Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

2015 – 2016

Report 1 faculty/college Humanities level bachelor’s master’s PhD name study programme Bachelor geschiedenis

PREPARATION exchange application process The application process for my Erasmus exchange began in december 2014: the deadline for the Erasmus- application letters. I took writing my letter very serious: I always knew that I wanted to live in Paris for at a certain point in my life. I tried to show my true passion about the French culture and language and especially my love for the amazing city of Paris. Apparently, showing that you are truly are passionated about what you're applying for works really good, so that is the best advice I can give for during the writing process of application letters. When my application was accepted, all the paperworks came. In Utrecht, we're used to quite a quick response from the International Office.I never had to wait longer than 1 or 1,5 weeks. Do take into account that this is very different in Paris: sometimes i had to send 3 or 4 e-mails and wait for more than a month for a response. Sometimes calling to the International Office from the Sorbonne is the best option. They don’t speak their English very well, but they will understand you. however, when your French is good enough: always speak French. By the way: this doesn't just apply for getting things done around uni. The Parisians are much more eager to help you when you speak to them in your own language. My application was accepted in Paris around may, and in june I received my details of the introduction week. counselling & support at Utrecht University I experienced the counselling and support at Utrecht University as very good. Because of some unexpected casualties my study programme came got a bit messy. The International Officers at Utrecht were very kind and ready to help at any moment. So, when the international office at your receiving instituion isn't as accurate as you had wished, certainly do not hesitate to contact the Utrecht International Office. academic preparation The French academic system is totally different from the system in the Netherlands. You pick six courses for the entire year, each of them is worth 10 ECTS. This means that you always have six courses. It took me quite a while to get used to switching between six subjects in stead of two or three. language preparation I didn't prepare for the language switch, because I already spoke french. However, if you don't speak french at a B2 level I highly recommend you to take lessons. No courses are tought in English and it will be too hard to keep up. finances Paris is an expensive city. Rents are much higher than in Utrecht, just like your weekly groceries or going out for a drink. If you don't mind living on your own, the cheepest rooms you kan find will be around 500 euros/month. You will have a small room on the top floor of an appartment building. I prefered living with roommates, 'avec colocs' in French. The most colocations are between 700 and 900 euros a month. For my groceries, I needed almost double the money as what I spent in the Netherlands.

Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

STUDY ABROAD PERIOD study programme (content and organisational issues) The study programme at the Sorbonne was a bit messy at the beginning of the period. It was complicated to find out which courses you could be a part of. To find out you simply have to go to a professor and ask. The professors are commonly very gentle and will always says yes. However, it will take them a while to add you to the online education space as well and registrate you as an official student. Make sure for you are registrated online, or else you wont get any credits! academic quality of education activities The academic quality of the education is high. The texts you're reading are very strong and known ones. This university makes sure its students have a good foundation and know their classics. counselling & support at receiving university abroad The staff at the Sorbonne was very kind and eager to help. However, it does take some time to get an appointment to speak to someone. Make sure you send e-mails one or two weeks before you want to speak to someone, else it will be much later than you hoped. transfer of credits The transfer of credits wasn't quite clear for me and the other international students, because this isn't to be found in the course catalogue and neither in the online education area. This is something you have to ask specifically and not all professors will know how much ECTS your courses are worth.

STUDENT LIFE welcome & orientation programme The welcome and orientation programme at the Sorbonne was very good organized. It consisted of a week full of language courses and a closing cocktail party on Friday night accommodation

leisure & culture For leisure and culture Paris is the place to be. I don't think this needs much words. There are so much different things to do in this beautiful city, that you will not be bored for one single second. suggestions/tips For students going the first semester: go the the Fetes des Vendanges at Montmartre in the second week of october. The opening of the new wine season is celebrated with outdoors wine tasting and a beautiful firework show.

