133 opiniones
3.91 / 5 sobre 133 opiniones
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Stuart B
Vida estudiantil
Cómo es la ciudad de destino:
Los estudiantes se relacionan con la comunidad local sin implicación en la universidad
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Viajar: Principalmente en la universidad y/o entre estudiantes
Vida nocturna, Actividades: Principalmente fuera de la universidad y de los estudiantes
Experiencia de vida social
Comentario personal
Chambery has lots of pubs/bars, often Irish/English-themed. Drinks are often expensive in bars (at least 5€/pint) but cheap in supermarkets.
The clubs (Opera and Cocktail) are expensive (10€ entry, often 8€ per drink), and both play music best described as "cheesy dance crap". Slightly more enjoyable are RDC (dance) and Corsaire (salsa night on Wednesdays, to which many Erasmus students went). No clubs play rock/reggae/hip-hop etc, and concerts are very rare in Chambery.
Chambery has a few cinemas, mostly playing independent films rather than commercial ones.
The university arranged several coach-trips to neighbouring towns and regions such as Lyon, Turin and the Alps for skiing; these were usually interesting, and good value (although trains were good value too; see www.voyages-sncf.com).
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Stuart B
Alojamiento
Tipo de alojamiento: Residence Hotel Curial (privately-owned)
Organizado por: Universidad de intercambio
Si volviera, eligiría: Piso o apartamento
¿Por qué?
The Curial was the only thing offered to most British students, cost 440€/month and there were several problems - e.g. the internet connection was free, but rarely worked for some people; also the "kitchenette" didn't have an oven or freezer, and several rooms were smaller than others paying the same amount.
It being a "hotel", it was difficult to have parties etc in the Curial, because there were non-students staying there, and the owners were very strict on noise.
If you're already going there don't worry too much, it's easy to meet other students there, and I enjoyed that, but I wish the surroundings had been different.
If it's possible, I would recommend that you avoid a privately-run residence like the Curial and, if you can, come to Chambery beforehand to arrange an apartment/house (perhaps with fellow Erasmus students from your university, if any). It's certainly what I would have done, and although you're not living near other students, you'd get more space and wouldn't have to deal with the wardens/'helpful' people who run halls.
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Comentario personal
Savoie Uni itself doesn't seem to provide much student accommodation; there are a few buildings on the Chambery campus. It's cheap (often less than 150€/month), but I think it's usually French students who get this, and it's much more likely foreign students would be offered a more expensive privately-run residence.
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Stuart B
Idiomas
Langue d: Francés
¿Fue aprender Francés fue un factor importante de elección?
No, no lo fue.
¿Cuánto mejoraste tu Francés?
Mi nivel antes:
Mi nivel después:
Comentario personal
Well, it wasn't quite as bad as I just made out (I didn't forget the entire language!), I think I just expected to learn more from being in France, having studied it for 9 years.
As I said, most of us didn't make a lot of French friends, and when I got wrong numbers from people, I rarely understood much.
(Not really relevant, but, like me, you might receive several wrong numbers on your mobile in France, something that never happened to me in Britain. I think it's because the French get mixed up between 60s/70s and 80s/90s when telling people phone numbers)
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Stuart B
Estudios
Recomendaciones de cursos
I didn't have to pass any exams, so my view is probably different to that of someone who had to - I think I would find it tough going if I had to.
I only had to study courses worth 30 ECTS points. At the beginning of the year I started several courses, then dropped the ones I disliked until I was down to 30pts.
I didn't do the exams, although that was more to save 440€ rent, not because I particularly disliked the exams.
For some reason it was much easier to get to know other international students than French students; I'm not really sure why that is.
For some reason French uni classes are like being in school, with, in my experience, more formal teacher-student relationships than in Britain (the teacher is called "monsieur" (well, assuming he's male); once the classroom was empty, but everyone waited until he had entered before they went in).
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Mi experiencia académica
Interacción con profesores
Interacción con estudiantes internacionales
Interacción con estudiantes locales
Comentario personal
There's way, way, way too much bureaucracy. That's a general trend in French life, but the university's no different.
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Mi opinión de los sistemas de evaluación
Exámenes a final de curso
Exámenes a lo largo del curso
Trabajos y proyectos al final del curso
Trabajos y proyectos a lo largo del curso
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Stuart B
Gastos
Fuente de financiación principal:
Beca ERASMUS
Otras fuentes de financiación:
Ahorro personal
Oportunidades de trabajo:
No intenté trabajar
Costumbres personales de gasto
Teléfono, Vida nocturna, Alojamiento:
Más caro que en casa.
Comida, General:
Igual de caro que en casa.
Viajar:
Menos caro que en casa.
Disponibilidad de material estudiantil
Comentario personal
The mobile phone companies (or at least Orange France) absolutely shaft their users by putting a time-limit on using credit - so 10€ has to be used in 2 weeks.
Other than that, my family could call my landline for 2p/min (that's because they had a good deal in the UK).
The university's computer service made me decide to buy a laptop (which took 2 months to arrive from Britain). I now think I could have lived without it, but the combination of inaccessible opening hours at campus (no evenings or weekends), French keyboards ("AZERTY"? WTF?) and mooching off friends meant that I decided it was the best option.
Banking and stuff was OK, I was with BNP Paribas and didn't have any problems (except for with their dodgy name). I arranged my house and Responsibilité Civile insurance through them, and could use the account free throughout the Euro-zone.
The Erasmus grand was a great help (about 2000€), and covered the cost of the expensive student accommodation, although the grand came a bit later than I'd have liked (November & March).
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Stuart B
Valoración global
Si lo hubiera sabido...
Quite a few things; there are cultural differences to what I'm used to, some things are better (e.g. travel on train & bus), some are worse. Not "different", not "special", just worse, and frankly, they take getting used-to or just ignoring.
Maybe these are just minor things, but it's best to 'keep an open mind'.
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En mi opinión:
Me gustó pero no necesariamente a todo el mundo.
Factores imporantes para mi elección
(1) Sin importancia – (4) Muy importante
Recomendación personal
Try not to be surprised by anything.
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Durante mi experiencia en el extranjero...
(1) Nunca – (4) Mucho
Me familiaricé con otra cultura
Conocí gente de otros países
Me lo pasé bien de fiesta
Avancé en mis estudios y mi carrera
Comentarios finales
Geneva and Lyon are the nearest major airports, I always got the Easyjet to Geneva, then a train.
Chambery's airport is open during the winter skiing season, with flights to some towns in Britain.
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