Following your Welcome Day, ISMAC organises a full Orientation Week to help you settle into student life in Paris. This is not just a series of administrative steps it is a chance to meet people, explore the city, and feel at home before classes begin.
The programme typically includes:
The detailed programme is sent by email before your arrival and posted on the student portal.
ISMAC offers an intensive French as a Foreign Language (FLE) course at the start of each semester, open to all incoming international students regardless of level. The course covers everyday vocabulary, administrative French, and cultural life in Paris.
Registration is part of your Welcome Package and is confirmed upon enrolment. Places are limited make sure to register early.
During Orientation Week, you will receive a free 48‑hour RATP transport ticket. Once it expires, you will need to choose a regular transport pass for your daily commute.
The most common options for students are:
Navigo Imagine R : annual pass for students under 26 in France, about €350 per year, with monthly instalments.
Monthly Navigo : standard monthly pass for about €86.40, available at any metro station.
Our International Office can help you choose the option that best fits your budget and how often you travel.
A French phone number is essential you will need it for your CPAM registration, CAF application, and bank account. We recommend getting a prepaid SIM card during your first days in Paris.
Several affordable operators are available near campus, with plans starting from around €2/month. You will need your passport and, in some cases, a proof of address.
Free for EU residents under 26 at major national museums. Reduced rates available for other students. Conditions vary by institution.
Student and youth rates widely available at independent cinemas, theatres and concert venues across Paris.
Reduced-rate pass at the BnF for students under 26. Free access to study spaces via Paris's municipal library network.
University restaurants open to all students. Prices and social tariffs vary by status and eligibility.
ISMAC does not have on-campus sports facilities or student sports associations. However, students can access Paris’s extensive public sports network, including municipal pools, parks and city-run sports venues, with reduced rates available depending on age, residency and facility rules.
The two municipal pools closest to ISMAC, Piscine Joséphine Baker (10-minute walk) and Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles (15-minute walk), offer reduced rates for students and young residents. ISMAC staff can advise incoming students on current access conditions and pricing during Welcome Week.
For outdoor activities, Parc de Choisy and Parc Montsouris offer free running tracks, green spaces and open-air fitness areas within easy reach of the campus. The Seine riverbanks also provide dedicated cycling and running paths.
Paris’s rich network of cultural venues, sports clubs and community associations provides additional opportunities for students to engage with city life beyond the classroom.
Students also receive guidance for French health insurance registration (Ameli) upon arrival.
Need Help?
Have a question about your orientation, student life or arrival in Paris? Our international team is here to help : international@ismac.fr
