City Public Transportation

i. Métro

It is convenient to travel by Métro in both Paris and Lille. A single metro ticket costs €1.80 and can be used for one journey, including all connections. Tickets can be purchased in 1 unit or a pack of 10 (“carnet”) for €14.40 at the ticket offices or machines in metro stations, and also in some “Tabac” (translated as tobacco shop). Do keep your ticket until you have completed your journey as you may be asked to show your ticket during random inspections.

The ticket will allow you to travel anywhere in Paris or Lille. For students under 25 years old in Paris, you can buy a €4 tickets that is valid for a whole day’s travel in Zone 1 to 3.

For a longer period, you can subscribe to a monthly package called “Navigo” pass for the Paris and Transpole Pass in Lille. These can be purchased from the ticket officer. The price in Lille for students under 25 years is €28 Euro/month while the price for those above 25 years old is €53 Euro/month. In Paris, the price varies depending on the zone coverage.

Flying Chalks’ tip: You will need a passport-sized photo (make sure you have the correct size!), your passport, and a copy of your rent contract to apply for these passes.

Paris Metro Map

Lille Metro Map

ii. Bus

Apart from the subway, buses are also another convenient form of transportation. Buses use the same ticket as the Metro and offers a flat rate without limitations on the distance. It is better to buy bus tickets before you get on the bus as purchasing tickets from bus drivers is more expensive and you will not be allowed to transfer to other bus lines.

iii. Taxi and Uber

While taxis are common in Paris, they are not so common in Lille. The official taxi for Paris is G7, which you can also order online. In Lille, it is more common to use Uber, as regular taxis can be hard to find.

Taxi service in Lille: http://www.taxi-sur-lille.com/

Taxi service in Paris: https://www.g7.fr/en/

Intercity Transportation

i. Intercity Bus

Numerous intercity bus providers allow you to travel between cities in France or to other European cities. Buses are usually equipped with WiFi and electronic sockets. Further, you can bring along one piece of luggage for free.

For information and to book your tickets, you can visit:

http://fr.ouibus.com/fr/mobile/reservation

https://www.flixbus.com/

https://www.isilines.fr/

Flying Chalks’ tip: You can get a small discount if you use your IÉSEG student card when you book Flixbus or Ouibus!

ii. Intercity Train

SCNF is short for Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français, a French national state-owned railway company. SCNF collaborates with many private transportation companies, such as Ouigo or Thalys, and basically manages all rail traffic in France.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Do not miss out on discounts and promo rates that they offer throughout the year!

Interrail or Eurail passes are alternative options to train travel, especially if you are travelling between European cities. The Interrail Pass is available to European residents. Residents of countries outside Europe can use the Eurail Pass. International students who have already received their resident’s permit can use Interrail Pass instead of Eurail.

Visit these websites for more info:

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

http://www.sncf.com/

http://www.interrail.eu/

http://www.eurail.com/

iii. Intercity Flights

Ryanair is the most popular choice for budget travelers in Europe. In 2013, Ryanair was both the largest European airline and the busiest international airline by passenger numbers. Intercity tickets start from €9.99.

Click here for more info:

Flying Chalks’ tips: Always bring your original passport when you are traveling in the French region or in other European cities. You can travel anywhere you want with your French student VISA as long as it is a country of the European Union. However, you are advised to travel outside France only after you have obtained your OFII Permit, usually 3 months after you arrive. 

Banking Services

For international students staying in France for less than a year, you will not be able to open a bank account. To facilitate your expenses, you can choose to bring cash, use your credit cards, or incur a fee to draw cash from the ATMs in France.

