2020 Academic Year: Welcome, International Students!
Coming from Brazil, China, Lebanon, Russia, Europe, first-time international students gradually enroll in their educational programs at Université PSL. For this special academic year, they were all given support and a warm welcome from PSL Welcome Desk.
Obtain a visa, find accommodation, understand the French academic system: arriving in a new country to study sometimes proves to be a challenging experience. Université PSL, who was certified "Welcome to France" in 2020, has been committed for several years to offer a quality, personalized reception to its international students. In the special context of the 2020 academic year, the services of the PSL Welcome Desk are, more than ever, available to help new students settle and pursue the University's various programs (bachelor's, master's, engineering cycles, etc.). Also, newcomers benefit from a three-step welcome procedure, complemented by a brand new online platform, the digital Welcome Desk ("Welcome Desk numérique").
Nearly 50 twosomes to welcome and help newcomers
The first step in this reception program is a student-to-student mentoring program: the buddy program. Launched in May, for the second consecutive year, it teams up "Local Buddies" (PSL students) with "International Buddies" (international students who are newcomers to France and who have been admitted to a PSL program) before their arrival in France in order to organize the reception at the train station or airport, guide them in Paris, help them during their first days, and keep in touch if the Buddies wish to do so. This service, funded as part of the "Welcome to France" call for proprosals launched by the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, has supported the training of nearly 50 pairs and the implementation of the "Meet & Greet" service, the second stage of the reception system.
Since the end of August, Breno, Qian, Viktor, Polina, Leonardo... and many others have been welcomed by their respective buddies. They are given the opportunity to receive upon arrival a welcome pack with everything they need for a successful start to their stay in Paris: sim card, subway tickets, cinema ticket, handbook and PSL goodies.
PSL Welcome Days: four events to complete the arrival on campus
From mid-September to mid-October, the PSL Welcome Desk gives international students the opportunity to participate in the "PSL Welcome days" (four sessions available), the third stage of the reception program. Organized by the Welcome Desk tutors, these sessions enable newcomers to learn the main administrative procedures (opening a bank account, obtaining a social security number) and to discover Parisian life (walking on the Montmartre hill, eating pancakes, touring on a tourist river boat...) during a weekend.
More generally, this integration process is the best way for students to get to know the places and identify the people who will be available to help them over time on campus. The PSL Welcome Desk is open all-year round and organizes meetings every Monday, Wednesday, Friday (9:00 am to 2:00 pm) and Tuesday and Thursday (12:00 pm to 6:00 pm) as well as social events such as bowling, karaoke or potluck (each student brings a culinary speciality from their country).
Adapting to the covid situation
Because of the Covid-19 crisis, the issuance of some visas has been delayed, which prevented some students from joining the university in time for their first classes. In the meantime, to welcome them on campus, the "digital welcome desk" makes it possible to compensate for the distance. It offers the opportunity to learn the first administrative procedures or to make an appointment with the team of international tutors to discuss specific topics (renewal of residence permits, housing, health, proofreading service, etc.). And, for those experiencing financial difficulties, a social and digital emergency assistance fund is available to all PSL students.