Details

• France
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

There is no doubt that coming together with colleagues that applied for the same host university helped me a lot in order for me to choose the relevant courses correctly and changing opinions about their contents was also very helpful. With regard to the learning agreement, the institutions of WU also helped me a lot, . i.e they were always there when I had specific questions. It´s always useful to ask questions (since no one is going to punish you for asking one question more in order to obtain clarity), for as of my experience , studying abroad was a completely new chapter in my life and I had to reduce this uncertainty by asking as many questions as possible with regard to my scholarship, ECTS , grades and so on...

2. Accommodation

In terms of accomodation, I have to criticize the approach of my home university , since there was no help from their side at all. My home university delegated the responsibility to the host university, which even charged me approx 200 euro just to recommend a dorm. And this was not everyhting , the paperwork and the bureaucracy was exhausting, since you had to get into contact and resolve everything with a centralized system called Crous that is responsible for the whole organization of a number of dorms across Paris. I wish I´d have known that the whole bureaucratic process was so heavy, thus would have taken premeasures to avoid the stress I had in the first days of my staying (I slept at a hotel for 2 days to finally get the keys). So, in terms of Location, safety, and proximity to the university, I didn´t had the time to think about these specifics at all.

3. Academic life at host university

There was a rather relaxed atmosphere , since the teachers knew that we were exchange students. They were eager to fulfill their responsibilities and to stick to the teaching plan, and didn´t pressure as at all. The exams were in majority also not very challenging (for me at least, but I put a lot of effort to be noticed). We had only classes with international students, so the academic culture was wholly influenced by the way of teaching of the professor, who in turn taught us more lightly than french students (in my opinion). There was not so much difference in comparison to WU Vienna.

5. Every day life in the host country

I participated in much of the events of the university or other associated organizations, but then lost my interest. The public transport system is advanced and I had no issues with safety at all in my day to day life (though I must say that I was more attentive than in Vienna). There are many events that I missed out on because I had 4 times a week classes , and some in the morning. And they were midterm exams that I had to prepare for. Most of the time I enjoyed discovering the city by myself; Paris allows you to find entertainment alone by visiting historical buildings and not letting you feel alone.

6. Testimonial

It was magnificent, I made international friends and improved my french significantly. I still try to keep the contact with people I appreciate to having encountered in Paris . It was a parisienne experience that every young person deserves in its lifetime.