Erasmus Experience in Paris, France by Lyndsey

Why did you choose to go to Paris, France?

I chose to go to Paris as I thought it would be a great experience to work in a professional environment and also experience a new culture. It was a great opportunity not to be missed.

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

It was three months and the only money i received was an Erasmus grant which is just over 1,000. It wasnt a scholarship it was an internship.

What is the student lifestyle like in Paris?

Did not really experience the student lifestyle as I was working in a lab in a hospital :D

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

Yes I would recommend the city to anyone, it is a beautiful city and the hospital I was working in had beautiful gardens :D The Sup' Biotech in Villejuif have lovely staff.

What is the food like?

To be honest, I did not think the food was that great, but it could be due to the fact that I am so use to Brennans bread back home and nothing beats it and you cant get rashers and sausages. You miss the odd fry up :( but I did love the bakeries.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Paris?

The only cost to find my accommodation was to use this site but it wasnt worth the money. This was the only site I found great to find accommodation.

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

Ohh, now this is a horrible one. It cost 500 euro a month for my rent and that is cheap in Paris, I was living in a beautiful place called Montrouge. I had a travel card for the metros, trams, buses and trains within Paris which you bought for a month and it cost 70 euro. Food cost was not bad, there are great fruit stalls on the streets but about 80 euro a month.

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

I did not need a language as I was working with people who speak in English. But I tried to learn the language and I found it difficult.

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

From Dublin the best way is to flight with aer lingus as it gets you into the main airport and from there you can get a ticket at the airport to go anywere in Paris. About 10 euro.

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

A night out, the best thing to do is buy drink and go to the Eiffel tower, it is a beautiful spot to drink and it lights up like a christmas tree.

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

Hmmmm can not really think of any at the moment, there are plenty of good ones in Montrouge. The Pirates of the Caribbean one in Disneyland has lovely food.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are plenty of sites. Too many to name, like the Eiffel Tower, the animal park etc.

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

The main advice I could give anyone is bring plenty of money and while in France, visit other parts of Europe you can go anywere by train :D