Obtaining a degree

The stages of my study project in France

Information for international degree-seeking students applying for English-taught master programs.

If you would like to apply for a course taught in French, please visit our website in French, where you will find all the information you need to apply for a course taught in French if you are an international degree-seeking student. Please note: to be able to apply for a course taught in French, you must have a level of French ranging from B2 to C2, depending on the course you would like to follow.

Before arriving in France: I prepare my project

1. I choose my course

 

We offer English-taught Master programmes in different fields.

Science and Technology

Mathematics for Physics

Computer science

Applied physics

Chemistry

Electrical engineering

Signal and Image processing

Superior Institute of Automotive and Transport (ISAT)

Transport, mobility, network

Health

Health Biology

IAE Dijon – School of Management

Management

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Biology-Agrosciences

Languages and communication

Culture and Communication

We can’t pre-screen your profile or advise you which course program you should apply for – you need to read all the information about the course you’re interested in and assess whether you’re potentially eligible for admission. You need to judge whether your previous career path and the job you’d like to do one day are consistent with the prerequisites, content taught and job opportunities of the course program you’d like to enter. If this is the case, start drafting your cover letter and gather together all the required documents, translated into English if necessary: diplomas, transcripts…

Please note: you won’t be able to change course or campus once you’ve been accepted.

2. I make sure I have the language proficiency required to study

Applicants in the following categories are exempt from English language tests:

  • citizens of countries where English is the only official language, as well as applicants residing in those countries if they have obtained a high school diploma delivered by that country;
  • for countries where English is not the only official language, applicants who have completed their secondary school level education at an English-speaking institution.

Good to know: if you do not have your language certificate yet you can still start your application procedure and add it later but remember that your application file must be complete (language certificate included) before the application official deadline.

3. I submit my application

You must submit your application using the correct procedure, depending on your personal situation:

  • your nationality,
  • your country of official residence and
  • the level at which you are applying (1st or 2nd year of study).

Detailed information about the application procedure for international degree-seeking students is available at I apply for admission page.

4. I find a source of funding
  • To get an idea of the cost of living in France, consult the Preparing your budget section on the Campus France website.
  • To get an idea of the difference between the cost of living in your home country and in France, you can consult comparison sites such as Numbeo or Expatistan.

To study in France, you need to ensure that you have sufficient financial resources to pay for university fees and day-to-day living expenses.

Students who need to obtain a visa must justify their resources to the French consulate or embassy responsible for issuing visas.

Université Bourgogne Europe does not award scholarships, and there are no specific grants to which you may be entitled once you arrive in France. As a result, you need to make sure you have a reliable solution for financing your stay in France.

Here are some scholarships you may be eligible for, depending on your situation and background:

5. I find accommodation

Once your application has been accepted, you need to find accommodation before you arrive in France.

Accommodation – Dijon Campus

On-campus residences

The university has an agreement with the Crous (local provider for student housing) for international students admitted in an English-taught Master programme, and we can book a room for you on Campus. The rent varies between 170€ and 360€ per month. You will be contacted around June, but note that we will not have enough rooms for everyone. Therefore, we can’t guarantee that we will be able to secure a room for you. Please note that priority will be given to students who need to apply for a visa.

You can apply by yourself for an accommodation in a Crous residence: at the beginning of July, apply directly here after creating your account on the MSE platform.

Studapart Platform

Are you looking for another reliable housing solution? You can use the Studapart platform, with which Université Bourgogne Europe has a partnership. They offer exclusive accommodation to students at our University, with verified ads and secure payment. Rentals from 1 to 24 months in studio flats, shared flats, rooms in private homes… If you don’t have a guarantor living in France, Studapart will act as your guarantor for the duration of the rental. If you have any questions, please contact Studapart’s multilingual team at contact@studapart.com and booking@studapart.com. See also the Studapart flyer and Accommodation Guide.

