Video summary

Webinaire « Bourse FEM - Préparer son arrivée en France pour la rentrée 2026

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas and lessons conveyed

  • The webinar is meant to prepare France Excellence Major scholarship laureates for their arrival in France for the 2026 intake.
  • It explains the roles of two key operators:
    • EFE (France Excellence Major): manages selection logistics and scholarship journey support (admissions file stages, monitoring, guidance, sponsorship, welcome events).
    • Campus France: manages international student reception services in France (including support via French embassy networks), including guidance for study placement and file activation for arrival and scholarship stay management.
  • The presenters stress that laureates must:
    • Complete administrative steps early, especially:
      • documents in the Cascade platform
      • the arrival date
      • insurance activation
    • Follow Campus France instructions (submit travel/arrival documents, bank details, confirmations).
    • Keep specific documents as proof of arrival (e.g., boarding pass, toll ticket/invoice if arriving by car).
    • Avoid delays that can jeopardize the scholarship or housing allocation.

Webinar structure / topics covered

  1. Introductions and congratulations to the laureates.
  2. Who does what (EFE vs Campus France).
  3. How laureates must finalize their “start-up file” (especially on Cascade and the arrival date).
  4. Administrative procedures, including:
    • residence permit, social security, supplemental health insurance
    • travel and proof of arrival
    • housing (CROUS/university residences) and temporary accommodation
    • bank account setup
    • CVEC (including exemptions/refunds)
    • scholarship monitoring documents (school certificates, evaluations)
  5. Sponsorship scheme (mentor/student pairings) and welcome meetings.
  6. Q&A via chat and additional clarifications.

Methodology / step-by-step instructions

A) Before arrival: complete your file on Cascade (priority steps)

  • Ensure your Cascade file is complete; otherwise it may lead to:
    • your file not being transmitted to Campus France
    • you not receiving “start”/activation emails
    • deadlines passing, potentially causing loss of scholarship benefits
  • Upload/provide (as emphasized):
    • Parcoursup certificate (not a screenshot)
    • Transcript / baccalaureate results, including your “mention” (highest honors required for eligibility)
    • Arrival date in France (essential for reserving university residence housing)
    • additional items in your file (identity document is generally present)
  • Deadline for arrival date submission:
    • July 8 is presented as the key deadline (stated as “tomorrow” in the webinar context).
  • If Parcoursup admission is confirmed but you are still waiting on other choices:
    • if the final choice is in the same city, uploading may not be an issue
    • if waiting for another city: wait for final Parcoursup results before uploading the admission certificate to avoid delaying correct accommodation allocation
    • if you miss July 8 due to pending Parcoursup outcomes:
      • your place can be kept
      • accommodation allocation timing may be delayed
  • If you didn’t receive a Campus France mailing:
    • the most common reason is an incomplete Cascade file, especially missing Parcoursup + baccalaureate results

B) Campus France “upstream” + activation steps (what Campus France requires)

  • Campus France notes that you already received:
    • a mailing containing your Campus France file number and prior-to-arrival steps
  • If you haven’t responded yet:
    • inform Campus France where you are in preparing documents
  • Arrival/travel requirements:
    • send your travel ticket (or equivalent) to specify the exact arrival day
    • after arrival, confirm by email and send required documents
  • Insurance activation timing:
    • activation is described as critical starting August 1st, so arrival documentation must be submitted on time
  • Housing requests:
    • housing in university residences (CROUS) is linked to Cascade requests
    • Campus France/CRU proposes based on availability; changes may occur but can be constrained
    • if supplementary admission is received later, housing requests must be made as soon as possible
  • Allowances / reimbursement logistics:
    • open a French bank account as described in the FE welcome booklet
    • send your bank details (RIB) to enable reimbursements (including transport tickets where eligible)
    • scholarship monitoring happens throughout the year via periodic document requests
  • Annual educational monitoring documents:
    • send your school certificate when you obtain it (requested at the start of the academic year; reminders may follow)
    • submit semester evaluations/results using forms completed by both your training manager and yourself (end of 1st semester; also for 2nd semester)

C) Documents to keep immediately upon arrival (proof of arrival)

Customs stamp removal rule: because stamps at passport control may be removed, keep alternative proof.

  • Boarding pass
    • used to confirm arrival in France
    • needed for accountancy/payment activation
    • you may photograph and submit it via your scholarship space/email
  • If arriving by car from border countries:
    • keep either a toll ticket or a purchase invoice

D) Administrative procedures in France (timing + responsibilities)

1) Food/campus life (CROUS meals, student card)

  • Create your EASLE / CROUS-related account as instructed after arrival.
  • CROUS meal access at reduced cost (€1) is described as available through CROUS mechanisms.

