Monday, 28 October 2013

What about studying in Paris?

Introduction

This document is an outline of the main information you need about the French education system. If you need any further information, we advise you send us an email; it would be an honour for us to help you. Our email is at the end of this document.
The French education system is really different from the British American one. There are two main kinds of institutions: universities and specialized schools.
  • Universities: University, in France, does not have the same meaning as in other countries. The main purpose of these institutions is to offer various academic, technical and professional degrees. They are public institutions, which means that they are completely free; one just has to pay for the health care guarantee and the fees that are required of all students, which are not expensive at all. [See Universities document.] All students who have French “Baccalauréat” or its foreign equivalence can apply. Without it, one should have a foreign diploma recognized in France or based on the European system of credits. [See Application Procedures for fees information.]
  • Specialized schools: These institutions prepare students for a professional practice. While some of these schools are private, most are public. Examples of specialized schools include the prestigious French “Grande Ecole” and some private engineering schools, though most private specialized schools focus on business. [See Schools document.] The fees depend mostly on the reputation, the how long ago the school was founded and its location. The training proposed by these specialized schools try to relate to the actual industry’s demand.
Those students who have already begin their higher education or who may even hold a university degree may find advanced training in France of interest. Many opportunities exist for students to transfer into degree programs and receive credit for the postsecondary work they have already done. In fact, that's one of the best ways to study in France.
One of the unique features of the French system is the diversity and wide range of diplomas and degrees offered. Most of the post secondary degrees awarded in France are national diplomas. The government regulates them and ensures the soundness and the quality of these degrees and the instructions. However, some universities and specialized institutions offer degrees of their own which are not regulated by the government. The degrees and certificates awarded by business or engineering schools are further subjected to extremely strict accreditation procedures, which guarantee the quality of the training.
The variety of trainings can be challenging to navigate when a student tries to find a program in France. One must be very careful and precisely identify what he or she wants to study before applying for an institution. [See Diplomas and ECTS documents.]

The question of the equivalence

There is no universal system for determining the equivalence of French language skills and foreign diplomas in France. Each institution has its own admission requirements. However, it is recommended to visit the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) in order to get more information about the credit system in Europe. This common credit system assures the recognition of degrees and diplomas in Europe. Students are mainly admitted because of the quality of their prior academic work which is likely to have prepared them sufficiently for the requirements of the program they want to follow.

The organisation of the French academic programs

In French institutions, there are two basic types of courses:
  • Lecture courses are given in halls seating 30 to 1000 students. The number of students depends on the chosen program and the type of institution. In general, the professors present the subjects and students take notes. In some institutions, particularly in specialized schools such as engineering or business schools, reading outlines are sometimes given. Classroom procedures depend on the professors, the program and the institution.
  • Study sections are known as travaux dirigés or travaux pratiques in France, and consist of small groups of students. In these seminar-style sections, students apply and deepen what the professor has presented in the lecture hall. Attendance is mandatory, as opposed to lecture courses, where attendance is not checked.
Student performance is assessed in two ways:
  • Short quizzes given throughout the semester allow instructors to check what their students have learned in each unit.
  • Examinations covering all of the material presented during the semester are given at the end of each semester, generally just before the February break and again in June, before the summer break.
In the university system, courses are usually organized into modules, some of which are mandatory and some elective (optional). To earn a degree, students must complete a certain number of modules. Once a module has been completed, it counts toward a degree. Failure in one module does not in any way reduce the value of a completed module.

The organisation of the academic year

In France the academic year begins in September or October and ends in May or June. The exact starting and ending dates vary among institutions and programs. There are several breaks during the year:
  • 2 weeks in December-January for Christmas and the New Year
  • 2 weeks in February for winter break
  • 2 weeks in late March–early April for the Easter break
Quite a few holidays fall in May: May 1 (Labour Day), May 8 (Victory Day, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe), Ascension Thursday, and Pentecost Monday. Summer vacation stretches over the entire months of July and August, and sometimes includes parts of June and September as well.

