CARRÉ INTERNATIONAL. Département Mobilité Internationale. Guide d accueil. à l attention des étudiants étrangers d échange

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1 CARRÉ INTERNATIONAL Département Mobilité Internationale Guide d accueil à l attention des étudiants étrangers d échange Université de Caen Basse-Normandie France

2 Welcome to the Université de Caen Basse-Normandie! As a partner with your University, we are very pleased to welcome you on our campus this year. We hope that this guide will help you prepare your stay in the best conditions. We therefore recommend that you read it very carefully. The University of Caen Basse-Normandie features many sport facilities and offers plenty of cultural and leisure activities which we hope will help you enjoy your stay in France. We look forward to meeting you very soon. The staff of the International Mobility Department 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS I THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY DEPARTEMENT... page 4 II BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL... page 5 III ARRIVAL IN CAEN... page 8 IV ACCOMMODATION... page 11 V STUDENTS RESTAURANTS... page 13 VI MISCELLANEOUS... page 13 3

4 I - THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY DEPARTMENT As an exchange student registered at our University, the International Mobility Department of the CARRÉ international will remain your main contact throughout your stay in France. The International Mobility Department is located in the Maison des Langues et de l International (M.L.I) Building I, on campus I. Campus I Maison des Langues et de l International Room LI 138 Contacts Accommodation +33 (0) intl.hebergement@unicaen.fr Erasmus programs +33 (0) intl.erasmus.entrants@unicaen.fr Non-European programs +33 (0) intl.interu@unicaen.fr Finances +33 (0) intl.finances@unicaen.fr Head of the Department +33 (0) intl.mobilite.direction@unicaen.fr Fax N : +33 (0)

5 II - BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL We recommend that you visit our website ( regularly for up-to-date useful information. 1 - Pre-registration 1.1 Pre-registration must be done on-line at: VERY IMPORTANT: to confirm your registration, you must generate the PDF file at the end of the process, print it, sign it and attach a photograph. This document must also be signed by your Coordinator and sent to the International Mobility Department before June 1 st, 2012 for full year and 1 st semester admissions, and before October 1 st, 2012 for 2 nd semester admission, at the following address: Université de Caen Basse-Normandie CARRÉ international Département Mobilité Internationale Esplanade de la Paix CAEN Cedex 5 - France On the on-line pre-registration, you can apply for an accommodation in a student s residence (see IV.1). Please note that only a very limited number of rooms is available. Therefore, you must return the pre-registration document as soon as possible if you wish to get one. Priority will be given to full year housing applications. For all students registered for a full year or a semester, the application form, along with the payment for accommodation, must be returned before June 30 th, On receipt of your pre-registration form, the International Mobility Department will send you by this guide and will send an housing application form (if requested) and documentation about : an intensive French course. The course (27 hours per week) is designed to prepare students to standard university work. Dates: - from September 3 to September 14, Rate: 310. Beware! This intensive French course is only open to students with a A2 minimum French proficiency. An on-line placement test will be sent to you after registration. It includes: - grammar - written comprehension and expression - oral comprehension and expression - phonetics at intermediate level, or - specialized French language at advanced and upper levels (legal French, French literature, etc.) You will be welcome on September 3, 2012 at 8.45 a.m. in the Maison des Langues et de l International (M.L.I.) Building I - CAMPUS I 5

