Before your departure
We advise you to make sure you have a means of communication for the first few days. To be able to communicate as soon as you arrive on French soil, ask your telephone operator before your departure.
Good to know:
- communication costs can be high depending on your country of origin and your subscription.
- Many apps allow you to communicate via the Internet (without a telephone network).
- some public places offer free Wi-Fi connections, for instance train stations and airports, but also some cafés and shopping centres.
In France: getting a French phone plan
You can purchase a subscription, commonly called a package. There are many packages and subscriptions: note that it is important to find out about cancellation conditions, international call costs and overage fees before signing a contract.
To take out a subscription with a French telephone operator, you must provide documents such as an identity document/passport, proof of accommodation/residence, your residence permit, and means of payment. Prepaid rechargeable cards (calls, SMS and internet) are a solution if you don’t want to commit to a phone plan.
The main telephone operators in France are Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free etc. These operators also have “discount” services at more affordable prices (from 2€ for 2h of calls, unlimited SMS and 50 MB of data). You can also get information on websites comparing mobile packages:
University wi-fi: Eduroam
The Eduroam wi-fi network is available to students free of charge. This network is accessible from multiple access points spread throughout the university campuses. You will be able to connect only when you have finished your administrative registration and set up your UNICAEN digital account.
Connect to the Eduroam:
- Select the Eduroam nestwork
- Log in using your UNICAEN username and password
Self-service computer rooms
The Accueil et accompagnement des publics internationaux – AAPI space at the Maison des Langues et de l’International (Caen, Campus 1, Building I, LI 242) provides international students with self-service computers, which can be accessed using the digital account login.
At Home
Connectivity will depend on the type of accommodation you live in. Find out individually if you have access to an internet network at home (this is often the case in university residences).
If your accommodation is not equipped with an internet connection, you can take out an internet subscription with one of the many internet service providers, including the major telephone operators (Orange, Bouygues, Free, SFR, etc.). The price of a monthly subscription varies -depending on the options and the operator chosen- between 15 and 50€ per month. Most operators offer reduced prices for the first year of subscription as well as combined internet and mobile subscriptions. It is important to read your contract carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Your digital account is the key to your access to UNICAEN’s digital universe: it will allow you to connect to the Wi-Fi, to the self-service computers, to request your student card or to activate your IZLY account.
After your administrative registration at the university, you will receive an email in your personal mailbox to set up your digital account.
Every student has a UNICAEN e-mail address which is automatically created when they register (name.surname@etu.unicaen.fr). This address (accessible from the UNICAEN webmail– Zimbra) must be used for your exchanges with the administrative and teaching staff of the university.
More than an email, Zimbra also offers the possibility to consult your university schedule.
From the digital services catalog, you can consult your personal information, your grades and results online, edit a certificate of attendance, etc.