For students who will be staying in France for more than a year and wish to open a bank account, you will require:

• Original and copy of passport and page with French student visa

• Copy of contract of your residence in France

• Copy of water/ electricity/ internet monthly payment (to validate that you are living in the house. Your landlord should be aware of this document)

• Your student card (to get a special student rate in some banks)

Bring all documents to the bank branch office. Once a bank account is open, you can deposit your money. However, ATM cards will be issued later, usually in the next 4 to 8 days after the creation of your account.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Every bank has different monthly administration rate. The rate might vary from €1/ year to €8/ month. Before opening your bank account, it will be a good idea to compare the rates and benefits that each bank offers. ATM locations vary for each bank, but students in Lille and Paris can find almost all ATMs from different banks within 10 minutes’ walking distance from the campus area.

Major Banks in France:

1. Société Générale

In general, every bank in France does not offer full service in English. However, some representatives of Société Générale are able to assist you in English. All banking transactions will be in French.

Office Locations:

Lille

1. 51 Rue Nationale / 03 20 21 57 00

2. 75 Boulevard Vauban / 03 20 54 27 71

3. 237 Rue Léon Gambetta / 03 20 57 16 93

4. 22 Rue du Molinel / 03 20 14 97 30

Paris

1. 15 Bis Rue du Louvre / 01 44 88 23 53

2. 219 Rue Saint Honoré / 01 42 60 65 40

3. 100 Avenue de Clichy / 01 46 27 82 46

4. 112 Avenue de Villiers / 01 46 22 11 07

Opening hours: Hours: 08:30-17:00 (Monday-Friday; closed on holidays)

Customer service: 01 42 14 31 69

Website: https://www.societegenerale.fr/

Flying Chalks’ tip: IÉSEG has a partnership with Société Générale bank, and the bank representative will usually come to IÉSEG in the first month of your arrival to collect your documents.

2. LCL – Le Crédit Lyonnais

LCL has an attractive offer for students where you will only need to pay €1/ year for the bank administrative fee.

Office Locations:

Lille

1. 188T Rue Solférino / 03 28 38 50 67

2. 28 Rue Nationale / 03 20 14 78 24

3. Euralille / 03 20 14 17 08

Paris

1. 30 Boulevard de Magenta / 01 40 18 70 69

2. 14 Rue Rambuteau / 01 44 78 60 26

3. 6 Boulevard Ornano / 01 49 25 82 51

Opening hours:  Hours: 09:00-18:00 (Tuesday - Saturday; closed on holidays)

Customer service: 0 800 202 800

Website: https://e.lcl.fr/

Flying Chalks’ tip: LCL branch office usually have 2.5 hours of break time at 12.30pm and will reopen at 3pm.

3. CIC - Credit Industriel et Commercial

Some of its representatives are able to assist you in English and the registration process is fast and simple.

Office Locations:

Lille

1. 38 Rue Nationale / 0 820 05 26 09

2. 31 Rue Léon Gambetta / 0 820 05 26 06

3. 34 Place du Concert / 0 820 05 26 04

Paris

1. 224 Rue de Tolbiac / 01 44 16 81 39

2. 50 Bis Avenue de la Grande Armée / 0 820 01 05 91

3. 55 Rue d'Auteuil / 0 820 81 01 91

Opening hours: Hours: 09:00-18:00 (Tuesday - Saturday; closed on holidays)

Website: https://www.cic.fr/fr/

Customer Service: 03 83 97 89 37

4. HSBC

Although its ATM machines and branches are not as common, HSBC is a good choice for International students require assistance in English.

Office Location:

Lille

1. 104 Rue Nationale / 03 20 40 39 00

2. 82 Avenue Saint-Maur / 03 20 14 52 70

Paris

1. 103 Av. des Champs-Élysées / 0 810 24 68 10

2. 55 Rue de la Pompe / 01 45 04 05 44

3. 82 Avenue de Saint-Ouen / 01 53 06 91 20

Opening hours: Hours: 08:45-17:00 (Monday-Friday; closed on holidays)

Website: https://www.hsbc.fr/1/2/hsbc-france/particuliers

Customer Service: 0 810 180 180

Post Office Services

La Poste is the postal service company that is most commonly used in France. They have branch offices almost everywhere.

