Housing
- Inria provides support and advice to facilitate the search for accommodation in the technopole. Inria has agreements with several student residences and may also provide a subsidy for the rent (e.g., there are options for rooms at 90 euros per month, subject to availability).
- The CROUS is handling all the student residences in the region. Their website also provides information on scholarships, restoration, culture, etc.
- You may also find a place outside Sophia Antipolis by yourself through leboncoin.fr or apartager.com for collocations.
- You may also apply for housing aid from the French government (Caisse d’allocations familliales, Caf). Note that this depends on many criteria, as the amount of the rent, the income of the person, etc. (check conditions).
Meals
Inria is providing a subsidy for lunches in the Inria restaurant. It will cost you less than 5 euros for a full-course meal.
Public transportation
If you decide to leave outside Sophia Antipolis, you will find public transportation to reach:
- Nice (bus line 230): a monthly ticket for the 230 is around 20€ for students under 26 (see information). It takes 40-60 minutes to get from Nice to Sophia by bus depending on traffic.
- Antibes (Envibus). A selection of buses from Antibes are “free” with a 5-year 5 euro pass (100 + navettes, and Line A only for the year 2020). Both the 100 and Line A arrive from the center (pole d’échange, place de Gaulle) to Sophia. Line A also reaches Juan les Pins. All types of passes can be found in this link. It takes 20-40 minutes to get from Antibes to Sophia by bus depending on traffic.
Useful links
- Campus France website: Find a program, finance your studies, find Campus France close to your place…
- Study in France: All the information you need to begin or continue your studies in France…
- The Alfred Kastler National Foundation (FnAK): help foreign researchers with their move to and stay in France and to maintain contact with them after their departure
- L’Alliance Française de Nice: Learn French in France…
- TV5 Monde: a free and interactive site for learning French from videos, programs, and news reports…
- Améliorer ses écrits: Des ressources pour améliorer son français écrit
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The website of the UCA Welcome Center has very useful information on administrative formalities, housing, practical life. One can also contact them for additional help.
