Want to study in France or South Korea

Overview of France:

France is located in the west of the European continent, across the sea from the United Kingdom, and borders Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, and Andorra. It is the largest country in Western Europe. The national border is 5,300 kilometers long and the coastline is about 3,120 kilometers long.

France is basically a plain country. 80% of the country's territory is plain and hilly. The terrain is low in the northwest and high in the southeast. The southeastern mountainous areas include the Pyrenees, Central Plateau, Alps, Jura Mountains and Vosges Mountains. France has four major rivers in Western Europe - the Seine, Loire, Rhone and Garonne.

France has a population of 55 million, ranking fifth in Europe, with a population density of 102 people per square kilometer. France is a country dominated by the French nation. Minority groups include Alsatians, Bretons, Corsicans, Flemish, Catalonians, Basques and other local ethnic groups, accounting for approximately 10% of the population. 7.9% of the total. France also has foreign immigrants from Africa and Europe, who account for about 8% of the total population.

French is the national language of France. French is also one of the working languages ??of the United Nations and is spoken by more than 100 million people. The main religion in France is Catholicism, followed by Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Catholicism: There are more than 45 million believers. The country is divided into 17 ecclesiastical provinces and 90 dioceses.

Since the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, political power has been alternating between revolution and monarchy. By October 4, 1958, under the leadership of de Gaulle, the Constitution of the Fifth Republic of China was formulated, which stipulated the operation of various institutions. The constitution stipulates: The president of the Republic of China is elected by direct universal suffrage and serves for 7 years; cabinet members can be held criminally responsible; the parliament implements a bicameral system, including the National Assembly and the Senate, which is responsible for formulating laws and supervising the government; expanding the scope of implementation of referendums, etc. . The French flag is blue, white and red with vertical stripes and the national anthem is "La Marseillaise". France and China have a traditional friendship. France is now China's second largest trading partner in the EU. It can be expected that the friendly relations between the two countries will further develop in the future.

Overview of French attractions:

France is a very attractive tourist country. The charming flower city of Paris, the beautiful and charming Cote d'Azur, ski resorts in the Alps, etc. are all world-famous tourist areas. Not only are the natural scenery beautiful in various places, but the cultural landscape is particularly rich. There are 22 places listed as world cultural and natural heritage by the United Nations, namely the Seine Riverfront in Paris centered on the Louvre and Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles, Fontainebleau, and St. Strasbourg, Nancy Places, Reims, Amiens Cathedral, Mont Saint-Michel (Normandy), Chartres Cathedral, Bourges Cathedral, Chambord Castle (the above three are in the central area) , Saint-Seven Abbey Church (Poitou), Vézère Canyon Grottoes (Aquitaine), Fontenay Abbey, Vézelay Cathedral (both of the above are in Burgundy), Acres-Sennen Royal Salt mines (Franche-Comté), Canal du Sud (Languedoc), Aqueduct of the Gard (near N?mes), Arles, Orange, Avignon Papal Palace (the above three are in Provence) and Kilo Bay of Lata (Corsica). These places of interest, except for the last one, which is a nature reserve, are all treasures of French culture and magnets for tourists from all over the world.

Franche-Comté

Located in eastern France, adjacent to Switzerland, it is world-famous for its colorful natural scenery and historic sites. The thousand-year-old castle - Rubao is the iconic landscape here; the forest accounts for more than 40% of the total area and is a green model in industrial civilization. Pristine rivers pass through emerald gorges, and waterfalls and lakes are a paradise for summer splashing; the popular "Through the Jura Mountains" ski race is held in Rus every February.

Russ has 220 kilometers of ski trails. In the evening, ski enthusiasts from far away gather at the cafe across the French-Swiss border to taste Jura cheese chocolate pastries.

Louis Pasteur and the film inventors, the Lumière brothers, were raised here.

Roire Valley

The Loire River meanders through central France. This "Valley of the Kings" is famous for its dotted Renaissance-style ancient castles. Including Amboise, Xiangbao, Blois, Chenonceau, Azelle Rideau, Valensee, etc. Among them, Xiangbao Castle was built under the guidance of Leonardo da Vinci.

