International students: get ready for the start of the 2024 academic year!
With the start of the academic year fast approaching, Université Paris-Saclay is ready to welcome its international student community with a wide range of support and integration schemes to ensure that their arrival in France and at the university goes as smoothly as possible. If you are an international student or PhD candidate and you will be joining Université Paris-Saclay this September, find out more about the help and initiatives on offer below.
Before your arrival
Prepare for your administrative procedures with the Online Welcome Desk
The Online Welcome Desk is an online tool provided by Université Paris-Saclay which gives international students, PhD candidates and staff personalised information to help them prepare for their arrival in France. The tool generates a personalised roadmap for users, based on their personal situation and their country of origin with key information on visa applications, health insurance, bank accounts, accommodation, integration, and more.
Access the tool and generate your roadmap
Make friends and discover France with the Buddy Programme
The Buddy Programme is a peer-to-peer integration and support programme. Newly-arrived international students and PhD candidates at Université Paris-Saclay are paired with students who are already at the university who can share tips and recommendations about campus life and/or propose activities, helping international students to get to grips with French university life as soon as they arrive.
When you arrive at Université Paris-Saclay
Get support during the Arrival Days
Université Paris-Saclay is organising a series of Arrival Days to welcome its international students at the very start of the academic year. Arrival Days are organised on various campuses* and stands and speakers will be on hand to provide useful information on university services and administrative procedures.
- Monday 2 September 2024 – Orsay-Bures campus
- Tuesday 3 September 2024 – Sceaux campus
- Thursday 5 September 2024 – Plateau de Saclay campus
- Tuesday 10 September 2024 – UVSQ – Guyancourt campus
- Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 September 2024 – Évry campus
* Université Paris-Saclay students are free to choose which Arrival Day suits them best, regardless of where they are enrolled. For example, a student studying at the Jean Monnet Faculty in Sceaux can register for the Arrival Day on the Orsay-Bures campus or elsewhere if that is the most practical date.
Register for an Arrival Day and find out more
Find out about the university’s associations, support initiatives and organisation at the Welcome Day
On Thursday 26 September, Université Paris-Saclay will hold its annual Welcome Day on the Bures-Orsay campus (building 333 car park – access via rue du Doyen André Guinier 91440 Bures-sur-Yvette), from 11:30am to provide all of its students, from its faculties, university technical institutes (IUTs) and schools with information on:
- The university’s student life, associations, sports, culture and local activities
- Accommodation, catering, transport, facilities
- Social and welfare support
The Welcome Day will be followed by a party from 7pm for international students (registration required), at the Crous Les Cèdres university restaurant.
Get help with your administrative procedures at the Gate Paris-Saclay
The GATE is a multi-service platform that welcomes international students, researchers or employees of R&D centres and higher education institutions in the Paris-Saclay area to help with administrative procedures (visas, accommodation, catering, healthcare, material support) to get settled in France with peace of mind. It will reopen on 29 August 2024 until the end of December 2024, at the Orsay University Library, Building 407, rue du Doyen Georges Poitou, 91400 Orsay.
Find out more and make an appointment
You can find out more about these initiatives and what is on offer throughout the year for the international community at Université Paris-Saclay here: https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/campus-life/international-welcome-desk
You can also contact: international.welcomedesk@universite-paris-saclay.fr