When I got my acceptance letter to study in France, I was over the moon. I pictured myself strolling along the Seine, biting into fresh croissants every morning, and living that effortless European lifestyle you see on Instagram. The reality? My first month involved crying at a bank, sleeping on a friend's floor, and discovering that French bureaucracy is a spectator sport with no winners.
If you're an international student planning to move to France, here are ten things I genuinely wish someone had told me before I packed my bags.
1. French Bureaucracy Is Not a Myth — It's Worse Than You Think
You've probably heard jokes about French paperwork. Let me assure you: they are not jokes. From the moment you apply for your visa to the day you open a bank account, you will encounter a level of administrative complexity that borders on performance art. Every office wants different documents, every document needs a different stamp, and half the time the person behind the counter will tell you that the document you brought — the one their website said you needed — is actually the wrong one.
Pro tip: Make at least five copies of everything. Your passport, your visa, your birth certificate, your enrollment letter, your proof of address, and your proof of income. You will need them all, repeatedly, at times that make no logical sense.
2. Housing in Paris Is a Full-Contact Sport
Finding student housing in Paris is, without exaggeration, one of the most stressful experiences of moving to France. The demand is enormous, the supply is limited, and landlords often require a French guarantor — someone who earns three times the rent and lives in France. If you don't have one, you're essentially invisible to most landlords.
I spent three weeks refreshing apartment listings at 6 AM, sending dozens of applications a day, and getting ghosted by almost everyone. Services like Visale (a free government guarantor) and CROUS (university housing) exist, but they have limited spots and long waitlists. Start your housing search the day you get your acceptance — I'm not kidding.
3. You Will Need a French Bank Account (And It's a Headache)
Many landlords, the university, and even CAF (the housing subsidy office) require a French RIB — a bank account number. But opening a French bank account requires a permanent address. And getting a permanent address requires... a bank account to pay rent. Welcome to the great French catch-22.
Online banks like Boursorama or Revolut can be lifesavers here. Some traditional banks have student-friendly branches, but expect multiple appointments and a stack of documents. If you're studying in France for more than a semester, a proper French bank account is worth the hassle — it unlocks CAF, phone plans, and more.
4. Culture Shock Is Real (Even If You Think You're Prepared)
I had traveled before. I thought I was worldly. And yet, nothing prepared me for the specific flavor of French culture shock. Shops close for two hours at lunch. Dinner doesn't start until 8 PM at the earliest. Customer service operates on a philosophy of “you're bothering me by being here.” People greet each other with kisses on the cheek — but the number of kisses depends on the region, and getting it wrong is genuinely awkward.
The French aren't unfriendly — they just have a different social code. Once you learn the magic words (“Bonjour, excusez-moi de vous déranger...”), doors open. But in those first few weeks, prepare to feel like you're on another planet.
5. The Language Barrier Hits Harder Than Expected
Even if your program is in English, daily life in France is in French. The post office, the préfecture, your landlord, the doctor — they all speak French, and many don't speak English. I once spent 45 minutes at the pharmacy trying to explain what allergy medication I needed using elaborate hand gestures and Google Translate.
My advice: Learn basic conversational French before you arrive. Even A2-level proficiency will make your life dramatically easier. Free resources like Duolingo or the Alliance Française courses are a great start.
6. CAF Is Amazing — But the Application Process Is Not
CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) is a French housing subsidy that can cover a significant chunk of your rent — sometimes €100-300 per month depending on your situation. As an international student in France, you are eligible. This is genuinely one of the best things about studying in France.
The catch? The application process is entirely in French, requires about twelve different documents, and takes 2-3 months to process. Apply immediately when you get your housing — the subsidy is backdated to your move-in date, but only if you apply within a certain window.
7. Making French Friends Takes Effort and Patience
French social circles tend to be tight-knit and established. Unlike in some countries where friendships form quickly, in France it can take months before you move past the “acquaintance” stage. This doesn't mean people don't like you — it's just a different pace.
Join student associations, attend apéros (pre-dinner drinks — a sacred French tradition), and say yes to every invitation for the first few months. Language exchange meetups are also fantastic for meeting both French and international students. The effort pays off — French friendships, once formed, tend to be deep and lasting.
8. The Healthcare System Is Excellent (Once You Figure It Out)
French healthcare is among the best in the world, and as a student, you're automatically enrolled in the national system (sécurité sociale). But understanding how it works — carte vitale, mutuelle, tiers payant, médecin traitant — feels like learning a second foreign language.
Quick overview: sécurité sociale covers about 70% of medical costs. A mutuelle (supplementary insurance, often free for students) covers most of the rest. Register for your carte vitale as soon as possible — it can take months to arrive, and you'll need it for everything.
9. Public Transport Is Incredible, But Learn the System
If you're studying in Paris, the Metro, RER, buses, and trams will become your lifeline. The Navigo pass (about €86/month for students under 26, or even cheaper with subsidies) gives you unlimited travel across the entire Île-de-France region. It's one of the best deals in Europe.
But the system has quirks. Metro lines close around 1 AM (2 AM on weekends). Certain RER lines are notorious for delays. And the first time you encounter a transit strike — grève— you'll understand why every French person has a backup plan for getting to work. Download the apps Île-de-France Mobilités and Citymapper — they'll save your life.
10. It Gets Better — Significantly Better
Here's the thing nobody tells you: the first two months are the hardest. You're juggling paperwork, adjusting to a new culture, possibly struggling with the language, and probably feeling lonely. It's completely normal, and almost every international student in France goes through it.
But then something shifts. You figure out your favorite boulangerie. You learn which market has the best produce on Saturday mornings. You start understanding jokes in French. You discover that a €5 bottle of wine in France is better than a €20 bottle back home. The city that once felt intimidating starts to feel like yours.
Moving to France as an international student is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. It forces you to grow in ways you didn't expect, and it gives you stories you'll tell for the rest of your life. The key is preparation — knowing what's coming makes everything more manageable.
Want the full roadmap to studying in France? Our guide covers everything — visas, housing, banking, healthcare, and more.
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France isn't easy. But it's worth it. The food, the culture, the education, the healthcare, the travel opportunities — there's a reason tens of thousands of international students choose to study in France every year. Go in with open eyes, a stack of photocopies, and a sense of humor, and you'll be fine.
Arrivée is a guide written by Sciences Po students — two international and two French — who've been through every struggle on this list. We created it so you don't have to figure it all out the hard way.