To check their office location, visit: http://www.laposte.fr/particulier/outils/trouver-un-bureau-de-poste

Medical services

It is mandatory for all students to apply for Social Security. Without Social Security, you cannot apply for an internship in France and cannot even receive your graduation certificate! Make sure you apply for Social Security in your first month. There will be a briefing about Social Security during orientation week.

Once you have obtained your Social Security card, it will cover about 70% of medical expenses incurred while you are in France (by reimbursement). This includes consultation fees and medicine costs. You have to pay an annual fee of €215 (if you are under 28 years old) and have an appointment with your GP to register for Social Security. You can pay the annual fee of €215 in IÉSEG, then submit the documents to one of the insurance providers (they will come to the school to collect your documents).

Required Documents:

➢     Copy of your passport (identification page), student VISA and immigration stamp in your passport when your first arrived in France or other EU area

➢     Invoice / proof of payment of €215 that will be given by IÉSEG

➢     Copy of your French bank account (RIB)

Insurance Provider:

SMENO (can assist in English): https://www.smeno.com/

LMDE: https://www.lmde.fr/

Hospitals and International Clinics

While English speaking hospitals or doctors are quite rare in France, you can check this list:

Lille

Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille

• 2 Avenue Oscar Lambret, 59000 Lille Tel: 03 20 44 59 62 Website: http://www.chru-lille.fr/

Paris

American Hospital:

• 63 bd. Victor Hugo, 92202 Neuilly sur Seine Tel: 01 46 41 25 25 Website: http://www.american-hospital.org/

Hôpital Foch:

• 40 rue Worth, 92150 Suresnes Tel: 0826 20 72 20 Website: http://www.hopital-foch.org/

For emergency services, dial 15 or 112 from any device. Your call will be answered immediately. For more information, you can visit https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/112-france

Medicine

Pharmacies and drugstores can be found all over the city. In addition to providing common medicine, they also sell skincare and healthcare products. There may also be trained pharmacists to assist you.

Telecommunications

When you first arrive in France, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card in CDG Airport or in “Tabac” stores that you can easily find in the city. Prepaid is usually costlier and involves the hassle of having to purchase two items: the card and the credits for it.

Alternatively, you can subscribe for a monthly post-paid SIM card after getting your French bank account. It will come with free domestic calls, free domestic SMS and a data plan. Monthly cost varies from €2 to €32.

The commonly-used telecommunication providers in France are:

1. Orange

Orange is a multinational telecommunications corporation based in France. You can subscribe for your monthly plan here: http://www.orange.fr/

2. SFR

SFR offers pre-paid sim cards which are usually sold in Tabac or Relay. To subscribe for their monthly plan, you can check out their website: http://www.sfr.fr/telephonie-mobile/sfr-la-carte/welcome/

3. Bouygues Telecom

Bouygues Telecom is one of the most popular mobile data provider in France. Check out their monthly package deals here: https://www.bouyguestelecom.fr/

4. Lebara

In general, Lebara offers cheaper rates than Orange, SFR or Bouygues. You can check the rates and subscribe for your sim card here: http://www.lebara.fr/

5. Free Mobile

Free mobile is not as popular but offers great deals where you can get a data package, free calls (French region and International) and free SMS starting from only €2/ month. You can register for their monthly plan here: https://mobile.free.fr/subscribea/

Survival Guide

Weather:

While France has 4 seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter – the change in seasons is not distinct except for the steep drop in temperatures that usually happen during the end of September to beginning of October.

It is generally cold in winter and mild in summer. July is the hottest month in Paris with an average temperature of 20°C (68°F), and the coldest month is typically January at 5°C (41°F). Sunrise and sunset times will also change from summer to winter. In the summer, the sunset is usually around 9pm while in winter, the sun will set around 5pm and rise around 8am.