Hi, my name is Ethan, I spent my year abroad at Université Paris Cité, located in the 13ème arrondissement. All my classes were on the Grand Moulins campus situated alongside the Seine, which provided good viewing from the top floor of the library. The university has many different sites found all over the city following the merger of the universities of Paris V Rene Descartes and Paris VII in 2019. However, I spent the majority of my time studying at Grand Moulins because that was where most humanities subjects were situated. Originally, the Grand Moulins campus had been a flour mill and storage facility, which was subsequently converted while also maintaining the charm of the historic structure.
I study History and French, so on arrival, my objective was to continue studying these subjects. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a whole host of subjects were available for me to try, including film, journalism, and economic history. By taking a variety of classes, it exposed me to a wider range of people, which helped me find friends quickly. One of the biggest adjustments was how classes were marked and assessed, notably in history. Firstly, the French system works on a 0-20 scale, with 10/20 being the minimum to pass the class. Secondly, there are fewer written assignments, with class presentations both in groups or solo, and exams being the norm. This adjustment period caused me to struggle in the first few weeks, but after having completed the first semester, the 2nd was a lot easier. To a certain extent, I started to prefer the ways classes were assessed over there. They don’t just test your written skills, giving you a more balanced grade and I believe a better representation. The idea of presenting in French on my own felt daunting; however, I quickly became accustomed to it and have become significantly more comfortable with it.
During my 2nd year at Southampton, I spoke with fellow students who raised concerns over the costs of living in Paris, most notably the rent. I was very fortunate to be placed in a CROUS residence. They are student residences which are subsidised by the French government to help reduce rent costs. Whilst they are predominantly prioritised for French students, a portion is left for international students. The rent came to be less than in Southampton, which was very surprising. I specifically stayed in CROUS Tolbiac, which, conveniently, was on the same road as the university. One thing to note about these types of residences is their poor reputation for cleanliness and condition. Luckily, Tolbiac had just been built the summer I arrived so I did not have to deal with that. There is also no guarantee that you will be allocated a place, but overall, I enjoyed staying there. The Cité Universitaire, a giant campus of residences for specific nations, is also a great option; however, I do believe it is reserved for Master’s and PHD students.
One major difference, which I had been warned about but was not expecting to be as difficult, was the French administrative system. At Southampton, we are used to fast responses and administrative processing however, it seems France has not embraced this attitude. If you have an administrative concern, speak with that person face to face, this also applies to banks or other tedious situations. You must not leave things to the last minute either, be proactive. Personally, I was not naturally like this, but I have developed this skill due to my time abroad.
In the UK, there is an emphasis on joining a society at university, yet I did not find it the same in France. Their society’s fair was not on the same scale, offering a much smaller number of groups to join. Whilst this may not be universal, I did find it hard to integrate with French students; it took far longer than I expected.
For those studying specifically in Paris, I would suggest purchasing a student Navigo Pass. It is the best value for money and lasts you the year. You have access to all transport in the city and its suburbs, so it is a wise investment.
For EU citizens under 26, there is free access to all public museums in the country, so take advantage if this applies to you, though it is best to book tickets in advance to avoid queuing. Some museums, like the Louvre, are even open until 9 pm on a Friday, meaning it is much more enjoyable to explore with fewer crowds.
I also advise using the City Mapper app, as I found it very useful to find the quickest possible routes around the city. Be warned, there are always delays somewhere, so aim to arrive to locations 15 mins earlier to account for any issues.
Lastly, I would just add that it has been a privilege to have the opportunity to study abroad. Whilst my year was filled with many ups and downs, I look back with fondness. I feel that I have matured, becoming a far more independent individual. If you are deciding to study abroad in France, do not hesitate to apply to Paris; you will have a wonderful time in one of the most charming cities in the world. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, I am more than happy to help!