In the Cathedral of Saint-Croix, the deeds of Joan of Arc have been recited for centuries; the Cathedral of Chatelet was the coronation place of Henry IV, who converted to Catholicism in the 16th century, and its stained glass windows are a collection of the richest and richest stories of the Middle Ages. The most complete art.

Martinique

Martinique is France’s smallest overseas department, located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In the mid-18th century, colonialists brought slaves from Africa, and later immigrants of other races were also shipped here, including the Chinese who came here at the end of the 19th century. Today Martinique is a tourist destination where various cultures intersect. From the scorching sun in the south of the island to the tropical jungles in the north, from white-sand beaches hugging the rough waves to quiet coves, from rugged volcanoes to hills covered with bananas and sugar cane, Martinique is colorful and full of charm.

Picardy

The Picardy region is the birthplace of France's thousand-year history, the gathering place of cathedrals, and the green heart of northern France. This land of blooming roses was once a famous battlefield in history, where lives and blood blocked invasions from the north and the east. Romantic castles, mysterious monasteries, majestic Gothic cathedrals, seaside resorts across the sea from England, and picturesque forests make up the beautiful scenery here.

French gastronomy:

The origins of gastronomy's central role in France can be traced back to the Gauls, the ancestors of the French. As far back as the early Christian era, Gaul's pork products, foie gras, and cheese had been spread to Greece and Rome. The Gauls also liked to drink heavily and had an excellent appetite. Serving wine with meals and adding wine to sauces is an important factor in developing taste. The excellent quality of French wines has elevated France to first-class status. The development of wine is due to the continuous advancement of winemaking technology under the influence of church people and religious orders since the seventeenth century.

By the end of the sixteenth century, the peacock was replaced by the turkey, and at the same time, the way of eating was revolutionized with the use of forks. In the 17th century, Louis XIV established the important position of court etiquette and cuisine. By the 19th century, the popularity of restaurants meant that high-end cooking entered the dining tables of ordinary people. With the development of the times, France is also absorbing the essence of foreign cooking techniques and constantly enriching it. Nowadays, you can see restaurants with black chef hats and restaurants with red chef hats. The former inherits traditional tastes, while the latter flaunts the so-called "novel cuisine."

The French not only know how to eat, but also create food reviews. The impact of the reviews is so great that they can even influence consumers and practitioners. The consequences of gaining or losing a star in the Michelin Guide are proof of this. Reviews in several important gastronomic guides can make or break a restaurant's reputation in France. The "Michelin Guide" investigators only reveal their identity after completing the on-site inspection and checking out. The "Michelin Guide" is quite authoritative. The red-cover Michelin Guide was founded in 1900 by the French Michelin tire company. It is the largest-selling and most complete almanac of French restaurants and hotels. More than a fifth of the French use it or read it at any time, even if only for a gastronomic fugue. Another example is "Paris Gastronomy" compiled by food critic Gil Putrawsky, which introduces the wide variety of Parisian cuisine, including the best restaurants, cheap and good restaurants, the best foreign cuisine restaurants, and small hotels (especially for drinking wine). (taverns), beer houses, teahouses and souvenir shops, totaling 1,500.

French Food Culture

According to opinion polls, the main reason why French people appreciate restaurants is that they have a cordial and pleasant atmosphere and are suitable for dating. In France, the social function of restaurants is indeed very developed. When discussing matters with others, gathering with friends, or having a tryst with a lover, the first choice place is a restaurant. It is no accident that the practice of discussing business over meals is so common. The British and American habit of businessmen eating a few slices of sandwich together simply doesn't work in France. Businessmen discuss plans and sign contracts in restaurants. In daily life, most French people sit around the table when eating, instead of holding a plate and eating in front of the TV. When a family gets together, the traditional meal pattern is cold cuts, main courses and cheese or desserts. Not only that, but sitting at the table, you have to talk about the exquisiteness of the dishes you ordered.

