France is about 80% the size of Texas. In the Alps near the Italian and Swiss borders is western Europe’s highest point—Mont Blanc (15,781 ft; 4,810 m). The forest-covered Vosges Mountains are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are along the Spanish border. Except for extreme northern France, the country may be described as four river basins and a plateau. Three of the streams flow west—the Seine into the English Channel, the Loire into the Atlantic, and the Garonne into the Bay of Biscay. The Rhône flows south into the Mediterranean. For about 100 mi (161 km), the Rhine is France’s eastern border. In the Mediterranean, about 115 mi (185 km) east-southeast of Nice, is the island of Corsica (3,367 sq mi; 8,721 sq km).
france
FRANCE
France is about 80% the size of Texas. In the Alps near the Italian and Swiss borders is western Europe’s highest point—Mont Blanc (15,781 ft; 4,810 m). The forest-covered Vosges Mountains are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are along the Spanish border. Except for extreme northern France, the country may be described as four river basins and a plateau. Three of the streams flow west—the Seine into the English Channel, the Loire into the Atlantic, and the Garonne into the Bay of Biscay. The Rhône flows south into the Mediterranean. For about 100 mi (161 km), the Rhine is France’s eastern border. In the Mediterranean, about 115 mi (185 km) east-southeast of Nice, is the island of Corsica (3,367 sq mi; 8,721 sq km).
Communications:
Telephones: main lines in use: 38.433 million (2005); mobile cellular: 49.37 million (2005).
Radio Broadcast Stations: AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998). Television broadcast stations: 584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995).
Internet Hosts: 3.149 million (2006).
Internet Users: 29.945 million (2006).
Transportation:
Railways: Total: 29,085 km (2005).
Highways: Total: 956,303 km; paved: paved: 951,220 km (including 10,490 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2002).
Waterways: 8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000).
Ports and Harbors:
Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg.
Airports: 501 (2006 est.).
International Disputes:
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia.
Documents Required
1. A letter of registration / admission from a French Academic Institution.
2. Proof of resources for tuition fees and 500 Euros/month for living expenses for the period of stay (1 year) for housing, food, medical expenses, transport etc.,) OR A sponsorship letter for accommodation from the city where you are going for your studies and supporting documents showing availability of a minimum of 250 Euros per month for living expenses.
3. Proof of accommodation in France for the period of stay.
4. Short Bio-data.
5. 4 passport size photographs with light background.
6. Copies of degrees / diplomas and certificates (+2/BA/BSc/BE/MA/MSc).
7. Copy (first 2 pages) of valid passport for the entire period of stay in France.
8. Air ticket or Reservation print out of Air ticket.
9. For short and long duration stay in France the student should take a comprehensive “overseas medical policy and repatriation policy” for 3 months and a copy to be attached.
10. A demand draft of Rs 7,000 in favour of “CEDUST” payable at New Delhi .This is the CampusFrance registration fee to be submitted on the day of the Visa interview or on a prior date.
After the NOC interview, the student will be given a presentation letter and with the same he/she would need to submit the passport at the Embassy on a predefined date. The Passport will be returned duly stamped in 2 working days or a week at the latest. The French Embassy student visa fee is 50 euros (in equivalent Indian Rupees i.e. 3030, to be paid in cash at the time of depositing the passport.
Complying with legal requirements once in France
As soon as you arrive in France, you’ll want to take two important steps to comply with French immigration regulations. The sooner you get these formalities out of the way, the smoother and more pleasant your stay will be.
1. Report to your new university or school and register for classes
2. Apply for a student residency permit (if you will be staying for longer than 3 months)
Pay close attention to the documents that you will have to present. Originals are often required.
Report to your new institution and register for classes
All students must report and register each year. The procedure is the same in all universities. In nonuniversity institutions of higher education it differs from institution to institution.
Registration at the universities has two parts : administrative registration and registration for classes.
Other institutions of higher education set their own registration procedures and typically inform students of those procedures before their departure for France.
Pay close attention to the documents that you will have to present. Originals are often required.
Your residency permit
The second thing you’ll have to do once you arrive is apply for your residency permit. All international students must obtain such a permit, even those who are entitled to reside in France without a visa.
International students who intend to study in France for more than 3 months must visit the préfecture (or government center) for their area to obtain a temporary residency permit showing their student status. The temporary residency permit is valid until the expiration date of the applicant’s passport or until the date of completion of the applicant’s academic program, whichever comes first. The permit must be renewed annually.
You will need the residency permit in order to obtain housing assistance.