A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: France

  • Marco Kruger at ESSEC Business School, France

    Marco Kruger at ESSEC Business School, France

    Marco Kruger

    BCom International Business

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2022 at ESSEC Business School

     

    Pre-departure:

     

    Preparing to study in France was quite a stressful time for me. First one has to go through Campus France to get a certificate confirming that you will study in France (EEF certificate) which is amended to the visa application. Then you have the visa application itself which is stressful because by the time you get to this step, it will be very close to your departure date. So, my biggest advice would be to read up on the whole process very early and have a visa appointment scheduled at least four weeks before your estimated departure date, even if you haven’t started the process yet!

    As a general rule, many administrative processes will from there onward be done in French. Don’t use travel agents for your airplane tickets rather go to the airline’s site to get the best prices, but I would suggest doing it on a private browser so that they don’t use your cookies to manipulate prices. I would also suggest getting a global account at whichever bank you currently bank with, so that you don’t pay huge transaction fees when spending abroad. Even if you plan on opening a French Bank Account (it will take a while before you can use it) I would also recommend getting an eSIM before you get to Europe, which allows you data plans all across Europe and can be really affordable. This will keep you in touch with the world, but also allow you enough time to make the right decision regarding a more permanent prepaid SIM and provider.

    Don’t pack too many summer clothes if you are doing a fall semester abroad, trust me you will not wear all of it. When winter comes you end up wearing one or two coats every day (which you might as well buy that side too as a souvenir) and a scarf, thermals and gloves (trust me on the gloves). Finally, registering for modules is a massive headache. ESSEC only provides a limited number of seats for all their elective courses, which you will have to choose from. So, before going to France they have two registration rounds where it is first-come-first-serve for getting a seat for a module you want to take. Be ready to put in all your module codes at once or else you’ll have to compromise like most of us ended up having to do.

     

    Marco on the Seine

     

    Coming back to Stellenbosch, I was extremely excited to see all my friends and peers again. Since most graduated and luckily many got in for honors, the fact that IB is four years and not three, really gets to you. But I think that having done the exchange in third year and not deferring it to fourth year gave me a lot of clarity on what I want to do after graduating. Having chosen the very specialized modules relating to sustainability and CSR, I discovered a passion to workout strategies of becoming more sustainable, circular and responsible. Thus, I have decided to go back to France for a Masters in either of those fields. And having found out about some bursaries on offer from the French Embassy I have become all the more intrigued.
    On a more cultural level, coming back to Stellenbosch has also shown me how the university life and all its doings create a type of bubble that most students are trapped in. They get so focused on minor residence leadership or faculty leadership and activities, etc. that they miss out on some international opportunities that I was able to see more clearly while abroad. It also feels like students have less of an actual awareness of what the labour market will require of them and many think that simply their degree will be enough. But as a student of business that has been abroad, I have realized that we can in no way compete with international students at universities abroad, because most have at least four months of experience when they finish their undergrad studies, while we have none. But all in all, I still think that Stellenbosch University is the best university in South Africa and that its beauty can’t even be outweighed by European landscapes. And so, coming back has made me expectant and excited to make the best of my final year.
  • Nina Robinson at EM Strasbourg, France

    Nina Robinson at EM Strasbourg, France

    Pre-departure

    As part of Stellenbosch’s International Business degree, students are given the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. It was the semester I’d been waiting for since applying for the degree, and it is still hard to believe that it’s over. Since First year I’d dream of spending my exchange in France, so I chose Strasbourg as the city where I’d be staying for the next four months.

    Once getting accepted into EM Strasbourg, all the organising, planning and appointments started tumbling in. I could finally focus on researching and getting excited about one specific place: Strasbourg. Getting a French visa was a very smooth process. I did it all through Capago in Cape Town and had my visa within three weeks.

    One of the more stressful parts pre-departure was securing accommodation and doing research on which accommodation would most suit me in Strasbourg. The university offers student accommodation which is definitely the most affordable option. However, it works on a first come first serve basis, so if you are thinking about staying in a residence you need to make sure you are sitting at your computer the moment the application opens. I stayed in a residence called Paul Appell. It was perfectly located being a 15 minute walk to the school and a 15 walk to the heart of town. There is also a university restaurant in the residence which offers three course meals for 3,30 euro! Other residences that I would recommend would be La Marne and La Somme, both of which are situated directly opposite the school but are a bit further from the center of town. There are also a lot of private accommodation options if you don’t think a residence would suit you. Many students stayed in shared apartments with other exchanges or French students which is a very nice way to get to know locals.

    I left for Strasbourg at the end of August, and it was still 30 degree weather. So make sure you pack clothes to get you through some hotter days. I would recommend buying a winter coat there as there are so many better equipped (and fashionable) options available. I flew Emirates, which meant I was allowed two check in bags (something that you will be very thankful for when coming home). Strasbourg airport is very small and didn’t have many flights flying into it, so I flew to Frankfurt and then took a Lufthansa bus to Strasbourg which was a very quick and easy option.

