Details

• France
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

It is very helpful to reflect on why you want to do a semester abroad. This helps you with selecting the right university and city, but is also useful for the interviews. Start looking for appartments very early, especially if you move to a popular city - it can be very difficult to find a good accomodation.

2. Accommodation

Where I searched: Airbnb, Youfirst (online it says you have to book it for a year, but it can be canceled also after a semester), Canva => I found my appartment on Airbnb. It was a private residence. Location: I lived in the 16th, just like some other students. We all loved it there because it's very safe and close to the Eiffel Tower - but it's a bit more expensive. From this area it takes around 25 minutes to get to the university. Most people I met, had a rent between 900 and 1400 euros a month, so Paris can be very expensive.

3. Academic life at host university

Campus infrastructure: There are three parts of the campus, all are within 10 minutes of walking distance to another. Academic culture & teaching style: Very strong hierarchy (disagreeing with a professor is considered to be incredibly rude), many group projects Courses: There are intensive and extensive courses. The extensive courses have more credits and you have them for the whole semester. The intensive courses only take one week, usually Monday-Thursday 8:00-12:20 with an exam in the next week on Wednesday at 2pm. Both courses have a high workload, however the intensive courses are often more focused on basics and can be very easy.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport: functions well, metro is usually on-time (not the bus though) You can buy either a monthly pass for 88 euros or get the yearly ticket Imagine R Étudiant for 390 euros (you can cancel it after the semester and then you get a huge part of your money back). Safety: I felt safe most of the time, especially in the 16th. Social/Leisure activities: the international club at IÉSEG organizes regular activities, many museums are free when you're from the EU & under 26 (but make a reservation online), plan day/ week-end trips to cities nearby Sports options: running clubs, use the student discount at Climbing District on fridays

6. Testimonial

I enjoyed my time in Paris a lot. It is truly a great city to live in and I made many new friends for life. I fully recommend doing a semester abroad because it's an experience you'll remember for a long time.