Mobility specification

Country:France

Institution:MBS School of Business

City:Montpellier

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Economics and Administration

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?they have tons

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Teaching in French universities is different from ours. Seminars and lectures are combined into one 3-hour block. The first hour is spent on theory and the rest is in the style of seminars, where various group tasks are completed or a selected topic is debated. Most of the professors from this university were from practice, so they were very good at connecting and commenting on the theory discussed with the practice. I personally found this style of teaching more suitable than at MU. I would also add that all the courses were taught in English and the study materials were also in AJ. Another rather big surprise was the fact that the exam period here is placed in only one or two weeks, which means that all the exams are written in the last week of the semester. Although this may sound too demanding, it can be managed. The exams here are more practically based in a case study style, so there is no need to memorize from presentations.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?At the beginning of the semester, the university organizes something like an orientation week, where mainly extracurricular activities are introduced. The university offers participation in about 15 clubs, ranging from a football or basketball team to cheerleaders or a cooking enthusiasts' club. I think there is something for everyone.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:20000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?For finding private accommodation in France, I would recommend Studapart. It's a bit like Booking, but there's accommodation for students in halls of residence or shared flats.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Food here is at a similar price level as in the Czech Republic, some even cheaper. As far as public transport is concerned, if you get a certificate of temporary stay in Montpellier for the period of your trip, you get free public transport.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

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?Transport connections in Montpellier are found via an app that can be downloaded to your phone (I don't remember the name), something like IDOS. Tickets can be bought at any station or bus stop where there are ticket machines.

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?A must see in Montpellier is definitely the historic centre. This is also where you'll spend most of your free time, as this is where most of the pubs, bars and restaurants are located.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I would recommend exploring as much of southern France as possible. This whole region is really worth it. You can get almost everywhere by train and where there is no train there is a Flixbus. I personally was probably most interested in Avignon and Nimes.

Share your best experience:For a great experience, I recommend following ESN Montpellier and Erasmus life Montpellier. These organisations organise events every week. I went on a trip to Cannes, Nice and Monaco with them and it was well worth it. It's also a great opportunity to meet new Erasmus students.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Car

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?I don't think you need to pack anything special. If you forget something on the spot, you can get everything at normal prices.

🥳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?Montpellier is definitely worth it, a beautiful city by the sea where the sun shines every day and no one is in a hurry!