    Living and studying in Strasbourg

    Studying at EM Strasbourg was very different to Stellenbosch- but in the best way. The school itself is not situated on the main campus, but instead a few minutes walk away. It’s a very impressive and modern building where most exchanges had all their classes. Classes were a big shock to me. Most classes are either 3 or 4 hours long and have only about 25 students in them- all of which are exchanges. I was expecting to have class with some French students, but all the classes offered to us were solely for exchange students and therefore taught in English. Having such a small class was quite difficult at first as it meant a lot of participating and engagement, which does not happen in a usual 200 student lecture. This ended up being a great way to meet people as after a 3 hour lecture all 25 of you have no option but to get to know each other.

    The courses that EM offer are one of my favorite things about the school. They are so diverse and were so different to any courses I have previously taken. The courses I chose were Introduction to European Economic Policy, which gave me an insight into the inner workings of the European Union (especially interesting due to Brexit); Economy of Happiness; French B1; Intercultural Management; Business negotiations and Grape and Wine Knowledge. My personal favorites were Business Negotiations which included workshops where we got into groups of six and role played business negotiators. Grape and Wine Knowledge was another favorite as Alsace is main wine region in France and the course included a wine tasting in a beautiful wine producing town called Ribeauvillé.

    Strasbourg is incredibly central within Europe, which meant that weekend travels were very easy for us. We took full advantage of all the budget transport options such as FlixBus and Ryanair which allow you to travel to most cities very cheaply. I was fortunate enough to travel to Germany, Poland, Denmark and discover a lot of France.

    The French culture is something that took a while to get used to, and also really made me appreciate South Africa and cultures back home. Most people in Strasbourg don’t tolerate a lot of English- specifically when doing any admin regarding university accommodation. The residence’s reception, grocery stores and restaurants only spoke French and most of the time wouldn’t attempt any English. This really did force me out of my comfort zone as I had no other option but to practice my French. The language barrier is very real, but apps such as Duolingo is very a good tool to start learning the basics of the language.

    Strasbourg itself really does look like something out of a fairytale. There are canals that form what is called ‘Le Grand Île’, with picture perfect bridges and Hansel and Gretel looking houses. The city is small enough that you get to know your way around pretty quickly, but by the time I’d left I still hadn’t discovered half the things there is to see. My favourite time of being in Strasbourg definitely has to be December. The city transforms into an actual winter wonderland with Europe’s biggest Christmas market open every day for a whole month and the most magical Christmas lights hanging in every street. My favourite memories are my friends and I gathering at the markets with our Vin Chaud, strolling through the festive streets.

    Returning home

    I was lucky enough not to have felt very homesick while I was away. I adapted to my new life in Strasbourg quickly and found comfort in a group of other exchanges who became like a second family. Saying goodbye to Strasbourg and everyone I had met there was emotional and knowing that this experience that I had waited three years for was actually coming to an end was a very surreal thought. However, the thought of returning home was also very exciting as it meant seeing friends and family again and enjoying a month of summer holiday.

    I’m not going to lie though; the actual return home was a bit underwhelming and anticlimactic. I remember before leaving on exchange, a previous student told me that coming home felt like stepping off those moving ramps you get at airports- and that couldn’t be a more accurate description. For the last four months your life has been a whirlwind of traveling, meeting new people, learning new things and being completely independent. Coming back home and having that all stop comes as a bit of a shock to the system. Exchange exceeded all my expectations and I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience. It inspired me to open up options of going abroad after studying, but it also made me appreciate South Africa and everything that this country has to offer.

     

  • Lauren Ryley at Science Po, France

    Lauren Ryley at Science Po, France

    My Parisian Exchange

    By Lauren Ryley

    Preparation

    When I found out that I’d been nominated for the Sciences Po (Paris) exchange and the ERASMUS + scholarship, I was thrilled. It’s a natural choice for any politics student, but perhaps also for those pursuing their degree in economics, journalism, or law. The value of the scholarship amounts to just over 800 euros per month, but there is also a once-off payment that will cover the cost of your plane ticket and visa (it can be stretched a little more if you get a good deal – hello 10-hour layover). You will only receive these funds once you have opened a French bank account (which you cannot do remotely). This means that you should plan to have enough money to cover your first few weeks in the country, including the first month’s rental and deposit. As I had handed in all my documents timeously, I was paid slightly earlier than ERASMUS had stated in their communications. The last month of the exchange is quite a stretch financially, as ERASMUS will only pay you once you have finished your exams, by which time you are likely to be on your way out of France.

    ERASMUS is an academic scholarship, and as such, you’ll be required to take at least 7 courses (plus an extra two credits, which can be made up by doing an extra-curricular activity or attending the welcome programme). In terms of signing up for courses, it’s important to be prepared in your course selection and have back-up options for these. Courses can become full within a few seconds, and you may not get the courses that you want. For the sign-up, you need fast internet and to be on the portal the second that it opens. Course options include those taught in either English or French.