Short or long degree program:

Short degree programs, generally involving two or three years of study, are concentrated in the fields of manufacturing, trade and services. Most are offered by multidisciplinary institutes affiliated with a university—the so-called university institutes of technology, or IUTs—or in specialized schools. All short programs include internships. Programs awarding the degree of brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS) are unique post secondary programs. They are taught in secondary schools. BTS degrees are offered in 86 different fields. Graduates move directly into jobs in their chosen field. Among the most popular BTS programs are those in hotel management, manufacturing, applied arts, business and agriculture.
Long degree program can be attended by students holding a baccalauréat or another degree deemed to be equivalent. The duration of the training is at least 4 years with an internship at the end of the term. The cases of medical studies (i.e., doctor, specialized doctors, pharmacology) are somewhat different because there is a two-year preparation course before a competition, followed by the four-year program and then two more years for specialisation. Almost all the institutions propose long degree programs: in engineering and business schools, all the degrees are long programs.

Is Paris the only town where to study?

Do you have friends or family in France? If you do, you probably will want to live near them. If you don't, then where you study will depend on your financial resources and, at more specialized academic levels, on the location of the most appropriate programs.
The cost of living in France is comparable to that of the other countries of Western Europe, but it varies significantly within France! It costs more to live in Paris than elsewhere largely because of the cost of housing in the capital. [See Cost of Living and Visa and Housing documents.]
Paris does not have a monopoly on high-quality education. Be advised that it is now almost impossible to find inexpensive lodgings in Paris. Throughout the country one finds institutions of high renown in all fields. And not just universities; in fact, most schools of business and many top engineering schools are located outside Paris. Outside Paris one finds a delightful variety of academic sites, many of which offer a truly exceptional quality of life.
The great advantage of studying in Paris though is that students would have greater community assistance if needed, in addition to being able to participate in various Jamaat functions. 
Most of the academic programs offered in France are taught in French, which should come as no surprise. A prior knowledge of the French language is strongly recommended. Having a good command of French is one of the best ways you can ensure the success of your stay. Several months will pass between the time you begin your inquiries into university study in France and the day you actually arrive in our country, so if possible, use this time to improve your French by spending some days in Paris.

How to apply for an admission

First of all, it is necessary to identify the program that interests you. It is highly recommended to apply for different programs and, for each program, try to send your application form to at least three different institutions.
Wherever you intend to go, international study requires a year of advance planning. France is no different. The dates given below apply to all French institutions. Some schools may have somewhat more flexible admission deadlines.
Make your initial contact with institutions early in the year so you will have time to complete the application forms and submit them to the institutions in the spring. April 30 is a common deadline.
If you are seeking admission to a program that begins in January, your application must be submitted by October 30 of the preceding year.
  • Be sure that the institutions are interested in your profile; be sure that they are willing to accept you. The institution will need to review your academic background to determine whether you are likely to succeed in their programs.
  • When the institution admits you, they will send you a letter permitting you to apply for a student visa at the French consulate in your home country. Notice that you need no visa if you are resident of one of the countries of the European Union. [See Visa and Scholarship document.]
  • Each French institution sets its own admission standards. Some practices are common to many institutions, however. Undergraduate and graduate admissions to the universities are decided by selection committees that generally meet in June, several months before the beginning of the academic year in September. The individual faculty members who direct DEA and doctoral programs admit students to their programs after reviewing students' application files and, often, interviewing the applicants.
Special procedures govern international admissions to the Licence (year 1, year 2), to the first year of medical education (PCEM1), and to programs in law. Those procedures are administered by the French embassy in individual countries. Students interested in these programs should contact the embassy and be prepared to submit a demande d'admission préalable (preliminary application for admission) as early as November 15 of the year preceding their intended enrolment. You complete your enrolment only after arriving in France. At that time, like all other students, you will register for courses in a series of administrative and academic steps.
When you register, your school will give you a receipt for your tuition payment and a student ID card. Together, these documents establish your legal status as a student. Registration must be done in person and is considered complete only after tuition is paid in full. Once an institution has accepted you, it is required to hold a place for you through the end of registration day

