Practical guides
France,
a user’s manual.
Housing aid, university enrolment, health insurance, residence permits… The paperwork every international and Erasmus student faces, explained step by step, with official sources.
- Checked against official websites
- In English and in French
- Made for your first year in France
Paperwork
Your first steps when you arrive in Montpellier, in the right order
Bank account, home insurance, free public transport, phone, university canteen: what to sort out in your first two weeks, and in what order — because each step unlocks the next one.
4 min readRead the guide
Studies
Enrolling at university in Montpellier: CVEC, tuition fees and Learning Agreement
Administrative enrolment, CVEC certificate, new fees for non-EU students, Erasmus paperwork: what it takes to be properly enrolled at the University of Montpellier or Paul-Valéry for the 2026 intake.
3 min readRead the guide
Residence permit
Student residence permit: validating your visa, renewing it, working
Arriving on a "student" long-stay visa? You have three months to validate it online. What to do, what it costs since May 2026, how to renew your permit, and how many hours you can work.
4 min readRead the guide
Health
French health insurance: getting medical care as an international student
European card, ameli registration, family doctor, top-up insurance: what to do depending on where you’re from, what a doctor’s visit really costs, and where to get free care in Montpellier.
4 min readRead the guide
Housing & CAF
CAF housing aid: who can get it in 2026, and how to apply
Since 1 July 2026, the rules have changed for students from outside the European Union. Who can still get housing aid (APL), what to prepare, and how to apply without losing a month.
4 min readRead the guide
A question about your paperwork?
Write to us. If we don’t know the answer, we often know who does.