Arriving at Lyon 2

 

• Accommodation : [PDF - 294 Ko] It is very important to investigate temporary accommodation for a period of at least one month, as finding accommodation at the start of the academic year can take some time. You may wish to download a list of some organisations offering reasonably-priced, temporary accommodation and contact them before arriving.

• Bank account : International students may open a non-resident bank account (in Euros or another currency) providing they have not been residing in France for more than two years. They can also open a resident account (in Euros or another currency) if justified by the length of their stay. It may be useful to ask your bank whether it has an associated bank in France as this may more easily facilitate transactions.

• Social security :  Compulsory social security : lthe usual social security arrangement for students is to join the social security as a student - one of the options of the general Social Security System in France. You may also wish to add health care cover by joining a student mutual trust which will ensure almost full reimbursement of your medical costs.

•  Conditions of membership : qualifying for student social security:

Age: the mandatory maximum age of 28 years may, in some circumstances be raised: national service, prolonged illness or maternity, special studies (extension of one to four years for PhD students) etc.

Nationality : The Decree of June 28 1999, amending that of July 28 1989  setting the conditions for joining the Social Security for Students, has removed previous criterion that an international student must be from a signatory country of the International Convention on Social Security with France, or that he/she must have either refugee or a stateless person status.

Institutes : students must be enrolled in an institute of higher education, public or private, recognised in the appropriate inter-ministerial Decree.
Contributions: in order to benefit from the social security scheme, students must contribute a single flat annual fee of €180 for the academic year 2004/2005. Students who will be 20 years of age between October 01 and September 30 of the year following their year of enrolment will be obliged to pay their contribution at the time of enrolment, even though they may be covered by their parents' social security up to their 20th birthday.
Students who receive a state grant are exempted from this contribution.

Reimbursement of costs : The Social Security system has fixed rates above which reimbursement of costs are not covered. Joining the Social Security scheme upon administrative enrolment at the University gives the beneficiary the right to reimbursement of medical cost at a set rate (between 35 and 80%). This is why joining one of the student mutual trusts is strongly recommended.

• Mutual trusts for students : There are two University sections designated by the local education authority to handle the social security scheme for students by offering additional cover which exceeds that of the standard Social Security system. Mutual trusts reimburse the difference between the de facto cost incurred for medical care, medicines or hospital treatment, and the part reimbursed by the Social Security system. Furthermore, mutual trusts offer third-party insurance (accidents caused to others) as well as accident or life insurance. For those students who do not qualify for Social Security protection, student mutual trusts offer other forms of insurance.

• University introduction days: Thursday reception' : as of September 1st, international students who have made their own way to the University are invited to join one of the welcome meetings organised by the international office, which is aimed at helping them settle in.
  

To be included in one of the international office newcomers groups, you will need to send an e-mail to international-hors-echange@univ-lyon2.fr with your arrival date in Lyon, following which you will receive an invitation to one of their meetings.
Welcome sessions are also organised during the months of September and October, Thursdays 10:00 to 12:00 at International office in the MDE (Student Centre). Here you can pick up information leaflets on the University and the City of Lyon. You will also be able to organise an appointment for your carte de séjour, obtain assistance in looking for accommodation and working out the University system, not forgetting the chance to meet other students!

• Enrolment at University : Completing the enrolment procedure consists of two steps :
   

• Administrative enrolment : Important : students must request an official  certificate of enrolment which will be required for the carte de séjour. Once all enrolment formalities have been completed, students receive their student card.

• Study enrolment : This second part of the enrolment procedure concerns the course itself and assessment validation.
  

Other higher education institutions may regulate their enrolment procedures in a different way. Information on these procedures is usually forwarded to students prior to their arrival. Particular attention should be paid to which documents you need to supply, and it is worth noting that originals are often required.

• Language support :  In order to help you integrate at Lyon 2 and discover French culture...
  
  

The International Student Service in conjunction with the Language Centre offers language support.
If you are interested, please contact Marie-Rose MOUCHIROUD.