92 reviews
3.90 / 5 based on 92 reviews
Useful |
3
Natasha L
Overall
I wish I had known...
You can never be prepared for your first week there. The administration in France is not what you're normally used to. The student accommodation is not directly linked to the university, so you have to go to several different people just to finish your registration. Don't worry and don't give up!
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
French Universities are different from UK Universities because a) they don't pay much in tuition and b) they have no grade requirements to get in. You will notice the difference.
The lecturers know you are Erasmus so they will give allowances for language and knowledge, don't worry!
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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
This past year has been the best year of my life! I have fallen in love with Tours and the Loire Valley. I have made some true friends this year.
Tips:
- Buy a carte 12-25 for the train. You will make a saving on the train tickets after a couple of trips to Paris.
- Ryanair has cheap flights from Tours airport to London Stanstead.
- It's best to live in the cheap accommodation because then you live with lots of native speakers. If you live alone you can feel secluded.
- Try not to fly home to often. You get the most out of Tours if you only go home during the long holidays.
HAVE FUN!!
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0
Marta P
Expenses
Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
An ERASMUS grant<br>
Other
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
In Spain , I´m studying in a big city (far from home) and there the housing is much more expensive and there are no helps of the Government. Trains in France are cheaper and there are lots of discounts.Nightlife in Spain is very cheap, in France a beer costs 5 euros!!and you have to pay to enter in the discos.Telephone calls are expensive, specially to mobile phones where you have to pay the minimun fee even if nobody picks up the phone
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Telephone, Nightlife, Overall, Food:
was more expensive than at home.
Travel, Housing:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Housing:you have to pay two months in advance and a deposit
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0
“Des études à diversifiées, des séjours à l'étranger enrichissants”
Laurie B
France, Graduate
Language, 2018
Overall
Mon Master en Langues et Commerce International m'a permis de séjourner à l'étranger plusieurs fois, ce qui m'a permis de vivre des expériences enrichissantes et épanouissantes.
Les études en elles-mêmes sont diverses: marketing, droit, économie, traduction, cours sur la propriété intellectuelle ...
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Pros
séjours à l'étranger
Cons
les cours trop théoriques
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2
Natasha L
Languages
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my French
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 thought my French was ok before I arrived in France, but the first couple of weeks terrified me! The administration at Francois-Rabelais is chaotic - prepare for a meltdown. I struggled to understand conversations between French students at first as the speed was faster than what your lecturers use in class, but now my comprehension has greatly improved. I still feel slightly uncomfortable if I need to speak in huge groups of people, but it has got better.
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0
Anne K
Expenses
Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Other
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
Housing in a university hall is really cheap, especially with the help from the CAF (that everyone can get): I paid 100 euros/month !
Trains are not so expensive either, especially when you have a reduction ticket called "carte 12-25". Enjoy your time travelling, which means you will be spending more than at home, but it's such a beautiful country.
Drinks in bars and clubs are really expensive in France.
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Nightlife, Travel, Food:
was more expensive than at home.
Telephone, Overall:
was the same price as at home.
Housing:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Useful |
0
Marta P
Languages
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my French
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
At the beginning it was difficult to speak French, I wasn´t used to speak it but to write it, but French people helps you a lot, they explain you what you don´t understand and speak slower when they see you´ve problems.Courses are easy to follow, the most difficult thing for me was to understand slang but after a month you realiza they use always the same words
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