Erasmus experience in Paris, France by Nadine

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Why did you choose to go to Paris, France?

I chose France, because I study languages, which are English, French and Portuguese. As I already have been in New Zealand for half a year, I thought I wanted to improve my French. The choice of the city was already narrowed by the partnerships of my university. I didn’t want to go to a city too close to Germany as there, many people speak German and I wanted to be forced to speak French. I chose Paris, because that is the place, where they speak the most standard French in France and I didn’t want to come back with a strange accent, like from the Ch’ties. Apart from that, I have already been in Paris for a weekend and wanted to get to know it better, because, already back then, I had fallen in love with the city. Also, I had only made good experiences with the French people, which was mostly on my holidays in the south of France.

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

My scholarship is for five months, of which I get three paid with 310 Euro a month by Erasmus+.

What is the student lifestyle like in Paris?

The student life style in general is similar to the life style in school. French universities are very similarly organized to schools. You always have one class, in which you stay for your whole studies.

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

I would recommend the city, because it is just an amazing atmosphere there, but you have to keep in mind that Paris is very expensive. The university Sorbonne Nouvelle, I would not recommend, because of the above named reason, it is not very interactive and very school-like and also the level of knowledge is a lot lower than in Germany.

What is the food like?

French food is said to be one of the best in the world. Which is especially true, if you pay high prices, but you can also live on a budget and have good food. I love cheese and baguette and olives, which aren’t expensive at all. Other delicious things you will find in Paris, are, of course, the Crepes, in all different variations, salty and sweet. But, don’t forget the Macarons, the Raclette, the cheese fondue, the couscous and Falafel and other delicious things.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Paris?

I paid a small fee for an agency to find an apartment for me in Paris.

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

I paid 870 Euro per month for accommodation, 70 for the metro and then about 300 for food and other stuff. Expect some extra depenses for sightseeing and travels. Some of the museums and attractions in Paris are free for European students under the age of 26, others every first Sunday of the month for everyone, make use of that! You can find cheaper fruits and vegetables and the weekly markets and also cheap but good restaurants in the Rue Mouffetard.

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

I am studying French for two years and learned it in school for more than six years, so I already spoke it quite fluently. It is not the easiest language, but if you study consequently, you will be familiar with it soon. In my university, we had to pass a language test and everyone under the level of B2, was assigned to a free language course at its level. The ones who did score higher were allowed to take classes in French.

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

The easiest way is to take the TGV from Munich to Paris. You don’t have to change, you don’t have baggage limitation and it is the same price as the plane and only takes you 6 hours to get to Paris. It stops also in Stuttgart, Ulm and Straßburg. The plane or a bus are other ways of getting there. The bus might be cheaper, but takes a lot longer and also has baggage limitation, the plane is faster, but also has limited baggage and the airport is far from the city.

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

In summer, just get some alcohol and enjoy the night at the shores of the Seine. If you want to party, I recommend to go to Bastille, where a lot of bars are located. The Erasmus organisations have almost every night a free offer for bars or clubs, just join them, if you want to save money. My special recommendation is Duplex, next to the Arc de Triomphe. They have different areas with good music.

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

There are many good restaurants in Paris, but they are also expensive. In the Rue Mouffetard, you will find good food for low prices. You can have a whole menu for 15 Euro. Don’t forget that “une caraffe d’eau” is for free, if you ask the right way. In this street is also one of the most popular creperies in Paris: Le Petit Grèque.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You have countless of them: the Sorbonne, the Pantheon, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacré Coeur, Arc du Triomphe, La Tour Eiffel, Le cimetière du Père Lachaise, Place de la République, Le Petit Palais, le Grande Palais, les catacombes, l’Hôtel des Invalides, le Moulin Rouge, le Château de Versaille and other castles nearby as well as many museums of artists and writers such as Picasso, Viktor Hugo…

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

Bring warm clothes, the French people do not always have heating and almost never good isolated houses. Another thing, is the high expenses in general and the accommodation, which will also be really hard to find, that you should always keep in mind. And don’t only stick to Paris, the Erasmus organisations often offer cheap excursions to close by places like the Normandy, Amiens, Champagne, Rouen and also further cities like Lyon. Take advantage of that to see as much as possible. Paris and France have so much to offer!