro/night.
• Private residence: Students have to pay the entire stay right away. Prices go from 600 to 1000 Euro/month.
• Cité Universitaire Internationale: 400 Euro /month.
• Apartments for rent: between 600 and 1000 Euro/month for a studio.
• Room: from 500 and 1000 Euro/month.
• Apartment sharing: from 400 to 800 Euro/month.

Housing Insurance :
Most host families, residences and owners require students to take out a comprehensive housing insurance policy. You can ask information in several insurance companies upon arrival.

• Living Costs