283 reviews
4.26 / 5 based on 283 reviews

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Daniel T
Expenses
Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Other sources of funding:
Family
Other
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Housing and Beer (in bars) are the expensive thing in Paris.
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Housing, Nightlife, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Telephone, Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Food:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
We did very well from our Eramus grants, so there was no problem. Make sure, when you are looking for places to stay, that the landlord will sign your CAF form. Some are dodgy and won't. DO NOT pay accomodation charges before you sign a contract. Places like LOGEKA are a real rip-off and charge you 100€ just to see their database of appartment offers.
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Daniel T
Academic
Course recommendations
We didn't really have much choice when it came to courses as the university told what we had to do by our university. The courses were okay, one to aviod like the plague, is Macro 2 in the first semester; very hard and very dull. On the other hand, one that was good, was development economics. A lot of the Erasmus students did it too.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
A lot of people didn't know that it existed, but SEGLAS runs a french course for two weeks before term starts, which was really good. There are four groups and you have to do a test for them to decide which group they put you in. For more details, contact the people in the Maison Internationale (Bv Arago). I met lots of Eramus student from it, that i kept in touch with all year.
The computer rooms' locations are ...SORBONNE: at the end of the Gallerie Dumas, turn right, then go down some stairs on the right, follow the corridor along and then the rooms are at the end on the left. TOLBIAC: 4th Floor Room C404 (follow signs to the libre service). PANTHEON: Escaliers G (near the accueil) 2nd Floor.
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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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Daniel T
Overall
I wish I had known...
Carte séjour: if you are from the EU you don't need one, so don't bother wasting your time like i did.
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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
Work really hard if you want to do well.
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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

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Daniel T
Languages
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
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
If you don't want to speak frecnh you can get away with not speaking in Paris. Be determined to speak it if you want to improve.
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Daniel T
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Cité U
Why?
I hear that the Cité Universitaire is supposed to be an amazing place to live. Some of the other Erasmus, students lived and i went to one or two great parties down there. There is even a CROUS restaurant on site. You have to apply early though and competition for place is fierce. In typical french style, you have to put together a dossier, so if you want to try and get a place there, sort it out around 6-8 months in advance.
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Personal comments
I stayed in a flatshare with a irish guy and a frecnh guy. My advice would be to keep your eyes and ears open, as i found mine through my preparatory french class. Of course another good way to find an apart is to look in FUSAC or at the American Church (on the river between Invalides and the Eifel Tower).
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Daniel T
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
There is so many bars in Paris, be they are all very expensive. The best place to go out is around Bastille and there are some nice cheapish bars down Rue de la Lappe.
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