France has a tradition of wine-making, and it ranks first among the world's wine-producing countries together with Italy. France has nearly 7,000 vineyards and 18,000 types of wine, dazzling gourmets.

Good wine depends on the perfect combination of four factors: grape variety, soil, winemaking technology and climate. The best wines are divided into wines from prestigious regions and wines from first-class regions. They are the representative AOC of the aged wine series (drink them at least ten years later, because these wines become more mellow as they age). VDQS (Quality Guaranteed Premium Wine), Paris Literary Restaurant has a quality mark. They are also getting better with age, but the level is one level lower than AOC. "Original wine" also has quality assurance, but the grape varieties used are not so expensive. This kind of wine should be drunk as it is brewed. Among the good years of Bordeaux wine, 1945 and 1961 are regarded as the best years of this century. The Bordeaux wines in these two years sold at the highest price (up to 25,000 francs per bottle). The four years 1990, 1982, 1966 and 1959 were also good years. To give just a few examples: the best Bordeaux wines include Chateaubourg, Chateau Lafitte, Rochard, Chateau Cheval Blanc, and Chateau Diagon; the best Burgundy wines include Romanet? Conti and Rishpur. The best champagnes include Kruger, "Vintage" 1985, "Crystal" champagne from Roerer, etc.

French bread

French baguettes, croissants, walnut bread, grape bread, traditional yeast-leavened round loaves and other French breads and butter cakes are also popular Loved by the world.

French meals

The general approach is still to drink some light wine first (such as Sancerre red wine or white wine, Alsace Pinot Noir or white Pinot wine). Nouveau, Beaujolais), then luscious red wines (e.g., Rh?ne country wine, Chinon rosé), followed by full-bodied older wines (e.g., Saint-Démyry, Haute-Médoc, Codenay ). When eating dessert, drink aromatic wine (such as Sauternes), or wine with a naturally sweet taste (such as Mori when eating chocolate-flavored snacks and fruits...). Since the 1980s, the French have been accustomed to using champagne (and often pink champagne) as an aperitif.

Higher education in France:

It has a long history, a complete system and a complete range of degree types, which is different from the higher education system in other countries. France currently has more than 400 institutions of higher learning with more than 1 million students enrolled. Colleges and universities offer students different types and forms of study courses, including short-term study courses, long-term study courses and vocational and technical education courses. According to the school's training objectives, enrollment system, teaching arrangements and administrative management characteristics, colleges and universities can be divided into four categories: comprehensive universities, higher professional colleges, short-term engineering colleges and senior technician schools.

1. Comprehensive universities

French comprehensive universities have a long history, well-equipped departments, scientific research capabilities and teaching staff, which play an important role in the structure of French higher education. There are currently 87 comprehensive universities in France, 3 of which are overseas. Students studying in comprehensive universities account for about 90% of the country's college students. The study time at a comprehensive university can be divided into three stages. At the end of the study, each university will issue a national diploma with the same validity, and some universities will also issue their own diplomas.

The first stage: two years, basic theoretical learning stage. After passing the examination at the end of the study, you can obtain a general university education diploma (equivalent to a junior college degree in my country)

The second stage: two years, professional basic education stage. Graduation with a general university education diploma or equivalent. At the end of the first year of study, you will receive a "Bachelor's Diploma" after passing the exam; after passing the second-year exam, you will receive a "Master's Diploma", and with this certificate you can enter the third stage of study and research, or be directly employed.

The third stage: professional research and in-depth learning stage. If the student's goal is to get a job, he should choose the Diploma of Advanced Studies (DESS) course. If the student hopes to work in research in the future, he should choose the Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) course, which is a Ph.D. The first step of a degree lasts for one year. A doctoral degree generally takes 2-4 years according to different requirements of each major. After completing the doctoral thesis and passing the examination, you can obtain a degree certificate.