The cost of the education and the living in Paris

Tuitions
University tuition is not more than 300€ per year. In public schools of engineering, the annual tuition is around 600€. The fees are more important for business schools and other private schools: the tuition depends on the institution and the type of program you are willing to follow. You must know that the French government supports higher education to the tune of about 6,000€ per student per year. The private schools’ tuitions are from 800€ for the cheapest to 8,000€ for the most expensive. [See How Can You Receive Scholarship Document.]
Housing in Paris
Living in university housing: Universities offer rooms and studio apartments at reduced cost, between 120€ to 300€ per month). These student residences are managed by CROUS, a governmental student-service agency. The rooms are attributed according to several criteria. The recipients of French government scholarship receive priority access to these rooms. There are very few available places for foreign students each year. It is not very expensive but there are several drawbacks: these places are sometimes noisy, you do not always what kind of people will share the places with you, toilets and bathrooms must sometimes be shared with other students. So for Muslims students observing laws of Tahaarat, it can be difficult to reside in these places. Consider also that these places might not be suitable for visiting family members wishing to stay with you.
Private rental: Monthly rent average depends on the location of the apartment and its area. Rent for a studio in Paris is around 500€ to 700€, depending on the quarter or the level or the standing. Outside Paris, you must expect 550€ to 700€ but with more space in general. However, there are some quarters in suburbs. Despite the expense, it seems to be the better choice, because you are free to manage your place as you like. Follow our advice and brush up on your cooking and housekeeping skills!
When you rent a unit in a private building you will have to sign a rental agreement or lease that specifies your rights and responsibilities and those of the property owner and his agent. Before the lease is signed, you will have to prove that you have sufficient resources to pay the rent. Usually this means that your monthly income must be at least three times the amount of your rent. You will also have to pay a security deposit equal to 2 months' rent. Vacancies are advertised by real estate agencies or directly by property owners in the classified section of newspaper
Financial aids for housing
Two forms of financial assistance are available to students of all nationalities who rent housing in France. The precise amount of the monthly assistance varies according to the student's income, the type of housing, and the amount of the rent. The two types of assistance are Allocation de logement sociale andAide personnalisée au logement, often referred to as ALS and APL. Payments are made by local family assistance funds (caisses d'allocations familiales, or CAF).
Working in Paris:
International students have the right to work in France if they have a residency permit and are enrolled in an institution that participates in the student health plan of the French social protection system (Sécurité Sociale). Even first-time visitors to France and students enrolled in the first year of postsecondary education enjoy the right to work. [See Work and Scholarship document.]
The work week in France (annually averaged) is 35 hours. French law allows international students to work no more than 884 hours in a given year. That translates to half-time employment (19.5 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time during vacations.
Supplementing your income by working while studying is a common practice. You won't be able to meet all of your expenses by working half-time, but you should be able to earn extra spending money.
The minimum hourly wage in France (known as the SMIC, for salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance) is 8,27 Euros gross, that is, before withholding of mandatory social-benefit taxes, which come to approximately 20 percent of the gross payment.

A sample of the cost of living in Paris per month

Following is one example of monthly costs, which depends on many factors, including your lifestyle and your choice of housing.
Apartment
600 Euros
Food and meals
200 Euros
Health insurance
42 Euros
Local transportation
51 Euros
School supplies
45 Euros
Amusements and recreation
100 Euros
Miscellaneous
100 Euros
Total
1141 Euros
Here are the prices of some products:

Newspaper
1,20 Euros
Roundtrip train fare between Paris and London
200 Euros
Movie ticket
7,60 Euros
Admission to the Louvre
6 Euros
A pack of 10 Metro tickets
10,70 Euros
Loaf of bread
0,50 to 0,90 Euros
Croissant
0,60 to 1 Euro
One night in a two-star hotel
70 Euros
It is time to come to Paris
To come here in Paris, you have to consider visas, which are sometimes difficult to obtain. However, the difficulty of obtaining the visa depends on the country where you are coming from. [See Visa and Scholarship document.]
Obtain a visa
Students from outside Europe (that is, students from countries other than the 28 countries of the European Economic Zone, plus Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, and the Vatican) must obtain a long-term visa marked étudiant if they intend to study in France for more than 6 months.
After the first year of study, visas are automatically renewed, provided the student holding the visa is able to produce the required documentation. You will find more information on this web page:http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/venir/visas/index.html.
There are three important points you must have in mind:
  1. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa in France or in any other country of the European Union.
  2. If you plan to complete two programs in succession (such as a program in French as a foreign language, followed by an academic program), obtain admission to both programs before applying for your visa so that your visa will be valid for the duration of your period of study. French visas can not be extended in France.
  3. International students of all nationalities (except European Union nationals) residing in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student residency permit (which is distinct from a visa), within two months of their arrival in France.
If your program is shorter than 6 months, you will receive a temporary student visa. Under no circumstances may temporary student visas be renewed or converted into long-term student visas. A special 3-month visa (marked étudiant-concours) is granted to students travelling to France to sit for an entrance examination or receive preparatory training. Students who pass the examination and are admitted to an institution are entitled to apply for a long-term student visa without returning to their home country. The "étudiant-concours" visa may be used in cases where the student must complete a short period of preparatory training before being admitted to an institution.
No organization, individual, or entity has any role in the visa-granting process, which is the responsibility of the French consular service
Students from outside Europe (that is, students from countries other than the 28 countries of the European Economic Zone, plus Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, and the Vatican) must obtain a long-term visa marked étudiant if they intend to study in France for more than 6 months. After the first year of study, visas are automatically renewed, provided the student holding the visa is able to produce the required documentation.
Non-exhaustive list of document necessary for obtaining a visa
To obtain a visa, make an appointment with the nearest French consulate. We urge you to make early contact with the French consulate in your area. Familiarize yourself with the list of documents to be submitted and note whether they need to be translated or authenticated. Submit only one file, and make sure it is complete in every way. The following list is indicative and may not be exhaustive. Requirements vary from country to country:
  1. A passeport:Your passport must be valid for the duration of your intended stay in France.
  2. Proof of admission:You must furnish either a positive response to your preliminary application for admission or a letter of admission from a public or private institution of higher education. The document must specify your discipline and level of study. Letters of admission from private institutions must specify the number of course hours and certify that tuition has been paid in full.
  3. Proof of financial support:-The required level of financial resources is set by each embassy. The average is approximately 460 Euros per month.

    -Scholarship students must provide documentation on the letterhead of the granting organization specifying the amount and duration of their grant.

    - If financial support will be provided by an individual residing in France, the student must furnish a signed statement of responsibility, a photocopy of the identity card of the guarantor, and evidence of adequate means to provide the promised support (such as the guarantor's 3 most recent paystubs and the most recent income tax return).

    -If financial support will be provided from abroad, the student must furnish evidence of the opening of a bank account into which the necessary funds will be deposited and a written commitment from the guarantor to deposit the funds. The statement of commitment must be translated into French and bear a legalized (certified) signature. If the necessary funds will come from the student's home government, the government must provide a letter to that effect.

    -Prospective students under 18 years of age must furnish written authorization from their parents or legal guardians.
  4. VaccinationsThe consulate may require proof of vaccination against certain diseases (such as yellow fever and cholera) before granting a visa if health conditions in the student's home country merit such a requirement.

Complying with legal requirements once in France

As soon as you arrive in France, you'll want to take two important steps to comply with French immigration regulations. The sooner you get these formalities out of the way, the smoother and more pleasant your stay will be.
  1. Report to your new university or school and register for classes
  2. Apply for a student residency permit (if you will be staying for longer than 3 months)
Pay close attention to the documents that you will have to present. Originals are often required.
Report to your new institution and register for classes
All students must report and register each year. The procedure is the same in all universities. In non-university institutions of higher education it differs from institution to institution.
Registration at the universities has two parts: administrative registration and registration for classes.
Other institutions of higher education set their own registration procedures and typically inform students of those procedures before their departure for France.

Pay close attention to the documents that you will have to present. Originals are often required.
Your residency permit
The second thing you'll have to do once you arrive is apply for your residency permit. All international students must obtain such a permit, even those who are entitled to reside in France without a visa.
International students who intend to study in France for more than 3 months must visit the préfecture (or government centre) for their area to obtain a temporary residency permit showing their student status. The temporary residency permit is valid until the expiration date of the applicant's passport or until the date of completion of the applicant's academic program, whichever comes first. The permit must be renewed annually.
You will need the residency permit in order to obtain housing assistance.
Conclusion
This document provides a brief overview of many of the details and questions you may have prior to your coming to France. Since all the necessary information cannot be stated here, we recommend you send us an email at amadaya@gmail.com; whatever information you need, we will make our best effort to provide you complete information.
We also attached to this presentation various document that will explain many specificities of the French educational system. Here is a series of interesting web sites that will be very useful to your research:
Documents
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