Erasmus Experience in Lille, France by Paola

Why did you choose to go to Lille, Francia?

I chose to go to Lille because I wanted to live in a small (but not too small) city as it was my first experience living aborad on my own; I did some research about the city and I saw that it was a lively city with quite a few attractions and things to do/see, with the advantage of being not too far from Paris and other beautiful european cities.

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

I received enough money to pay my rent for 5 months and live thanks to the Erasmus scolarship.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lille?

There are a lot of students in Lille because there are lots of universities, so the stuudent life is very developed: my university used to organizise a lot of events, especially for the erasmus. Moreover, there are a lot of pubs and clubs and events that are organized by Erasmus associations.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Lille to other students?

I would reccommend it to those who like the idea of living in a small city.

What is the food like?

The food is very good, as in the whole north region.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lille?

It took me more than a month to find a good appartement; it's very hard to find accomodation in France in general, but it's also true that there are a lot of student residences in Lille. I did not stay in a student residence and managed to find an appartement (rent: 440 euros).

How much does it cost to live in Lille?

It depends on the rent; as far as the other expenses are concerned (groceries, public transport, restaurants, etc. ) I wouldn't be able to make a perfect estimate, I would say around 200 euros per month+ the rent.

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

French is a pretty challenging language and not easy to learn for everyone (I've been studying it since middle school and I study languages at universities). However, there are many language courses available in the University I went to in Lille.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Lille from your city?

The easiest way is to travel by plane.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Lille?

I would recommend the Vieux Lille or the city center in general.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Lille?

Trois Brasseurs (Lille Flandres).

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

La Grande Place, le Musée de Beaux Arts, le Vieux Lille...