Mobility specification

Country:France

Institution:Paris Nanterre University

City:Paris

Program:EDUC Gap semester

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of International Relations and European Studies

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?All my attained credits count as voluntary credits at MUNI, basically 1:1

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?My classes expected less active participation, they were smaller classes with less people. Waay more paperwork.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?There are some introductory meetings, plus they have a "buddy system", but I'm not sure how it works, since I didn't take part.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)
I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:13000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?No, unfortunately, I lived with a friend.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?The price of the public transport! It was smarter to get a full year transportation card, but it was pretty expensive.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Definitely buy groceries if you can. It's way cheaper than eating out. All museums (state ones) are free, so that's a good tip on how to spend your free time. And others usually offer some student discounts.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?It's quite easy now to do both in the RATP phone app. If you want to get the transport card (which I recommend), do that in advance once you have an address in Paris. Google maps are also good for finding connections. If you're old-school, there are maps at every stop/station.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?The classics of course! Eiffel tower, Invalides, Champs-Elysees, Louvre, Pompidou, Sacre Coeur, ... I recommend some smaller museums too, based on your interests - Paris is full of them. There are also a lot of locations outside of Paris itself, where you have access through the public transport.

Share your best experience:The evening before the opening of the Notre Dame we went out for a drink. We ended up under a bridge, right next to the Notre Dame, and had the opportunity to watch the light-show projection which they were practicing for the next day.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?If you take a plane ticket to the Beauvais airport - it is cheaper, yes, but it is far from the city and you have to take into account that you have to pay extra 16-20 EUR (about 500 CZK) and add an extra 1h and a half to your itinerary. Also - night buses are a bit tricky.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Actually leave some space for things to take back from Paris - especially if you're into fashion.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?It was a great experience I am definitely grateful for. It made me more brave, and I will always value that the most.