CSCT: Comprehensive Certificate in Chemistry and Therapy

DCEM: Second Stage of Medical Science

DEA: Diploma of Advanced Education

DESS: Extraordinary Higher Education Diploma of Education

DEUG: Diploma of General University Education

DEUP: Diploma of Vocational University Education

DEUST: Diploma of University Education of Science and Technology

DNTS: National Diploma of Technical Studies

DRT: Diploma of Technical Studies

DUT: University Diploma of Technology

IUFM: University Institute for Teacher Training

IUP: Institute of Professional University

MIAGE: Master of Management Information Theory

MSG: Master of Management Science

MST: Master of Technical Science

< p>PCEM: The first stage of medical study

PCEP: The first stage of pharmaceutical study

Note: Some universities do not require the two years of preparatory courses before DEUST

2. Higher professional colleges

France currently has more than 300 higher professional colleges, also known as "grande schools" (GRANDE ECOLE). The school offers specialized courses for students who have obtained a "French Bachelor" degree or who have studied a two-year preparatory course. The academic duration of higher professional colleges is generally three years, and admission to such schools requires a fiercely competitive examination. These schools are generally small in size but have a high reputation. Many senior officials, scholars, engineers, and business managers have graduated from such colleges. Graduates of higher professional colleges are generally awarded "engineer" or other professional qualification certificates, and students who obtain such certificates can also transfer to universities for the third stage of study.

3. Short-term engineering colleges and universities

France currently has 90 short-term engineering colleges and universities. This type of school mainly provides training courses related to future employment in industry and services. Students can obtain a Diploma in University Engineering (DUT) after two years of study. Students at the Faculty of Engineering must first obtain the "French Bachelor" qualification or its equivalent. Foreign applicants must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent. About 60% of graduates enter the job market directly, while most of the others go to university to study for a master's degree in engineering or natural sciences.

4. Senior technician schools

Senior technician schools provide various types of specialized courses. There are currently about 1,700 such schools in France. Students can obtain the Senior Technician Diploma (BTS) upon graduation.

French proficiency test---TEF exam

The full name of the TEF exam is Test `Evaluation de Franyais, which is the French proficiency test. It is administered every year by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris (CCIP) and the French Training Center (Alliance Franyaise), examination centers are located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. It is held 5 times every year in February, June, July, September, and December, with a full score of 900 points. In recent years, the test scores have become an important reference for students to apply for visas.

In order to enter a higher-level institution for further study or to succeed in early application, you should have sufficient grammar skills. Applicants must take a grammar proficiency test held regularly every year. In the applicant's home country this exam is organized by the Cultural Office of the French Embassy; in France, this exam is organized by the applicant's first choice university.

Qualifications for international students

Students applying to study in France must meet the following conditions:

1. Applicants should be between 18 and 28 years old

2. College degree or above

3. Good health, no criminal record

4. Able to pay all expenses for studying in France

< p>Obtain a visa

Students planning to study in France should understand the requirements for entering France and obtain a long-term student residence permit (visa) from the French consulate nearest their home location. Without a visa, you have no legal status. It is not possible to convert a tourist visa into a long-term student visa after arriving in France. Students must obtain a residence permit before leaving their home country.

Language requirements

The key to long-term study in France is to be able to take notes, give speeches, write reports, read materials, and take exams and tests.

However, the requirements for language proficiency will vary according to the following conditions: Subject areas: liberal arts (literature, history, geography, psychology, sociology, economics, demography); science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.); medicine (Medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, biology, etc.). Scope of activities: If you are engaged in a certain field of work, you must have strong French speaking and writing skills in this field. The goals are different: If you want to teach French in the future, the requirements for knowledge level and expression ability must be higher. Being fluent in French means thinking and observing like a French person. This means integrating into the daily life of French people. A study abroad experience in this country will increase your personal experience and enrich your thoughts. Learn French before you go In order to pass your language exam, a basic knowledge of French is a must. So it's a good idea to learn French before you go. This saves time and prepares you for your stay in France. The French embassy will tell you how to learn French in different regions and cities, usually by going to an institute of France or the Alliance Fran?aise. In order to reach a certain level, students should attend classes for at least one year, speak French regularly, listen to French radio, and read newspapers and books.