Accommodation – Le Creusot Campus (VIBOT and MaIA programs)

After confirmation of participation, the candidate will receive our VIBOT-MaIA “Student Practical Guide” containing information and forms for the practical organisation of the academic stay in Le Creusot (housing, required insurances, banking, list of documents to be submitted…) as well as the lists of related service providers.

Good to know

  • You may be eligible for financial assistance from the French government to help finance part of your housing costs. Once you’ve settled into your new home in France, visit the Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) website for more information.
  • Do you need a guarantor to rent your home? Visit the Visale website for information on obtaining a free deposit and guarantee to facilitate access to student housing. See also this video from Campus France.

Other accommodation options

6. I obtain the documents I need to live in France

Identity document, visa, residence permit

Students with EU, EEA or Swiss nationality must have an identity card or passport which is valid for the duration of their stay in France.

Students from countries OUTSIDE the EU, EEA and Switzerland

You must have a passport which is valid for at least 15 months from the moment you will arrive in France.

You must also obtain a visa. This is a time-consuming process – start as soon as you receive notification of admission from our university.

  • If you live in a country that applies the Etudes en France procedure, you must apply through this platform. If you have been admitted through Etudes en France, just carry on with the procedure for your visa. If you have been admitted through another platform, apply on Etudes en France with your admission letter, through the entry I am accepted.
  • All other students should contact the cultural service of the French embassy in their country of residence to find out how to obtain a student visa. If you do not live in the country of your nationality, we also advise you to contact the French embassy in your home country.

To obtain your student visa, you’ll need to present, among other things:

  • your notice of admission from Université Bourgogne Europe. We do not issue pre-registration certificates, so for your visa application you must use the notice of admission you received from us;
  • proof of accommodation, so make sure you have found it before applying for your visa;
  • proof of financial resources (615€/month for the whole academic year);
  • a passport valid for at least 15 months from the moment you will arrive in France.
  • For more information on your visa application, visit the official French visa website.

After your arrival in France

  • If you need to obtain or extend your residence permit, consult the information on the Foreign nationals in France website and submit your application according to the details provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas France.
  • Good to know: Université Bourgogne Europe International Office has set up a service to help you apply for an extension to your student residence permit before submitting your application to the Préfecture. This service is usually available from mid-April to mid-July.
  • See also this Campus France video explaining how to apply for or renew your residence permit online.

Health insurance

Make sure you have health coverage before you arrive in France.

  • If you have health coverage in an EU or EEA country or in Switzerland: in most cases, you simply need to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your insurer.
  • If you have health coverage in another country, we highly recommend that you take out private insurance to cover your first few weeks in France, while you obtain French health insurance.
7. I prepare the necessary documents for my university registration

In order to complete your administrative registration, you need to have all the required documents. Some of these must be prepared before you arrive, while others will be obtained once you are in France.

The list of required documents is updated on this page every year – usually at the end of June.

For information only, here is the list of required documents for 2024/2025 academic year.

  • Registration form completed and signed (the download link to fill-in the form will be available here).
  • A photocopy of your identity card or passport, and, for those concerned, a photocopy of your Visa D or long-stay visa marked Student (if you are not a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland).
  • A photocopy of your French civil liability insurance certificate (obtain one from an insurance company or bank on arrival in France). Approximate cost: 20 euros.
  • A photocopy of your notice of admission to a Université Bourgogne Europe course program.
  • Proof of payment of the Contribution à la vie étudiante et de campus – CVEC (contribution to student and campus life).
  • The original and a photocopy of your most recent higher education diploma (Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, etc.) with a sworn translation into French or English.
  • If you have been previously enrolled in a French higher education establishment, please enclose a photocopy of your previous student card or certificate of attendance.
  • If you are a scholarship holder, please enclose a photocopy of your scholarship certificate.
  • Only students residing in countries on this list:
    • vaccination record (recommended vaccinations),
    • lung X-ray (with report, in French if possible) to be taken before your departure for France. The X-ray must be less than 3 months old. This is required as part of your tuberculosis screening.
      Once you’ve arrived at the Université Bourgogne Europe, we’ll direct you to the Student Health Service (SSE), where you’ll be given a free medical consultation.

