Prepare your departure
Prepare and make a success of your stay abroad
Step 1: PUT TOGETHER YOUR APPLICATION FILE FOR THE PARTNER UNIVERSITY and your visa file
- After confirmation of your selection, the International Relations Office informs you about the procedure to follow to put together your file for your host university. This procedure can be done 90% online.
You must absolutely fill it before the deadline. Please check your passport is valid or, if you need to renew it, do it in advance.
To help you find a renewal appointment, you can visit le website here - If you plan to go to a destination where a VISA is required, follow the procedure to obtain your VISA You can review this document for more information
It is recommended to wait for the approval letter and obtention of your visa before moving forward with procedures regarding transport tickets or accommodation.
Step 2: MOBILITY PASS FOR STUDIES (WITH LEARNING AGREEMENT)
Fill the Mobility Pass for Studies and send it to outgoing@groupe-igs.fr.
For Erasmus+ students: you will receive a dedicated learning agreement/contract directly from your Erasmus+ coordinator by email.
Please note: you will not necessarily have access to all of the courses presented in the partner files. You will need to have your choice validated by your academic advisor, according to the program followed in your school, in order to fill out the “learning agreement” section.
The learning agreement will have to be signed by your host university and your home school.
For Erasmus+ candidates, please ensure to correctly fill in the section dedicated to you on page 4 of the Mobility Pass for Studies.
Step 3: FINANCIAL SUPPORT/ERASMUS+ SCHOLARSHIP
Find all of the information regarding financial support on our Fundings page
Financial support will help contributing to spending for your mobility but may not cover ALL costs during your stay.
Think about the budget you will need in order to make the most of your stay abroad from the start!
For students who have applied for an Erasmus+ grant it is at this step that you will be contacted by the Erasmus+ coordinator.
Visit the Erasmus+ page and you will find all the steps to follow.
Step 4: SOCIAL CARE AND LIABILITY
Important: It is recommended to get informed upfront about conditions regarding the social care of the destination country. Start your procedures at least 6 weeks before departure.
Protection ensured by the French student status: 3 possible cases
- Mobility within the European Union or in Switzerland done by students from a country member of the European Union: ask for your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to your Health Insurance Fund via www.ameli.fr If you do not have the EHIC or, in addition to it, you can ask for a refund of medical fees to the National Health Center abroad when coming back to France.
By using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), You will benefit from the same coverage as the country’s residents. However, refund of medical expenses will be set according to the basis of the French convention tariff and not to the actual expenses. As healthcare may be much more expensive in other countries, you will have to cover the difference ! Also, only unexpected and urgent care can be covered by the EHIC and repatriation is not included. - Mobility done in Quebec by French students : the student must request the SE401Q form to his/her Local Healthcare Insurance Office via www.ameli.fr
- Mobilities done outside of the European Union: the National Health Care does not allow you to benefit from coverage for your medical expenses. It can possibly refund a part of it when coming back home but still on the basis of tariffs fixed by the French convention, if medical care is judged urgent and unpredicted. Which means that you should pay your medical expenses on site, keep the invoices and documents for an eventual refund.
Important gaps can occur between actual costs and tariffs fixed by the French convention. As medical care outside of Europe can be extremely expensive, costs can rapidly increase. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to additional specific health insurance that works for the country and the length of your stay at the institution you prefer (parents or private insurance), including repatriation insurance.
For more information regarding refunding modalities depending on the country:
Centre des Liaisons Européennes et Internationales de Sécurité Sociale CLEISS: www.cleiss.fr
Step 5: COMPULSORY INSURANCE
Insurance guarantees that you will be covered in case of important health issue, accident, fall or serious illness. Indeed, in case of a serious problem, hospitalization or repatriation costs can quickly reach important amounts and lots of countries do not have such a health system as France does, which covers most of the expenses.
The repatriation insurance certificate allows repatriation without additional costs in case of a serious problem and allows you to benefit from health care in good sanitary conditions. It must be valid.