6 a Language support courses at the Language Training Department (DFL) throughout the semesters. Level B1 to C1: Courses take place 2 days a week (6 to 7.30 pm) and qualify for 4 ECTS. Level A1 and A2: Courses take place 3 days week (5.30 to 7.30 pm) and qualify for 4 ECTS. Dates: 1st semester: from October 8, 2012 to January 25, nd semester: from February 25, 2013 to June, 7, 2013 After your registration, an on-line placement test will be addressed to you in order to assess your French level. An application form for both programs will be automatically attached to the documentation. 1.3 These documents should be returned to the International Mobility Department before June 1 st, 2012 for full year and 1 st semester admissions, and before October 1 st, 2012 for 2 nd semester admission, along with your payment. We will then acknowledge receipt of your application form for student s accommodation and send you all information regarding your room. 2 Learning Agreement You are coming to the University of Caen Basse-Normandie to study for a year or a semester. We advise you to refer to our website ( to help you choose your studies program. The University is composed of several U.F.R. (Unités de Formation et de Recherche, i.e. Faculties), some of which being divided into several departments. You cannot enroll in more than two departments. You first have to choose the faculty in which you want to apply, according to your field of studies. You then select your courses among those offered by the faculty and complete your Learning Agreement (list of selected courses) with your teacher. This document must be sent to the French Coordinator for final agreement and validation. A learning agreement will be sent to you with the information about matters of your arrival. You will just have it fulfill it and have it checked and signed by your teacher before sending it back to us. Please note that changes might occur on your arrival in Caen according to the timetables. However, it is important that the learning agreement signed prior to your departure suffers the least possible changes once in Caen. For that matter, don t hesitate to contact your French coordinator for advises in addition to your home advisor. 3 Mandatory documents to bring with you For students from EU countries and the EEA: the European health insurance card; A repatriation insurance certificate taken out with your insurance company; Passport or identity card; A few passport photographs. 6

7 For non-european Erasmus students For non-european exchange students Passport bearing a long-term student visa; 4 color passport photos (with a white background); The SE 401-Q-106 form (for students from Quebec only); Long stay visa form OFII (immigration office) delivered by the French Embassy; A birth certificate translated into French. 4 - Academic Calendar The academic year usually starts at the beginning of September but dates may vary according to the faculty. Please, check these specific dates on our website Holidays Christmas: from December, 22, 2012 to January 6, 2013 included Spring: from April 7 th to April 22 nd, 2012 included. 5 - Living expenses Monthly budget depending on the choice of accommodation: from 450 to Room in a University residence 149 to Meals in a University restaurant Transportation (monthly pass from Twisto) 30 During the first month, allow an extra budget for: - housing deposit : 149 or housing liability insurance : approx mandatory student national health insurance (for non-eu students only) : approx

8 III - ARRIVAL IN CAEN 1 - How to get to Caen From Paris, you get to Caen by train from Saint-Lazare station. How to get to Saint-Lazare: - by taxi: ~50 from the airports and 15 to 20 from other train stations. - by subway (Metro/RER): ~ 9 from the airports and 1,70 from station to station. If you prefer a airport/caen shuttle service, please contact companies such as Albion (albion.voyages@wanaddo.fr) or THP Transport de Personnes (lhubert@gmail.com). It will cost you ~ 90 one-way. from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle RER Roissy St Lazare: Take the RER LineB to Paris Change at Gare du Nord Take the RER Line E to St Lazare Get off at St Lazare, last stop from Orly OrlyVal + RER Auber Take OrlyVal Change at Châtelet-les-Halles Take the RER Line A to St-Germain-en-Laye Get off at Auber and walk to St Lazare (5 minutes) from Gare du Nord RER Gare du Nord St Lazare: Take the RER Line E to St Lazare Get off at St Lazare, last stop from Gare de l Est Underground Gare de l Est St Lazare: Take the Line 5 to Bobigny Change at Gare du Nord Take the RER Line E to St Lazare Get off at St Lazare, last stop from Gare de Lyon Underground Gare de Lyon St Lazare: Take the Line 1 to La Défense Change at Concorde Take the Line 12 to Porte de la Chapelle Get off at St Lazare 8

