About Student Life
Student Life at INSEAD covers two different parts of your journey.
Prior to arriving on campus, you will spend time connecting with your future classmates, search for housing, navigate visa processes, and take care of other logistics considerations. This website is where you will find all the important information relating to this.
Once on campus, you’ll immerse yourself in an intense yet rewarding learning environment, enriched by collaboration with one of the most culturally diverse student communities in the world. Student life at INSEAD extends beyond academics; offering a vibrant mix of professional and social club events, as well as DASH & Cultural Festivals that celebrates our global community.
Immigration & Travel Matters
Please read the following sections carefully to check whether you require a long-term visa and/or a Residence permit for your stay in France or in Singapore.
In order to avoid delays, we encourage you to begin the French student visa process as soon as possible (beginning up to six months in advance of your arrival, and no later than three months prior to that date). We strongly advise you to prepare in advance all the documentation stipulated by the relevant authorities.
Please note French consulates request the French version of the Attestation (see MyDocuments section on My INSEAD) and not the English version. The English version can be used for other administrative purposes such as car rentals, bank transfers, etc.
Please be aware that INSEAD does not have any power on respective governments. Final say on your applications (visas/residence permit) belongs to corresponding governmental authorities.
Where to start with the French Administrative steps?
Depending on your personal situation, the course of action will differ. You are:
A Non EU citizen (A comprehensive, step‑by‑step guide to creating your EEF account is available here, if needed.)
A Non EU citizen already living in France
A Non EU citizen already living in Europe
For questions concerning visa, please click below. Should you have further questions contact the Student Life Office:
Visa Office: [email protected]
Tel: +33 1 60 72 41 49
Singapore Student Visa Procedure
All foreign students are required by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to have a student pass while studying in Singapore.
| Please click on the Student Pass Procedure document below to understand the step-by-step process that you will need to follow in order to obtain your student pass. Student Pass Procedure |
For questions regarding Partner's Visa for Singapore, please scroll to the end of the page. More information is available in the Partners Section.
For questions concerning student visa, please contact your class officers on the Asia Campus.
July Class Officer | December Class Officer |
| Violet TEO Tel: +65 6407 7185 | Shu Man TAN Tel: +65 6799 5290 |
Settling in
Housing
There are various housing options available in Fontainebleau / Avon, such as shared houses, shared flats or studios. You can also venture outside of Fontainebleau / Avon in the surrounding villages if you have a car.
We have recorded a video presenting different housing options in Fontainebleau to help you in your search. Please note that this is only a guide and that the final decision on where to stay during your time at INSEAD is entirely up to you. INSEAD takes no responsibility in contracts made between you and any third party housing providers.
You can see the slides presented here:
UPDATE : Please note that City Junction have ceased their activity. The leases they currently have ongoing will be managed directly by the landlords
Life in Fontainebleau
The INSEAD Fontainebleau guide below will help you prepare your arrival and your stay in Fontainebleau.
From emergency numbers, housing options, electricity or mobile providers to the list of general practitioners and nurseries, vital information will help you navigate with confidence at INSEAD and in your new country! There are a lot of resources available for you on our Campuses and in their surroundings.
Housing
To get you started on your housing search, we have complied a list of FAQs on the types of housing available as well as what to look out for in a tenancy contract. You can view it below:
Please note that this is only a guide and that the final decision on where to stay during your time at INSEAD is entirely up to you. INSEAD takes no responsibility in contracts made between you and any third party housing providers. There are various housing options available in Singapore such as government housing (HDB), condominiums, co-living spaces and landed property.
To give you a better idea of costs, here is an article - Rent In Singapore 2023 - Cost Guide to Renting a Room Or Home written by Moneysmart.sg, a trusted source of information portal in Singapore
Guidance on Singapore housing
Life in Singapore
The guide below will help you prepare your arrival and your stay in Singapore.
Medical Insurance
During your programme at INSEAD, you will be covered by AON
AON has designed an insurance package that is custom-made for INSEAD students which is included in your tuition fees. As a student, you will be medically covered over the duration of your programme (from Day 1 until Graduation). The AON health insurance is mandatory and cannot be refunded.
The coverage is worldwide and includes medical costs, repatriation, accidents, 24/7 emergency assistance helpline, liability and legal aid. Do note that pre-existing conditions are also covered. We recommend you to read the Summary of coverage.
Please note that some high-risk activities are not covered: sports that entail an increased risk of accidents or injury, such as: wild-water rafting, bungee jumping, deep sea diving (from 18 meters), martial arts, self-defence sports, American football, rugby, (semi-) professional sports, sports practiced by you in the context of a sport scholarship, sport that is engaged in as a way of earning income or supplemental income, wild game hunting, recreational flying, hot air ballooning, hang gliding, parachute jumping, races involving motorized vehicles or vessels, equestrian sport, mountaineering, caving, speleology, glacier-walking, mountain sports (unless on cleared paths or a terrain without paths that is also easily accessible for the untrained), off-piste skiing, heli-skiing, sledge sport, ice climbing, ice hockey, ice diving.
The AON medical proof of coverage's meets requirements for your visa application. The proof of coverage for the:
MBA 26D is available here
MBA 27J is available here
Medical FAQs:
-
What if I arrive on campus before the programme starts and want to be covered by AON?
