Do you have questions about your trip to France, settling in at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, or the steps you need to take?
Here is some practical information to help answer that question.
Your contacts
Through its Welcome Center, the University of Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB) supports its international students and visitors upon their arrival and throughout their stay.
Location: Jacob-Bellecombette Campus, Building 14.
Hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon (walk-ins welcome) and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment.
Karine SCRUTTON
Responsible for welcoming international visitors, particularly those participating in exchange programs
Contact: incoming.students@univ-smb.fr
Phone: 04 79 75 85 70
Jasmine YAKHLOUFI-BONNIOL
Responsible for welcoming international students, particularly independent students and doctoral candidates
Contact: international@univ-smb.fr
Phone: 04 79 75 91 15
Integration Services:
Marthe LE MOAL
International Audience Engagement Coordinator
Contact: integration.events@univ-smb.fr
Phone: 04 79 75 84 16
Survival kit
Savoie Mont Blanc University: Explore
Virtual tour of the USMB’s three campuses
- Annecy
- Jacob-Bellecombette
- Le Bourget-du-Lac
Learn French
You want to learn French or improve your French skills.
Join ACCENTS, a language and certification center.
The ACCENTS Center offers French classes (free for exchange students and doctoral students).
Savoie Mont Blanc University: Getting Settled In
Every year, the Office of International Relations organizes orientation events for incoming students.
You can view the program for the current year below:
Schedule of Orientation Events in Chambéry and Le Bourget
Annecy Orientation Event Schedule
Nature Orientation Weekend – Courchevel – Late August
Farewell Dinner – Last Week of April
A farewell dinner at a restaurant. Welcome back to our international students!
Exploring Walibi Park – in April
The last outing of the academic year. The students enjoyed the attractions at Walibi Park!
Hiking and a boat tour in Bourdeau – in March
A wonderful way to explore Savoie’s cultural and natural heritage, featuring a cruise on Lake Bourget followed by a visit to Hautecombe Abbey and a hike to Bourdeau.
Around the World at the Manège - in March
This year, the featured country was the Netherlands.
For a weekend, Chambéry took on the colors of the world. More than 80 students participated in this event, which was rich in shared experiences and a celebration of cultural diversity.
International students showcased their traditions through food tastings, activities, dances, and much more!
Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi – in February
The international students explored Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi, which soars 3,842 meters into the sky.
On the agenda: breathtaking views of the French and Italian Alps and snow-covered landscapes bathed in sunshine!
Orientation Day – late February
Sharing Christmas: International students celebrate the holidays with families in Chambéry
Welcome Party: USMB and the City of Chambéry organized a welcome party for international students
USMB Welcomes Its New International Students
Email: integration.events@univ-smb.fr
Phone: 04 79 75 84 16
Join the Facebook group“International Students – Savoie Mont Blanc University”to stay informed about activities in the area.
Join the International Friendship Buddies program to be paired with a French-speaking student from the University of Savoie Mont Blanc.
This is a welcome program for international students organized by the Office of International Relations and run by students at the university, with the goal of helping you navigate the process and settle in at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc. This program is here to help you. Your “Local Buddy” can provide you with useful addresses, tips, and recommendations when you arrive.
How does it work?
One or two students from the University of Savoie Mont Blanc can mentor several international students arriving at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, helping to form groups so you’ll have some familiar faces right from the start!
Savoie Mont Blanc University encourages and supports student clubs. You’re sure to find something that interests you among the many clubs—whether they’re sports, cultural, artistic, or other types. Don’t hesitate to join one to meet French students!
Get active! Throughout the year, the Sports Department offers more than 60 sports activities: skiing, swimming, dance, track and field, water sports, excursions, rock climbing…
Scholarships and financial aid
Erasmus+ KA171/MIC (International Credit Mobility) Grants
Credit transfer is part of the Erasmus+ program.
It allows incoming students (from institutions with which USMB has an agreement under the E+MIC program) to receive a mobility grant.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarships (for master’s and doctoral students)
USMB Eiffel Scholarship Schedule / 2027 Academic Year
- Call for Applications Opens:10/06/26
- Deadline for submission of applications: 11/06/26
- Campus France Results Announcement:Starting April 12, 2027
Contact: international@univ-smb.fr
Supporting documents:
Financial aid for students is administered by the CROUS
National Emergency Relief Fund
Contact the social workers at the university
Partial exemption from differentiated tuition fees for certain international exchange students for the 2025–2026 academic year
(Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the University of Savoie Mont Blanc No. 2024.09.24_4.2.2., dated September 24, 2024)
The Board of Directors of the University of Savoie Mont Blanc has approved a partial waiver of the differentiated tuition fees for eligible international students, bringing their tuition fees to the same amount as that paid by French students.
