Erasmus Experience in Cergy-Pontoise, France by Alessandra

Why did you choose to go to Cergy-Pontoise, France?

Because it was the closest to Paris I could go to.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I had a 6-month scholarship of €230 per month and it didn't help me with (the high) living costs at all.

What is the student lifestyle like in Cergy-Pontoise?

It's nice, study-wise it was pretty easy. When it comes to entertainment... well, Paris is extremely close so you can't get bored.

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Cergy-Pontoise to other students?

Why not? It's not Ivy League, but it has a nice environment and people are very friendly, they made me feel at home and I certainly didn't expect it.

What is the food like?

I'm sorry to say this, but it's awful! Please avoid the canteen at Les Chenes... St. Martin's one was slightly better, but overall the quality of the food was dreadful.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Cergy-Pontoise?

Yes, in fact I had to choose another nearby town.

How much does it cost to live in Cergy-Pontoise?

Around €600-700 a month if you have to pay rent and bills and eat decent food.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available in the University?

If you're a native romance language speaker (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian... ) it's quite easy to learn French, on the other hand if you are not familiar with Latin-based languages, you might have to work harder. Anyway, there are language classes specifically intended for exchange students.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Cergy-Pontoise from your city?

Italian people coming from the North who want to spend as less money as possible can book a Thello train ticket on the Trenitalia website. If you're lucky enough to find that offer, you'll pay €35 to get from Vicenza, Verona, Venice, Milan or Turin to Paris (Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon). However, you will have to endure a 13-hour train journey, so I suggest that you just buy a plane ticket in advance and it might cost you around €80-100 with all the benefits deriving from a shorter flight!

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Cergy-Pontoise?

O'Sullivans at Cergy Préfécture.

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And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Cergy-Pontoise?

The only ones I remember are the Chinese and Japanese restaurants inside the Les 3 Fontaines mall.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Auvers-sur-Oise, Royaumont Abbey, the Castle of La Roche-Guyon or the Castle of Écouen.