84 reviews
4.35 / 5 based on 84 reviews

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Julian G
Housing
Type of housing: With a family
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
Actually, the first semester, I lived with a family. The second semester, I moved to university housing, located 15-min [by foot] from the university
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Personal comments
The family's house was smack dab in the center of town. Unfortunately, my university friends lived far from me. The university converted lakeside housing for athletes of the sports facilities across the street into housing for students.
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Julian G
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Bal-a-Lec at the Ecole Polytechnic Federale Lausannoise [EPFD], sister school to Universite de Lausanne [UNIL]
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Julian G
Academic
Course recommendations
I was a French major enrolled in the Ecole de Francais Moderne (EFM) at UNIL. I truly was where I needed to be in order to learn all aspect of the French language: culture, phonetics, regional accents, food, music, literature...
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
The year after I left, the EFM changed to a semester/credit type of program, replacing the previous year-long courses program.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course

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Julian G
Overall
I wish I had known...
One country's version of "normal" is not the same in another country.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Highly, especially for French language students.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Regardless if one has a terrible study abroad experience, at least he/she did it! How is one to perceive the world around him/her if one never sees it?
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Julian G
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Government assistance
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
Switzerland has the highest cost of living in Western Europe.
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Food, Telephone, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Americans should modify their shopping to shop like the Swiss, not Americans. In other words, do not buy Coke and convenience foods. They are extremely expensive because most Swiss cook from scratch at home.
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Julian G
Languages
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: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I have nothing but positive things to say about the Ecole de Francais Moderne at UNIL.
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