We look forward to welcoming you to ESPOL! This page is for international students studying at our school in France. It will guide you through the various administrative procedures and provide you with all the information you need to prepare for your stay.
Before arriving
Registration
Congratulations on your application to ESPOL! First of all, you can follow the registration procedure as described in the admissions section of the site, and follow the various explanations you have received by email.
The “Study in France” process
Students living in one of the 42 countries covered by the “Studies in France” process must make a specific application to register at a higher education establishment.
You must register for your programme using the online “Study in France” form before applying for a visa. This procedure is set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is entirely digital, covering all registration procedures relating to visa applications for higher education establishments. To obtain a student visa, you must complete the online “Studying in France” form.
Applying for a visa:
EU/EEA citizens
Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland are exempt from the visa procedure. You can enter, stay and study in France with a valid national identity card or passport.
Non-EU/EEA nationals
You must contact the French Consulate in your country to obtain a long-stay visa (for any stay in France of more than 90 days).
A tourist visa is not enough: students risk being expelled from France after 90 days and the diplomas or credits they have obtained will not be recognised.
You must have received the letter of acceptance before starting the visa application procedure.
For more information, visit the France Visa website.
Finding accommodation
You’ll have several options for finding accommodation in Lille, from simple, comfortable student residences to shared flats so you can meet as many people as possible, and self-rented flats for greater independence and flexibility. Check out the Accommodation page to see all the options available to you.
Health and insurance
Social security in France provides foreign students with social security cover for the duration of their studies. Thanks to this cover, they are eligible for reimbursements of part of their healthcare costs. To optimise these reimbursements and further reduce their medical expenses, students are advised to take out a supplementary health insurance policy, also known as a “mutuelle”. This top-up takes care of costs not covered by Social Security, offering more comprehensive protection and peace of mind for the duration of their stay in France.
Arriving in Lille
When should you arrive?
Students must arrive in Lille the week before the start of the course in order to be present for the orientation of new students. ESPOL and the international mobility team look forward to welcoming you at the beginning of September for the pre-entry and welcome sessions. For the exact dates, please consult the academic calendar.
For all the important dates, please consult the academic calendar. All the events to which you are invited will be communicated to you on an ongoing basis.
Completion of administrative formalities
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll need to complete a number of administrative formalities to ensure that your stay goes smoothly. These include registering with the social security authorities to ensure that you are covered in the event of an accident during your stay, and registering with the CAF to obtain benefits to help pay for your accommodation.
Opening a bank account
Research the various French banks and the banking services specially designed for students. Some banks offer attractive deals such as reduced management fees, free bank cards and overdraft facilities. Find banks near ESPOL here.
The documents required
Most banks require the following documents:
- Valid passport or national identity card.
- Long-stay visa or residence permit (if applicable).
- Proof of admission to a French educational institution (letter of admission).
- Proof of residence in France (electricity bill, rental contract or accommodation certificate).
- French telephone number.
- Proof of residence in your country of origin, if applicable.
Depending on the bank, you may or may not be able to complete the formalities online, or you may be able to do so in branch, where an adviser will be able to help you with the steps you need to take. If all your documents are in order, you can open a bank account in France.
During your stay in Lille
Getting to ESPOL
ESPOL is located at 89 boulevard Vauban in Lille, 59000.
You can reach our school from Lille Flandres station:
- On foot via rue Faidherbe, rue Nationale and rue du Port (20-25 minutes)
- By Ilévia bus on line 5 towards Haubourdin le Parc, get off at Université Catholique (15-20 minutes)
- By metro via lines 1 (towards CH Dron, Gambetta stop) and 2 (towards Saint Philibert, Cormontaigne stop) 10 minutes, then 10 minutes on foot
Finding your way around the campus and Lille
To help you find your way around campus, you can now download the Yochi application, which, among many other features to simplify student life, allows you to create itineraries on campus to get from one room to another, or to find points of interest. Download it now.
Living and studying in Lille
Lille is a student city with plenty to see and do. To get an idea of what’s in store for you, take a look at the page Living and studying in Lille on our website. Once you’re there, your friends and our associations will give you lots more ideas to keep you entertained!
Health services
You have day-to-day access to the CPSU, the university’s health services. If necessary, GPs and psychologists are available to help you with any problems you may have. For more information, please consult the health page of our website.
Financial aid
You may be eligible for other financial aid depending on your nationality and the length of your stay. Details are available on our grants and financial aid page.