How to get started at UPMF Grenoble "Technologies de la Connaissance" (c) 2002-11-27 Fabian M.Suchanek http://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/~suchanek/personal -> texts This is what you have to do in order to register at the University. It's a bit like a game but if you follow all these steps precisely, you will get a Staying Permit and even money from the French state! The formalities, the opening hours and the locations people tell you will sometimes differ. I will list the things which worked out for me -- without accepting any responsibility for false information. ------Before departure--------------------------------------------- If follow these steps, you will be well-prepared for your stay at Grenoble * Check out www.upmf-grenoble.fr * Try to figure out when the courses start (this is not trivial since it is not fixed until some months before the start of the semester and is different for each department) You may ask M Lecomte (alain.lecomte@umpf-grenoblexxx.fr, remove the 'xxx' from the e-mail address) * Try to find out which courses will take place and how many credits they are worth * Apply for Technologies de la Connaissance via the exchange institution of your university, prepare a Learning Agreement * Apply for Erasmus at your home university * Apply for a students' home on the sheet the UPMF sends you There are two types of appartments: * cheap ones, for students staying less than 9 months * not too expensive and quite OK, for students staying longer The following lists presuppose a students' home on the campus, you may note this wish on the application form. * get lots of passport photos (at least 20) * make a copy of your birth certificate or have it translated if it is not in English, German, French, Italian or Spanish * make lots of copies of your passport's first page (the page with your photo and name etc) * get the document E128 OR E111 OR a french certification of your social insurance * Ignore the notion "You have to arrive during the opening hours of the administration" on the sheet the students' home administration sends you * Plan your journey such that you arrive before midnight * Find out where your students' home is on the campus A campus map is inside the brochure the UMPF sent you * Carry everything you expect to be at the students' home with you. There is nothing: No toilet paper, no dishes, no refrigator, no pans, no forks, no pillow. ------On arrival--------------------------------------------------- How to get to your students' home * always carry all documents, photos and letters you have with you when you plan to do any of the steps below (this is serious! ALWAYS!) * always carry cash with you * On arrival at the bus station or train station at Grenoble, buy a ticket, stamp it and take tram B heading to "Universites" * Exit at the very last stop. * go to the students' home (see map at the tram station) * present your letter of acceptance * verify the address, the postal code and the street number of your students' home (which is not necessarily the same as on your letter of acceptance), memorize your address and room number * get the key * prepare to be shocked * open the door of your room ------Students' home---------------------------------------- You have to pay your rent after arrival * Buy lunch tickets at the next students' restaurant (ticket point opening hours usually around 11:30-13:00) * ask the person at the entrance how to find the administration of the students' home * Go there * pay your rent and your deposit * ask for a certificate of lodgement * ask for a contract and insist on it (I did not get any) ------University---------------------------------------------- How to register at the university * Try to catch Mme Morel (Tue-Thu 9:00-11:30, BSHM-Building, Section A, first floor, room 113) * Get a temporary student's certificate * Get an application form for the Staying permit ("Attestation double") * Get the time and location of the introductory meeting ------Insurance------------------------------------------------ It is obligatory to sign an "Assurance logement". Different insurances are available, this is the cheapest one I found. * Buy a set of 40 tram tickets at the shop at the tram terminus * Take the tram heading to "Cite Internationale" * Exit at the 3rd stop "Grand Sablon" * Enter the SMERRA building directly in front of the tram station (opening hours 9:00-12:00, 1?:00-1?:00, Mon-Fri) * Sign a "Assurance logement" for 15 EUR or 19 EUR (+ robbery) I got the impression that is is better to sign the contract including the risk of robbery. * Make a copy of the sheet at the copy shop at the tram station * Put this copy into the letter box of your students' home administration ------Shopping------------------------------------------------- How to buy all things you need * Take bus No 5 at the tram station heading to "Mas des Iles" (also within walking distance) * Exit at the 4th stop "Clinique Belledonne" * Do your shopping in the "Geant", a giant shopping center (opening hours Mon-Fri 8:30-21:00, Sat 8:30-20:30) * For food, the "Ed" is cheaper: * Exit the university area by going to the main entrance of the UPMF and then heading south (Rue des Universites) * take the first really large street to your right hand side (Avenue Gabriel Peri) * The Ed is situated on your right (opening hours Mon-Fri 8:30-19:30, Sat 8:00-19:00) * For food, "Lidl" is cheapest, but farther away * Take the bus to the Geant * Take the little street to the opposite of the Geant * You will find Lidl (opening hours Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00) ------Account&Map---------------------------------------------- You will receive money from the french state, called "Aide au logement" or "CAF". Therefore you need a bank account. * Take the tram heading to "Cite internationale" * Exit at "Sainte Claire Les Halles" * Go to the postal office * Make an appointment for opening an account * Go to the tourism office next to it * Get a map of the city * Go to the public transport office in the same room * Get a map of the public transport -----CROUS------------------------------------------------------ In order to apply for the Staying permit, you need a signature from the CROUS, the French students' institution. * Take the tram heading to "Cite Internationale" * Exit at the train station * Go to the CROUS (5, rue d'Arsonval, opening hours 13:00-17:00 Mon-Thu, 13:00-16:30 Fri, be there before 13:00!) * Go to the 3rd floor, enter the corridor, take the steps to the 4th floor, wait at the door marked with "Erasmus students" (This saves you from waiting with the other students in front of the main door) * Hand the "Attestation double" to the woman, have it stamped * Ask for an application form for the "Aide au logement" or "CAF" (10 pages) -----Aide au logement------------------------------------------- Apply for the money. You may also want to check out www.caf.fr * Fill out the CAF-form * Hand it to the administration of your students' home or to the man at the entrance and ask them to fill out page 3 * Take the tram heading to "Cite internationale" * Exit at "Victor Hugo" * Hand the form in to the CAF office (Rue de Belgrade/Rue de Felix Viallet) -----Prefecture------------------------------------------------- Apply for the Staying permit (instructions for Europeans) * Collect * your ID-card and a copy of it * the "attestation double" and a copy of it * a photo * the lodgement certificate and a copy of it * the insurance certificate and a copy of it * a copy of your birth certificate * something to read or a walkman * Get up early * Take the tram heading to "Cite Internationale" * Exit at "Hubert Dubedout" * Take the blue Tram A heading to "Denis Papin" * Exit at "Place de Verdun" * Go to the Prefecture (opening hours 9:00-11:45, be there well before 9:00!) * Queue for about 2 hours, use the time to fill out the form you'll find there, prepare your stack of documents * Hand all papers to the clerk, collect what he gives you back * Come back in the afternoon (13:45-15:30, be there at 13:45) 3 days later * Get your Staying Permit