Guys and gals I'm spicing up these blog posts with a mixture of actual advice and my weekly life updates because I've gotta make sure I'm actually meeting the requirements my uni wants for these blogs...
Might involve me going through these blog posts not and making some things a little more pg aha
So, I remember I actually wanted to write about the process of just what you need to do if you want to study abroad but I just had PTSD from the visa process I didn't even wanna go there. BUT u lucky sausages, today's the day.
I did a study placement this past year so I can only speak from my experience of that. I did struggle a lot with knowing where to even start because uni had this checklist of everything you needed to do/sort out before you left and it was more like 'get a visa', 'sort out private medical insurance etc.
THE VISA PROCESS:
So, I need to go through and check the official websites but if you log onto tsl I think it's called or tls I honestly can't remember. That's the official site of you know officially getting a visa. PLEASE start your visa process 3months before you wanna go because there's just so much documentation they ask for, the same documents every time to upload on different platforms. I also watched youtube videos to guide me through where to start I would like some but honestly if you just type in 'getting a french visa' into youtube, you'll be sorted.
So, you wanna create an account on tls/tsl and apply for a long-stay student visa. They're gonna ask you for your soul and identity so just be prepared to have a lot of documents on hand. You just need to take photos/upload pdf formats of the necessary documents. BEFORE u book an appointment you need to complete a french-visa form on the platform they tell you about on tls. PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF GOD READ THE NOTICE BOARD.
I didn't and booked an appointment which you typically wait a month for, and then they emailed THE DAY BEFORE to say if I didn't complete this process on the french-visa website and have the document to say that the registration was completed, I would be turned away from the appointment. I didn't have that document because I didn't realize I needed it. I then had to cancel my appointment, and complete that process which took 2weeks to finalize and approve, even though I literally just had to submit all the same documents I already had submitted during the actual application for a visa process.
Some of the documents they'll ask for are proof of sufficient funds (3 months worth) proof of accommodation, enrolment, level of sufficiency in the lanaguage etc)
ACCOMODATION:
Advice for accom: visit it first. I wasn't able to because of Covid so I had to book online and pay the deposit/rent in advance. I wouldn't of if I was given the chance to visit Montpellier before and look around. I went with ChezNestor who have been pretty decent tbf, but you could deffo find cheaper accomodation elsewhere. Other of my mates looked on appartager/leboncoin.
For short-term accom a lot of my friends booked a hotel/air b&b/hostel for the first 2weeks in Montpellier so that they could enjoy viewing the city, whilst looking at accomodation listings and arranging viewings. They'd look in local newspapers, on the websites I recommended above, student notice boards at uni, student facebook group chats and so on.
Generally you want to be in the heart of the city, but these accomodations are a little more expensive than getting one that's a couple tram stops away for example. Take the initiative to talk locals if you see cheap accomodation thats in a pretty good condition because this will generally reflect the area.
I live on the boarder of Gambetta which is eventful. Honestly Gambetta just avoid it. I will feel very uncomfortable if I have to walk throught there, even during the day. If I've been on a night out I've always made sure I've had someone to walk me back or avoided backstreets and walk along lit streets with other people, been on the phone, held my keys inbetween my knuckles or even just ran/speed walked home.
You can find a lot of accom info and advice on the 'year abroad learning room' and contacts are found there too if you're having any difficulties. Don't forget you can also head to the erasmus office at your french study placement/univeristy and ask for advice/contacts that the school might have.
A pic of my accom/room:
(vibey asf)
INSURANCE:
Travel insurance, NTU cover you and you'll have your GHIC/EHIC card that should help with medical expenses whilst here. I advise applying to l'assurance maladie for a temporary social security number/an attestion to medical rights during your stay in France. The document they'll give you reduces the prices dramatically of your medical expenses so just print it out and bring it with you to all your appointments, it'll cover you for a year. You can further apply for a carte vital which makes everything a lot easier as every French person has that and it just makes sorting out billing quicker.
VISA APPOINTMENT:
The appointment was a bish there are 3places you can go to Manchester, London or Edinborough. In the whole of the UK, 3 places. It took 3 hours I think for me to be seen too and be approved. They'll check all your printed documents and take your passport/ a passport photo for when they put your visa in there. My passport was ready 3 days after the appointment.
VISA VALIDATION:
You pay £50 to erm I suppose confirm your visa when you get to France which you have to pay and confirm within the first 3 months. It's the same price to renew your visa too, they usually last 6months and you renew them on the France-visa website (the same one you validate your visa on)
TRANSPORT:
Buy an ESN card it's like 5euro and is the sexiest thing I own, you get a reduction on flixbuses (coach service- amazing for cheap traveling) and on flights with Ryanair too!!
Buy a discounted railcard/tram card, the railcard will give you a discount on a majority of train journeys with a specific company I think sncf/omnio here in Montpellier. Tram cards cover you for the buses too, you can get annual or monthly ones I believe. You can apply for a weekend free pass if you get the Tam app if you're here in Montpellier, you literally just need to upload evidence of you being a resident in Montpellier then that will cover your weekend travel
I honestly could be a sponsor for Flixbus because of how much I love it. I've traveled to so many places with them and it's so cheap for us students if you haven't got a job, trips are literally 30euro or less. The most I've paid is 85euro for a return trip from Montpellier to Madrid, I'm looking to book with them in September too, to go to Geneva.
Also off-peak train journeys!! I often went on weekend day-trips with my friends and to give an example we all went to Arles which cost us 6-8euro for a return trip there! Early morning and late evening train bookings are key!
Also just gotta add my fav pic that's related to trasnport (kinda) it was taken on a tram so I think it is valid.
FINANCE:
Get a Monzo card, they're free and will cover you in Europe you won't have any transfer fee costs, my friend also used starling bank and that covered her too whilst being in Europe.
Get a sim-only sans abonnement with 'Free' phone company, I literally pay 8euro every month and I have unlimited calls, texts & 4G.
Bro pay your accom and then put a least 1/3 or 1/2 of what you have left into savings. budget your ass off for food/travel costs etc.
Set up a french bank account (if you need to) with banque populaire, they have a deal with esn where you get 50euro just for opening an account with them. Depending on the account type you'll be opening with them they'll tell you the required documents you need to take with you to the appointment.
(PS, try taking a friend with you that can speak a bit of English in case you get stuck)
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