Placement Test and Academic Advising

Once your file has been processed and you have received the letter of acceptance, you will receive an email with the dates and the instructions for a placement test. This test which will be at two different times will help us guide you in your university and course selection.

The written French placement test will be conducted/received via e-mail off site and will take place during the following dates:

• First wave of test dates:  May 26th, 27th and 28th
• Second wave of test dates: June 4th, 5th or 6th,

You will need to confirm your test date and e-mail address no later than May 18th for the First wave of test dates and June 2nd for the Second wave of test dates to info@micefa.org.  You will also be provided with a time window upon your confirmation by our language coordinator via e-mail.  The oral French interviews will be held on site in Paris on August 27th, you will be provided with your oral French interview time slot at orientation.

Following the 1st part of the placement test, each student will receive an email providing the date and time of their academic Skype© appointment with Dr. Mireille Prodeau, MICEFA’s Academic Director. During this appointment you will discuss your intended academic program at the Université de Paris, consult course listings and make known any specific course requirements you may need to fulfill. Students must download Skype in advance, if you have any questions or concerns about downloading the Skype© software please feel free to contact MICEFA directly at info@micefa.org. To prepare for this interview you should compile a list of the courses you are required to take and also take the time to browse the different websites of the French University partners which you can find on our website.

The Intensive Language and Culture program

This semester we have organized an exciting, intensive language and culture program for our incoming students.  This program is mandatory for all undergraduate students, but can be waived for graduate and PhD students along with Native French speakers. It is a three-week intensive language and culture course including special visits, cultural activities, campus visits and a theatrical performance. This program will cost 225 €.

Many of our North American partners accept 3 credit hours for this course, but please verify with your study abroad office. Please note that some of our North American Partners include this program fee in your tuition bill.

For those of you who pay MICEFA directly, you will receive a PayPal bill in the coming weeks.  Deadline for payment is Friday, July 19th, 2013.

Schedule

A general orientation meeting will be held on Monday, August 26th in the morning.  We will communicate the exact location and time of this meeting to you during the month of July. Our orientation will provide important information about the University system and registration, housing, cultural adaptation as well as practical matters such as banking, public transportation, the titre de séjour, student restaurants, etc.

The Intensive Program activities will be held on August 29th-30th.

The Intensive French Course will meet each day (Monday-Friday) for three and a half hours from Monday, September 2nd through Friday, September 13th, 2013.

Note: If you go to Panthéon-Sorbonne or Paris Diderot, you will not be able to take any of the intensive programs organized by the MICEFA. You have access to their own preparation program if your decision is made before the end of June.

The VISA:

Please make sure you obtain the proper visa (visa de longue durée) before leaving.  Any student whose papers are not in order at the time of arrival will be required to return to their country to rectify the situation, as any inappropriate visa cannot be modified once you are in France.  Contact the French Embassy nearest to your place of residence for the visa application and the list of documents that must accompany your request for visa (birth certificate, health insurance certification, statement of financial support, etc.).  The visa process will take place in two steps: first, you must register with CampusFrance (see information below), and then upon processing of your CampusFrance application, you will receive an appointment at the French Consulate. Make sure you provide all the necessary documents at both stages of the process to avoid delays.  A statement of finance from your bank and a notarized letter from your parent or sponsor claiming financial responsibility for you should be submitted to the French Consulate with the other documents.  The Consulate will tell you how much money should be mentioned on the financial statement.  Please be sure to make copies of ALL documents used to support your visa application and bring them with you to Paris. You will need them for your French residency application.

*NB:  This includes all North American students:  if your passport is lost or stolen during your stay, you will need to provide an official copy of your birth certificate with an “apostille” from the Department of State (US) or Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada), as such it is recommended to have a copy at your disposal in order to obtain a new passport and visa.  Some states issue a certification of birth, merely stating your name and date of birth. This is not sufficient.  A valid birth certificate must include the names of your parents.  Please be sure to arrive in Paris with these documents.

