[SFU OLC Experience] Studying Abroad in Paris

Initiative

Humans of Study Abroad

Program:

Study Abroad › Exchange

Location:

Paris

France

Experience Faculty

All Faculties

Photo of the Eiffel Tower taken from below. The sky behind is blue with white clouds.
JC

I was able to learn a lot about a different culture and language while expanding my knowledge. During the exchange I took classes very different to what is offered within my degree at SFU, broadening my understanding and providing me with a well-rounded education.

Experience Details

Semester

Spring

Year

2024

Introduction + Preparation

My name is Justine. This spring, I did an exchange semester at Sciences Po in Paris, France. To prepare for your exchange, make sure you have all of your important documents, such as your passport, visa, birth certificate, etc., well organized, and keep copies on multiple devices if possible. Start your Visa application process as soon as you can because the processing times can be very long. I also recommend bringing something from home in case you feel homesick - I brought photos to put up on my wall. Try to learn/practice French before arriving. While you can get around with English, it's much easier if you speak the language.

Previous Experience

I've never lived on my own before but I have travelled. That definitely helped when it came to packing and navigating airports and train stations. I've been to Paris before, but only briefly when I was little. Luckily I have family that lives just outside the city and they were able to help me get settled in and figure things out. Lots of stuff on this exchange was new to me. It took a bit of confidence to put myself out there and take charge, as well as figure out how to navigate French bureaucratic systems. The good news is many exchange students are in the same boat, so you're never really alone.

Location Research

My exchange took place in France at the Sciences Po Paris Campus, Spring 2024. I am a Biological Sciences major within the Faculty of Science. My name is JC.

Financial Preparation

I had been saving for several years knowing that I wanted to do an exchange. All in all, living in Paris was expensive but not nearly as expensive as living in the Lower Mainland. I saved enough money to cover tuition, rent, groceries, travel during the semester, flights, and Visa applications, with extra money in case of emergency. I applied for and received a scholarship through SFU to fund part of the exchange as well.

Packing

It took me about a week to decide what to bring and pack. I brought a large backpack, a carry-on suitcase, and a large suitcase. I found it useful to bring things like padlocks, noise-cancelling headphones, and AirTags or other tracking devices for my weekend travels and stays in hostels. My apartment was fully furnished, so most of what I brought with me were clothes.

Travel and Transportation

I flew from Vancouver to Paris. While there are sometimes direct flights, most have connections. My flights there and back both had layovers in Montreal. From the airport, I took a taxi to my apartment - be careful, though, there's a big scam at the airport where taxi drivers will charge you double or triple the legal rate, so I recommend booking and paying for a cab in advance. Within the city I walked, biked, or took the metro almost everywhere. The metro is the fastest way to get around as car and bus traffic is unpredictable. On weekend trips, I almost always took trains.

Preparation Tips for Future Students

Do everything as soon as possible! Start packing and start the Visa application if necessary. You never know how long something is going to take, and it is better to have it done too early than too late. Before you start packing, lay out everything you want to bring with you. Consider weight limits and versatility. I packed a luggage scale and a tape measure with me which came in handy during travel to make sure I wouldn't have to pay extra for baggage at airports or train stations. Look through your exchange university's website and make sure you know who to contact if you have any questions or concerns.

One of Paris's most famous churches, Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Statue of a headless angel with it's wings out

The Winged Victory of Samothrace, a statue found in the Louvre Museum

Flowers for sale along the street

The Eiffel Tower with the lights sparkling at night

Eiffel Tower at night, sparkling

View of the city at night from the Montparnasse Tower

During my Experience

Orientation and First Weeks

I decided to sign up for the Welcome Week put on by Sciences Po. It included tours around the campus, sightseeing, museum visits, lessons about the French school system and structure, and time to meet up with other exchange students. It ran for a week; each day, your group would have a few different events scheduled with a few hours of break in between. It was a great way to make sure I was exploring and meeting new people while fighting jet lag and homesickness. I met a few people through it that went on to become really close friends.

Accommodation and Living

I stayed in an AirBnb in the 14th arrondissement. There is no on-campus accommodation, but there is subsidized student housing offered by the French government. I found that it fills up pretty quickly as it's offered to students from any university, and many have limited spots for non-master students. Finding accommodation took a bit of work. There was a very short turnaround between finding out I was accepted and having to apply for a student visa, which (at least at the time of my application) required me to provide my French address. If you're renting in France, you're required to provide a "garantor" especially if you don't have a French bank account (though this wasn't necessary for AirBnb). This process can also take a bit of time to set up, so I recommend starting as soon as possible. Being able to read/write in French also makes things a lot easier. Generally, the process wasn't too tricky. I ended up in a studio apartment near many metro stops, which was perfect.

