Students

Students > Practical info

Training
Convention de Stage
Visa
Airline tickets
Housing
Stipend
Bank account
Health Insurance
Personal Liability Insurance
Risk and Release Form
Campus France website

Once you have been matched with a host company or research institution in France, the MIT-France Program Coordinator will work with you to prepare your trip. Preparations will include signing an Internship Agreement, obtaining a visa, purchasing health insurance, purchasing airline tickets and finding housing in France (see below). You will also attend MIT-France training before your internship.

MIT-France training

Interns are expected to attend several training sessions throughout the spring to familiarize you with French culture and society. Topics of discussion will include French politics, industry, research, current events and culture. Training sessions in 2008 will take place on Wednesday, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 5:30 to 7pm.

Interns are also expected to attend the European Retreat, a two-day retreat on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor designed to help students going to France, Italy, Germany and Spain prepare their stays abroad. The retreat is also a great way to meet all of the interns who will be in Europe.

You will also be invited to the MISTI Gala Dinner in the late spring.

Convention de Stage (Internship Agreement) or invitation letter

Host companies require interns to sign a Convention de Stage (Internship Agreement) specifying the details of the internship (dates, stipend, subject, supervisor and other details). The MIT-France Program can provide this form. Once signed by all three parties (MIT, the company, the intern), this form (or an invitation letter) can be used to get a visa, if needed.

Host universities and research centers may not require the Convention de Stage, but will instead send you an invitation letter. This letter should specify all of the internship details listed above and can also be used to get a visa if you need one.

Visa

Short-stay visa (less than 90 days)

If your stay is less than 90 days, you are exempt from the short-stay visa if you are a citizen of the following countries:

European Union Members, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lettonie, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, St Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, the Vatican, Venezuela.

All others will require a short-stay visa and should apply through the French Consulate in Boston: Short-stay visa.

Long-stay student visa (between 90 and 180 days)

If your stay is between 90 and 180 days, no matter what your nationality, you will need a long-stay visa with a residence permit exemption (visa etudiant de longue duree portant la mention exemption de carte de sejour). This means that you will not need to apply for a residence permit (carte de sejour) once you arrive in France: Long-stay visa.

Long-stay student visa (over 180 days — maximum one year)

If your stay is between six and twelve months, no matter what your nationality, you will need a long-stay visa. You will also need to apply for a residence permit (carte de sejour) when you arrive in France: Long-stay visa.

You will apply for the residence permit at your local prefecture. Click here to find your local prefecture.

Airline tickets

If MIT-France is covering your travel, you can either:

purchase your own tickets and be reimbursed by MIT-France about a week before your trip or
purchase your tickets through STA Travel in Harvard Square (65 Mount Auburn Street, (617) 576-4623) and have them billed to MIT-France.

Otherwise, discounted student tickets can be purchased through: http://www.statravel.com/

You can also check:
http://www.travelocity.com/
http://www.expedia.com/
http://www.orbitz.com/
http://www.studentuniverse.com/
http://www.newfrontiers.com/

or contact airline companies directly (ask for special youth prices — under 25):
http://www.airfrance.com/
http://www.aa.com/
http://www.britishairways.com/
http://www.icelandair.com/
http://www.lufthansa.com/

If your host company or institution plans to reimburse your travel expenses, make sure you keep proof of payment and all receipts.

Housing

It is your responsibility to find housing in France, but the MIT-France Program will do what it can to help you. Click here to access a webpage full of links to housing resources in France. Your host company or institution may also be able to help you find housing — ask your supervisor in France.

Stipend

If you are receiving a stipend from the MIT-France Program, we will be able to issue you a check about a week before your departure.

If you are receiving a stipend from your host, you should talk to your host upon arrival about when the funds will be issued to you. In most cases, your first month's stipend will not be given to you until the end of your first month. You will likely need to open a bank account in France; the funds will usually be issued by check or direct bank deposit to your French account in euros.

Bank account

It is not as easy to open a bank account in France as it is in the United States. You will need to go to the bank in person and provide several documents. You should bring a copy of your Internship Agreement, Attestation letter, and your passport and request to open a student account. If you need help, try asking your colleagues or supervisor. Students have had luck opening accounts with the following banks: Societe Generale, Caisse d'Epargne and BNP. In addition, BNP and Bank of America are partner banks, so you can use your Bank of America ATM card to withdraw funds at any BNP ATM free of charge.

Health insurance

If you are insured through MIT or through your parents, ask to receive a letter stating that you will be covered while in France. If you are not covered through MIT, MIT-France will purchase your coverage through Assistance Etudiants, a company in Paris that specializes in insurance for foreign students. You need proof of insurance to get a visa if you need one.

Personal liability insurance

As an intern in France you are required to be covered for "Responsabilite Civile," which protects you if you cause damage to a third party. MIT-France will purchase this coverage for you. It costs about 30 euros per year and can be purchased at the same company as the health insurance, Assistance Etudiants. If your health insurance is provided through Assistance Etudiants, the personal liability insurance is already included.

Risk and Release form

MIT requires you to sign a form acknowledging the risks associated with international travel. You must also provide MIT-France with a copy of your passport and visa if you have one. You can download the risk and release form here.

Finally, consult the Campus France website for helpful information for foreign students in France.