You have been admitted to a French school or university? When you arrive in France in September, you must register with the institution where you are to study ("inscription administrative"), as must French students. You will then be provided with a student card, and must subsequently sign up for the classes of your choice ("inscription pédagogique").

Registration ("Inscription administrative")

Registration gives you official student status. During the registration process, you will be provided with a student card, which is valid for the entire academic year.
You will prepare a dossier and pay your registration fees and student medical insurance (Sécurité sociale) premium (except in certain special cases, as explained below).

The registration procedure can vary from one institution to another. When your admission has been confirmed, your university or school will inform you of the registration dates and the supporting documents required (e.g. originals and copies of qualifications; passport or identity card; passport photos; document proving your participation in an exchange programme; student residence permit...).

- Registration fees
Annual course fees are : 178,57€ for Licence, 241,57€ for Master and 363,57€ for Doctorat. Registration fees also include the subscription for the university preventive-medicine service, which provides medical care for students (for further information >>).

Erasmus students, Boursiers du Gouvernement Français, CREPUQ (Quebec exchange programme) students and MICEFA (Franco-American exchange) students do not have to pay registration fees.

In grandes écoles and specialist schools, course fees range from €700 to €7,000.

- Student medical insurance (Sécurité sociale)
If you are under 28, you will have to choose one of two student mutual medical-insurance schemes (LMDE and SMEREP) when you register, and pay an annual fee of €200.
EU students with European health-insurance cards, students from Quebec with the SE 401 Q102bis or SE 401 Q106 form, and students with French government scholarship need not take out student medical insurance (Sécurité sociale).
For further information, see the sheet entitled "Health: Social Security" >>

Signing up for the classes of your choice (inscription pédagogique)

After registering with the institution where you are to study, you will need to sign up for the classes of your choice. This is free of charge, and is done at the administrative department of your UFR (Unité de Formation et de Recherche, i.e. training & research unit, in universities) or school.

You will need to choose your options, credits (UEs - unités d’enseignement), practical work (TP - travaux pratiques) and tutorials (TDs - travaux dirigés). In short: you must choose the classes that you are going to take during your semester or year in France, as well as the class times. This registration process will determine your timetable.

For further information concerning the admission of foreign students in French schools and universities, see the sheet entitled "Admission procedures" :
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