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Université Blaise Pascal: Clermont-Ferrand II (UBP)

Université Blaise Pascal: Clermont-Ferrand II, 34, avenue Carnot, 63006 Clermont-Ferrand, France
3.81 / 5 based on 48 reviews.
Description:
Clermont-Ferrand, the 20th largest city in France with a population of 260,000 is located 250 miles south of Paris. It sits in the heart of the Auvergne region and its natural parks, surrounded by numerous villages and towns with castles dating back to medieval times.


Reviews
International Partners
Programmes
Accreditations
75% of students recommend
48 reviews
Housing
3.3/5
 All experiences (48)
Student life
4.1/5
 5 stars (12)
Academic
4.4/5
 4 stars (12)
Languages
4.4/5
 3 stars (24)
Expenses
3.1/5
 2 stars (0)
Overall
4.1/5
 1 star (0)
“Use a Visa check card to draw money out of your account at home at the ATM's. You won't get better rates, and it's very easy to manage money that way. Of course, you have to keep track of what you're withdrawing! Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking. And bring a pair of shoes to wear out (i.e. not tennis shoes). Most clubs/discotheques do not allow tennis shoes. Meet the locals whenever you have the chance. Speak the local language as m...” Read Review
mketter1, United States

Université Blaise Pascal: Clermont-Ferrand II review by mketter1

Review by mketter1, University of Oklahoma, Norman, United States
Language, University Agreement
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: off-campus dormitory
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why? Staying with a family greatly increases the cultural experience and helps by having to speak the foreign language all the time.
Personal comments:
Each floor really had its own personality. On my floor, people would come home, close, and lock the doors. They hardly communicated with their neighbors. On other floors, it was like a party. People kept doors open, and the neighbors visited each other a lot. I was surprised to see such a range of "floor personalities," but I enjoyed it. My floor was quiet, but I could down down a couple of floors and visit with people all day long.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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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: Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal comments:
Do not miss the Festival du Court Métrage (short film festival), even if you think that type of thing is not your cup of tea. It's very enjoyable. Be sure to see the Rue du Port/Place Delille area of town!
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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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:



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:
none

This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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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?
Yes, I wanted to improve my French
How much did you improve your French?
My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Personal comments:
I knew French very well. I've studied abroad before. But this time, so many people spoke English, it was difficult to get any French in except in class or out in the stores/restaurants. My French suffered because of that.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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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
Second-hand bedding
Administrative
Money from home
Main source of funding:
A private grant
Other sources of funding:
A private grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits:
Taxes in France drive prices very high. Prices in France were much higher than prices in Oklahoma.
Food, Travel, Nightlife, Overall, Housing: was more expensive than at home.
Telephone: was the same price as at home.
Personal comments:
If you use the telephone a lot, use a regular phone card (with chip on it) for local calls and an Omni card (with code number on back) to call the United States. Rates work out to be less that way.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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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...
Had I known that there was such a little American colony in Clermont-Ferrand, I probably would have chosen a different city. I wanted to use French and be immersed in the culture as much as possible. That was very difficult at Université Blaise Pascal.
In my opinion:
Stay home.



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:
I HIGHLY recommend studying abroad. But I recommend going to a different city. My previous study abroad trip in Reims was excellent, could not have been better! But the one in Clermont-Fd was a bit disappointing.



FINAL COMMENTS

Use a Visa check card to draw money out of your account at home at the ATM's. You won't get better rates, and it's very easy to manage money that way. Of course, you have to keep track of what you're withdrawing! Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking. And bring a pair of shoes to wear out (i.e. not tennis shoes). Most clubs/discotheques do not allow tennis shoes. Meet the locals whenever you have the chance. Speak the local language as much as possible to improve. Make friends with other international students at your school. Keep in touch with them after you get home by sending them a birthday card or Christmas card every year.
This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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