Do you have questions about coming to France, integrating atUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc, or what you need to do?
Here's some practical information to help you find the answer.
Your contacts
Thanks to its Welcome Center,université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB) is able to support its international students on arrival and throughout their stay.
Location: Jacob-Bellecombette Campus, Building 14.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Karine SCRUTTON
Reception and incoming mobility coordinator, particularly for exchanges
Contact: incoming.students@univ-smb.fr
Telephone: 04 79 75 85 70
Géraldine DU CREST
In charge of welcoming international visitors, especially freemovers and PhD students
Contact: international@univ-smb.fr
Telephone: 04 79 75 91 15
Cindy DE ALMEIDA
In charge of welcoming and integrating international visitors
Contact: integration.events@univ-smb.fr
Telephone: 04 79 75 84 16
Survival kit
Université Savoie Mont Blanc : discovery
Virtual tour of the 3 USMB campuses
- Annecy
- Jacob-Bellecombette
- Le Bourget-du-Lac
Learning French
You want to learn French or improve your French.
Join ACCENTS, language and certification center.
The ACCENTS center offers French language courses (free for exchange students and PhD students).
Université Savoie Mont Blanc : getting in
Every year, the International Relations Department organizes integration events for incoming students.
Nous publierons le programme des événements de l’année prochaine en mai !
Mais vous pouvez d’ici la découvrir le programme de l’année en cours ci-dessous :
Programme des événements d’intégration de l’année
Séminaire d’intégration – Courchevel – dernière semaine d’août
Welcome toUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc !
This year's seminar took place in Courchevel, and between rafting, accrobranche, hiking and spa, the international students were able to discover the region, challenge themselves and get to know each other! 
Goodbye dîner – dernière semaine d’avril
Un dîner d’adieu au restaurant. Bon retour aux étudiants internationaux !
Découverte du Parc Walibi – en Avril
The last outing of the academic year. The students enjoyed the attractions at Parc Walibi!
Randonnée et croisière à Bourdeau – en Mars
A great way to discover Savoie's cultural and natural heritage, with a cruise on Lac du Bourget followed by a visit to Hautecombe Abbey and a hike to Bourdeau.
Tour du Monde au Manège -en Mars
This year's featured country was the Netherlands.
For a weekend, Chambéry took on the colors of the world. More than 80 students took part in this event, rich in sharing and a sign of interculturality.
International students showcased their traditions through tastings, entertainment, dancing and much more!
Chamonix et l’Aiguille du Midi – en Février
The international students discovered Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi, which stretches skywards at 3,842 m altitude.
The program includes extraordinary views of the French and Italian Alps and snow-covered landscapes under the sun!
Week-end d’intégration – en février
The integration weekend took place in Courchevel. Students discovered downhill skiing and snowshoeing.
An ideal way to explore the region, meet new people and get the semester off to a great start!
Second semester: international students welcome to La Féclaz
Shared Christmas: international students share the festive season with local families
Welcome Party: USMB and the city of Chambéry organize a welcome party for international students
USMB welcomes its new international students
Mail: integration.events@univ-smb.fr
Telephone: 04 79 75 84 16
Rejoignez le groupe Facebook « Etudiants internationaux – Université Savoie Mont Blanc” pour être informés des activités proposées sur le territoire.
Join the International Friendship Buddies program and be sponsored by a French-speaking student fromUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc.
This is a welcome program for international students set up by the International Relations Department and run by students from the University, with the aim of facilitating the process and integration into theUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc. This program is here to help you. Your "Local Buddy" will be able to give you all the tips and advice you need when you arrive.
How does it work?
One or twoUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc students can sponsor several international students arriving atUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc, so you can form groups to get your bearings as soon as you arrive!
Université Savoie Mont Blanc encourages and supports student associations. You're sure to find what you're looking for in our range of sports, cultural and artistic associations. Don't hesitate to get involved and meet French students!
Play sports! Throughout the year, the Sports Department offers more than 60 sporting activities: skiing, swimming, dance, athletics, water sports, excursions, climbing...
Scholarships and financial aid
MIC Erasmus+ scholarships (International Credit Mobility)
International credit mobility is part of the Erasmus+ program.