9 from Gare d Austerlitz Underground Gare d Austerlitz St Lazare: Take the Line 10 to Boulogne Change at Sèvres-Babylone Take the Line 12 to Porte de la Chapelle Get off at St Lazare The train journey from Paris to Caen takes about 2 hours and it costs about 30. For train schedules, refer to How to get from Caen train station ( 1, 20) to the University: to Campus 1: take Line A (direction Campus 2) or Line B (direction Hérouville St Clair) and get off at CROUS-SUAPS. to the residence Lébisey : take Line B (direction Hérouville St Clair) and get off at CITE U LEBISEY. to Campus 2 and University residence Cote de Nacre : take Line A and get off at CAMPUS If you have applied for accommodation in a student s residence, the first thing to do on arrival is to go to your residence front desk and take up your room. Do not forget to let your parents know that you have arrived safely!!! You are then requested to come to the International Mobility Department and ask any questions you might have regarding practical matters. Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: pm Friday: am 3 - Orientation Day on Tuesday September 13 th, 2012 Attendance is mandatory. You must bring with you all the documents listed on pages 6 and 7. Programme for the day Morning am to noon: Presentation of the University and its cultural and sports activities. Lunch Noon to 1.30 pm: Lunch will be offered at the University restaurant and will give you the opportunity to meet the other exchange students. Afternoon from 1.30 pm: We will take you to the Direction des Etudes et de la Vie Etudiante (registrar office) to proceed with your administrative registration and obtain your student card. If you are citizen of a non-european country, you will have to subscribe to the mandatory national student health insurance (sécurité sociale), even if you already signed up for one in your home country. Cost: ~ 205. This does not apply to students from Quebec presenting the SE 401-Q-106 form. 9

10 4 - Academic registration Once you get your student card, you will proceed with the academic registration at the faculty/ies related to your learning agreement. You have to indicate the courses that you will attend in Caen and for which you will take exams. Make sure that your choice matches your Learning Agreement. If not, you should quickly get in touch with your Coordinator and ask him/her to change your learning agreement. 5 Validation of your student visa (OFII) For non-eu students only The following documents are required: A passport with a long-term student visa One full face and bare-headed photo An housing certificate given by the residence hall or your private landlord A copy of your student card from the University of Caen A medical examination and lungs X-ray certificate (procedure organized at the University of Caen) A 55 tax-stamp (to be bought in Caen prior to our OFII appointment) 10

11 IV - ACCOMMODATION 1 - Accommodation in a University residence Student s housing is strictly reserved for students under Standard room on Campus I 9m² furnished single rooms (shared bathroom and kitchen on each floor and TV room); bed linen and blankets are provided. The rent is set at for a stay from October 1 st, 2012 to May 31 st, 2013 (these dates cannot be changed). - Renovated rooms «Côte de Nacre» residence - Campus II 9m² single rooms equipped with a washbasin, a toilet, shower, fridge (shared kitchen on each floor and TV room); bed linen and blankets are provided. The rent is set at for a stay from October 1 st, 2012 to May 31 st, 2013 (these dates cannot be changed). - Renovated rooms «Lébisey» residence Off campus 9m² single rooms equipped with a washbasin, a toilet, fridge (shared bathroom and kitchen on each floor and TV room); bed linen and blankets are provided. The rent is set at for a stay from October 1 st, 2012 to May 31 st, 2013 (these dates cannot be changed). Please note that we will try to meet your demand to the best of our possibilities but our number of rooms is restricted for each type of accommodation. Priority will be given to full year applications. For all the students registered for a full year or a semester, the application form, along with the housing payment, must be returned before June 30 th, A bank receipt of your housing payment, bearing the reference 971RI/838, must be joined to your application form. Important: new rates from January 2013 and consequently an extra charge (~10 euros) will have to be paid directly at the hall of residence from this date. Should you require accommodation in August and September 2012 and/or June 2013, please contact directly your residence for application and payment terms. Students keep their room benefits during academic holidays. At the end of your stay, we advice you to take 2 months before closing your bank account in France. 11

12 On arrival: - housing deposit to be paid directly at the residence front desk: For a standard room: 149. For a renovated room : mandatory housing liability insurance: ~ 50 per year. Insurance to be purchased in Caen at a local insurance company. 2 Students residences Cité Campus 1 23 avenue de Bruxelles BP Caen cedex 5 Reception in the E Building Cité Lébisey 114/116 rue de Lébisey BP Caen cedex 5 Cité Cote de Nacre Campus 2 2 boulevard Maréchal Juin BP Caen cedex 5 Each residence has a front desk open Monday through Friday from 7.30 am to 7 pm. 3 - Off campus accommodation Finding temporary accommodation on arrival: For a list of hotels, refer to Caen s website Informations pratiques section, Se loger. Address of the local Youth Hostel: 68 rue Eustache Restout Caen Tel. +33 (0) Fax: +33 (0) Open from June 1 st to September 30 th A list of host families and private rentals is available at our Department. 12