PLEASE NOTE: SPECIAL INFORMATION ABOUT VISA APPLICATION

American Students

All American students planning to study in France will be required to register with CampusFrance, an organization housed in the French Embassy in Washington D.C.  This will begin the student visa application process.  Then students will need to apply in person for the visa at the nearest French Consulate. Please visit the CampusFrance website <http://www.usa.campusfrance.org>.

To start the process, please go to the CampusFrance website.  To facilitate the process, we suggest you click on the small American flag on the upper left of the page in order to view the site in English.  Please carefully read the information regarding CampusFrance, especially the Guide to CampusFrance registration.  You will be completing the process as a “Study Abroad Student or Exchange Student”  To get started click on the gray button at the top “Application” and proceed to the section indicated as  ”Students Already Accepted Into a Program or an Institution in France” and click on the link for “Study Abroad or Exchange Students” to begin your application.

Canadian Students

All Canadian students planning to study in France will be required to register with CampusFrance, an organization housed throughout Canada in several French Consulates.  This will begin the student visa application process.  Then students will need to apply in person for the visa at the nearest French Consulate. Please visit the CampusFrance website <http://www.canada.campusfrance.org>.

To start the process, please go to the CampusFrance website.  To facilitate the process, we suggest you click on the small British flag on the upper left of the page in order to view the site in English.  Please carefully read the information regarding CampusFrance, especially the Guide to CampusFrance registration.  You will be completing the process as a “Study Abroad Student or Exchange Student”  To get started click on the gray button at the top “Prepare for your Stay” and proceed to the section indicated as  “Mandatory Procedures” and click on the link for “I leave within the framework of an exchange (interuniversity agreement) or joint thesis (cotutelle)” to begin your application.  In order to complete your visa procedure you must contact your French Consulate according to your Canadian territory.

For All North American Students

You will be required to send a photocopy of this acceptance letter and your certificat de scolarité to CampusFrance.  We suggest you start the CampusFrance process as soon as possible in order to get your visa in a timely manner.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS: If you have applied for a teaching position through our program (assistant de langue), you MUST wait until you have received the official contract from the French Ministry of Education before obtaining the visa.  This contract, the “extrait de l’arrêté ministerial or arrêté de nomination” should arrive by the end of June or early July.  You will then be applying for a visa d’assistant de langue.  Please contact us if you do not receive an arrêté  by July 15^th (this will give us enough time to follow up with the Ministry) as it serves as proof of your financial resources and employment for your visa.  As a TA you do not need to register on the CampusFrance website. If the Ministry does not send the “arrêté de nomination” before the end of July, please contact Ms. Melissa Weaver at mweaver@micefa.org.

Airport Shuttles (door-to-door shared mini-buses)

Airport Shuttle services are available between Paris and both airports (Charles de Gaulle-CDG and Orly).  Travel can be reserved days, weeks or months in advance, but reservations must generally be made at least 48 hours in advance. When arriving at the airport you must call a special toll free number (before picking up your baggage) and you will be given a meeting point at your terminal.  Once the shuttle arrives it will generally complete its circuit of the airport to pick up other passengers (as the bus does) then it will drop you off at your final destination in Paris. When going towards the airport you will be given a pickup time that will guarantee your arrival at the airport and the required amount of time before your departure.

The cost is about 19 Euros ($25) if you are at least two people going to the same address, or 25 Euros (about $32) if you are alone.  You first need to call them at the airport or reserve through their website.

Here are a few companies to choose from:

• PariShuttle

http://www.parishuttle.com

19-25 euros (depending on number of people)

You must make on-line reservation in advance.  Then before collecting your baggage at the airport, call their toll free number from any public phone in order to confirm your arrival.  Next make your way to the arranged meeting point.

