Erasmus Experience in Paris, France by Aycan

Why did you choose to go to Paris, France?

Because I wanted to improve my french and because Paris is amazing.

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

6 months. 600 euros 4 years ago.

What is the student lifestyle like in Paris?

It is more different than what you envision as a typical Erasmus student lifestyle. I can say that it is more posh, more stylish and much more expensive. It's like you live the life of a young professional instead of an Erasmus student.

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

Yes and yes.

What is the food like?

Food is French food, how can it be bad?

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Paris?

No, but i was lucky on this one.

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

I would calculate the minimum rent rate as approximately 600 euros, and i would add another 600 euros per month for the minimum standards of living. This means that you will spend this money solely on food and drinking. If you want to do shopping, go to the cinema and travel, then this amount could seriously increase.

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

I can't say that the language was easy to learn. In fact, it was my biggest problem and I met a lot of Erasmus students having the same problem. I've learned french for a quite amount of time before coming to Paris but you don't really learn the language without being in its environment. University of Paris courses were really hard to pass for me as they were in french. The University has excellent french professor and excellent language courses. I struggled to pass the University courses but with the french I learned there I could succeed my Master courses who were also in french.

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

From Istanbul to Paris by plane, Pegasus Airlines.

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

It depends on the day of the week. My favorites clubs were Social Club, Dupleix, the bars on Rue Mouffetard and the ones on Rue Oberkampf

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

I would definitely recommend Cafe Jade in Odeon. For pizzas, you could try Chez Tony near Ledru-Rollin. Leon is a good choice for moules et frites.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles (definitely recommended), Musée d'Orsay, Musee du Louvre,

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

Know that you are going to spend money if you want to experience the real Paris living style.