Université Pierre Mendès France: Grenoble II (UPMF)

Join EGUC - Ecole de Glisse with the university - organise cheap skiing trips, The Scotch Club - up in the hills three dance floor plus pool niteclub outside of Grenoble. Nightclubs dont have the same following as Ireland, but the Scotch Club is def a good university nightclub plus Le Chamois D'Or - cheap drink near University. Cafe No Name is a great local salsa bar. - check out nites of Salsa. Loads of good pubs in Grenoble town centre itself.

On campus accomodation is arranged, pretty basic but had friends living there so it was good to meet other students. Staying in Residence Ouest, the best on campus accomodation - one tram stop down from the university. Houses/Apts can be organised through Crous v dependent on your budget and can send you to some dodgey areas. I found mine through luck, a billboard sign and was lucky that my housemates turned out to be really nice as with houses anywhere. Facilites are basic. As basement apt it did have its cockroaches. Always try to live at least a floor, if not two floors up.

The problem can be that you may just hang out with Erasmus students who do prefer to speak English, it is another language for them to practise as speaking French, local language can be quite difficult with v different accents.Living with French housemates can help. Listening to French lectures can be v difficult at first and sometimes a struggle but just relax and you will be surprised at how much it becomes natural to stop translating.

Remember to bring copies of passport id, photos, E111 insurance form, cash at hand, Lonely Planet guide on area, and pick up a local guide book for all the best places to eat,

Govt assistance towards housing - remember to apply. Open up a french bank account v simple with passport id and new student id.