2) Social security and supplemental health insurance

  • Social security affiliation
    • use Campus France resources (including a video) explaining the process
    • it is presented as mandatory; failure can lead to major out-of-pocket costs
  • Residence permit
    • process differs depending on age (minor vs adult)
    • handled with consulate procedures and supported by Campus France resources/videos
  • Supplemental health insurance
    • FE/Campus France manage it for scholarship recipients
    • but you must first be affiliated with social security
    • purpose: reimburse additional healthcare costs, potentially close to 100%

3) CVEC (student contribution/registration fee)

  • Exemption and reimbursement logic
    • you may use a provisional scholarship certificate during residence permit procedures, but it likely won’t be enough for CVEC exemptions
    • the official Campus France scholarship certificate is only issued after you arrive in France
    • submit the required documents for exemption/refund on the official CVEC website
      • you may need to pay upfront if an exemption isn’t possible
      • refund timing depends on the website process and applicable exemptions
    • mention of a certificate of support accepted by the CVEC website (laureate testimony)

E) Housing: how the process works in practice

  • You request housing via Cascade (requesting CROUS/university residence).
  • Workflow:
    • FE sends the necessary housing request information to Campus France once Cascade is provided/validated
    • Campus France submits the request to CRU/CROUS based on academy/city
  • Key expectations:
    • housing is not instantaneous after submission; administrative processing takes time
    • Campus France states they never failed to house students who requested through the system
  • If you want to change housing later:
    • waiting until the start of the academic year (when rooms are vacated) is advised
  • Temporary accommodation:
    • laureates receive three nights during the transition from arrival to permanent accommodation (described as a program package)

F) Visa / Visale clarifications (explained during Q&A)

  • Visa vs Visale are different procedures:
    • Visa: scholarship award documentation generally supports the process; some consulates may still request proof of accommodation depending on their rules
    • Visale: housing guarantee for private rentals
  • If housing is arranged through Campus France/CROUS:
    • no need to separately manage Visale as for private accommodation
  • If renting privately outside CROUS:
    • you must subscribe to Visale and follow the Campus France video/procedure

G) Scholarship space (“espace boursier”) operations

  • Campus France sends:
    • an automated email to create a password for the scholarship space
  • The portal allows:
    • uploading documents (e.g., RIB, school certificates, evaluations)
    • tracking scholarship payments and dates
    • viewing regulations and insurance documentation
    • accessing contact forms for questions

H) Sponsorship / “marraine” “parrain” scheme (role + matching principles)

  • A survey is sent to later-stage laureates to volunteer as sponsors/“marraine/parrain”.
  • If you consent and are matched:
    • FE provides the sponsor’s name and contact details so you can reach out
  • Matching criteria (as described):
    • preferably the same city of study
    • similar field/program level (e.g., medicine-related matches; preparatory-level dynamics)
    • shared prior experience/questions (sometimes by nationality, but less emphasized than city and study context)
  • Sponsors may also participate in welcome meetings when possible.

Main speakers / sources featured

Named speakers

  • Laurent Memet — Head of student guidance office, EFE Paris; manages the France Excellence Major scholarship program
  • Justine Cardal — Assistant to the head of student pathways and guidance office, EFE Paris
  • Collette Confortess — Manager; works for the France Excellence Majore program (EFE)
  • Malik Bercan (Malikia Berc / Malik Bercan in subtitles) — in charge of student mobility and the Excellence Major program, Campus France
  • Aida Peterson — Campus France, Excellence programs department; works on the Excellence Major program

Source organizations / entities mentioned

  • EFE (France Excellence Major / scholarship operations)
  • Campus France
  • Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) / “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” (coordination and co-financing)
  • CRU / CROUS (university residences / student accommodation system)
  • CVEC (student contribution/exemption/refund system)
  • French consulates (visa and residence permit procedures)
  • SVEC website (mentioned in subtitles for CVEC reimbursement/exemption context)
  • Visale (housing guarantee for private rentals)
  • EASLE / CROUS meals mechanisms
  • Servicepublic.fr (referenced for tuition fee amounts in Q&A)

Platforms referenced

  • Cascade (where laureates submit documents/information)
  • Campus France scholarship “space” (portal for payments/documents)
  • Campus France website / Campus France YouTube channel
  • Facebook group (“Boursier Excellence Major Bem at EFE”) and LinkedIn network
  • Agoramond platform and ALFM Union (former student networks/associations mentioned)

Original video