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Master 2 BEE specializing in Tropical Forest Ecology (EFT)

Master 2 BEE specializing in Tropical Forest Ecology (EFT)

As part of their training, students enrolled in the master 2 Tropical Forest Ecology (EFT) must travel to French Guiana to reach the Agronomic campus of Kourou (Avenue de France BP 316 - 97379 Kourou Cedex - France), where their first-semester courses take place.

How do I get to French Guiana ?

From metropolitan France (Paris, Charles-de-Gaulle airport), French Guiana is served daily by Air France and Air Caraïbes airlines.

On arrival in French Guiana (Cayenne, Felix-Éboué airport), there is no public transport to the Agronomic campus in Kourou. At your request, the supervisory team can book a shuttle bus or will take you from the airport to the Agronomic campus (about one-hour drive), where you will be welcomed by the pedagogical team.

If students wish to enter French Guiana by land, by crossing the Oyapock border (Brazil – French Guiana) or the Maroni border (Surinam – French Guiana), they must ensure their own transfer to Kourou. If you chose this option, please let us know, as soon as possible, your arrival time so that we can welcome you on arrival in campus.

Which visa do I need to enter French Guiana ?

For European students living in the Schengen area, Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland:

These students do not need to apply for a visa to enter French Guiana. On arrival in metropolitan France and/or French Guiana, they must present 3 mandatory documents:

  1. a valid passport, still valid three months after the date of departure from the territory,
  2. a return flight ticket,
  3. a proof of schooling and accommodation for the entire stay (these documents will be provided as soon as the student's application has been enrolled in the Master's program).

For non-European students holding a French residence permit:

These students do not need to apply for a visa to enter French Guiana.On arrival in metropolitan France and/or French Guiana, they must present 4 mandatory documents:

  1. the residence permit covering the entire stay in French Guiana,
  2. the valid passport associated with the residence permit, still valid three months after the date of departure from the territory,
  3. a return flight ticket,
  4. a proof of schooling and accommodation for the entire stay (these documents will be provided as soon as the student's application has been enrolled in the Master's program).

For European students outside the Schengen area and non-European students who do not hold a French residence permit:

These students must apply for a visa to enter French Guiana. Before arriving in metropolitan France and/or French Guiana, they must obtain a French long-stay visa valid as a residence permit mentioning student (VLS-TS Étudiant):

  • The visa must be requested no more than 6 months and no less than 2 months before the date of entry into metropolitan France and/or French Guiana (for more information: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/student-long-stay-visa),
  • Visa applications must be made at the French Embassy or French General Consulate closest to the student's place of residence at the time of application (for more information: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa),
  • For case-by-case information on visa procedures in your residence country at the time of application, please visit: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/place-of-submission,
  • In most cases, visa applications can be made directly online. However, we strongly encourage students to contact the French embassy or consulate in their residence country at the time of application to double check the diplomatic procedures involved for a stay in French Guiana (the student VLS-TS visa must be non-territorialized).

Once the visa is obtained, students must present on arrival in metropolitan France and/or French Guiana 4 mandatory documents:

  1. the visa,
  2. the valid passport associated with the visa, still valid three months after the date of departure from the territory,
  3. a return flight ticket,
  4. a proof of schooling and accommodation for the entire stay (these documents will be provided as soon as the student's application has been enrolled in the Master's program).

Upon arrival in French Guiana, students must validate their VLS-TS student visa on the Administration Numérique pour les Etrangers en France (ANEF) website. This process must be completed within three months of arrival.

Which vaccinations do I need in French Guiana ?  

To enter French Guiana, you must present an international vaccination certificate showing that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever. The vaccination is carried out in one go (price varies between €60 and €110 depending on the country), and must be done at least 10 days before arrival in French Guiana.

Anti-malaria treatment is not compulsory and is not recommended for a stay in Kourou. Nevertheless, if you want to consult a doctor before you leave, you should do so with a specialist of the Amazonian region, rather than a general practitioner.

In general, we advise students not to pack too many medicines. French Guiana has the same network of pharmacies as mainland France, good doctors and the same social security coverage. The water is drinkable, there are no amoebae, no bilharzia and very few parasites. The real dangers are road accidents and HIV, which require your vigilance, but no medication. However, it is highly recommended that students are up-to-date with their tetanus vaccination.

Where can I stay in Kourou city ?

Master's students can be accommodated in AgroParisTech's accommodations (~€130 per month). These accommodations are shared apartments for 2 to 8 people, with beds (including pillows and sheets) and kitchens equipped with basic appliances (fridge, gas stove, oven, washing machine).

Students can also find their own accommodation in Kourou (make sure you book in advance, as the rental market is quite tight).

Students staying in Kourou will have to provide their own meals. A supermarket and mini-markets are close to the campus, less than a 5-minute walk away. The AgroParisTech coffee room will also be available to students every working day from 7am. AgroParisTech provides tables, benches, a coffee maker, liquid heaters, bowls and a refrigerator.

How is campus life organized ?

Opening of AgroParisTech offices

Master's students must comply with the following rules, as must all staff on the agronomic campus and at UMR EcoFoG:

AgroParisTech opening hours are from 7 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., Monday to Friday.  At midday and in the late afternoon, doors fitted with code locks must always be closed by the last person to leave. Lights, electrical appliances and air-conditioning must be switched off.

In the evening, the AgroParisTech facilities are alarmed. We ask students to not enter when the alarms are activated. Should this happen, they must call the security company immediately to identify yourself (and avoid a tense intervention on your part) and wait for them in full view of the parking lot. At night, the campus is entirely under the surveillance of a security company: Proté-Guyane. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to call them: 09 69 32 55 00.

During the M2 program, courses will be given on the campus, mainly by UMR EcoFoG’s researchers. These courses will take place in the SilvoLab classroom. This classroom is fully equipped for videoconferencing and online defense. Students will also have full access to the lab's documentation center.

Practical organization

French Guiana is an overseas region located on the northeast coast of Latin America. Most of the region is covered by an Amazonian rainforest renowned for its exceptional biodiversity. For general information on French Guiana, please visit the website, Guyane-Amazonie, and check out our local news GuyaWeb.

When students are in French Guiana, the time difference with mainland France will be 5 hours (e.g.: 12h in French Guiana = 17h in mainland France). Cell phones work in French Guiana (at least outside the white zones, i.e. in Kourou, Cayenne and most of the towns). In theory, the packages used in mainland France retain their characteristics, and no surcharges are applied.

Postal mail is deposited and received at the entrance to the Silvolab classroom where the course will be held. Please give your correspondents the following address:

AgroParisTech, M2 EFT

A l'attention de M, Mme, Melle…

BP 316 Avenue de France, 97379 Kourou Cedex

If I have a problem on campus, who can I contact ?

For administrative assistance: dominique.volland@agroparistech.fr (+594 5 94 32 93 00)

For technical assitance: paul.arrive@agroparistech.fr (+594 6 94 27 38 14)