Meeting Points

ROISSY CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT

-Terminal 1: Gate 16 at the Departure Level

-Terminal 2-A, C, E and F: Gate 8

-Terminal 2-B, D: Gate 10

-Terminal 3: Main Exit

Depending on your destination address, the transfer will take 60 to 90 minutes.

• Yellow Van Shuttle

http://www.yellowvanshuttle.com/EN/index.php

cost is around 17-26 euros (depending on the number of people)

Be sure to book on-line at least 48h before arrival. BEFORE getting your luggage please call their toll free number - 0 805 807 809 – (10 digits) to inform them of your arrival.  You won’t need any telephone card or change. Just pick up and dial from any public phone in the airports of Charles de Gaulle and Orly.

Drivers will be waiting for you at the following places:

CDG Terminal 1 – Gate 16 at the Departure Level

CDG Terminal 2 – A, C, E and F: Gate 8

CDG Terminal 2 – B, D: Gate 10

CDG Terminal 3: Main Exit

ORLY South: Gate E

ORLY West: Gate H

The vans are yellow with the logo:  YellowVanShuttle.com

• Airport Connection

http://www.airport-connection.com/services.html

24-28 euros (depending on number of people)

Reservations for booking a shuttle service can be made online up to 24 hours before your arrival in Paris. For last minute bookings, please call their office in Paris on +33 1 43 65 55 55 (7/7 from 7am to 11pm).

Paperwork

You will need to keep a copy and bring with you all of the documents required for obtaining your visa, including your financial documents, acceptance letter, copy of health insurance policy, etc.  These documents are often required for any official applications including your residency paperwork once you arrive in France.  Maintaining a file with the originals and a copy will save time and energy.

Certificat de scolarité

You have each been issued a certificat de scolarité to aid you in your visa application.  Please note, we are required to list a university on this form.  This is NOT your definitive university placement.  Once you arrive, have been tested into a language level and have met the MICEFA Academic Director, your final university placement will be made.

National Student Health Program

As required by the French government, non European-Union Students under the age of 28 are required to subscribe to the national health insurance program (referred to as sécurité sociale et santé des étudiants). This entitles the student to a reimbursement of up to 70% of the standard price of medical expenses.  Prescriptions, eye glasses and dental are subject to a different rates.  The national health insurance will be purchased upon arrival.  Students under the age of 28 may purchase this insurance through two student sponsored providers: LMDE (http://www.lmde.com/) or SMEREP (http://www.smerep.fr/) for a flat fee of 207 euros.  The student will be covered from the beginning of the academic year until the 30th of September of the following year.  The insurance is not pro-rated; students on a semester or year exchange will be charged the same rate.  Non European-Union Students over the age of 28 or a European citizen may refer to our website under >> North American Students >> Before Arrival section for further information.

To insure optimal reimbursement of health care expenses while abroad, students should also apply to a complimentary health insurance policy before arrival in France.  This complimentary insurance should also cover emergency evacuation and repatriation.  Students may inquire with their home university’s study abroad office for complimentary health insurance enrollment information.

Please plan your budget accordingly.

ID Photos

You will need up to 5 ID-size photos  (face shots, no profile, no head covering) for various documents and your student card.  We suggest you wait to get these photos upon your arrival in France.  This will ensure that you get the proper format (as well as save a few pennies – this type of photo is much cheaper to obtain in France).

Housing solutions

Demi-Au Pair positions

If you are interested in being considered for an au pair position, please send an email to info@micefa.org to get added to the list.  Once you arrive, you will meet with the au pair coordinator to set up interviews.  Most families hire au pairs in the Fall for the entire academic year.  Also, it is difficult to place male students in au pair positions.  It is better NOT to mention your interest in being an au pair when applying for your visa.  Even though working, as a demi-au pair is very common among students, technically you are coming on a student visa and that should remain your main focus.

Student Residences

If you are interested in living in a Student residence during your stay in Paris, please contact info@micefa.org.  Please note that residences are available for year-long students only and will be based on a first-come, first-serve basis.