It enables incoming students (from institutions with which the USMB has an agreement under the E+MIC program) to benefit from a mobility grant.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarships (for Master's and PhD students)
Calendrier USMB Bourses Eiffel / session 2025
- Lancement de l’appel à candidature : mi-octobre 2024
- Date limite de réception des dossiers : 22 novembre 2024
- Annonce des résultats Campus France : première semaine d’avril 2025
Contact: international@univ-smb.fr
Explanatory documents :
REGLEMENTATION LAUREATS Eiffel 2025
Financial aid for students is managed by the CROUS :
National Emergency Aid Fund
Contact university social workers
Partial exemption from differentiated registration fees for certain internationally mobile students for the 2025-2026 academic year
(Deliberation of the Board of Directors ofUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc N°2024.09.24_4.2.2. of September 24, 2024)
The Board of Directors ofUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc has approved a partial exemption from differentiated tuition fees for international students, reducing the amount of tuition fees to the same level as that paid by French students.
The exemption is granted for the duration of the degree course.
The student's application for registration at the USMB is considered as a request for partial exemption from tuition fees.
The partial exemption applies subject to France's European and international commitments, and in compliance with any agreements entered into by the establishment.
Consular procedures
- Students from the European Union (EU):
An identity card is sufficient. - Non-EU students: Foreign nationals need a passport issued in their own country to enter France.
Make sure your passport and/or identity card are valid for the duration of your stay!
Before you leave
Your visa will be issued by the French embassy or consulate in your country of origin. Please note that no regularization can be carried out in France.
Obtaining a visa is a compulsory formality for all foreigners, with the exception of nationals of :
- members of the European Union (EU)
- European Free Trade Association: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
- others: Monaco, Andorra
Several types of visa can be issued for studies, academics or internships in France.
When you arrive in France, remember to have your study visa validated.
Students from outside the European Economic Area must be in possession of a "long-stay" visa valid as a residence permit. Within 3 months of your arrival in France:
You must have it validated online.
Please note: You will not be able to regularize your situation once in France if you have a short-stay (tourist) visa. Find out more BEFORE you leave!
When you arrive in France, you must go to the prefecture to obtain a residence permit.
Tuto / Video from Campus France: Residence permit application and renewal (Version FR),(Version EN),(Version ES)
Housing
The Pôle mobilité entrante can help you find accommodation in a university residence (for exchange students only).
Due to the number of applications we receive each year and the limited number of rooms available in university residences, it is unfortunately not possible to satisfy all requests.
If your application is accepted, you will be contacted by e-mail by CROUS, which manages student residences. You'll be asked to complete your rental file and pay the rent advance and welcome kit, failing which the room will be allocated to another student. Once your rental file has been validated, you'll need to pay the security deposit online to finalize your file.
To optimize your chances of finding accommodation, please respect the application deadlines when pre-registering atUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc.
Other accommodation options:
- Guide logements Chambéry & Bourget du Lac FR / Housing solutions Chambéry & Bourget du Lac ENG
- Guide logements Annecy FR / Housing solutions Annecy ENG
The host family program (brochure for USMB host families) :
If you have no family/friends in France and a financial guarantee is required for your accommodation, the French government has set up an alternative solution: VISALE
New for Visale: to help you set up your Visale file, you can now contact our services directly on 0970 800 800 (price of a local call). For foreign students, an English-speaking service has been set up to help you with your Visale application. For more information, consult selectra for all the formalities involved in changing your address in France.
Tuto / Video from Campus France: VISALE(version FR), (version EN), (version ES)
The Aide Personnalisée au Logement (APL) is a financial aid granted, under certain conditions, to tenants of housing in France.
- Students from the European Economic Area can apply for personalized housing assistance as soon as they arrive.
- Students from outside the European Economic Area must obtain a residence permit in order to apply for housing assistance.
Please note: If your visa states that you do not need a residence permit, you will not be eligible for this assistance.
How to obtain this assistance :
Log on to the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF) website to apply for APL.
You can also contact your nearest branch:
- Caisse d'Allocations Familiales in Chambéry - 20 avenue Jean Jaurès - 73000 Chambéry
- Caisse d'Allocations Familiales in Annecy - 2 rue Emile Romanet - 74987 Annecy Cedex 9
Health
Common provision for all students, whatever their country of origin.
This is an optional health insurance plan, if you wish to supplement your social security reimbursements.
