A look into life as a student in France

Traveling in France and around Europe using various forms of transportation is relatively efflicient and most of the time, hassle-free. 

💡Take note💡

• Monthly passes and buying tickets in bulk are cheaper and give you access to your city’s entire public transportation network

• Other options:

  • Covoiturage - carpooling
  • Taxis - designated stations
  • Voiture de transport avec chauffeur (VTC) - vehicles with on-call drivers using apps
  • Car rentals - possible but can be expensive
• Most cities have their own transportation apps - for routes, announcements, timetables, and for some, for purchasing tickets
• Transport strikes may happen and are announced in advance
• Consult timetables, they may change  depending on the season

The French are attached to the tradition of eating quality food - their cuisine is recognized by UNESCO as part of intangible world heritage

 

💡Tips💡

• DIscover terroir, seasonal produce, farm to table dishes, regional flavors
• Where to shop (don't forget to bring reusable bags and to pack your own groceries!):
  • Grandes surfaces - supermarkets, groceries
  • Marchés - open-air, organic markets
    • Some are closed on Sundays, open air markets are open on specific days of the week
  • Local, specialty shops for specific products - boulangerie (bread), boucherie (meat and poultry), fromagerie (cheese and dairy), pâtisserie (pastries and desserts), etc.
• Treat yourself out sometimes, good food doesn't have to be expensive!
• Try local specialties, the French are proud of these!
• Learn food terms (especially if you have dietary restrictions), so you’ll know what you're eating

Have lunch with your friends at the CROUS caféteria (Resto U), there are complete meals for less than 4€!

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• Restaurants universitaires (Resto U) serve schools in the same district
• Some schools have their own cafét (cafeteria) where they have coffee, snacks, sandwiches, but not full meals
  • You can bring your own packed meals and eat there

What type of housing is for me? Where do I look for listings? What’s a guarantor? Can international students apply for rent assistance from the State?

A lot of questions come up when you start thinking about where to live while studying in France. Don’t worry — there are resources available to help you!