CONCLUSIONS would you recommend this university/destination abroad to others? please explain I would highly recommend this university and destination to others. The university is one of the best universities in Europe and has beautiful buildings and libraries. It felt like studying in a fairytale. Paris as a destination is exactly the same: it felt like living in a fairytale. The only way to find out for others is to go and explore! do you have any additional advice or comments? Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

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Report 2 faculty/college Humanities level bachelor’s master’s PhD name study programme French language & culture

PREPARATION exchange application process The application process consisted of a motivation letter, an overview of the academic content I aspired to partake in and I had to fill out a financial plan. We had to hand in the documents in December and we would know in February where the UU had nominated us to go. counselling & support at Utrecht University The counselling and the support at the UU was very complete. There were information meetings and the brochure with partner universities and the application procedure was provided well in advance. At any time I was able to plan a meeting with a counselor at the International office to discuss the questions I had concerning my Erasmus mobility. Emails were always quickly responded to and always in a helpful way. academic preparation As described before, it was part of the application process to select the courses in advance and to think about what would fit in my programme in the Netherlands. That's essentially all the acadamic preparation I took. language preparation As the majority of my courses was taught in French the first two years of my Bachelor, it wasn't really necessary to prepare my Erasmus mobility language-wise. finances I made a financial plan before I started my mobility, so I knew what I had to expect. I calculated beforehand how much I would spend monthly.

STUDY ABROAD PERIOD study programme (content and organisational issues) My exchange replaced the minor I would have taken in the Netherlands, so I really wanted to take courses that were different from what I had been doing the first two years of my Bachelor. I took courses in History, most of them being contemporary French history. academic quality of education activities I was very impressed by the academic quality of the receiving institution. The professors were very good and we undertook multiple activities, such as classes outside where we had to interview people on the streets about the course subjet and walks around Paris to study its architecture. I also really appreciated the library which is amazingly rich and has great study places. counselling & support at receiving university abroad I was always able to get help from a contact person at the university. We, as Erasmus students, were welcomed by him in the first week of the semester and he helped us with our academic registration. I mostly felt like the Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

professors were very helpful and considerate towards international students. It took however a lot of effort and stepping out of my comfort zone to arrange everything that needed to be arranged. Generally seen I do feel like the counselling and support at the receiving university was alright. transfer of credits

As I haven't received my Transcript of records yet, so I can't say anything about the process.

STUDENT LIFE welcome & orientation programme As international students we were welcomed with an integration week, where we would take a language course according to our current level (we were requested to take a language-test the first day of the integration week). The week also consisted of computer courses on the digital environment and how to use the library. accommodation

I was able to sublet a studio. leisure & culture Paris is an amazing city - there's culture and history everywhere. There's lots of activities for international students - there is even an student association. The university also provided a mentor (a native French student) who was able to show us around. suggestions/tips

CONCLUSIONS would you recommend this university/destination abroad to others? please explain Yes, I would certainly recommend this university. Being able to study at the Sorbonne was an experience I really would'nt have wanted to miss. do you have any additional advice or comments? Do not get discouraged by the effort it takes to apply and all the things you need to arrange before, during and after your mobility. It is really worthwhile - it was an experience i'll never forget and it brought me lots of academic, social and cultural experience.

Report 3 faculty/college History level bachelor’s master’s PhD name study programme History

PREPARATION exchange application process

Not very complicated. Obvious process. Both universities helped when needed. counselling & support at Utrecht University Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

Very good academic preparation

I followed two years of the history bachelor's programme in Utrecht before leaving for Paris. language preparation I took French courses in high school and I got a good note for it. However, it was not enough to follow academic courses in French, so I took more courses a few months before I left for Paris, especially to improve my verbal skills. My level was B2 when I left. finances

I made a financial plan.