    As I hold dual-nationality, I didn’t need a visa to study in France. For me, the biggest struggle in the preparation for my exchange was finding accommodation. I was studying at the Paris campus, which meant that most accommodation was restrictively expensive. I found my accommodation through the Sciences Po housing website – a homestay with an older French couple (and their dog), as well as another Sciences Po student, situated about 10-minute walk away from the university. It cost me 600 euros, which was cheap for Paris. A hot tip is to check if your apartment can be registered for APL – as the French welfare system can give you money back on your monthly lease if this is the case. Some people use the Sciences Po ‘logements’ Facebook page to find accommodation, but you need to be wary of scams – never pay a deposit before you’ve seen the place. I stayed clear of the more traditional housing pages, as for the most part, they were looking for longer contracts, and a French guarantor (property owner) was required to stand surety for your lease. Another good option is Cite Universitaire, or a foyer – if you’re looking for residence-type, shared student rooms.


    In regards to health insurance (required by Sciences Po), I bought a Discovery overseas health insurance package, as I had a complex case, which made getting onto the French Social Security system quite complex. This was sufficient for Sciences Po, as long as you’re only doing the semester abroad and not the year abroad.

    Paris

    I arrived in Paris a few days before the exchange student welcome programme began. This programme is quite expensive (250 euros), but it’s a really good way to meet people, and see Paris in a way that you do not really have the time to when your workload gets tough. If you can afford it, I would really recommend taking part, as it’s the easiest way to make friends in a city like Paris. When I arrived, the first thing I did was to set up a cell-phone account with FreeMobile – this deal is 50GB of data and unlimited calling within France for 9 euros per month. The catch is that cancellation is via post, and if you’re travelling within Europe, you need to check if the country has an arrangement with FreeMobile to avoid a hefty bill.


    My next task – to open a bank account – was far more bureaucratic. It took me about 10 days from when I applied for the bank account to have it active and functioning. I used BNP Paribas, as they give you 90 euros if you open an account as a Sciences Po student. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend BNP, as I was blocked out of my bank account for a number of weeks during the exchange, and they were not very helpful in rectifying the situation. For transport, I would recommend the NaviGo travel card, especially if you don’t live within walking distance of Sciences Po – it gives you access to all public transport within the Paris region for 75 euros per month. Bring an ID size photo with you, which they will use for the card. I did most of my shopping for groceries at Carrefour (a Spar equivalent). Monoprix is also good for groceries, and if you need to look for homeware when you arrive in Paris, this is going to be your best bet on a student budget

    To talk more generally on the Parisian experience, I had the most wonderful time. I met people from all over the world, and made my own little life there. Paris, itself, is magnificent. The wonderful thing is that if you’re under 26 and can show your passport and student visa, you have access to all the main art galleries for free. The Pompidou also has a really cool library, which is one of the few in Paris that’s open on a Sunday. See some jazz, walk along the Seine with your book, check out Luxembourg Gardens, go thrifting in the Marais, see the most ornate graves at Pere Lachaise, spend a day in Disneyland, amble around Montmartre. Every place in Paris has something significant about it, and it’s important to try to get orientated early on.

    At Sciences Po, my experience, too, was great. It doesn’t have that same campus feel that you might get in South Africa, as its buildings are dotted around Paris’ busy 6th and 7th arrondissements. I was in the Paris School of International Affairs Masters programme, which gave me access to a lot of cool events, including a talk by the head of the New York Times. In terms of courses and work load, I found that Sciences Po was not necessarily more difficult than at home, but the number of courses that are required for the ERASMUS scholarship means that time management will be incredibly important. I mostly took seminar courses, which are smaller than lecture courses, and usually consist of an essay, presentation, and perhaps a debate. In lecture courses, you’ll be more likely to be tested in exam format. Courses can be at odd times – I had some classes that finished at 21:15, and many people had Saturday class. You’re only allowed to miss two sessions (sick note or no sick note), so it’s important to choose wisely.

    On a more personal level, I had moments of homesickness, especially when my courses got intense and I was spending most of my time in the library. These, however, passed and I felt that I had a really strong support system in Paris with the friendships that I had developed. I still made sure that I stayed connected to home, and spoke often to my family and my boyfriend back in SA. I was able to meet my family in the UK over one weekend, and my boyfriend came to visit me for the mid-term break, during which we travelled Italy together. After my courses ended, I also did an adventure with some of the friends I had met at Sciences Po to Chamonix in the French Alps. If you book in advance, you can get around Europe for relatively cheap – especially if you use Easyjet or Ryanair. Flixbus is even better.

    Back to South Africa

    This section will be the shortest, as I have left the Western Cape to start a job in Johannesburg, and therefore, I believe that my experience will not be particularly generalizable. Arriving home was bittersweet – you’ve had a life-changing experience abroad and it’s so sad to close the chapter. On the other hand, there’s also something familiar and wonderful about being back – you’re reunited with the people who’ve known you for years, and the surroundings that really do feel like home. All-in-all, the memories of my semester abroad will be some of those that I most treasure. During my exchange, I learnt things about academics, politics, art, and culture, and I also learnt what true independence means. Merci et au revoir, Paris.