-
Please contact the AON team: [email protected] should you wish to get a quotation.
-
What about Partners & Children?
-
Partners (spouses or not) and children are NOT included in the insurance package. AON provides you with the option to enrol your family members (one application per family member). The minimum insurance period will be 6 months to get a coverage that includes pre-existing conditions. You can contact AON directly to get quotations.
-
Can I keep my student insurance package after graduating?
-
Just looking for a job or enjoying some well-earned holiday after graduation? A month before the end date of your insurance via INSEAD (ie a month before graduation), AON will inform you of a temporary solution for coverage abroad - if you stay internationally located (outside of your home country). You can also get a free quote online www.aonexpatinsurance.com
Life on Campus
Campus Facilities
Our INSEAD Europe Campus is located on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau and just a stone's throw away from the town centre. It usually takes 15min to get there by foot.
You will find below a map and available services on campus:
Campus Facilities
Our INSEAD Singapore Campus is located 30 minutes by Train from the Central Business District. You will find below a map of the campus and the services available:
The INSEAD Singapore guide
Pages 13 - 16 within the guide below will help you prepare your arrival and your stay in Singapore.
Partners
INSEAD is a true melting pot of cultures and languages for both our MBAs and their partners. The decision to leave your friends and family is always challenging but at INSEAD we provide a platform for connections, opportunities and activities that enhance the experience for everyone. Not least our MBA partners. Around 30% of MBAs are accompanied by their partners on their INSEAD journey. Throughout the year our staff in Student Life will support your time with us by organizing events or by encouraging you to do so.
INSEAD provides partners with:
- Dedicated staff members on both campuses to provide advice on residency & visa issues
- Partners activities & workshops
- Access to the 24-hour INSEAD library
- Access to the Fitness Centre on campus
- Opportunity to participate in social events such as Cultural Festivals, DASH etc.
- Attend selected club events
The MBA Partners group facilitates social, cultural, personal and professional development for all partners at INSEAD.
French immigration for MBA partners
IF your partner wants to come along with you as a support during your MBA programme, AND your partner doesn't enter to the case mentioned above then a French long term visitor visa would be the fitted visa.
This visa is mainly granted by bringing long term evidence (+3months) on accommodation, funds, medical insurance… so make sure everything is under your partner's name too.
You can add your enrolment letter (as additional “bonus” evidence) - please bear in mind that in the frame of French visa application for partners, INSEAD can only validate the enrolment status of its students
I invite you or your partner to use the French visa device available here: to get to know the process and documents to collect and where to submit the application.
Life as an INSEAD partner
Closer to the start of the programme, we will ask you to register your partner so your partner can get a badge to access campus, get invited to their own Launch Week (which runs in parallel to your student's Launch Week), receive partner-specific information and be added to a Teams comms channel dedicated to partners.
For insights to the MBA Partner life in Fontainebleau listen, we recommend you and your partner to listen to In the Know podcasts #14 & #36 to hear from previous partners' experience.
If you have any questions you would like to ask before your arrival in Fontainebleau, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Coming to Fontainebleau with children
Children under 3 years old
There are two main options in France for childcare which are:
- licensed childminders or “nounous” who look after children at their home and are registered with the local authorities.
- nurseries or "creches": one public in Fontainebleau and a few private ones in Fontainebleau and Avon.
You can find a list of all day-care options and their contact details in the Fontainebleau guide .
It is important to start looking early on as the day-care demand in Fontainebleau/Avon is high.
Children over 3 years old
Schooling in France is compulsory from 6 to 16 years old. Kindergarden (Ecoles maternelles)welcome children from 3 to 6 years old and Primary schools (Ecoles Elementaires) children from 6 to 10 years old.
Whether you choose a public (free) or private (with fees) school, it is advisable to register your child as soon as possible.
You can find a list of all schools and their contact details in the Fontainebleau guide .
Singapore Immigration and Visa matters for MBA Partners
Depending on the type of travel documents that your partners hold, they may or may not require an entry visa to Singapore. They are usually issued a Short Term Visit Pass(STVP) of between 30 to 90 days after passing through immigration.
If your partner is intending to stay in Singapore for the whole duration of your studies, they may want to apply for a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP). This option is only available for married couples and is subjected to approval upon submitting all the required documents.
For more information, you can refer to the document below.
If you have any questions, you can also reach us at [email protected]
Life as an INSEAD partner
Closer to the start of the programme, we will ask you to register your partner so your partner can get a badge to access campus, get invited to their own Launch Week (which runs in parallel to your student's Launch Week), receive partner-specific information and be added to a Teams comms channel dedicated to partners.
Coming to Singapore with Children
Childcare in Singapore starts from 18 months old to 6 years old. A childcare centre typically operates from 7am to 7pm, while a kindergarten may only operate for 3 hours.
As a short-term visitor to Singapore, your child may not be eligible to attend a local childcare centre or kindergarten. However, some international schools and private childcare centres may allow short term enrolment for visitors. Do call them up to check and plan a visit to their campus before making a decision. You may want to start off your search with the preschools listed in page 43 of the INSEAD Singapore Guide below.
