Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Although there have been times when I have been lonely, I have thoroughly enjoyed the independence of living on my own in the centre of a beautiful city. It has encouraged me to make the effort with french people and not to rely on the large group of english speaking people here. Living on my own has also meant has also meant dealing with provider companies (eg Edf, France Telecom) entirely in French which was an exciting, if difficult, task.

Personal comments:
I couldn't comment on the housing at Toulouse Le Mirail because I haven't seen it (if it exists!) I live in the centre of town as do alot of the students because Mirail is a fifteen minute metro ride from the heart of the city which is where most things go on.

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

Activities, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
Bodega was a very international and fun! What was amazing was this passport called Toulouse by Night! Where I paid 15euros€ and had over 400 euros worth on freebies! Everypage had pretty much a free drink or something else like: a free tanning session it was really cool. I think everyone that Goes to Toulouse or lives in Toulouse should get one of these... It is a must! It has all the best places in Town and they offer free cocktails and beers! One night there was 14 of us doing a bar hopping with this passport... everything was free!! For almost all of us that had the passport the others I think they spent 60 or 70 euros, while we with the passport of Toulouse by night only spent 15euros. It is a must for everyone that lives in Toulouse! Other wise Toulouse is a student town that likes to Party!

Course recommendations:
I enjoyed the course that I did on journalistic translation because it provided the opportunity to use current french and english and helped a great deal with my french grammar.

Personal comments:
some of the classes were badly organised due to high numbers so often, during exams and lessons, time was wasted; but generally academic life has been fine.

Language of instruction: French

Main source of funding:
Government assistance

Other sources of funding:
Family
Personal savings
An ERASMUS grant

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
Food here is generally cheaper and I often cook for myself in place of eating out. My phone bills have been larger due to keeping in touch with friends and family from England. Housing, even in the centre of Toulouse, is considerably cheaper than housing in Birmingham. As for nightlife, drinking isn't such an integral part of student life here so going out often involves just a couple of drinks or going to concerts and cafés. I have always enjoyed travel so even in England I made the effort to save money for trips every so often. I have done the same since being here, taking trips to Aix En Provence, Paris and The Pyrennese.

Telephone: was more expensive than at home.

Travel: was the same price as at home.

Food, Nightlife, Overall, Housing: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
I wish I had brought more comfortable shoes and warm clothes. My home university is in San Diego, so I had brought a light jacket, skirts, flipflops and tanktops. Toulouse is warmer than most French cities, but not THAT warm! I had to buy practically another wardrobe.

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.