Erasmus experience in Lyon, France by Juan José

Why did you decide to go to Lyon, France?

I wanted to go to France and learn some French, a third language is always useful, and for an engineer France is a very good destination, the Grandes Écoles (Great Schools) still have a lot of prestige and here it is “relatively easy” to get experience or a job.

Source

How long does the grant last? How much money do you receive as help?

5 months (only PFC), the second semester.

Money: €1740 (European Erasmus + Erasmus for being a MEC scholarship holder) + 553 (help from the COIICV for those with the best UPV record that do an Erasmus) + €90 per month (CAF help from the French government for housing) in total I will receive €2743.

What is the student environment like in Lyon?

There are lots of students, really a lot of students and there are lots of universities, I also have to say that for all of the students that there are I expected more of an atmosphere.

But that’s fine. Apparently there is more of a student atmosphere in Montpellier but they are just rumours…

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

Yes, if you want to come to France and Paris it becomes very expensive (because it is very expensive), Lyon is perfect, the city has everything and is not too expensive, it is big but comfortable.

How is the country’s food?

Normal, I don’t know, there is a Carrefour on every corner and the products are “normal”.

Was it hard finding accommodation in Lyon?

No, normally here (at INSA Lyon, my university) you live in university residencies therefore it was very easy (even though it is something expensive for me).

How much does it cost to live in Lyon?

You will spend €1000 whether you want to or not in the first month, the rest with €700-€800 you will live rather well and with €600-€700 you will be pressed for cash.

How’s it going with the language? Did you attend a course at the university?

Nobody speaks English, nobody, its worse than it is in Spain, therefore if you want to connect with people the best thing to do is learn French (the sooner the better) INSA gives free courses to foreign students.

Source

What is the cheapest way to get to Lyon from your city?

A plane from Madrid, but there are trains (expensive) and buses (which take many hours). If you are from Catalonia you may be interested in coming by car as it is relatively close.

What places would you recommend going to at night in Lyon?

Boston and the boat that there is in the river.

Any advice you would like to give to future students in Lyon?

I speak from my experience, if you come to INSA, which is only for engineers, you will see that here they take things very seriously, you will work, the Erasmus concept of partying everyday does not exist here (and I would like that), this is not to say that there are not any parties, there are (and lots).

The first two weeks will be full of paperwork

• Bank: I recommend LCL and ask for room insurance for €1 and a civil responsibility (it sounds strange, but it is the norm here).
• Telephone: I recommend FREE, it is cheap.
• CAF: be patient with the burocracy and ask lots and bring a birth certificate in French and all the all the photocopies you can of everything!

Above all, have fun and meet people from other countries not just Spaniards.