Sciences Po
When arriving at Sciences Po, incoming students will take part in “Welcome Week” wherein several outings and events will take place to orient students to the campus they are attending. International students will have administrative and language assistance in setting up a French bank account, a French phone number and finalizing the visa process. Info sessions held by Sciences Po staff will provide students any additional knowledge needed to thrive at their respective campuses. Also during “Welcome Week,” social functions hosted by student organizations will foster community building.
Health and Safety
Each Sciences Po campus has a student healthcare center called the Pôle Santé. Exact services vary across the different campuses, however, students can expect to have regular access to a Doctor, Nurse and Psychologist. While at Sciences Po, international students will have also access to French social security, which is discussed in-depth at the Sciences Po new student orientation.
Visa
Students who do not have a French passport, or who are an international student from a non-European Union country will need to apply for a long-stay student visa. Once accepted, students receive comprehensive information about how to apply for the French student visa, which requires a valid passport.
UC Berkeley
Upon arriving at UC Berkeley, students will participate in transfer Golden Bear Orientation (GBO). This week-long experience will familiarize students with the vast resources available at UC Berkeley from learning about Berkeley’s Career Center to touring Berkeley’s various athletic facilities. GBO is also a great chance for students to meet other students, many of whom are also entering in their third year. I-House and the Berkeley Student Cooperative—the Dual Degree’s priority housing options—are also spaces where many students are able to cultivate community.
To aid in the academic transition to UC Berkeley, there is free tutoring available through the Student Learning Center. Dual Degree students can also take a Berkeley Connect course which will familiarize them with their department of study by fostering relationships with professors and exposing students to research opportunities. Sciences Po’s rigorous academic curriculum prepares Dual Degree students well for their studies at UC Berkeley.
Health and Safety
UC Berkeley requires students to have health insurance and all registered students, including international students, are automatically enrolled in the UC Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), for a fee. Students may elect to waive ship, if their have private insurance that meets minimum criteria. While on campus, UC Berkeley students have access to the Tang Center which provides physical and mental/emotional healthcare services.
Visa
Students who are not US citizens, green card holders or permanent residents will need an F-1 visa to attend their final two years at UC Berkeley. Comprehensive information about the F-1 visa can be found on the Berkeley International Office website.