Preparing your stay
Administrative formalities
Our team is on hand for you to provide any and all information about administrative formalities linked to your stay.
Admissions and pre-registration
You must be at least 18 (17 year old students are accepted with parental authorization or under French guardianship).
The baccalaureate or a high school diploma is required in order to register for DUEF exams.
The application procedure is mentioned for each study program.
Visa and residence permit
2 months before your course, take the necessary administrative steps to enter the required course
When you arrive in France, here are some steps to take
Student card
Issued to those registered as students at the Jean Monnet University, so as to benefit from university amenities and special reduced rates (DUEF students)
Health insurance
Students are required to be insured during their stay in France.
Students from the European Union must show proof of the European health insurance card.
Non-European students who:
- attend CILEC classes for a period of at least three months,
- have obtained a high school diploma must be signed up with the Sécurité Sociale system : free affiliation at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr
Download our summary guide, with useful numbers (PDF - 279Ko)
Welcome
The CILEC is located in the heart of the city of Saint-Étienne, close to many shops and restaurants of all kinds. On the Welcome to the UJM website you will find all the information you need for your daily life in Saint Etienne.
Useful links
University and student life
Transports
STAS (public transport in Saint-Etienne)
SNCF (train)
Saint-Exupéry airport and shuttle bus
Practical information
Some advice on what not to forget in order to make the most of this unique experience in France.
The city of Saint-Etienne has a semi-continental climate. This means that it’s usually hot, even very hot, in summer, although at times the weather can cool off because of big storms. It is cold in winter, with frequent snowfall. Springtime and fall are temperate seasons with a little rain. So pack clothing to fit the season of your stay, so that you can live every moment spent here to the fullest.
With regards to health, access to healthcare is simple and reliable. Drugstores stock all standard medicines. Nonetheless, do pack a little health kit with common items (bandages, disinfectant, painkillers, etc.). When you enroll at the university (for semester-based registrations) you’ll be given French social security (health insurance); otherwise affordable private insurance options are available in France.
Even if Wi-Fi is quite often available, it’s best to bring an ethernet cable (RJ45) for Internet connections in some student residences.
And of course, don't forget:
- Your passport and a copy of your passport
- Travel insurance
- An adapter for electrical equipment
- Money: cash, credit card
- All the documents you need for your registration file (copy of birth certificate translated into French, brief health record)
And last of all, an excellent dose of good humor and open-mindedness to discover a heart-warming country and region, and thus live an unforgettable experience.
If you have chosen a host family: remember to bring them a small gift symbolic of your homeland. It’s a great way to break the ice!
You will also find more information on the life of Saint-Etienne and its students (in french).
CILEC