Université de Haute-Bretagne (Rennes II) Reviews

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: On campus

Why? Although it was very small it was newly renovated, always clean with en suite bathroom, over the road from uni buildings and a metro stop which took me into town in 5 mins. So convenient and with CAF only 105 euros a month.

Personal comments:
Not all university accommodation was as good as mine, I had friends in alot more basic rooms, with shared bathrooms (no toilet seats) and much older buildings. Thats said they were liveable and even cheaper than mine (130 euros a month without CAF)

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Activities, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
There is a great music festival called Les Transmusicales which is great--all kinds of music, everywhere. There is a film festival every year, though I forget what it is called. One of my favorite things was a storytelling festival (festival de contes) called "En Faim de Conte." This was just getting its start when I was there. That year, it was four nights long, with a different storyteller each night. It took place in an old church which had been converted into a theatre. The best of the storytellers was Alain LeGoff, a Breton from the coast. He's a short, stocky guy (a bit like Popeye), with a large, white moustache and a bright smile. He's great! If you are ever in France and see an advertisement for one of this man's shows, go see him.

Course recommendations:
We were inegrated into the CIREFE program, which offers French courses to foreign students. If your level was advanced you could take regular university classes, but that was not made very clear.

Personal comments:
It's different, but get used to it. It is better to be pass/fail, I think, than having grades transfer, since there is no allowance for cultural adjustment

Language of instruction: French

Main source of funding:
Government assistance

Other sources of funding:
Government assistance
An ERASMUS grant

Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work

Personal spending habits:
I spent more on food and drink because my room was tiny and there was no common recreation areas in halls/on campus so going out for coffee or lunch was an essential activity to allow me to get out and see friends. Alcohol is more expensive in bars especially as there is no student union or student nights at bars/clubs.

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

Travel: was the same price as at home.

Telephone, Housing: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
That I had to pay more for my train tickets because I was over 26. I would've bought a Eurail pass.

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.