- Groupe IGS’ insurance : MAIF
As part of the insurance contract that Groupe IGS subscribed to MAIF, all students from Groupe IGS benefit from “Civil Liability – Defense” “Property damage” (within a limit of EUR 600,00), “Recourse-Legal Procetion” and “Assitance) guarantees.
The certificate of coverage will be sent to you before your departure so no need to ask for it.
Beware: this insurance does not cover you for all risks. It is important that you check regarding the country you are going to. For all additional costs, you must subscribe to additional insurance.
- HEYME Insurance
Groupe IGS is partner of HEYME which supports you in preparing your stay abroad by providing you suitable solutions and answering your questions according to your destination and mission.
By being covered with HEYME World Pass, it represents EUR 0,00 at your expense !
- A refund of all your medical expenses from EUR 1,00, for real costs
- Coverage of health expenses in case of hospitalization
- Unlimited 24-hour medical teleconsultation included
- Repatriation assistance included
- Liability insurance and individual accident insurance included
Purpose: think about everything to leave with peace of mind and know you will be well taken care of and refunded if necessary.
Thanks to IGS, benefit from preferential prices with 20% of immediate discount with partner code 20IGSon WORLD PASS and WORLD PASS SCHENGEN offers.
Find out more :
http://worldpass.heyme.care/
Step 6: THINGS TO THINK ABOUT FOR A SERENE MOBILITY
Before leaving
- Subscribe to the Ariane web portal set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to declare your trip free of charge by indicating your contact details abroad and designating a contact person in France if necessary
- Consult the relevant country file in the Travel advice section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
- Consult your doctor before leaving
- Check that you have the necessary and mandatory vaccinations before your departure
- Check exchange forums or social networks used by students who previously went on an internship where you will go
Onsite
- Do not go to any red zone, this is strongly discouraged. Avoid orange zones unless there is a compelling reason.
- Keep some documents safe (bank card, list of emergency phone numbers of consulate, doctors, referral hospitals as well as copies of your ID, medical insurance, etc.) It is a good idea to scan and send all these documents to your mailbox to access from everywhere.
- Choose your accommodation in a quiet and safe area. You will find here some accommodations for students across Europe
- Repect the local and government law and follow the customs and practices (also religious) if necessary.
- Keep in contact with the International Relations Office of your host and home university and your school, all along your stay.
Find out more :
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs
https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane/dyn/public/login.html
https://www.readytogo.fr/
https://decouvrirlemonde.jeunes.gouv.fr/
Check-list (before departure)
- Valid ID or passport
- VISA and valid residence permit (if necessary)
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), if you travel inside Europe (referring information above)
- Private additional insurance above (referring information above)
- Liability insurance
- Accommodation on site confirmed. Visit the platform Erasmus Play to help you to find an accommodation
- Transport tickets booking (train, plane, bus…)
Some tips for a successful stay
Without digging or theorizing too much about culture analysis, you can already discover lots of things about yourself, your own culture and your host country.
Observe around you and try to understand without judging. The way of living your mobility stands in always saying that differences are sources of enrichment.
All kinds of activities can allow you to go further in discovering the country, its culture and values. But all implies that you develop your capacity to OBSERVE.
You may better ask questions instead of judging if you do not understand something.
Live experiences that will make you develop your self-confidence, self-control and develop your network. Join an association or a sport club with local people only, even if you do not speak the language very well. Offer to give some French conversation classes to students. Find a part-time job if it is authorized by the country’s laws.
Your stay will be more enjoyable and your integration will be faster if you do some efforts to know more about the country. If you arrive knowing some sportsmen who are the pride of the country, the latest local band, political scandal, names of main political players, some statistics about the country and its economy, you will be much better welcomed by the “locals”.
The Routard or Lonely Planet guide can also be useful to:
a) Avoid missing important things to see
b) Plan your weekends
If you plan to go abroad with other people, do some savings and share the tips.
