Rennes

Various support systems have been set up in your city to ensure a warm welcome.

These systems, implemented through partnerships, are designed to guide and assist you with your procedures upon arrival.

Reception Structure

International Mobility Centre (CMI) Rennes

The CMI Rennes is a shared service bringing together 14 higher education institutions in Rennes, 6 associated organizations, and the Rennes Métropole community.

The team is made up of 8 staff members, working in the following areas:

• Reception and support for international students
• Reception and support for international PhD candidates
• Reception and support for international researchers and their families
• Housing assistance
• Professional integration support
• Communication, events, and cultural programming

Target Audience

The target audience includes international students (regardless of status), PhD candidates, and researchers from the CMI Rennes member institutions (2 universities, 12 schools, 6 laboratories).

Services Offered

Information and assistance with procedures such as:

• Visa and residence permit processes
• Social security registration
• CAF procedures (housing aid)
• Transport-related formalities
• Housing search support
• Tax return assistance
• Support for professional integration
• Cultural agenda for students: registration for events organized by the CMI with Rennes’ cultural partners
• Agenda for PhD candidates, researchers, and families: FLE support, networking events with professionals ("afterworks"), intercultural meetups

Partners

• Rennes Métropole
• Prefecture of Ille-et-Vilaine
• CAF 35
• CPAM
• CROUS Bretagne
• CIREFE (FLE centre at Rennes 2 University)
• University Student Health Service
• SIUAPS (Inter-University Sports Service)
• Rennes Opera
• National Orchestra of Brittany
• Les Champs Libres
• National Theatre of Brittany
• Cercle Celtique de Rennes
• SNCF
• Keolis/Le STAR (Rennes public transport)
• Destination Rennes (Tourism Office)
• Cultural departments of Rennes 1 and Rennes 2
• Confucius Institute
• ESN Rennes
• Le 4bis – Youth Information Centre
• Ubuntu Association
• Solidarity associations (free groceries)
• Franco-American Institute

Dates and Hours

Helpdesk (residence permits, housing assistance, other procedures):

• Opens from August 21, 2025
• Individual appointments for all types of support
• Walk-ins accepted for simple requests and event registrations
• Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Online virtual desk available on Wednesday mornings

Address

CMI Rennes
Cité Internationale Paul Ricoeur
1 Place Paul Ricoeur
35000 RENNES
Metro A: Charles de Gaulle

Contact

cmi@univ-rennes.fr

Welcome Events

• ISD – International Students’ Day: Thursday, September 4 from 1:00 to 6:30 p.m.
  Program: “What is the CMI?” info points, welcome pack, partner fair, activities, survival guide to Rennes – FLE and intercultural workshop, excursion and cultural event registrations, student associations, etc.
  Full program: https://cmi.univ-rennes.fr/actualites/rentree-2025-international-students-day-et-mois-de-laccueil
• Welcome Party organized by ESN Rennes
• [Wel] Come, Meet, Interact – Tuesday, September 23: Intercultural speed meeting night (registration required)
• Mont Saint-Michel Excursion – Saturday, September 27
• Reception at Rennes City Hall in honor of international students, PhD candidates, and researchers – By invitation only, Wednesday, October 1st

Mentoring

CMI Rennes does not directly offer mentoring.
However, it is available through member institutions and the ESN Rennes association.

Additional Information

The CMI organizes live webinars to answer questions from students preparing for mobility in Rennes (Fall 2025). These are held every Tuesday from June 10 to July 15 on social media (YouTube and Instagram).
One session will be available on replay throughout the summer on the CMI Rennes website.

Students preparing to study in Rennes are also invited to attend the CMI virtual helpdesk every Wednesday morning.