Cosmopolitan Paris: according to data from the Ministry of National Education, the universities and establishments of higher education in the Paris system counted in their ranks for the 2001/2002 university year: 12 500 students from Africa, 9 800 European students, as well as 5 800 students from Asia and 3868 students from the American continent.

The City of Paris today has an active policy in terms of student life. Various initiatives undertaken since 2001 have put into action a programme of achievements and projects such as: the establishment of a Parisian Council of Student Life, the creation of the Convention of Student Life, the opening of the Maison des Initiatives Etudiantes, and even the overseeing of the Universities of the Third Millenium project (U3M). Especially with this last project, Paris wishes by 2015:

• to create a new ZAC Paris – Left Bank centre: in the eastern Paris quarter, to establish the Université de Paris VII, currently in Jussieu) and a “languages and civilisations centre”;
• to develop the libraries starting with the creation of a new library in the heart of the Latin Quarter as well as at the ZAC Paris – Left Bank, making it possible in the end to create 4000 new places and to modernise services overall;
• to modernise the network of existing sites for the Parisian universities overall and for a great many of the larger establishments;

• to improve the conditions of student life, by the construction of 3 000 new lodgings and to rehabilitate venues of student life by developing university centres and restaurants, as well as spaces for conviviality.

  As concerns more specifically the university back-to-school season and the welcoming of international students, two reception centres (“Relais d’accueil”) are now open from September to November at the Cité Internationale Universitaire in Paris and at the CROUS in Paris. These structures have been set up to help and guide foreign students on their arrival in the capital, with what they need to do for themselves personally and administratively, including, for example: the application for a residence card (“carte de séjour”), help in seeking lodging, the opening of a bank account, work authorisations, Social Security, etc.

Throughout the year, the centre at the Cité Internationale Universitaire of Paris responsible for the quality of student life welcomes young people from Paris and France to help them get the necessary done.

See www.etudiantdeparis.fr