Stay in Paris

S t a y i n P a r i s

See the film about our school

:: PARIS, FRANCE

Paris is an exciting place to study, work and enjoy life. The city is rich in museums and galleries dedicated to photography. Students can use Paris as their subject matter and photograph events as different as fashion shows, sports events like the Paris marathon and the famous “Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe” horse race, or the wine harvest festival in Montmartre.

© Gorkem Unal		Choosing Paris to study photography is an excellent decision towards a great career. France is the birthplace of photography and Paris – “Ville des lumières” – is the worldwide reference in the domains of fashion, commercial photography, photojournalism and fine arts. Students at Spéos have diverse cultural and educational backgrounds (up to 50 nationalities at times); they are open-minded, dynamic and eager to learn, and this shows in their pictures.

Students also share time together to discover Paris by day and night, and to meet other French and international students.

:: HELPFUL INFORMATION

-> Visa and Residence Permit

Non-EU nationals must obtain a student visa in order to stay in France for longer than three consecutive months (a tourist visa is sufficient for shorter stays). To apply for a student visa, students need the acceptance letter from Spéos and a passport valid for the entire length of their stay in France. For further information, please contact the nearest French consulate or embassy in your country. Spéos will assist students in obtaining their residence permit (“carte de séjour”) from the French authorities at the beginning of the term.

-> Transportation

- The public transport system in Paris and its close suburbs is easy and practical with the metro, buses, and RER.
- A “coupon” or “Carte d'Orange” can be purchased for little more than 55 euros per month.

-> Monthly costs (food, clothes, shopping,....)

On average, students spend between 450 and 500 Euros per month for living expenses.

- Food & Drink:
Sandwich = 4€
Hot meal = 10€
Cup of coffee at the «Café» = 2€

- Phone: 20€/month + calls
- Newspaper: 1,5€

-> Lodging

SPEOS can assist students in their search for housing for the duration of their program. As housing in Paris is expensive, students should budget the following amounts for accommodation:

Room in someone's home: approx. 550€
One-room apartment or studio: approx. 600 to 900€
Two-room apartment: approx. 900 to 1.500€

Students should plan to arrive at least one week before the beginning of the term to find housing and to deal with practical matters before courses start.

-> Health Insurance

All full-time students must be covered by medical insurance. If you are not sufficiently covered on arrival, you will need to obtain the French national student health insurance, provided that you are under 28. (198€ fees for 2009-2010).
If you are over 28, you cannot subscribe to the French Sécurité Sociale but will be asked to provide a copy of your national health insurance policy clearly evidencing health coverage in France. Otherwise, the Préfecture might refuse your application for a French residence permit. Students from the EU are covered by the health insurance of their home country and need to provide Spéos with the European Health Insurance Card (the old E 111 form). For further information please contact the Spéos office.

-> Photo materials

You should budget 150 Euros per month for supplies and photo accessories (film, paper, USB memory key and memory cards...)