Details

• France
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

I personally started preparing really early and created a list of what I needed to do (housing, insurance etc). It is extremely helpful to contact students that have already spent time at your host university - they can often provide you with the best pieces of advice. Try to look at the courses in the online data bank and do not hesitate to ask questions, all the international coordinators are super willing to support you!

2. Accommodation

Again, I started the search really early and most of the time, the response was negative, because the openings typically start rather late (June/July). Still, it is never a mistake to contact several residences beforehand and ask them to notify you if there are any openings. I lived in a student residence in Creteil, which was about 12 minutes away from the university. I would definitely opt for this option again, it was amazing to walk to uni and not to be dependent on public transport, as there are often problems with M8. The neighbourhood was safe and going to Paris did not take too long either (15 min to Gare de Lyon). I personally recommend living in a student residence, because there will be somebody whom you can contact, you are provided with help if there is a problem etc. The search can be annoying, but if you start early and contact multiple places, it will not be a problem in the end. Tip: Living in Creteil is often significantly cheaper than living in Paris!

3. Academic life at host university

The university is rather different from WU, the law campus is rather small and not as modern as WU (eg there are no common coworking spaces except for the library, there are no points in class to charge your electronic devices). Classes are a lot smaller than at WU, often there are only 12-20 students, which means that professors will know your names. If you attend regularly (which I highly recommend), they will know you and this also has a positive impact on the overall grade. The teaching style really depends on the teachers, in the second year Master classes, the lessons are often a bit more interactive, other classes are just presentations by the professors. In any case, there is a lot less structure than at WU, but at the same time more flexibility. Do not worry if two courses overlap, you can always address the teachers and find a solution. The academic standard is different as well and the French way of doing presentations is something you will need to adapt to in groups, but in the end it is really enriching and a great opportunity to get in touch with French students.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transportation is amazing, because it allows you to go anywhere. However, there were quite a lot of strikes and often, there are incidences like lost baggages etc, so it is a matter of luck. I can recommend purchasing the Imagine R Pass Navigo (it is for the entire year, but you can cancel it after your stay and it is way cheaper than the monthly pass). Generally, I felt safe in Creteil and also in Paris, but there sure are areas to avoid (next to big stations like Gare du Nord), at night it makes sense to take an Uber in case of doubt. There are myriad social activities you can engage in, it is impossible to list them all. The university offers a broad programme you can choose from, there are so many cafes, museums (for free!), parcs etc, this is nothing to worry about, you will most definitely not get bored. In addition, French people are extremely nice and helpful, which makes the experience even better!

6. Testimonial

My exchange in France was a unique experience that has enriched my personal and academic journey in multiple regards. I was able to plunge into a new learning environment, get to know students from all over Europe and to diversify my learning experience while communicating in several foreign languages. Of course, not everything was perfect, but even those situations allowed me to become more independent and to manage life more competently. I would choose Paris and UPEC as my exchange destinations over and over again and can only recommend doing the same. Paris really represesents infinite opportunities and allows you to benefit from your exchange semester in the way you want it. UPEC is a great host university where you will meet some of the kindest people.