Is a public institution in charge of promoting French higher education abroad and welcoming foreign students and researchers in France. You will find on their website what you need to do, step by step, to prepare your arrival in France.
Your contacts at the University of Bordeaux are the Student Life Center and the Welcome Center for International Researchers. Their mission is to facilitate the arrival of foreign students and researchers.
The Student Life Centers are located on the University's campuses:
The Student Life Centers provide information on all matters relating to student life (catering, culture, etc.), help with everyday procedures (housing, jobs, financial aid) and organise public service offices (CAF (housing assistance), TBM (bus and tram transport), etc.).
The Student Life Centers assist international students with their procedures on arrival and throughout their stay to facilitate their integration (in particular visa and renewal). This includes non-funded doctoral students.
International students of the EDSP2 are invited to contact the Student Life Center of Carreire/Victoire campuses.
The Student Life Center of Carreire/Victoire campuses participates in the welcome meeting for international doctoral students organised by the EDSP2 (in November after the registration deadline).
The Welcome Center for International Researchers (WCIR)
The WCIR assists funded international researchers with their entry and residence procedures in France and facilitates incoming international scientific mobility on the Bordeaux site.
The doctoral students concerned are citizens of countries outside the European Union and have a full-time work contract in France (doctoral contract, research contract, Cifre, etc.) or have a grant of a minimum amount.
The WCIR provides numerous supports: conditions of entry into France, obtaining a residence permit, social security and health insurance, tax declaration, etc.
Support is also provided for the procedures listed below, even though the procedure is dematerialised via a secure online interface (holders of "Passeport Talent - Chercheur" & "Passeport Talent - Famille"):
Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA need a visa to enter France, unless special agreements exist between your country and France. The official website for visas to France: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas
The "talent passport" multiannual residence permit for researchers
Public concerned: doctoral students from outside the EU/EEA, enrolled in a French university with a work contract in France (doctoral contract, research contract, CIFRE, ATER, etc.), doctoral students from a foreign university (co-tutoring)
Duration of validity: It allows a maximum stay of 4 continuous years from the date of arrival in France.
Your contact at UB: the WCIR
Hosting agreement
Signature of a hosting agreement between the future doctoral student and the University (to be drawn up before the visa application)
The duration of the agreement is three years with two one-year renewals possible. The research laboratory that will host the future PhD student prepares the hosting agreement and sends it to BACI.
It is therefore very important that the thesis director informs the laboratory as soon as possible that the funding has been obtained.
The BACI takes care of stamping the convention with the prefecture's stamp. The agreement is then sent to the future doctoral student in his/her usual country of residence: he/she signs the hosting agreement, applies for a long-stay visa, and has the Consulate stamp the hosting agreement.
Once in France for a long stay, and within 3 months, the doctoral student will go to the prefecture of his/her place of residence in France to apply for a multi-annual "talent passport" residence permit and present the hosting agreement bearing the seal of the consulate.
Please note:
- If you are already in France on a student visa, you will have to take steps to change your visa to a talent passport.
- If you benefit from an extension of your funding, the hosting agreement will have to be renewed if the validity date expires before the end of your doctoral course. Without a valid hosting agreement, the amendment to your employment contract cannot be drawn up/signed.
The VLS-TS Student Visa
Public concerned: doctoral students from outside the EU/EEA, enrolled in a French university without a French work contract, scholarship holders from their country of origin or others.
The long-stay visa validating a residence permit for "students", abbreviated to VLS-TS "student", allows you to stay in France for four months to one year in order to pursue higher education.
After 1 year of presence in France under a long-stay visa valid for residence (VLS-TS), you can benefit from a multiannual student residence permit. Its duration is equal to the number of years remaining in the course of study in which you are registered.
Do not wait until the last moment to take the necessary steps.
Contact the BVE in Carreire-Victoire for assistance.
Does the VLS-TS Student visa allow me to work?
You can work a maximum of 964 hours per year (60% of the legal annual working time). This period begins when your card is issued or your VLS-TS visa is validated by the Ofii. If you do not respect this limit, you risk the withdrawal and refusal to renew your residence permit.
You can work in metropolitan France without any other work permit.
You can only be hired after your employer has declared his or her name (at least 2 working days before the effective date of your hiring) to :
- the prefecture of your place of residence if you have a VLS-TS,
- or the prefecture that granted you your residence permit.
The "uniform Schengen" short-stay visa
This is a visa issued by one of the member countries of the Schengen area for a transit or a stay in a part of the Schengen area or in its entirety.
It is also issued to allow the holder to come to France to follow short courses, take part in training courses or conferences, or engage in paid work (of any kind) for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
Its maximum total duration is 90 days in any 180-day period.
The visa may be valid for one or more entries.
When you arrive in France, you do not need to apply for a residence permit.
Having a bank account is a right that is recognised by French law. A foreign student living in France can therefore open a bank account in any bank in France.
Any bank has the right to refuse to open a bank account for you. It must, however, issue you with a certificate of refusal to open an account. This document will enable you to assert your right to an account with the Banque de France.
If you have difficulty opening a bank account, there is a procedure known as the "right to an account". The Banque de France will automatically designate a bank that will be obliged to open an account for you. Details of this procedure are on the Banque de France website.
Before starting this procedure, you can contact the BACI or the BVE carreire-victoire.
Housing: the VISALE rental deposit
The owner of the accommodation may request a guarantor. Completely free of charge, the VISALE visa is a certificate that allows you to benefit from a rental deposit and thus reassure your landlord in the event of unpaid rent.
VISALE is available to foreign students VISALE can be applied to private accommodation and student residences. It is not necessary to know your address in France to apply for VISALE
It is strongly advised to take the necessary steps before arriving in France as soon as the VLS-TS visa is issued by the consulate.
The VISALE application is made online.
Social security
Affiliation to the social security system is free and compulsory for all students in France, whether they are French or foreign.
To be done as soon as possible after registration for the thesis.
