Before your arrival

Estimate the costs

It’s important to prepare a budget before you apply to ENSAI to calculate the costs involved in your move to France (visa fees, cost of transportation to Rennes, tuition, housing costs…) as well as be prepared for the expenses of daily life as a student. Make sure you include regular expenses related to housing (rent and deposit, electricity, water, rental insurance, internet, etc.) as well as food, transportation, and school supplies! Below is a list of major expenses to keep in mind. Remember to continually update your budget as you plan for your departure.  

Tuition and Fees

The cost of studying at ENSAI depends on the program (Lien vers “Direct enrollment/DD/Exchange student) and in some cases the nationality of the applicants. 
Tuition fees are due upon enrollment at ENSAI at the beginning of the academic year. They must be paid to finalize your registration for the academic year. Scholarship students are exempt from paying tuition fees.

Until the payment of tuition fees has been completed, students will have only limited access to the online registration software (called Pamplemousse). Once payment has been made, students will have full access to their MyENSAI account.

Students who are not subject to tuition fees (for example, Erasmus+ students) will automatically have full access to their MyENSAI accounts. 
Specific instructions for how to pay tuition fees are sent directly to students, typically in mid-July. Any difficulties or questions regarding tuition payment can be sent directly to  dossier-etudiant@ensai.fr.

Cost of Living

Financial Aid

Non-EU citizens are not eligible for need-based financial aid unless they meet one of the following criteria: 
the student has established, legal residency in France for at least 2 years 
the student is from an ENSAI partner institution which has signed a bilateral agreement with the school stipulating eligibility for financial aid. 
 
The French government subsidizes generous social programs for all university students, regardless of their nationality. These services include free healthcare, housing subsidies, subsidized meals in CROUS dining halls, and more. 
 

Get in touch & get ready!

Read the ENSAI International Student Guide 

International students should start preparing for their move to France as soon as they are admitted to ENSAI. The Office of International Relations will be your main contact when you have questions regarding your courses, administrative procedures (opening bank accounts, obtaining renter’s insurance, …), and practical matters (grocery shopping, information on local transportation, …).  

The ENSAI Office of International Relations will send you a guide with all the detailed information you will need regarding the administrative procedures to move to and live in Rennes.  

Visit the CMI website 

Read the CMI Rennes international guide for essential information to help you prepare for your move. 

Get your Visa or Residence Permit

International students having nationality from EU member states or Schengen countries do not require a visa to study abroad in France. All other students must request a visa unless they already have a “long-term resident permit-EU” from an EU member state.  

Visa requests from EU member states are handled directly by the consular services of the French Embassy. International students must prove that they are able to afford at least €615 per month during the study period in France.  Scholarship students must provide a scholarship certificate with an amount greater than or equal to 615€. It is important to underline that you will need proof of accommodation to obtain the visa. For more information about costs and procedures, students should visit the French Embassy website for their country of residence.

If you are not sure about whether or not you need a visa to come to France, you can use the France Visas website: Visa Wizard. 
 
French consular services should provide students with information regarding the steps necessary once in France. Tasks or procedures vary depending on the type of visa obtained. As some steps are time-sensitive and must be carried out before deadlines, students are encouraged to take this process seriously and seek help if necessary.  
The ENSAI Office of International Relations or the CMI Rennes will help students find answers to any questions regarding visas. 

Look for accommodation 

It is absolutely essential to start looking for accommodation as early as possible! ENSAI does not own a student residence hall, so it is impossible for the school to provide students with proof of accommodation.

Please keep in mind that it is difficult to find accommodation in Rennes, especially during the back-to-school period. Accommodation is only rented to tenants whose application is complete. So students should obtain their visa as quickly as possible to be able to finalize housing dossiers as early as possible.  

Students without a guarantor in France between 18 and 30 years old can apply for the VISALE guarantee. The VISALE guarantee replaces the physical guarantor and is free of charge. Students must apply before signing the lease and moving in. It may take several days for the application to be processed, so anticipation is essential.

Students who are unable to find permanent housing should book temporary accommodation for 2 to 3 weeks while searching for a permanent solution.  

The CMI Rennes website provides useful resources and advice for finding housing in and around Rennes. 

Students can also find more useful housing information in the Rennes Métropole guide. 

Register for mandatory Health Insurance 

Students from the European Union are covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). As such, EU students are not required to register for French health insurance during their studies at ENSAI. 

Students who do not have the EHIC must register with the French health insurance system to receive any reimbursements for healthcare costs. Health insurance for all students is free in France. Registration can be completed online. 

ENSAI, as well as the CMI Rennes, can assist international students with information on other mandatory insurance policies that students will need in France, notably housing and personal liability insurance. 

Organize your arrival

Getting to France

Students are encouraged to explore all options for traveling to France. While the largest airports are in Paris, it is also possible to arrive in smaller airports like Nantes, Lyon, Marseille, and even Rennes. Some companies offer direct international flights into secondary airports, which can lower costs or facilitate arrival. Sometimes both! Good prices may hide hidden costs, so students should make sure tickets include the amount of luggage they need and that there are no unforeseen issues or high costs with travel onward to Rennes.  

Getting to Rennes

Once in France, students can travel to Rennes using various means of transport. The most common way for students to arrive in Rennes is by train. To explore arrival options and costs, as well as purchase tickets in advance, students can use the SNCF website: SNCF Connect.   

There are other means of transport besides the train that are often a bit slower but less costly. Motorcoach companies include BlaBlaCar, which also includes rideshare options, and FlixBus.  

However students decide to travel to Rennes, they should give themselves plenty of time to transfer from their initial arrival point to the next point of departure. For example, if arriving in Paris CDG airport from a non-EU destination and taking a train from the Montparnasse station in downtown Paris, students should anticipate at least 3 to 4 hours between the plane’s arrival time and the train’s departure time. This will allow for any flight delays, time for clearing the border, time for baggage retrieval, and time to transfer from the airport to the station.  

If students are transferring in Paris, the suburban (RER) trains, metro, and bus system is managed by RATP. Journey planning, buying tickets, and traffic information are available online or via the Bonjour RATP app for smartphones.

During your travels, keep a close watch over your luggage and valuables (especially in Paris and in trains during stops).

Getting around Rennes and to ENSAI

In the Rennes metropolitan area, public transport is managed by a company called STAR. There are two subway lines (A & B) and many bus lines. To plan your routes, check timetables, and ticket prices, students can visit the STAR website or download the STAR app for smartphones.

To get to the Ker Lann Campus, where ENSAI is located, students will need to take the C7 bus from the Saint Jacques-Gaité (end of the Metro B line) stop to the Etangs stop. It is also possible to take a local train (TER) from the Rennes train station to the Ker Lann campus (train destination ‘Messac Guipry’ to ‘Ker Lann’). More details are available online. 

Contact the Welcome Team

Would you like someone to pick you up when you arrive in Rennes? Contact the Welcome Team at least 72 hours before and organize it with the club!

Welcome Kit

To facilitate the arrival of international students, ENSAI lends Welcome Kits to international students who request them. The kit contains basic items for the first few days (pillows, linens, cooking utensils, some food, etc.) and non-consumable items must be returned when you leave.