Erasmus Experience in Paris, France by Claudia

Why did you choose to go to Paris, France?

I wanted to study at the EHESS (School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences).

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

For a Master's degree, the scholarship lasted two years. I got €1, 000 a month and €4, 000 of mobility funding a year.

For a doctorate, the funding works on a three year doctoral contract. After tax and social security, you get €1, 500 plus €2, 500 per year in mobility funding.

What is student life like in Paris?

It's a big city and there are many schools to choose from, so you don't really have much contact with other students. However, for a doctorate, there are labs that take on young researchers and doctoral students and it's a much more welcoming environment.

In France, in general, there are resources to help with administrative issues like the group Welcome to Foreign Students à la Cité Universitaire de Paris, where you can go for help with things like applying for your titre de séjour, CAF, etc.

As for housing, students can get help from the CAF (Centre d'Allocation Familial) who will give you back a percentage of what you pay in rent every month if your salary is below a certain amount.

There's also the Resto U, where students with a valid student card can have a really good lunch for only €3. 15.

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

Yes, I'd recommend the EHESS as much as I would the city itself, it's a place where you can encounter totally different world that broadens your knowledge and your spirit.

What is the food like there?

It's delicious. It's an experience that opens you up to new flavours, particularly different regional flavours: Raclette from the Alps, sauerkraut from Alsace, the wines and charcuterie from the south, oysters from the Atlantic coast and the amazing cheeses from every region...

Also, owing to it's multicultural nature, Paris has a lot of traditional food from every continent on offer, especially from Africa and Asia.

Did you find it difficult to find acommodation in Paris?

It's difficult and expensive to find acommodation in Paris, however in the beginning I had help from the school to find a place with CROUS (Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires de Paris), in a student residence. But this process isn't easy and it can take a long time. The spaces are limited. I paid CROUS €475 for a 18m2 (T1) studio. You have to keep in mind that the CAF will give you back some of what you spend on acommodation, so in the end I only paid €230!

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

If you're living a student life and you manage to get help from the CAF, you can live off of €1, 000 as a base (this is what I lived off of during my Master's). The Navigo pass (for all transport) costs €68 (now €75) a month. Housing can cost somewhere around €700 if it's not with CROUS and the CAF normally gives you back a percentage which can sometimes even equate to 50% of the monthly cost. A beer in a bar can cost between €2. 50 and €6, lunch with CROUS costs €3.

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

I went on an intensive French course over the summer in Strasbourg before I came to Paris. It helped me a lot. Then at the school, I was given a French course, specifically pertaining to social science research.

What is the easiest or most economical way to get to Paris from your home city?

I live in Cali, Colombia. The most economical way to get there is to get a flight from Bogotá to Madrid and then another from Madrid to Paris. However, when there are deals on, it's much easier to travel directly to Paris.

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

The nightlife in Paris, in my experience isn't the most relaxed. What I do the most is go out to bars with friends. Two well-known night out places are L'International and La Plage, you can have a good, chilled out time there. At La Plage, they have concerts every Friday.

And to eat in Paris? What are some of your favourite places?

They have good beer, charcuterie and cheese at a good price at L'Art Brut Bistrot. Nearby, on the Rue Rambuteau, behind the Centre Pompidou, you can get amazing Lebanese sandwiches!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The first Sunday of every month, you can get into the national museums. It's a good time to go to the Louvre, you can't rush around it, as I've been recommended by my friends, you should visit one wing at a time. One of my favourite museums is the Musée D'Orsay, that's another place you can get in for free on the first Sunday of each month.

Also, you can visit the gardens of the Musée Rodin, the permanent collections at the Petit Palais and the Musée du Luxembourg, at the Jardin du Luxembourg, for free.

Do you have any advice you want to give to future students in Paris?

It's always a good idea to be open to getting to know people outside of univeristy and academia. Paris is a multicultural city with so much to enjoy on offer!