At the start of the academic year: I take care of administrative formalities and familiarize myself with the environment of the campus

8. I arrive in France before my course starts

We recommend that you arrive on the campus where your course will take place before classes start, so that you can settle in, complete the administrative procedures and attend classes from the very first day.

The academic calendar is updated every year, usually at the beginning of July for the university year beginning in September.

Late arrivals can only be authorised by the Heads of Master for special circumstances. If you register more than 15 days after the start date of your course, your admission notice will no longer be valid and you will no longer be able to register at the university.

Good to know: if your course program starts before you have completed your administrative registration, you must still attend classes – the fact that you are not yet registered with the university does not prevent you from taking part in your courses.

9. I register at the University

You need to register with the Université Bourgogne Europe.

You can find all the details on the page I’m registering at the University.

10. I validate my visa, if applicable

If you’ve been granted a visa to study in France, you’ll need to take the remaining steps to ensure that your situation is legal.

For more information on validating your visa, see the Campus France page How to validate your long-stay visa when you arrive in France?

11. I access my digital services

Student card

  • Once you’ve completed your administrative registration, you’ll receive your student card, which entitles you to a wide range of services: preferential rates at university restaurants, book loans at university libraries, discounts at cinemas, theaters, museums, sports facilities, and so on.
  • You can also use it as a means of payment in university restaurants.
  • Follow these instructions to activate your student card.

Electronic student account

48 hours after your administrative registration, you must activate your electronic student account, which will enable you to use a number of features:

  • student messaging, secure sharing of large files, event planning, etc.;
  • administrative services: downloading your registration certificate, exam calendar, grades and results, pedagogical registration, etc.;
  • online courses;
  • documentary resources;
  • access to the University’s Wi-Fi network at many locations on campus (you can also use computers in self-service rooms);
  • access to free Microsoft Office software, which will also enable you to use TEAMS, the platform on which you may take some online courses. On TEAMS, you’ll also be able to join the International Office and international student conversation group, so you’ll be better supported in case of need.

You can activate and access your account on the University website, under Environnement numérique de travail (ENT) – Mon compte – Étudiant – Activer mon compte.

For more information, see My digital services.

12. I discover my classes and my University component

With the exception of administrative formalities with the International Office, which is a central service of the University, you’ll be spending your time in your faculty, school or institute.

The courses you will be attending will generally take place in your component building.

The secretarial and administrative offices for your course program will support you throughout your studies. In some cases, you’ll also find specialized libraries, cafeterias, student associations, relaxation and study areas…

To stay informed about your studies, you should regularly consult the notice boards in the corridors and the website of your faculty/school/institute.

13. I make sure I have health coverage

Once you have registered with the International Office, you must apply for French health insurance if necessary.

This is compulsory for all students who do not have health insurance from an EU or EEA country or from Switzerland, and in a few special cases for students covered by the European Community.

14. I take part in the welcome days activities for international students

In September, the International Office, in cooperation with the Dijon town hall and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) InsiDijon, organizes a series of welcome days for international students, including activities such as campus tours, informational meetings, welcome ceremonies, festive evenings and intercultural workshops.

This is an opportunity for you to discover the university, find out useful information about student life and meet other students. These events are free and open to all international students at the university.

The detailed program of the welcome days is published on this page, usually in early July or late August.

15. I find out about all the facilities available to me in my student life: libraries, restaurants, health, sport, culture, etc.

In addition to the courses you’ll be taking at your faculty, school or institute, the university also supports you in other aspects of your life as a student.

Successful study and professional integration

Special services

Culture

See also

During the academic year: I can take advantage of all the facilities available to help me succeed in and prepare for the rest of my studies

16. I find out about ways to fit into my new environment: associations, cultural adaptation, events, alumni…

To help you feel at home in your new environment, you can take part in various events, join student associations, join alumni networks, discover French culture…

This will help you learn more about the society in which you live and meet new people, so you won’t feel alone.

