EMLYON Business School
  
Grenoble EM
  
ESADE Business School
  
Rouen BS
  
ESSCA
Studies > France > Cergy-Pontoise > EPSCI > Review by Vanessa
Contact: + 33 (0)1 30 38 98 98

EPSCI (EPSIC)

ESSEC, Cergy Campus, Av. Bernard Hirsch, 95021 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex, France
4.16 / 5 based on 36 reviews.

Reviews
International Partners
Programmes
Accreditations
86% of students recommend
36 reviews
Housing
4.2/5
 All experiences (36)
Student life
4.6/5
 5 stars (18)
Academic
4.6/5
 4 stars (18)
Languages
4.4/5
 3 stars (0)
Expenses
3.1/5
 2 stars (0)
Overall
4.4/5
 1 star (0)
“n.a.” Read Review
VanessaKersjes, Netherlands

EPSCI review by Vanessa

Review by Vanessa, Hanzehogeschool, Hogeschool van Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Business Studies, Erasmus
HOUSING    
Personal assessment
Cost
KEY:
Couldn't have asked for more.
Pretty good.
Could've been better, but didn't lessen the overall experience.
Disappointing.
Facilities
Location
Cleanliness
Space
Type of housing: University residence
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: same
Why? Most of the exchange students stayed in these residences and that gives a very good atmosphere. The prices were slightly high, but the room you get is really good.
Personal comments:
I think that except for the high prices it was excellently arranged. Oh, don't get confused by the administrative pile you have to fill in at the beginning, that's simply the French way I think.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
Was this review useful?   Yes · No

STUDENT LIFE    
Personal social experience
Activities
KEY:
Amazing! Hardly had time to study.
Plenty to do when I had the time.
So-so.
Did not get involved.
Nightlife
Travel
Overall
Describe host city: Student life dominates the city
Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal comments:
The activites organized by the student associations of the school are great, shouldn't miss even one. Best part: a beer is so cheap that even the poorest student can afford it.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
Was this review useful?   Yes · No

ACADEMIC       4.5 / 5
My academic experiences
Quality of courses
KEY:
Fantastic.
Pretty good.
Could've been a bit better.
Disappointing.
Variety of courses
Availability/access to resources
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with other international students
Interaction with local students
Course recommendations:
Overall the courses given are very good, although there are some teachers who seem determined to make life difficult for the students the courses are well given, and in a fun and interactive way.



My opinion of the university assessment
Exams at end of course
KEY:
Liked it.
It was alright.
A bit annoying.
Didn't like it.
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course.
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
Overall
Personal comments:
Don't plant so many exams in 2 weeks. Even if you study ahead this does not make it easier. Two weeks no sleeping kind of wears you out.

This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
Was this review useful?   Yes · No

Language difficulties
Social
KEY:
No problems.
I coped pretty well.
Sometimes it was difficult.
It was a constant struggle.
Educational
Administrative / Institutional
Overall
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your French?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Personal comments:
It's sometimes hard to get to know the local students, but just keep trying and they will appreciate the effort you make. I think I have learned a lot of the language while there, but it goes so graduately that you hardly notice.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
Was this review useful?   Yes · No

EXPENSES    
The accessibility of student needs
Second-hand text books
KEY:
Very easy.
Minimal effort.
Accessible but required effort.
Almost impossible.
Second-hand household items
Computers / Internet
Administrative
Money from home
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Family
Personal savings
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits:
Food simply is a bit more expensive than where I normally live, and the same goes for the housing. As for travel, I went home a couple of times, plus that in my home country we get a public transport card from the government as students, in my host university I had to finance the travel from home to school myself.
Food, Travel, Overall, Housing: was more expensive than at home.
Nightlife, Telephone: was the same price as at home.
Personal comments:
If you can avoid opening a bank account, do. A french bank account simply costs money, and although they advise you to open one, I could've easily done without.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
Was this review useful?   Yes · No

OVERALL    
Important to choosing this university...
Academic reasons
KEY:
Very Important.
Important.
Not really important.
Unimportant.
Culture
Costs
Activities
Campus life
Party / people
Weather / Location
I wish I had known...
How difficult (impossible) it would be to get a job next to studying in France. They all want you to work fulltime, whereas a student can simply not spend 40 hours working, and as much studying.
In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!



During my experience abroad, I ...
Became familiar with another culture
KEY:
Happened all the time.
Happened quite a lot.
Happened a bit.
Didn't happen.
Traveled
Improved language skills
Met people from other countries
Became more independent
Partied a lot
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies/career
Personal recommendation:
Save up beforehand, and simply go with the flow. Go to the parties, and enjoy the social life as well as studying.



FINAL COMMENTS

n.a.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
Was this review useful?   Yes · No


Back to EPSCI