The exemption is granted for the duration of the degree program.
The application for enrollment at USMB by the students concerned constitutes a request for partial exemption from tuition fees.
The partial exemption applies subject to France’s European and international commitments and in accordance with any agreements entered into by the institution, where applicable.
Consular procedures
- Students who are citizens of the European Union (EU):
An ID card is sufficient. - Non-EU students: To enter France, all foreign nationals must present a passport issued by their home country.
Please make sure your passport and/or ID card are valid for the entire duration of your stay!!!
Before you leave
The French embassy or consulate in your home country will issue your visa. Please note that you cannot regularize your status in France.
Obtaining a visa is a mandatory requirement for all foreign nationals, with the exception of nationals of the following countries:
- members of the European Union (EU)
- of the European Free Trade Association: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
- others: Monaco, Andorra
Several types of visas may be issued for the purposes of study, training, or internships in France.
When you arrive in France, be sure to have your student visa validated
Students from outside the European Economic Area must hold a “long-stay” visa that serves as a residence permit. Within 3 months of your arrival in France:
You must validate it online.
Please note: You will not be able to regularize your status once you are in France if you are holding a short-stay (tourist) visa. Be sure to check the requirements BEFORE you leave!
When you arrive in France, you must apply for a residence permit at the prefecture.
Campus France Tutorial / Video: Applying for and Renewing a Residence Permit (French Version), (English Version), (Spanish Version)
Housing
The Incoming Student Services Office can assist you in your search for housing in a university residence hall (for exchange students only).
Due to the high volume of requests we receive each year and the limited number of rooms available in university residence halls, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate all requests.
If your application is accepted, you will be contacted by email by the CROUS, which manages student housing. You will need to complete your rental application and pay the rent deposit and welcome kit fee; otherwise, the room will be assigned to another student. Once your rental application has been approved, you will need to pay the security deposit online to finalize your application.
To maximize your chances of finding housing, please be sure to meet the application deadlines when you pre-register at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc.
Other accommodation options:
If you don’t have family or friends in France and a financial guarantee is required for your housing, the French government has established an alternative solution: VISALE
New from Visale: To help you with your Visale application, you can now contact our services directly at 0970 800 800 (local call rates apply). For international students, an English-speaking service has been set up to assist you with your Visale application. For more information, visit selectra to find all the steps you need to take when changing your address in France.
Tutorial / Video from Campus France: VISALE (French version), (English version), (Spanish version)
Renters insurance is mandatory, regardless of the type of housing you live in in France.
You can contact a student insurance provider—such as SMERRA, ADH , or LMDE— any other insurance company, or your bank in France.
The Personalized Housing Allowance (APL) is a form of financial assistance provided, under certain conditions, to tenants in France.
- Students from the EU, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland can apply for personalized housing assistance as soon as they arrive.
- Non-EU students who are degree candidates must hold a long-stay visa or a “pursuit of studies” residence permit AND receive a need-based scholarship. Students who are employed (as salaried employees, apprentices, or in work-study programs) are also eligible.
How canI apply for this assistance? :
Visit the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) website to apply for APL
You can also contact your nearest branch:
- Family Allowance Office in Chambéry – 20 Avenue Jean Jaurès – 73000 Chambéry
- Family Allowance Fund in Annecy – 2 Rue Emile Romanet – 74987 Annecy Cedex 9
Health
This applies to all students, regardless of their country of origin.
This is an optional health insurance plan if you wish to supplement your Social Security reimbursements.
You can enroll in the supplemental health insurance plan of your choice (a student health insurance plan, your parents’ health insurance plan, another supplemental provider, etc.). The level and nature of benefits provided by supplemental health insurance plans vary depending on the policy.
Student jobs
Student jobs
The Etudébrouille Facebook page ( USMB association) regularly posts job listings in the Chambéry area!
A new platform, Mon Job en Savoie, also centralizes numerous job openings for young people in the Savoie department.
