77 reviews
4.20 / 5 based on 77 reviews
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Koni F
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
Food, Telephone, Housing, Nightlife, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Internet and phone bills!!! AND DON'T GET AN OVERDRAFT!! decouvertes (as they are called) are evil evil things!! I'm still paying mine off. The french system is very different to the one in UK. They don't tend to tell you that you are over your limit and let you keep on spending (and trust me you will spend!)and then they will suddenly ask for your card back and bombard you with letters etc. I didn't get an Erasmus grant so I had to depend on myself, which was why i got an overdraft out. Seriously a bad idea if you are a spendthrift. Honestly though, you will be better off without. Plus, your grant should be sufficient. :)
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Koni F
Academic
Course recommendations
Frustrating for me because the admin is pretty confusing but you'll probably be allocated a parent (a french student) who will help look after you and show you the ropes in the first week. Most people become good friends with their parents, others choose to do their own thing thats up to you. But either way they will be there to help, show you around etc. Ask them for how to enrol in the differnt courses because the course secretary is pretty crap. (but Mme. Harster is quite nice and will always have time for you.)
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
... not enough time to mention :P
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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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Koni F
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I had done more research about accomodation and a few other things (ie banks,telephone companies etc.)
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
good experience
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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
just ask me.. I can't think of anything now.
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Koni F
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: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I know it can be the easiest thing to do when you first get to a new country and in strange situations, to bind yourself to a group of people that speaks your language. From personal experience, It is always better to have a good mix of friends. Make an effort with the french students because (eventhough it might be a struggle at first) it will benefit you in the long run, as you won't find yourself always taking the easy way out and speak english whenever you have a problem communicating your views across. You will always learn something from the french students and it will help with your confidence and classes as well.
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Koni F
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
You get more independence if you live out of campus, but having said that, if I had to do it all over again, I would have shared an apartment or house with a native speaker. That way, you'd be able to pick up the language quickly and get to know the culture firsthand. I had to pay quite a lot for my apartment because I didn't share with anyone. It was spacious enough for me, and was very close to the tramstops( always a plus).
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Personal comments
Personally, I didn't get a chance to live in halls because there wasn't any space for me. If you intend to apply for halls accomodation, I suggest you do it pronto! Because it's relatively cheap to live in halls, the places go pretty quickly. From what I've heard from friends, it is good to live in halls because you have to interact with the students living in your dorm thereby making you speak french which is always a good thing. Everyone is generally very helpful, but don't expect to be living in luxury because its not. There is one kitchen and you have to share showers and toilets between (approx.) 15 students per floor.. (or maybe more). Apart from that though, it is a good experience because if you're lucky, some of these people will become great friends throughout the year.
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Koni F
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Great tarte flambees at les trois brasseurs (which has been renamed to just les brasseurs now I think). Most of the international students I knew congegrated there because of good cheap beer and lots of good deals during happy hour. Le trou on a monday night was a big hit but now I think it might have shut down. There are also salsa classes in cafe des anges. If you fancy a nice relaxing drink with a good crowd then I suggest Le gayot. A great pasta takeaway place I recommend is near le gayot, and there are also great kebab places in the city centre. Cinemas has to be the UGC which is the biggest one near the bridge at the Esplanade tramstop. Anything else just give me a shout... I can't think of anything right now. :)
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