Day to Day

My classes themselves didn't take up too much of my days. They each ran two hours a week, so my 5 class course load at Sciences Po differed greatly from a 5 class course load at SFU. I spent the rest of my weekdays exploring the city. Mostly, that meant trying new bakeries, visiting museums, or walking around to see what I could find. There were often farmer's markets and flea markets out on the streets. On the weekends, I would often go on trips to other cities/countries. There was always a lot to do, and much stuff was free or discounted to students in France.

Learning and Adaptation

Each of my classes was 2 hours long and ran once a week. Any classes that got cancelled had to be rescheduled later in the semester as per Sciences Po policy. One of my classes had about 100 people; other than that, none were bigger than 20 people. France uses a 1-20 grading scheme rather than letter grades or percentages. It was a bit confusing at first because it doesn't translate linearly to SFU's or general Canadian grading schemes. Lectures were also a bit different; generally, lectures included very few slides and it was rare that a professor would post them after class. Most of my classes had no assignments, just midterm and final exams.

Accomplishments and Challenges

This was my first time living independently, so that presented its own challenges. At the same time, I gained a lot of confidence in my abilities from that experience. Dealing with French systems was also a bit difficult; setting up health insurance, a bank account, and a phone plan were all fairly complicated processes involving a lot of delays and calls to help desks. This was also my first time speaking French regularly in a few years. Despite having taken full French Immersion, I was a bit rusty, but I was very proud of how quickly it came back and how much more I learned.

Cultural and Environmental Observations

The culture in Paris wasn't very different from the culture in Vancouver, aside from the smoking. I was reminded quite a bit of downtown Vancouver; however, there was a lot less green space. There were only a couple of large park areas within the city that would close early evening; otherwise, you'd really only see the odd tree every few blocks. The people did dress much more formally, however. You would never see leggings or sweatpants out on the street. On campus, students would be in dressy, very fashionable clothing. One very cute thing is that you were expected to greet shopkeepers with a hello and a goodbye wherever you went.

Wrap Up

My time in Paris was wonderful. The school had interesting classes and helped me meet great friends. Paris was a great city to live in, especially as a young person. It was lively and full of opportunities for travel and exploring. I was definitely apprehensive and nervous about living on my own, especially in an ocean away from my family. Still, I'm so glad I pushed myself to do it. The most stressful part of the whole experience was making sure I got my Visa and a place to live in time. Otherwise, I had a phenomenal experience that I'll cherish for my whole life.

Reflection & Tips

Reflection

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this exchange. I learned so much about Paris and France, as well as about myself. I got to see so much of Europe and meet people from all over the world. I took classes outside of my major that really expanded my knowledge and skillset. I do wish I had set up a French bank account; I decided not to because I knew I could get through the exchange without one, and it would be a hassle to close it when it came time to leave, but more and more situations arose that made me realize it would have been much easier to have one.

Most Valuable Aspects of This Experience

The most valuable part of this experience was the people. Both in Paris and during my travels I met people from all over the world and from different backgrounds. It really expanded my appreciation for different cultures and ways of life. As a Biology student, I do not get the opportunity very often to take specialized courses outside of my program. The school I attended, Sciences Po, is a Political Sciences school with no science classes offered, at least at the Paris campus. I was forced to go outside of my comfort zone and learn about new topics from teachers who were really passionate about the subject.

Connection to Academic Studies or Career Goals

I want to be able to teach in French, but my major and past French Immersion experience did not leave me with the option to minor in French. A semester abroad in France gave me experience and practice that will help me apply to French Professional Development Programs at many universities, including Simon Fraser's program. Sciences Po is a Political Sciences school, so the courses I took there will contribute to the breadth requirements for my degree. I attended elementary and high school in French through the French Immersion program, so it was also gratifying to put my 13 years of learning the language to the test.

Advice for Future Students

Try not to get caught up in homesickness, stress, or worry. Easier said than done, I know, but as much as you can, enjoy your time during your exchange. It sounds corny, but time really does pass quickly. Plan your budget, keep up with your schoolwork, and get all your necessary documents in order as soon as possible. Once you arrive, take the time to see and do as much as you can. If it's your kind of thing, keep a scrapbook or a journal where you can write about everything you do so the memory of it lasts forever.