Study Plan

Step One: Know where you are going and where you are coming from. Make a plan that includes estimating your course schedule today and what you have achieved in your previous school. score. If you want to enter the first stage of study, you should know which type of professional certificate your secondary education corresponds to; if you want to enter the second or third stage of study, you also need to know the number of years you have studied in France and the number of years you want to study. Relationship between years of continued study. Finally, you must be confident that your French can express your thoughts well in your chosen professional field.

Step 2: Study time. With the assistance of your consulting teacher, you should determine whether you want to study long-term or short-term, and decide on a subject area.

Adapting to learning

Vocational and technical training is mainly integrated into university education, which is more aligned with traditional single-subject degrees. Some educational institutions offer multidisciplinary courses. Higher professional schools offer the possibility of a wide range of cross-learning. Under certain conditions, it is also possible to change one's own field of study at a certain level and thus adjust one's own study plan. Therefore, students should be advised to gradually choose their own direction based on their professional qualifications and potential, to avoid falling into a promising subject, and never hesitate to consult the teacher. Considering the possibility of changes in future study plans, the initial Choices must be flexible.

Changing courses and cross-selecting courses

You may transfer from university to a higher vocational school to study. You may complete courses equivalent to preparatory courses at university and obtain a university technical degree. , or get a DEUG certificate, enter a higher vocational school, or simply change the field of study. To accomplish all of this, certain conditions need to be met. Curriculum changes must be subject to clear rules. Only the best students have a chance of being accepted, especially when transferring from university to a higher professional school. The host institution will provide all information on application possibilities and forms (application letters, documents, examinations). Friends from all walks of life who have studied abroad are welcome to leave messages or provide words of advice on our message board to help more young friends realize their dreams of studying abroad.

About the University Service Center

The abbreviation of the University Service Center is CNOUS (Centre National des Oeuvers Universitaires et scolaires). It controls and coordinates 28 regional centers (CROUS) and 12 subordinate The activities of the local center (CLOUS), in addition to many subordinate departments, organize various activities aimed at helping students. The services provided by CROUS cover all aspects of students' daily life:

Food: 833 canteens operated or authorized by CROUS guarantee meals for 72 million people every year.

Accommodation: CROUS owns one of the largest real estate companies in France and can provide accommodation to 15,000 students, including student dormitories and low-rent apartments. Foreign students: From 1996 to 1997***, 125,205 foreign students were registered in French public universities. About 10,000 of them have scholarships provided by the French government or foreign governments. Their management is the direct responsibility of the University Service Center.

Culture: Provides an annual subsidy of 6,500,000 francs to university campus activities and cultural activities of university students. Job: CROUS provides short-term job opportunities to students, which can be inquired through Minitel: 3615CROUS.

Social undertakings: Every year, the University's unified fund provides grants or loans to 22,500 needy students.

Scholarships and Grants: The University Service Center has various forms of state funding: 400.000 higher education scholarships, honorary grants, foundation scholarships, as well as a large number of scholarships provided by the French government to foreign students. Travel: Each year 300,000 students take part in trips organized by OTU, the University Service Center’s Travel Office.

Advantages for students

Students in France have a lot of discounts to take advantage of: government subsidies for university cafeterias; accommodation specifically for students (new apartment buildings, traditional school residences and student dormitories) , low-rent residential HLM); student discounts on public transportation (except Paris) and recreational facilities. In this way, students' expenses will be less, allowing them to use the saved money to buy books or other cultural activities.

Eating in France

France is extremely rich in food and agricultural products. The supermarkets most frequently visited by French people have a variety of high-quality prepared foods (vegetables, canned foods, dairy products, clean vegetables, etc.). But in order to buy fresh produce, French people also often go to the numerous outdoor outdoor markets, which are often very beautiful. Indoor markets have the same opening hours as regular shops, while open-air markets tend to be open once a week and open all morning. Markets can be found everywhere in France and Paris. French people also often go to some exquisite small shops and takeaway shops to buy high-quality food (cheese, bread, cold dishes). There are also some small grocery stores that are open late. During the working day, a third of French people regularly have fast food for lunch: a sandwich or a casual snack in the work restaurant.

