Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

Personal comments:
Universities in France don't have much of a "on campus-life", so student residents are mainly for the ones who can't afford an appartment in the city, considering it is really expensive. But if you're a foreign exchange student you can apply for a room in the residence, which shouldn't be too difficult to get. Although, don't expect something neet and luxurious like it could be in the US or Canada, most of the times your room is super tiny (9sq meters), shared bathroom and shared kitchen (sometimes maybe 2 floors above yours).

Describe host city: Students interact with the local community without much university involvement

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

Personal comments:
Where to start? I'm french but always lived abroad, so I am more of a international person. I chose to go back to France for personal reasons and I chose this Uni. At first Aix was a cute city and relaxing, as I've always lived in big cities before. But you'll end up realizing what kind of city it is, what kind of people are surrounding you and how the atmosphere in french unis are absolutely disastrous. Within the universities, there's a BDE, which takes cares of organizing a few parties which takes place mostly in clubs in town. Is is over priced for what it offers. So basically, absolutely no on campus life, and bars outside of aix can be nice but unfortunately they close at 2am, and theres only 1 club: Mistral, that ABSOLUTELY SUCKS. The only place id hang out at who'd be at The Wohoo which is right next to the IEP up north. There's plenty of exchange students there which is really nice and relaxing as local french people in aix are detestable and contemptuous. The city is so small, there's absolutely nothing to do during day time, mostly sit in cafe's doing nothing. If theres one advice I could give you is not to go there if you are sicking for North american type of student life and studies combined. Everything takes place outside campus, and if you don't meet the right people... good luck.

Course recommendations:
Courses are very interesting, that's one thing you can't deny from this university. Although not much interaction with the teachers.

Personal comments:
It's the french system, so you'll pretty much find the same academic method in every universities throughout france. I don't think they're ever going to change it. Although I'd appreciate more student involvment. They are not trying to makes us participate or anything. But that's because we're so much in class too (about 700 in my class)

Language of instruction: French

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
None

Work opportunities:

Personal spending habits:

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

Travel: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
How much university sucks in France, how small Aix is, how snob people are, how dirty is is...

In my opinion:
Stay home.