Details

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

1. Preparation

I highly recommend reading previous exchange reports early in the process. They give a very realistic picture of the workload, course structure, and daily life at the university, which helps a lot when choosing destinations and preparing expectations. The application process itself is manageable if you respect deadlines and stay organised. Start looking at housing options early, but don't stress too much, there are plenty of options.

2. Accommodation

At HEC, many exchange students end up staying at ECLA, which is where I lived as well. The search process itself was quite straightforward, as ECLA is very popular among exchange students and well known at HEC. ECLA is a private student residence where you can either rent a studio or share an apartment. Prices are very high, although HEC students receive a discount on the administration fees. Overall, the quality of the housing does not really reflect the price, and you need some time to get used to it. ECLA is safe and offers a strong community feeling, which is a big advantage since most exchange students live there. There is no on-campus housing available in the fall semester. The commute to HEC takes around 45 minutes, and it’s a similar distance into central Paris. Living in Paris is also an option, but then you rely on the HEC shuttles in the morning and evening, which works but usually takes even longer. I would still recommend ECLA despite its flaws. It is not the nicest place, but living close to most other exchange students makes social life much easier and outweighs the downsides.

3. Academic life at host university

The HEC campus is well equipped but located far outside of Paris, with very little in the immediate surroundings. Daily life mainly happens on campus. One clear highlight is the cafeteria, which is very good and affordable compared WU Vienna. Academically, the courses are relatively easy compared to WU Vienna. The teaching style places a much stronger emphasis on group work and continuous assessments. Overall, the academic culture is less exam-driven and more collaborative.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in and around Paris is reliable and well connected, but also relatively expensive. Overall, the safety situation felt good, both on campus and when commuting. Social life mainly takes place within the exchange student community. You don't really interact a lot with French students. HEC offers a wide range of sports clubs, which is a great way to stay active and meet people. In addition, there are interesting on-campus events such as career fairs and networking events, which add to everyday student life.

6. Testimonial

Overall, my exchange experience was very positive. Paris is an amazing city to live in, and studying at HEC was a great complement to my studies at WU Vienna. A personal highlight was joining and playing for the handball team, which helped me connect more with French students. At the same time, I built a close friend group with other international students, which made the semester especially memorable.