Prepare your stay
Are you wondering how best to prepare for your studies in France?
As a school that proudly bears the Bienvenue en France label, we guarantee you the best equipment and the best support at every stage.
At BSB, we provide a certified warm welcome for international students
In 2019, BSB was among the first 15 schools — and one of the few management schools — to receive the Welcome to France label from Campus France, a distinction granted for four years and validated by an independent commission.
This label recognizes the quality of services offered to international students., by evaluating criteria such as the accessibility of information, reception, housing, campus life and post-graduation support. A brand of excellence, the Bienvenue en France label guarantees international students top-level services and a welcoming environment in French higher education.
As soon as you are admitted, our international relations team will support you in all the necessary preparations, so that you can prepare confidently and without worries for this exciting new chapter!
To help you stay on track, here is a timeline of the essential steps to check before you arrive in France
- Get your visa, if applicable
- Book your trip: flight, train, etc.
- Check if your wardrobe is adapted to our continental climate (hot summer, cold winter)
- Budget for your new life in France
- Start looking for a place to stay
- Check that your identity documents (passport/identity card) will be valid during your stay in France
- Scan all your important documents and save them in a place that you can easily access once in France
- Contact your landlord (if applicable)
- Check with our International Relations Department how they can welcome you when you arrive
- Take part in BSB's student orientation program "Welcome Days" before classes start and get all the important information you need to get settled in with peace of mind.
- We are here to help... so enjoy your time at BSB!
Obtaining a student visa for France
If you are from the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you do not need to apply for a visa; your national identity card or passport is sufficient.
In contrast, students from Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Belarus, Belarus, Albania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, or the United Kingdom must apply for a long-stay visa.
If you stay in France for more than 3 months, you must obtain a long-stay visa called VLS-TS (long-stay visa equivalent to residence permit) before your arrival.
Check that your passport will be valid for the duration of your stay in France and ask for your visa on the Campus France website or at the French consulate or embassy closest to you, the sooner the better (3 months before departure is recommended).
If you are from one of the following 46 countries, you must follow the “Etudes en France” visa procedure :
Algeria, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, and Vietnam.
You must validate your student long stay visa within 3 months on arrival. Your student visa will then be equivalent to a French residence permit (maximum 1-year validity).
For a longer stay, you must renew your residence card before the end of the first year of studies. You can do this procedure directly on The website of the French Ministry, where our Student Services team will be happy to help you with your procedures. We encourage you to start this process as soon as possible.
Budgeting for your life in France
See below for details.
- Rent
- Dijon | from 270€/month (Crous accommodation) to 600€/month (private accommodation)
- Lyon | from 400€/month (Crous accommodation) to 800€/month (private accommodation)
- Paris | from 600€ (Crous accomodation) to 1,200€ (private...) - Multi-risk home insurance (mandatory in France): from 5 to 10€/month
- Electricity/gas/water : from 50 to 150€/month
- Internet : around €25/month
- Groceries : 150 to 200€/month
- 1 full meal at the university canteen : €3.30 (€1 for scholarship students)
- Public transport subscription : 20 to 35€/month
- Annual public transport pass : 250€
- City bike : €10/month
- SNCF youth card for 12-27 year olds (train transport): 49€/year
- Movie ticket for students : around 7€
- Museum admission ticket : some are free for students, €8 on average
- Culture map : 5€ (Dijon) - 15€ (Lyon)/academic year offering discounts and benefits in various cultural places