Preparing for your stay - BSB In the mood

Preparing for your stay

BEFORE DEPARTURE

There are many details to keep in mind before travelling to France and start your adventure with us at BSB.

To help you in this and enable you to travel light-heartedly, we listed hereafter a few things to keep in mind before leaving.

#1 Get your Visa

Students from the European Union :

You are not required to apply for a visa, your national identity card/ passport will serve this purpose.

Non-European students :

  • If you stay less than 3 months in France, depending on your country of residence, you might need a short-stay visa. Check out the France visa website, the Campus France website or with your nearest French consulate or embassy to get the information.
    If you stay more than 3 months in France, you will need to obtain a long visa VLS-TS (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour) before your arrival. Check that your passport will be valid for the entire length of your stay in France and apply for your visa on Campus France website or at your nearest French consulate or embassy at least 3 months before your departure.

#2 And your residence permit

Your student visa will be equivalent to a French residence permit if your study project at BSB do not exceed 1 year. You must validate your student visa online on arrival. On the Dijon and Lyon campuses, we can help you check your file and validate it online. For longer stays, you will need to renew your residence permit before the end of your first year of study. You must renew your residence permit within 2 months of the expiry date of your current permit.

More information at : Campus France

Specific cases: students who are under 18 upon their arrival at BSB, students with a type-C visa or non-European residents in an EU country will be helped at the beginning of the academic year to obtain a student residence permit as soon as possible.

#3 Don't forget your health insurance

In France, registration to Social Security System is free and mandatory for all students except for European students who have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that covers the whole duration of their studies in France. You can register online on the French Health insurance website.

Registration may take several weeks so we strongly advise you to take out a private insurance for the 2-month period following your arrival while completing the French social security application. Also, we do advise you to subscribe to a private insurance covering you for repatriation during your whole stay.

Medical expenses are not entirely reimbursed by the social security’s health insurance. In order to access full reimbursement, we recommend that you take out a top-up health insurance, called mutuelle.

Check with your insurance company: you may be able to use your private home country insurance as your top-up insurance.

#4 Find an accomodation

On our dedicated housing platform Studapart, you will easily find your accommodation: flatshare, studio, homestay… A password will be sent to you to create your account following your admission. Keep in mind that you can only finalize your booking once you have received your letter of acceptance.

If you have special requests, do not hesitate to contact the platform through the chat or contact form, they will be glad to help you!

Our school also has a partnership on the Dijon campus with the CROUS organization. More information will be sent to you over the summer by the International Relations Team.

In France, it is compulsory to have a home insurance. Some residences offer to integrate this insurance in the cost of the rent. Otherwise, you can get it as soon as you arrive, either from a bank or an insurance company. Our team will guide you through this process during the Induction Days.

#5 Stay connected!

Before you leave, you should check the international options offered by your operator and the compatibility of your phone.

In France, you can easily find a temporary prepaid card (SIM cards) to be used with your own unlocked phone, in tobacconists or Relay shops, which are common in train stations and airports.

You can also get set up with an internet contract in advance, with or without a phone. Most French operators (RED, Sosh, B&YOU…) offer non-committal offers.

You are required to provide the following information : your contact details, proof of address in France, your bank details (you must have a French bank account already open before taking out a mobile phone or internet contract)

#6 Plan your trip

Once you have received your acceptance letter you can start planning your trip !

Dijon and Lyon have their own TGV train stations. Timetables, prices and information are available on SNCF Connect.

If you travel by plane, the nearest airports are Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Lyon Saint Exupéry (LYS) and Geneva (GVA).

Once arrived in the respective cities you can find public transportation networks: Dijon (Divia) and Lyon (TCL)

If you are between 18 and 25 years old, you may benefit from a special discount, ensure to ask directly at the public transportation agency!

  • Dijon Campus : 29 rue Sambin, 21000 Dijon, France
  • Lyon Campus : 37 rue Saint Romain, 69008, Lyon, France

#7 Pack your suitcase

Dijon and Lyon are cities with a warm and temperate climate, with a relatively high level of rainfall. Plan to be able to get dressed in all circumstances: a warm coat for the winter, a raincoat, and light clothes for the summer.
Do not forget to bring along power transformers depending on where you come from.

Also: remember to scan all your important documents (passport, student visa, BSB acceptance letter, documents related to your insurance, birth certificate, etc) and to send them to yourself by email before leaving.

AT YOUR ARRIVAL

That’s it, you’ve arrived at BSB! You will soon be part of the great BSB family. The BSB International Relations team welcome you on our campuses : these may be your very first days in France and we want you to feel comfortable in this new living and working environment.

The most beautiful life adventure awaits you!

#1 Induction Days

Our team will give you all the necessary information for a good set-up in France. We will organize workshops and official presentations on arrival : discovery of the city and the campus, organization of your studies, discovery of the French culture, administrative procedures. Participation to the induction days is compulsory for all newcomers.

Pick up services will also be organized on arrival by the International Relations Office in cooperation with our international student clubs. Information will be sent by email after your enrollment (service subject to availability).

CVEC (Student and campus life contribution) Students admitted to a French institution of higher education for a degree seeking programme are subject to this fee. You must pay the CVEC at the beginning of each academic year.

International students coming within the framework of an exchange programme are exempted.

More information at : CVEC

#2 International student club

BSB has 2 student clubs dedicated to international students. Their main mission is to welcome international students to help them feel at home as soon as they arrive on campus.

They will help you integrate to the French life ,through events, during the whole stay of your studies.

Need a buddy ? Don’t hesitate to contact them before your arrival and ask for someone to be your “Buddy”, who will welcome and help you find your way around.

  • Melting Potes student club (Dijon)
  • Ly’On Board student club (Lyon)

#3 Find your way

Dijon is a city on a human scale, very easy to live in and BSB is located in the city centre, close to the TGV station. Everything is within walking distance from BSB!

Dijon is served by a very complete public transport network.

Buses, tramways, self-service bicycles, car sharing: you will always find the transport that suits you best.

And if you are between 18 and 25 years old, you can benefit from the Pass 18-25 which allows you to travel unlimited for 30€ per month.

Lyon is a lively, friendly city, easily accessible thourgh the metro, bus, train, plane… You can find out more about public transport in Lyon on : TCL – Public transport in Lyon: metro, tramway, funicular and bus.

#4 Hold your budget

Dijon and Lyon are cities with lots of shops, coffees, and restaurants.

With so much variety in France, your accommodation costs can range from €200 to €750 per month depending on your criteria (location, size, quality, furnished, etc.).
On average, you can expect to pay €400 in monthly rent, and between €40 to €100 per month on utilities (gas, electricity, internet, etc.).

Dijon and Lyon are very affordable cities, with plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants.

  • Here are some approximate examples of expenses you may incur during your stay in France:
  • Monthly rent for a studio of around 30 m2 in the city center: €500-700
  • One-month transport pass: €30
  • One-month Internet and telephone subscription: €30
  • Basic lunch menu, drinks included: €16
  • Basic fast-food menu: €7
  • Famous baguette: €0.95
  • Monthly utilities (electricity, gas): €15-30 each
  • Cinema ticket: €9
  • Beer in town: €4.5
  • Cappuccino: €2.50

#5 Contact BSB Team

We’re here to answer all your questions.

Feel free to contact the International Relations Team at bsb.international@bsb-education.com.