Restaurants

France has all kinds of restaurants: there are more than 48,800 cafes and restaurants in total. If you want to sit down for a simple and convenient hot dish, head to a brasserie. Bakeries and delis sell long sandwiches, pies, or pizza, usually served hot. Some small regional restaurants offer three-course set meals at a fixed price, ranging from 45 to 90 francs. There are also pizzerias, Asian restaurants, bakeries, bars, pancake shops and American fast food. In fact, the university's cafeteria has all the above-mentioned foods, and the prices are very cheap.

For more information about French food, please refer to Food World

University canteens

The University Service Center has 440 self-managed canteens and 440 authorized canteens for students. Providing catering. The university cafeteria is an important part of student life and one of the best achievements of the University Service Center. The recipes in the balanced catering cafeteria are formulated in accordance with the standards of the National Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, while also incorporating traditional French flavors. From small snacks to four-course meals, the university cafeteria has a wide range of recipes to choose from at lunch and evening: - The most common is a traditional French meal: appetizer, main course, cheese or sweet. The price of such a meal is fixed, and there are various options to choose from. Students may pay for meal vouchers purchased in advance.

-Some recipes vary in price depending on the main course: salad, grilled meat or pasta.

-In many university towns, CROUS has also opened many specialty restaurants: pizza restaurants, pie restaurants or Asian cuisine.

-Cafes, beer halls, sandwich restaurants, dessert shops, bakeries or French fries restaurants are all easily found in universities, student dormitories or canteens.

In addition, CROUS mobile food trucks will provide food on university campuses in some places (Lille, Reteil, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Reunion).

Living in France

The number of student apartments is limited, and it is difficult to find housing in university student apartments if you are not a grant or scholarship recipient. Usually 12% to 15% of the housing belonging to the university service center is reserved for foreign students, and French or foreign government scholarship recipients often have priority. In Paris, even French government scholarship recipients are not guaranteed housing in university apartments.

Finding an apartment is not easy in any big city, especially in France. The rental sector includes approximately 12,500 well-organized and regulated intermediaries. When renting a room (usually unfurnished), you will need to provide written documentation proving that you are financially able to rent the room. It is generally required to prove that your monthly income is more than four times the rent. Real estate agents will ask for three things: a refundable deposit equivalent to two months' rent; one month's rent in advance; and a handling fee. In this way, you need to prepare 3 to 4 times the monthly rent for the first payment. Rent in Paris is about 50% higher than in other provinces. More than 50% of France's 27 million households live in individual residences. In 1992, 53.8% of households owned their own homes. For students, especially foreign students, it can be difficult to find a room without family help. The housing problem in the Paris region, especially in Paris, is so severe that if you don't have pre-arranged housing in Paris, you are advised to go to school elsewhere.

About tuition fees

Annual tuition fees at public higher education institutions range from a few hundred to several thousand francs, depending on the level of the degree being pursued. If the student's home country has a student social insurance agreement with France, this fee also covers the student's social insurance costs. Tuition fees at private educational institutions range from 20,000 to 100,000 francs per year. If the student is not among the beneficiaries of social insurance, he must also pay an additional personal supplementary insurance premium, which is approximately between 2,500 and 5,000 francs.

About applying for grants and scholarships

There are three types of grants that foreign students can apply for:

——French government grants provided by different organizations.

——Grants and scholarships provided by students’ home countries to fund study abroad.

——Scholarships provided by international or non-governmental organizations.

For details, please refer to UNESCO's biannual magazine "Study Abroad" (STUDIES ABRQAD). It is recommended that students who want to apply for grants and scholarships apply at least one year before studying in France. If students have received grants or scholarships from their home country, they should report to the cultural section of the consulate in their home country after arriving in France. Scholarship recipients from international or non-governmental organizations are also required to report to the organization's representative office in France.

Working in France

Every CROUS has a service department called the "Student Temporary Employment Office" (ETE). This sector provides thousands of temporary jobs each year, yet demand exceeds supply. There are many jobs that students can find, such as taking care of children, doing housework, teaching others, measuring research, etc.

