Université Jean Moulin: Lyon III

My original intention was to live in an apartment with native French speakers. It's economical having roommates and beneficial to live with people who speak the language you are trying to master.

I spent more everywhere largely because the Euro was worth somewhere around 1.5 Canadian dollars. But I probably spent the same amount on food because I found inexpensive grocery stores and snacked a lot less than I snack in Canada. Also, in Canada there are plenty of places to eat early in the morning after a night of drinking, but not in France - nothing is open past 2am. So I wasn't even able to waste money on food at those hours. Mobile phone plans are expensive, unless you get a year's contract, but I couldn't since I was only on exchange for a semester. And obviously I spent more on travel because I'd never been to Europe before so I took advantage. But transportation is very reasonably priced in Europe.

Good luck. Courses in France lack structure and administration is a nightmare. But if you take it for what it is, it's fine. It's all a learning experience.

Having course descriptions available to exchange students would be extremely helpful.

France isn't that warm. I should have brought more sweaters.

I loved studying at Lyon III because of the location and the people. Academic life wasn't incredible but I think that was because it's much different in Canada, there's more structure and education is less biased because students learn from text books whereas here you take notes on what your professor says and that's the only perspective you get.