You can join the complementary health insurance scheme of your choice (a student mutual insurance company, your parents' mutual insurance company, another complementary organization, etc.). The level and nature of benefits offered by complementary health insurance vary from contract to contract.
Student jobs
Student jobs
The Etudébrouille Facebook page (USMB association) regularly publishes job ads around Chambéry!
A new platform, Mon Job en Savoiealso centralizes numerous job offers for young people in the Savoie department.
Volunteer work
Arrival and discovery
Arrival by plane
The nearest airports are Geneva and Lyon.
Shuttle buses run between these airports and the towns of Annecy and Chambéry: www.altibus.com
- Geneva airport
Geneva airport is linked to the "Genève-Cornavin" train station and bus station by a regular train and coach service. There are several daily connections with Annecy and Chambéry. - Lyon airport
Few trains stop at the airport station; however, the Tram-Express links the airport directly to Lyon Part-Dieu station, from where you can catch a bus or train (frequent departures) to Annecy and Chambéry.
Arrival by train - from Paris
Annecy and Chambéry are well connected to Paris by TGV.
You can :
- or take a train from Roissy / Charles de Gaulle airport (change 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 different Université de Savoie sites:
Download the map of each campus
To get around by bus in Chambéry / Le Bourget-du-Lac and Annecy :
Synchro mobilités (Chambéry/ Le Bourget-du-Lac)
Sibra (Annecy)
Welcome to Chambéry and Annecy
Campus France brochure in French, English and Spanish
Chambéry
The historic capital of Savoie, Chambéry has a population of 56,000. At the gateway to the Alps, Chambéry enjoys an excellent geographic location, between lakes and mountains.
Thanks to its numerous infrastructures (theater, cinemas, concert hall, media library, Eurâka gallery, Château des Ducs de Savoie, etc.), it boasts a rich cultural and artistic heritage.
Chambéry Town Hall
Office de tourisme de Chambéry
Annecy
Located in the northern Pre-Alps, Annecy has a population of 50,000. Nicknamed the " Venice of the Alps " because of the small bridges spanning the three rivers that run through its old town, this tourist and industrial center is distinguished by its large lake. Its castle, its Palais de l'Ile and its Conservatoire d'art et d'histoire are just some of the sights to be discovered.
Annecy Town Hall
Annecy and Lake Annecy Tourist Office
What's on offer in the area?
Aix-les-Bains / Lac du Bourget
The cities of Grenoble, Lyon, Geneva and Turin
Chartreuse Nature Park
Bauges Massif Nature Park
Vanoise Natural Park
Testimonials
Anke, Thomas More Mechelen-Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
"I'm very happy to have chosen to study in Chambéry for a semester.
This adventure has given me the opportunity to progress in French and English. I had a lot of experiences, I learned to go beyond my limits, I made international acquaintances.....
The teachers and classmates were very kind and helpful.
I also liked the location of the university, because there's an incredible view over the city of Chambéry, which lies between the mountains. The university is only a twenty-minute walk from the tourist center.
There's plenty to do in and around Chambéry, whatever the weather or time of day!
What's more, I was lucky enough to live this experience in Savoie, a very impressive region!
I'm very grateful for this incredible and unforgettable experience. CHAMBÉRY, JE T'AIME!"
Marc, Ecole de Technologie Supérieure (ETS), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
As soon as I arrived at Polytech Annecy-Chambéry, I was made to feel very welcome, and I have no regrets about my choice of university. The school is located on two sites, one of which is close to Annecy with its wonderful lake and train station, making it easy to travel on weekends and vacations. At Polytech, there are student residences close to the course building. The students at this university are very friendly. If you have the chance to study abroad, don't hesitate!
Fabian, Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal (FH), Magdeburg, Germany
The best thing about Chambéry is, of course, the scenery. It's beautiful to look at and even better for activities. There are beautiful trails and paths for hikers. There are even places for
parachuting. The university is located on the side of a mountain, surrounded by nature. In this environment, it's a pleasure to study and also to enjoy it during breaks. And don't forget to have fun during the semester, even if you love forests and mountains like I do. If you prefer, you can also enjoy the nightlife.
There is a wide variety of courses at the university. The LEA courses I took were for the most part interesting and the teachers friendly. The administration is very helpful in solving any problems (because if you're a foreigner, paperwork can be a pain).