STUDY ABROAD PERIOD study programme (content and organisational issues) I took 4 courses in contemporary history and a French course is obligatory for foreign students. Every course has one lecture and one seminar per week. I had chosen my courses a few months ahead. However, I had to change some when I arrived due to overlaps in my schedule. There was nothing to worry about, since every foreign student had to pick their courses (this time definitely) when arrived. There are several forms that you will have to complete, also for Utrecht but this will be self-explanatory. Btw. I had planned to take five courses (30 ECTS) before I left but it turned out that it was too much so I dropped one. academic quality of education activities Good quality of education, though different from Dutch standards. Sometimes very classical way of studying history, but with competent teachers. Not much discussion in the seminars however. I had to give three presentations, write some papers and exams at the end of my semester. I didn't think of it myself beforehand, but don't forget about the fact that you will have to write and speak on an academic level and that the French use different methods to write papers and exams. Therefore it is quite hard to determine the academic quality since Utrecht has different academic standards. counselling & support at receiving university abroad

In the beginning, they will explain the system and provide contacts to help you out if needed. transfer of credits

I did not receive all my notes yet.

STUDENT LIFE welcome & orientation programme There was a semaine d'intégration the week before the courses started. I had French courses and courses on the French methodology. accommodation

I had an appartment, which was not related to the university. leisure & culture Of course, Paris offers an overflowing amount of cultural activities. National museums are free when under 26 and European so I visited most of them. However, many leasure activities are really much more expensive than Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

in the Netherlands. suggestions/tips Save money. My living costs were much higher than in the Netherlands. Also because most people in Paris don't stay at home since their appartments are small. It would be a pity if you would have to worry about your finances.

CONCLUSIONS would you recommend this university/destination abroad to others? please explain Yes, Paris is beautiful and interesting, and the university was good as well. Personally, I also picked Paris because I love the city and because I wanted to learn about the French culture and language. do you have any additional advice or comments? Take French courses before leaving, it will help you to feel at ease in the beginning, and try to save some money so you can get the most out of you stay.

Report 4 faculty/college Geesteswetenschappen level bachelor’s master’s PhD name study programme Geschiedenis

PREPARATION exchange application process The application process whas a bit different for me. Originally I wanted to go to Sout-Africa and I have been placed in Paris after this did not work out. The application process was stressfull but I think this is also a good wake-up call. Because if you want to study abroad, you really have to do an effort. counselling & support at Utrecht University We did have a meeting, which was usefull, to prepare yourself and see all the others going on an exchange. But it was the most important you prepare yourself. academic preparation The academic preparation was not really good. We did hear some things about France and its institutions, which can be quite different than the Dutch one, but most of all they told us to go and see. But also, for me this was part of the experience. language preparation For langugage prepariation I and a friend who also went to Paris, took private classes. To prepare ourself. I think the university Utrecht informed us in a good way, to be prepared. I didn't speak French on a very good level, and I really took it to a next level, because I went to Paris a month in advance. Where I took four weeks of full time french lessons. The moment I was surrounded by France and it's language, I started to really get into it. finances I didn't prepare my finances very well. I made a calculation, but I didn't save any money. So I was not really well prepared for the expensive life Paris had to offer me.

Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

STUDY ABROAD PERIOD study programme (content and organisational issues) The study programme was well organised, but it did arrange a lot of inconvenience. This is because the Sorbonne uses different ways of organising this. We had to stand in line a lot, to sign up for classes, libraries and almost everything concerning the university. But we got informed very well at the integration week. academic quality of education activities The academic quality of education activities was all right. The coures were only 5 ECTS per course, so the draft was less than in Utrecht. Also, in Utrecht you have more of your own influence on topic. Where in Paris you had an assignment and than you just have to deal with it. But this is personal favour. Although the substence of the courses was less complicated, the language barrier made it more difficult. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of what we had to read, because there was no clear schedule or overview available. So we had to make a guess, but luckily there were always native students willing to help. counselling & support at receiving university abroad The counselling and support at the Sorbonne was all right. It could take a lot of time to receive a response to an send email. In the integration week we got informed about a lot of the rules and organisatory tasks, but because the french are not fond of arrange things onlilne, it could be hard. transfer of credits I don't have my transcript of records yet, but if everything goes allright, I hope and think this will be in my own favour. Because the French system is more strict than the Dutch one. So I hope the credits will turn out good.