13 V - STUDENTS RESTAURANTS On Campus 1 Restaurants A and B Cafeterias: La Parenthèse (under the Galerie Vitrée ); L Oxygène B (on the ground-floor of Restaurant B); La Cafèt de la Maison de l Etudiant. Cité Lébisey Restaurant C Bar-restaurant Le Mambo On Campus 2 Restaurant D Bars-cafeterias: Highlands bar, la cafeteria de Sciences 1 On Campus 4: Restaurant (lunch only) All students restaurants serve lunch and dinner. Rate: 3,05 per meal (2011/2012). You can pay with a rechargeable Moneo meal-plan card available for free in all restaurants after presentation of your student card. BEWARE! University restaurants are closed on week-ends, with exception of Restaurant B which serves lunch on Saturdays. VI MISCELLANEOUS 1 - JOB OPPORTUNITIES English, German, Spanish and Italian native speaker students registered for a full academic year have the opportunity to work as a language assistant in a local secondary. It is a 7 hours a week job, paid 458 per month. If you are interested, please contact our Department quickly and before November 2012 for detailed information and applications. 2 - MAISON DE L ETUDIANT (STUDENTS UNION) The Maison de l Etudiant is located on Campus 1, right across the MLI, and offers various services including: a theatre / concert hall; a cafeteria open from 10 am to 3.30 pm and concert nights; an exhibit hall; postal services. 13

14 cash machine (ATM); pre-paid telephone cards; copy machine; computers with internet access; Wi-Fi; off campus accommodation service; temporary jobs offers. 3 - SPORT FACILITIES The University s sports Centre (S.U.A.P.S.) offers many free and fee-paying activities, and many modern facilities, including a indoor swimming-pool (located on Campus 1, next to Restaurant A), a sports hall, outdoor tennis courts. Registration for sport activities in early September. S.U.A.P.S. Tel: BANKS You will find several banks close to the main campus and in the downtown area. If you wish to open a French bank account, the following documents will be required: your student card, passport and a housing certificate. Do not forget to bring a few Euros with you to allow for expenses on arrival in France (transportation, meals, etc). At the end of your stay, we advice you to take 2 months before closing your bank account in France. BEWARE! Most banks are closed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, Mondays and national holidays. 5 - VOLTAGE Beware! We remind you that the French electrical voltage is 220 volts. If you bring electrical appliances with you, remember to check whether they are compatible with this voltage or not. 6 - HEALTH CARE If you are ill, you can ask the University Center for Preventive Medicine (SUMMPS), the residence s front desk or your landlord to provide you with doctors names and addresses. A visit at the surgery costs 23. In case of an emergency, you can simply dial 15 on any phone (toll-free number) to be in touch with medical emergency services. There are several hospitals in Caen. All have an emergency unit where you can go especially at night. If you are admitted at the hospital, make sure you bring all your health insurance documents with you to avoid being charged for your stay (always very expensive). 14

15 7 - EMERGENCY NUMBERS SAMU (Mobile medical emergency service) 15 ou CHU (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire) SOS Médecins Police secours (Emergency services) 17 Pompiers (Fire Department) 18 Police Municipale de Caen (Local police) Gendarmerie Nationale (State Police) Police Nationale All the handsets marked Urgences médicales found in residences and University corridors are directly connected to the SAMU. 8 BIENVENUE À CAEN The association Bienvenue à Caen offers the opportunity for foreign students to be paired with French families for evenings and week-ends out. Its office is located inside Caen city hall and is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 to 4 pm. Tel (0) INTERNET Please note that access to internet is not available in all student residences. However, the University and the CROUS residences have several computer rooms with free internet access available on presentation of your student card. Moreover, most University buildings are equipped with Wi-Fi. 15