Practical information

You’ve received your acceptance letter to attend Polytech as an exchange student? Congratulations! Read on to find out what you need to do next!

The different stages of your exchange: Before | Arrival | During | After#232;s | Contact

 

Before your arrival

Documents you’ll need to come to France

VISA

If your home country is a member of the European Union or the European Economic Area, you can travel to and from France without a visa. You just need a valid passport or identity card. 

Students from outside the European Union must however apply for a visa. There are several types of student visa available: the short-stay visa (≤ 90 days in France) or the long-stay visa (> 90 days in France). The long-stay national visa is known as VLS-TS and works like a residents’ permit for students. 

The visa must be validated on-line within three months of arrival in France https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/ Support for this process is offered by a member of our Student Welfare team.

For more information, you can:

• Go to the website Service Public
• Contact Polytech’s student welfare officer, Mr Ali BEIKBAGHBAN: tds@polytech.univ-cotedazur.fr

Important documents for your stay

• Valid identity card or passport
• Birth certificate with filiation which is translated into French and less than 3 months old.
• Your Polytech Nice Sophia acceptance letter.
• European Health Insurance Card (for students from the European Union) or a health insurance certificate.
• Health and vaccination records.
• Proof of income (tax notice for the year prior to your arrival in France).
• Drivers Licence if you wish to drive in France.
• Scans or photocopies of all your important documents (ID card/passport, high school and university diplomas, health insurance card...).

Registration fees for international students

The Université Côte d'Azur board of directors approved the partial exemption from differentiated registration fees for all non-EU students admitted who are native French speakers (after obtaining at least one diploma issued in French and following a course of study taught in French) or who fulfill the criteria of excellence (applications are considered on an individual basis by the admissions committee).
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Accommodation

Polytech Nice Sophia is situated at the heart of the Sophia Antipolis technopole. It is close to several major towns and cities: 22 km from Nice, 15 km from Cannes and Grasse, 8 km from Antibes and Juan les Pins. Polytech has several agreements with private and public residences which allow us to offer accommodation adapted to students’ needs (varying distance from Polytech, size, rates, length of stay…).

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Additional procedures

During your stay, you may need to complete other administrative procedures. Don’t hesitate to contact our Student Welfare team if you need help with these procedures.

• Opening a bank account: Polytech has partnerships with several banks to enable our students to open an account with them. In order to do this, international students need proof of accommodation and registration at Polytech Nice Sophia (via your digital workspace).
• French phone number: Several companies now offer the possibility to buy a SIM card at competitive rates and with no minimum contract term. If you wish to buy a French card, our Student Welfare Officer can give you more information.
• Public transport card: There is a range of transport options on offer to students depending on the location of your accommodation and your desire to travel. Depending on the type of subscription you choose, the length of your stay and your age, you may be able to benefit from a “student rate” on presentation of your student card.
• Applying for housing benefit: If you meet the criteria, you may be entitled to housing benefit in France. Our Student Welfare department organises special sessions which take place at Polytech, to help you with your CAF application. You must provide your bank details, social security number, proof of income, housing contract, proof of registration at Polytech Nice Sophia, proof of insurance and a French phone number.
• Social Security: Registration for student social security may be necessary for certain procedures, such as applying for housing benefit or applying for an internship in France. You must provide your birth certificate with filiation which has been translated into French by an official translator and is no more than 3 months old. Our Student Welfare department organises support for this and special sessions take place at Polytech.

Disabled students

Our courses and campus are open to disabled students. Université Côte d’Azur will make the necessary adjustments to enable disabled students to pursue higher education.
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Your arrival

Transport

All the information about getting to the Sophiatech campus is available Here

Your arrival at Polytech Nice Sophia

On your first day at Polytech Nice Sophia, please come to the international relations office to complete your registration and collect your student card. The card will give you access to the campus and student rates at the university canteen, among other things.

During your stay

Starting out at Université Côte d’Azur and Polytech Nice Sophia

Each year in the city of Nice a Welcome Day is organised by FACE 06 (Fédérations des Associations et Corporations Etudiantes des Alpes-Maritimes)and your BDE (Bureau des Etudiants). Intended to be both fun and informative, the day is an opportunity for students to meet others and get more out of campus life.

Additionally, at Polytech Nice Sophia, we organise our own event to welcome international students and ensure they get their stay off to a great start.

Using your Digital Workspace (ENT) and Timetable (EDT)

Université Côte d’Azur provides its students and staff with a digital workspace (ENT). Access is subject to authentication; you must enter your numeric ID (or user name on student card) and your password. When you login for the first time, if you do not yet have your authentication details, you can get them via the sesame website: sesame.univ-cotedazur.fr Click on "Gestion des identités numériques" the ENT welcome page, then on "Je souhaite ouvrir mon sésame". Once you have opened your sesame, you can see your timetable on-line.

Learning French

Free French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses for all levels are available for exchange students to allow them to make the most of their stay in France. The Language Resource Centres takes registrations at the start of each semester.

To find out more, please contact the International Relations Office or go to the Université Côte d’Azur website.

Meeting other exchange students thanks to ESN

In addition to Polytech’s welcome event, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) also organises a "Welcome week" in the autumn and offers a "Buddy System" all year long. It is a system which allows you to be welcomed and helped by a French student as soon as you arrive in France. Thanks to the Buddy System, you will receive help in all aspects of daily and student life.

Eating on a budget

On campus the university canteen (resto U) is open to all students. You will find full meals at reasonable prices.
In addition to the resto U, there is a wide choice of restaurants and food outlets as well as a supermarket close to Polytech Nice Sophia.
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After your stay

Completing departure formalities

Your mobility at Polytech is coming to an end? It’s time to say « goodbye » or « see you soon », but don’t forget that you also need to complete various administrative procedures: cancel your phone and internet contracts in France, close the bank account you opened on arrival, ask for your departure certificate to be signed, particularly if you receive a grant such as Erasmus+. 

Don’t forget to make a to do list of everything you need to do before you leave and ask for help if need be.

Leaving your accommodation

An important part of your departure is moving out. If you already know your departure date, don’t forget to let the managers of your student residence or your landlord know, at least 2 months before your departure. Please get in touch with our Student Welfare Officer to find out more about the notice period you need to give. 

Getting your transcript of records and your departure certificate

In order to gain recognition for your academic achievements at Polytech Nice Sophia when you return to your home institution, you need your official transcript of records. You can get the French version from our Student Affairs Department. If you require an English version, please contact the International Relations Office who will email it directly to you or to your home institution.  
contact BRI