129 reviews
3.99 / 5 based on 129 reviews
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Stephanie t
Academic
Course recommendations
Don't expect much if you don't wish to be disappointed!
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Lots of b.s., little actual learning, little interaction with professors, horrible organization... all the standard joys of French business schools!
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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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Stephanie t
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Local language was: Different than language of instruction
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
Was learning French a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my French
How much did you improve your French?
My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
While the language classes offered through the school have been a joke, fortunately the kind and helpful nature of the French people, especially the "Lillois," has enabled me to pick up French on my own in social situations.
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Stephanie t
Overall
I wish I had known...
Housing can be a nightmare! Never trust anyone else to take care of it for you before you arrive, and start looking EARLY!
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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
If you are coming as an exchange/ERASMUS student, try to avoid taking very many classes, take as many IMiM courses as possible, and AVOID LANGUAGE CLASSES... you are much better off learning French at home before you come (please, please, please take my word on this one!) And above all, avoid the secretary in charge of international students, she is the laziest, most unhelpful staffmember in the school!
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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
If you come to any French university with high expectations, you will undoubtably be very disappointed. It is a very particular mentality and way of life, and there is nothing that will ever really prepare you psychologically for that. Your best bet is just to expect that everything will be horrible and go wrong, because that will happen. However, if you keep that mindset, you will never be disappointed and really will have an awesome time. It is a great place and a wonderful city, but you will miss out greatly if you insist upon expecting things to be just as you are used to.
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Stephanie t
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
none
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
Housing, primarily, is ridiculous... high prices for few commodities (consider yourself lucky if you have things like a stove, refridgerator, oven, etc.), and everyday living expenses such as clothing, food, and telephone are so much higher than in Sweden, where my home is.
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Food, Housing, Overall, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Nightlife:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Beware the EDF (electricity) bill! They estimate your consummation every time they bill you, so you usually get money back at the end of the year even though the sum you have to pay might seem extraordinnary at the time. Find the closest LIDL in your area, learn to love it and make it your best friend. While not as glamorous nor with a very extensive product range, you will save incredible amounts of money on your weekly food expenses (a 3 euro lasagne is big enough to feed one person for 2 days. i rest my case!)
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Stephanie t
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
while finding independent housing in lille is an extremely difficult venture, it is absolutely preferable to my initial experience sharing an apartment with strangers, which, to put it mildly, didn't really work out!
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Personal comments
good luck... you'll need it!
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Stephanie t
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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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
Best place to meet other internationals? Definitely Cafe Oz near Pl. de Peuple Belge. Otherwise, Latina Cafe in Solferino or Tir na nOg at Pl. Phillipe Le Bon are also good bets. Star Lunch on rue Molinel (right across from Gare Lille Flandres and beside Cash World on the right) offers awesome food at really cheap prices and the best customer service by a couple who speaks fluent English, Italian, French & Arabic and give students LOADS of free stuff!
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