STUDENT LIFE welcome & orientation programme As I mentionned befor, this was well organised. The Sorbonne works with a buddy system, where you get assigned a native student of the Sorbonne and my 'mentor' was really nice. The Sorbonne organised a cocktail in the first week, to meet everyone and there exists an organisation especially for the student life of exchange students. accommodation I stayed in an small studio in the 7th arrondisement of Paris. My room was small and at th 7th floor, but we did have an elevator. I think I got one of the nicer rooms of Paris and my view was phenomenal, I could see all of Paris. Also my rent wasn't too high, speaking of Parisian measurements. A lot of things were broken in my room, but it was a good experience and I don’t feel that I could have done any better. leisure & culture Culture and leisure was one of the best parts of my whole experience. Paris is a city that has so much to offer. With a group we visited a museum a week and to discover a city like Paris was like a dream to me. In the end I really felt like it was my city. With my friends we had our hangouts and found a lot of great places. But we also discovered something new every day. Once you start to get to know a city, you can see it on a new level. Als because you stay half a year, you see a city in three seasons, for me the summer, autumn and winter. So you can see a city with all its charmes and secrets. Just only walking around in Paris, and for me biking around, was an amazing experience, let alone all the beautiful things the city has to offer. I took bootcamps in front of the Louvre in the Tuileries, for example, it was simply wonderfulll. suggestions/tips

Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

CONCLUSIONS would you recommend this university/destination abroad to others? please explain I would definetly recommend Paris and the Sorbonne to others. First of all Paris really has so much to offer. It is one of the most beautifull cities of the world which has something to offer to everyone. And the Sorbonne is a great univeristy, not ony the courses but in particular the University itself is wonderfull. To wakl around in the hallways of the Sorbonne is an experience itself do you have any additional advice or comments? The cultureshock is real, you really have to adopt to another life and city and people. And a lot of people may get scared because the french language, but this is nothing to worry about. The dutch are used to talking Englis very good and expect to have to talk French on a same niveau, but looking at other students from all over the world, you probably still speak French and Englis a lot better than them. So the French part should not discourage anyone, you are able of a lot more than you expect.

2014-2015

Report 1 faculty/college Humanities, French Language and Culture level bachelor’s master’s PhD name study programme Franse Taal en Cultuur

PREPARATION exchange application process The exchange application process, I feel, is exhaustive and stressful; there's a number of applications you have to proceed in such as the first application after which the University of Utrecht will check if you're ready to get into the programme of your choosing and the awaiting of the approval of the reveiving institution. The number of documents to hand in is exhaustive and you have to get every document triple-signed : by the home institution, by the receiving institution and by yourself. Communication between yourself and institutions is sometimes hard and you sometimes have to be persistent to get documents signed and stamped on time. counselling & support at Utrecht University For questions I have found that I can always mail miss Leijtens of the International Office and she will always give detailed answers, though not all counsellors are equally as attentive. I am very happy I attended the pre- departure meeting and was thus informed about the different aspects of the exchange. academic preparation

Two years of the bachelor 'French Language and Culture' language preparation

Two years of the bachelor 'French Language and Culture' finances Monthly governmental students allowance (studiefinanciering uitwonend), monthly governmental allowance for student's travel expenses (OV-vergoeding), monthly parental allowance. In November I received the Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

conditionally rewarded Erasmus Grant. Life in Paris is very expensive.

