Perhaps my home country is generally cheaper overall, but the prices for some things in Angers, and France in general, can be ridiculous. Telephone costs were one example, France Telecom became my 'bête noir'. A pint at the James Joyce pub cost 5.50 euros (3.50 at happy hour) and this was typical. A pint in the Pub Voltaire (near Angers GPO) cost 6.50 euros. Accommodation is competitive, and as internationals going through ESSCA for an apartment the 350 euros per month was a premium for a guaranteed apartment. Compared to life in my home country (Australia) France can be quite expensive. A VAT rate of 19.6% did not help at all.
ESSCA set every international student up with a bank account at Société Générale, in rue d'Alsace. Unfortunately there was only two SocGén auto-teller machines in all Angers that would accept the bank card for cash withdrawals. French banks such as SocGen are fraught with niggly fees which are over the top, be prepared. Save by withdrawing large lumps of cash from your home bank (through Cirrus/Maestro) at the ATMs. Definitely apply for a visa longer than 6 months and apply for the 'Carte de Sejour'. This is essentially residency status, and entitles you to receive rent subsidy from the government through the Société Sociale (the "CAF"). But expect bureaucratic bungling and maybe even an unexplained rejection of your application. Again, ESSCA will help you do this. You should definitely go to the city hall of Angers and apply in person for a 'Carte Partinaire' which will entitle you to half-price bus tickets, cinema tickets, etc; a good saving. Anf get the SNCF '12-25' railcard for cut-price train tickets.
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Useful | 2
anonymous
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom Marketing and Sales Management, Undergraduate, Erasmus
Expenses
Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Other sources of funding:
Family
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
I found food to be quite cheap, and nights out were cheap because a lot of students would hold house parties instead of going clubbing.
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Housing:
was more expensive than at home.
Telephone:
was the same price as at home.
Food, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand text books
Second-hand household items
Computers / Internet
Administrative
Money from home
Personal comments
There is a second hand shop called Eurocash (near the Carrefour on the number 10 bus) which sells second hand household goods such as televisions etc.
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Verified student of ESSCA
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Manvendra p
ITM, Mumbai, India Business Studies, Graduate, University Agreement
Expenses
Main source of funding:
A private grant
Other sources of funding:
Family
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Europe is an expensive continent and france is one of the most expensive country in comparison to back my country india.
Budgeting self expenses is very important,go for major shopping once in a week inspite of shopping everyday,maintain diary and records of each expense weekly and last but not the least decide self needs and priority before shopping.
food, housing, nightlife are in general more expensive in France than in Austria
telephone more expensive due to international calls (France- Austria)
travel more expensive because I travelled a lot in order to visit other parts of France
the overall living costs are higher in France. I went out much more often and made many voyages.
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Telephone, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Food:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand text books
Second-hand household items
Computers / Internet
Administrative
Money from home
Personal comments
Don't use french bank accounts, the fees even for inner-france transactions or payments are enormous compared with Austria, where you nearly py nothing for regular bank activities.
Useful | 3
Expenses
