Mobility specification

Country:France

Institution:Bordeaux Montaigne University

City:Bordeaux

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Education / Department of French Language and Literature

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?it's alright

Are your credits converted?yes

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?In seminars, i.e. compulsory classes, students just sit and write, they do not participate in the classes. Absenteeism is not checked much, the teachers don't seem to care, typical French:) More than once we have cancelled a class because of a strike, or the striking students often came to class and disturbed a lot. Also the length of the class varies, it depends on the type of course and how many credits it is for, for example when the course was for 6+ credits the class lasted for three hours.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, quite a lot, many times I couldn't choose. I attended orientation week where I met friends that I stayed with until the end of my stay. There were really countless student events, both organised by the university and by other organisations like ESN. We also had our choice of several student societies, I remember a few, these were mainly societies where you learn languages and culture of foreign countries.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Interpretation services
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:11000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Yes, maybe this is a normal thing that everyone knows, but I was unpleasantly surprised. Upon arriving at my dorm room, I found that there was nothing there at all, no equipment, just nothing. I assumed there would be no sleeping equipment, but I didn't expect there to be nothing. So, right from the beginning of my stay, I spent thousands on furnishings for the apartment, which I gave to my friends or to the student association, Étu-récup, at the end.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Definitely go to the student restaurants, great food and large portions under 4 euros.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?In my case, it wasn't a big deal. There were several branches around the city and all you had to do was go there and agree on the best tariff. I searched for connections online, at individual stops, or on the app, which worked great and clearly. The fares were a bit more expensive in my opinion compared to Brno, but nothing terrible, you could buy monthly, yearly and daily subscriptions, and other "bargains".

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?I've seen better

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?I've travelled France through and through, but Bordeaux thrilled me! A really beautiful city where you can find everything. The centre is well preserved, it felt like Paris, the area around the centre was modern. Bordeaux has a lot of "must sees", like the Darwin Ecosystem, Caserne B, the stand alone centre, the Garonne coast where all the clubs are located:)) You can really find your own.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Be sure to head to the Dune du Pilat, a giant sand dune near Bordeaux, plus right next to the ocean. An incredible experience. Then the classic surrounding towns like Toulouse and towns on the border with Spain where cultures are already mixing. Or even to Paris by Flixbus.

Share your best experience:The best experience was the trip to Paris. We took the Flixbus for about 7 hours, but it was worth it.

💅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

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The airport is quite far from the city centre, but there are trams everywhere, and the F tram runs to the airport.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?I didn't take anything special. Everything can be bought.

🥳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?FORMIDABLE.