You can find advice on the Integrating into a new culture page.

17. I know who to contact if I have a question

Depending on the nature of your inquiry, you need to contact the right people.

General contacts at the UBE

  • The International Office’s Mobility Unit: degree.seeking.students@ube.fr. Our staff are multilingual – we can provide information in French and English, and potentially in other languages (German, Spanish, Romanian, Croatian…).
  • The Academics and University Life Cluster (Pôle Formation et Vie Universitaire, PFVU): orientation, professional insertion, internship and job search workshops, help with disabilities, etc.: pole.formation@ube.fr.

Contacts within your university component

  • The teachers responsible for your course program. If you don’t know the name of the person in charge of your course, you’ll find it in the course program description on the Academics page.
  • Your course program’s registrar/secretariat.

Good to know

  • You can also consult the Contacts page and use the directory on the ENT to find the contact details of people you wish to reach at the University.
  • All agents are also available on the TEAMS platform.

Emergencies

You must contact the appropriate national services.

  • Emergency medical service (SAMU): dial 15.
  • Police intervention in the event of violence, theft or burglary: dial 17.
  • Fire department for fires, gas leaks, water damage, natural disasters, road accidents: 18.
  • 112: European emergency number, accessible free of charge throughout the European Union, in addition to national emergency numbers.
  • 114: single emergency number that centralizes emergency requests by SMS and fax, for all types of situations (police, gendarmerie, fire department, SAMU). It’s ideal for people who have difficulty hearing or speaking, or if you find yourself in a situation where it’s impossible to speak (e.g., a terrorist attack when you have to remain hidden and silent).
18. I ask for help if I’m in a difficult situation

If you’re experiencing difficulties of any kind, don’t remain alone with your problems. There are services and people who can help you or redirect you to the organizations that can solve your problem.

  • If you’re having trouble with your coursework, talk to your teachers and exchange coordinator to find a solution before it’s too late.
  • If you’re having financial difficulties or need help with administrative formalities, you can contact the University’s Solidarity Center. You can potentially benefit from free food aid and basic necessities thanks to various student associations (Épi’Campus, Febia, Campus comestible).
  • If you have a health problem, you can make an appointment with the Student Health Service (SSE).
  • You can also make an appointment with social workers from the Crous social services department.
  • You may be able to obtain financial aid from the French government through the CAF to finance part of your housing costs.
  • If you don’t know who to contact to get the help you need, you can contact the Mobility department of the International Office (degree.seeking.students@ube.fr)), who will be able to help you or direct you to the right people.
19. I want to take advantage of international mobility schemes

As an individual international student, you can take advantage of all the international mobility schemes available to French students, to enrich your academic career and gain another cultural experience.

For example, you can spend a semester studying abroad at one of the partner universities of the Université Bourgogne Europe in the framework of an exchange program, or you can do an internship in another country.

Several scholarships are available to help you carry out your mobility project.

For more information, see the Student Mobility section.

20. I can take advantage of job placement schemes

You can take advantage of free services to help you find a job.

After my academic year

You’ve completed your year of study and want to stay in France?

You can apply to another course program to enrich your academic background, or start looking for a job. Don’t forget to apply for an extension of your residence permit if this is what you need.

Good to know

  • You should start your application several months before the end of the current academic year, to make sure you don’t fall behind.
  • If you wish to continue your studies, you should contact the people in charge of the course you would like to enroll in directly to find out how to apply.
  • If you need to extend your residence permit or apply for a change of status in order to look for work, you need to contact the prefecture in your département of residence. The International Office at the Université Bourgogne Europe has set up a service to help you apply for an extension of your student residence permit before submitting your application to the prefecture. This service is usually available from mid-April to mid-July.

You have been admitted to one of our English-taught Master programmes? Congratulations! Please use the guidebook specifically designed for you, to assist you with the different procedures that you will need to complete!