Universite PSL

Visiting your child at Universite PSL means flying into Paris (CDG, with frequent direct flights from India); the RER B reaches central Paris in about 40 minutes. Plan the France Schengen visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from CDG to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a France Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) - one visa covers France and all 29 Schengen countries. It is applied for via the France-Visas portal and then VFS Global in India (biometrics at a VFS centre). It allows up to 90 days within any 180-day period; frequent visitors can be granted multi-year multiple-entry visas (each stay still capped at 90/180).

• Apply via the France-Visas portal, then book biometrics at a VFS Global centre in India.
• Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) captures face and fingerprints at the first Schengen entry - expect airport kiosks.
• Build a strong file: confirmed travel and accommodation, financial proof, and clear home ties; an invitation/attestation d'accueil from your child helps.
• One Schengen visa covers all 29 countries, so parents can travel onward in Europe within the 90/180 limit.

Just admitted to Universite PSL? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Paris CDG early - frequent direct flights from Indian metros.
• RER B from CDG into central Paris (~40 min), then Metro/RER to campus.
• Apply for CROUS housing early and claim the CAF subsidy; Paris rents are France's highest, so sharing helps.
• Validate your VLS-TS visa with OFII and pay the tax stamp within 3 months, pay the EUR 105 CVEC fee, apply for CROUS housing early, and claim the CAF rent subsidy after arrival.

Paris is by far France's most expensive student city - about EUR 1,200-1,800 a month all-in sharing and cooking, driven by high rents. The savers are real, though: CROUS student housing (subsidised), the CAF housing subsidy (EUR 100-250/month for eligible students), CROUS Resto-U meals at about EUR 3.30, and the Imagine R transport pass (~EUR 393/year for under-26s). Public universities charge low fees; the grandes ecoles charge more.

Monthly cost of living in Paris (a student estimate)

That's roughly €14,000-21,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Paris rents are the highest in France; students rely on CROUS, shared flats (colocation) and the CAF subsidy to manage.

• Apply for CROUS housing early (Jan-May) and claim the CAF rent subsidy as soon as you arrive.
• Never pay a holding fee before signing a lease (bail) and viewing - rental scams are common.
• The Imagine R pass (under-26) makes Metro/RER travel cheap; pay the EUR 105 CVEC fee on arrival.

Working part-time

On a student long-stay visa or residence permit (VLS-TS etudiant) you can work up to 964 hours per year - about 60% of full-time, roughly 20 hours/week - in any job, with no separate work permit needed. The annual count starts from your visa validation date; the minimum wage (SMIC) is about EUR 11.88/hour gross in 2026, and employers must declare you. Going over 964 hours requires a temporary work permit. After a master's or grande ecole degree you can apply for the APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Sejour), a non-renewable temporary permit to job-search and work at the same 60% rate; you can switch to full-time immediately if you find a job in your field paying at least 1.5 times the SMIC (around EUR 2,735/month gross in 2026), and self-employment or starting a company is also allowed.

Safety & student support

Paris's universities is in a generally safe French city; use normal city awareness, especially around major stations at night.

• Paris's universities has campus security and student services - save the campus number.
• French cities have good public transport; keep an eye on belongings on the metro and at busy stations.
• Use normal big-city awareness on the Metro and around Gare du Nord/Chatelet late at night.

Indian community & food

Paris has a large South Asian community, with the main Indian and Sri Lankan area around La Chapelle and Passage Brady.

Indian grocery stores

• La Chapelle (10th/18th) - Paris's 'Little India/Little Jaffna' - and Passage Brady are full of Indian/Sri Lankan grocers and restaurants.
• Mainstream Lidl, Aldi, Carrefour and Monoprix carry world-food aisles; the desi stores cover spices, atta, lentils and frozen items.
• Choice and pricing are good around La Chapelle.

Student community

• Paris's universities and grandes ecoles have active Indian and South Asian student associations with Diwali and Holi events.
• Paris has Hindu and Tamil temples and a busy desi cultural scene around La Chapelle.

• La Chapelle and Passage Brady are the go-to areas for Indian and Sri Lankan dining.

Cost & living figures for Paris last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.