Information on how to obtain jobs

Each CROUS Student Temporary Job Office stores temporary job opportunities available to students in a central database. The University Service Center also provides information on many career events and organizes study outings and group visits for students.

Laws on Temporary Work

Without scholarships, foreign students with a legal residence permit can work under certain conditions. Specific information can be obtained from the Foreign Labor Division of the General Administration of Labor and Employment. A student may work for a maximum of 20 hours without affecting his or her studies and employment situation in France.

Long-distance train travel

The comfortable and fast TGV cuts the time from Paris to southwest, southeast, west and north France by half. This railway network will soon extend beyond the French border. . TGV has greatly reduced the time required for travel and has become a strong competitor in domestic air routes. SNCF has also established rail transportation networks in the suburbs of large cities.

Train fare discounts

Discounts include student discounts, BIGE ticket seasonal discounts, joint fare discounts and other discounts (CAR-RISSIMO, DECOUVERTE and for families, groups, couples discounts, etc.). For more information, please contact the OTU, the information desk at the train station, or the travel agency.

Long-distance bus travel

Fast long-distance buses are available for domestic and international travel over short or medium distances. SNCF also has its own long-distance bus network. Travel agencies, tour companies and SNCF provide coach services to most tourist destinations.

Urban Transportation Systems

Many provincial cities have public transportation systems that include buses and trams. Some large cities - Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse - also have metros; cities outside Paris generally have discounts for students. The main means of transportation in Paris is the subway. Paris's buses and buses extend in all directions, making it a comfortable and cheap way to sightsee. Subway and bus tickets can be bought individually (the most expensive) or ten (cheaper). If you ride frequently, you can buy a weekly or monthly pass

Post Office

The logo of LA POSTE (Post Office) is a streamlined blue bird on a yellow background. The Post Office is responsible for all operations related to the delivery of mail. There are 17,000 post offices across France, with postal branches in major cities, which remain open on holidays and Sundays.

Telephone

France Telecom is the fourth largest telephone company in the world. It features blue fonts on a white background and a streamlined phone. Business scope includes: telephone, telex, fax, MINITEL. The network, which manages 32.4 million telephones, has been completed electronically. Telephone charges depend on the period of the call, distance and time. Telephone prices have dropped significantly in recent years, especially for international calls. Most phones can provide a variety of services: reminders, voice alarms, telegraphs, etc., and can also be used for electronic information transmission after registration. There are many public phones, and there are traditional coin-operated phones in cafes and restaurants, but most of them are magnetic cards. You can use special phone cards or smart cards. The country code for France is 33. When calling France from abroad, add 00 in front.

Banks

The major French banks (four of which are among the top ten in Europe) have branches throughout the country. These banks issued 27.2 million credit cards to users. These cards can be used to pay directly in many large stores and services, and to withdraw cash from cash machines. There are cash machines in banks, post offices, stations, airports, commercial centers and shopping malls.

Shopping

Supermarkets and large shopping malls

Most French people buy food and household supplies in supermarkets. In large shopping malls, you have a larger choice when buying clothes, home decorations, stereos, cosmetics, perfumes, etc. Mail order catalogs for cheap items are very common. You can order via MINITEL, phone or email. The goods will be delivered directly to your home.

Small shops and shop galleries

Small shops are often found on the top floors of malls and usually sell luxury goods: clothes and perfumes, for example. Student Discount: Students can enjoy a 10% discount in some stores.

Media, Culture and Entertainment

Newspapers

There are 11 national newspapers, the content is either general, economic, regional or local 59 kinds of sex newspapers. The largest circulation newspaper is not a national but a local one: Ouest de France (800,000 copies per day). The most popular magazine is a television magazine called Seven Days of Television, with three million copies per issue.

Television and radio

The transmission of radio waves is monopolized by the French Telecommunications Company. The state-owned television company is France Télévisions, which has two channels: France 2 and France 3. The second station covers the whole country, and the third station covers some areas. Programs with national coverage will give time to local news programs at fixed times