Erasmus Experience in Marseille, France by Karolina

Why did you choose to go to Marseille, France?

I wanted to improve my French. On the one hand it is a perfect place, because people here don't speak English at all. On the other hand, French that is spoken here is very difficult to understand because they have this "famous" accent of Marseille.

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

3 months - the scholarship wasn't enough due to the fact that cost of living here is high.

What is the student lifestyle like in Marseille?

If you live in Alotra (KEDGE's dormitory for exchange students) it is really diverse, but everything is organized by exchanged students themselves. At KEDGE there is an organization called Interact but you cannot compare it to ESN organization. The only things they organize are parties....

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

Yes and no. For me, it was the best time of my life. I met a lot of wonderful people from all over the world. But cost of living and poor student's life have to be mentioned, and Erasmus students need to be aware of this.

What is the food like?

All good.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Marseille?

No.

How much does it cost to live in Marseille?

400 euro (more/less accomodation), monthly ticket for bus - 35 euro, food and similar - 150- 200 euro.

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

At university it was just one course - you can count it as a course (you get 5 credits). It didnt give me anything - low level.

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

Plane- but only during summer season.

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

Vieux port - not very exciting. Bazar, Mystik - two clubs, when you go with your friends, you can even have fun there.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

A lot of! This is the best advantage of Marseille, you can discover new place all the time, but be careful! Don't try to discover North parts - they are dangerous.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Marseille in the future?

Don't give up :) and chill out. Somehow everything works here!