Being healthy, a key to succeed!

According to UNESCO, “young people who receive a quality education are more likely to be healthy, and those who are healthy are better able to learn”. As such, the French law reminds higher education institutions that they are responsible for the preventive health monitoring of international students, and it is within this framework that all newly arrived foreign students have access to the health resources of their institutions.

Going through your health path

Being healthy is the first condition to succeed, and this observation is even more true in higher education. The implementation of preventive monitoring, an entirely free and confidential service, will give you the opportunity to engage in a true “health path” and assess your physical and mental health, with the idea to not stay alone with your doubts or questions.

With the preventive health care monitoring, you will:

• obtain a full health check as soon as you arrive in France;
• discover prevention and health awareness-raising actions (advice on diet, mental health, stress management, sleep, sexuality) and take stock on vaccination;
• access free screenings and possibly complementary tests adapted to your needs.

Services accessible to all

This easy access, free of charge and caring prevention service is one of the missions of the Student Health Services (Services de Santé Etudiante, SSE), which are services available in most French universities accessible on appointment. The role of these centres are to answer the changes of students’ health needs, whichever they are. Whether you are registered or not in a university, whether you are registered to a course in a public or private institution, you can have access to the Student Health Services, provided your host institution has signed a convention with the SSE.

SSE centres are ran and managed by doctors and nurses (and, depending on the centre, other health specialists) to provide primary care, completely free of charge, and carry out both preventive and diagnostic activities. Since 2023, their mission has been expanded or developed in various areas, such as mental health, sexual health, addiction prevention, nutrition, sports, and more. Centres also contribute to the support and integration system for students with disabilities.