Volunteering
Bridges by Mentors
Bridges by Mentors is a European program that offers you the chance to take a training course on mentoring, participate in a few free activities (hiking, dining out, etc.), and volunteer with an NGO. https://www.bridgesbymentors.eu/universite-savoie-mont-blanc/
Arrival and exploration
Arrival by plane
The nearest airports are Geneva and Lyon.
Shuttle buses run between these airports and the cities of Annecy and Chambéry:www.altibus.com
- Geneva Airport
Geneva Airport is connected to the “Geneva-Cornavin” train station and the bus station by regular train and bus services. There are several daily connections to Annecy and Chambéry. - Lyon Airport
Few trains stop at the airport station; however, the Tram-Express provides a direct connection between the airport and Lyon Part-Dieu Station, where you can take a bus or train (frequent departures) to Annecy and Chambéry.
Arrival by train – from Paris
The cities of Annecy and Chambéry are very well connected to Paris by the TGV.
You can:
- or take a train from Roissy/Charles de Gaulle Airport (with a transfer at Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu)
- or go to Gare de Lyon (located in downtown Paris) to take a direct train to Annecy or Chambéry.
To find your way around the University of Savoie’s various campuses:
Download a map of each campus
To get around by bus in Chambéry, Le Bourget-du-Lac, and Annecy:
Synchro Mobilities (Chambéry/Le Bourget-du-Lac)
Sibra (Annecy)
Welcome to Chambéry and Annecy
Campus France brochure in French, English, and Spanish
Chambéry
Chambéry, the historic capital of Savoy, has a population of 56,000. Situated at the gateway to the Alps, it enjoys an excellent location, nestled between lakes and mountains.
Thanks to its many cultural facilities (theater, movie theaters, concert hall, media library, Eurâka Gallery, Castle of the Dukes of Savoy, etc.), it boasts a rich cultural and artistic heritage.
Chambéry City Hall
Chambéry TouristChambéry Tourist Office
Annecy
Located in the Northern Pre-Alps, the city of Annecy has a population of 50,000. Nicknamed “the Venice of the Alps ” because of the small bridges spanning the three streams that run through its old town, this tourist and industrial hub is distinguished by its large lake. Its castle, the Palais de l’Ile, and the Conservatory of Art and History are all attractions worth exploring.
Annecy City Hall
Annecy and Lake Annecy Tourist Office
What's there to see in the area?
The cities of Grenoble, Lyon, Geneva, and Turin
Chartreuse Nature Park
Bauges Massif Natural Park
Vanoise National Park
Testimonials
Anke, Thomas More Mechelen-Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
“I’m so glad I chose to study in Chambéry for a semester.
This experience gave me the chance to improve my French and English. I had so many new experiences, I learned to push my limits, and I made friends from all over the world…
The professors and classmates were very kind and helpful.
I also loved the university’s location, because it offers an incredible view of the city of Chambéry, nestled between the mountains. The university is just a twenty-minute walk from the tourist center.
There’s plenty to do in Chambéry and the surrounding area, no matter the weather or time of day!
Plus, I was lucky enough to have this experience in Savoie, a truly impressive region!
I am so grateful for this incredible and unforgettable experience. CHAMBÉRY, I LOVE YOU!”
Marc, École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
From the moment I arrived at Polytech Annecy-Chambéry, I was made to feel very welcome, and I have absolutely no regrets about my choice of university. The campus is spread across two locations, one of which is near Annecy, with its stunning lake and a train station that makes it easy to travel on weekends or during breaks. At Polytech, there are dormitories near the classroom building. The students here are very friendly. If you have the chance to study abroad, don’t hesitate!
Fabian, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences (FH), Magdeburg, Germany
The best thing about Chambéry is, of course, the scenery. It’s beautiful to look at and even better for outdoor activities. There are lovely trails and paths for hikers. There are even places for
Skydiving. The university is located on a mountainside and is surrounded by nature. In this setting, studying is a pleasure, and you can also enjoy the outdoors during breaks. Don’t forget to have fun during the semester, even if you love forests and mountains as much as I do. There’s also plenty of nightlife for those who prefer it.
There is a wide variety of courses at the university. The LEA courses I took were mostly interesting, and the professors were friendly. The administration is very helpful in resolving any issues that come up (because if you’re an international student, the paperwork can be a hassle).