STUDY ABROAD PERIOD study programme (content and organisational issues) I have loved my study programme, History. I had not followed a single course in History at any university before so it was quite hard to follow at times since I was following third year courses . I truly plunged into subjects I knew nothing about. I have actively followed 7 courses, although I have only managed to complete 5 of them. The courses I have followed were the following : La Révolution Française ; as a student of French Language and Culture I wanted to take this opportunity to learn about a subject that isn't offered at my home institution yet has shaped so much of modern day France. This course shows all the aspects of how the Revolution has been shaped by a succession of events and sentiments. It was very interesting to consider the different factors that lead to such a Revolution and to consider other factors than just the Lumières that are mostly attributed to the beginning of the Revolution. Furthermore, I have followed the course Histoire des Institutions de l'Europe Moderne, where I have learned the construction of the beginning of diplomatic Europe. It was very interesting to see how diplomatic relations have developed from late medieval Italian establishments that started from a commercial point of view (since the havens of Venice were a convenient meeting point for various superpowers at the time) to more governmental based establishments in the 17th century - and to learn about the different diplomats (among whom our very own Constantijn Huygens) and their ways of maintaining these new international relations between superpowers. Thirdly, I have followed a course called Histoire des Relations Internationales, where I have studied the development and construction of European states and the balances of power after the Convention of Vienna of 1815. The focus in this course was the understanding of the balances of power and the different conventions and treaties that held place in the 19th century. Fourthly, I have followed a course in Histoire des Sciences . In this course I have studied the history of science itself. This was explained by focusing on various viewpoints. Throughout the Renaissance to the Lumières we studied the different aspects of science : ideological, political as well as material. Fifthly, I have taken the course in Histoire des Politiques Symboliques. In this course I have learned the significance of symbolism in contemporary societies, found in monuments, flags and ceremonies. I have found it very interesting to see what function symbolism has in societies and it made me reflect about all the symbolism I see in my own Dutch society. Lastly, I would like to mention that the two courses I have followed but finally deleted from my Learning Agreement, namely Histoire de Consommation and Histoire de Mondialisation were very interesting courses of which I do not regret having followed them (although unfruitfully) because they have taught me so much and got me inspired to read certain books.

For all my courses I had to follow one hour of Cours Magistral (hoorcollege) and two hours of Travaux Dirigés (werkcollege) a week. I had courses throughout the week, from Monday to Friday. All in all I am very content with my chosen courses. I feel my courses have truly broadened my horizon and made me understand the way modern day Europe was constructed by reflecting on its intercultural relations, revolutions, symbolism, conventions and the rise of modern science on the inside of Europe and also the relation of Europe with respect to the rest of the world. Only by understanding its history, I can start to understand its present. academic quality of education activities For each subject I had to do different assignments, but I was overall very content with the academic quality of education activities. I personally liked the fact that we had to write down all the professors said. This helped me memorizing the things they said more easily. What I liked less was the absence of Powerpoint and beamers ( I heard there were three in the entire building) and the fact that we weren't expected to truly discuss the subjects during the courses. The assignments were definitely sufficiently challenging and profound. For Histoire de La Révolution Française, I had to hand in a dissertation of 8 pages and do an oral test. For Histoire des Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

Institutions de l'Europe Moderne I had to hand in 2 documents each of 4 pages, called 'commentaire de document' and 'fiche de lecture'. Also, I had to make the final exam (partiels). For Histoire des Relations Internationales I had to hand in an assignment which consisted of a résumé of an article and the answering of questions. Also, I had to make the final exam (partiels). For Histoire des Sciences, I had to do a small presentation and a big presentation about two articles. Also, I had to make the final exam (partiels). For Histoire des Politiques Symboliques I had to do a big presentation, a discussion and hand in a dissertation. counselling & support at receiving university abroad The counsellor we had most contact with, mr Hulbert, was always very nice and helpful. He also answers his mails very quickly. However, in general, the administration is not very well arranged at this receiving university. The Secretary was only open 4 hours per day, on hours when I had my courses, and in another part of Paris, so it was sometimes hard to go there and get the information or approval you need. transfer of credits We are yet to receive our credits and I have to admit this causes me quite some stress since our deadline is the 1st of March. I have been informed that apparently it is normal for this receiving institution to not have given any transfer of credits yet.

STUDENT LIFE welcome & orientation programme I have participated fully in the Semaine d'Intégration that has been organised by the International Office of Paris I. This week of introduction was not, as most seem to expect, a week of partying and having fun but rather of getting to know the different types of papers and essays you are expected to write and how you are supposed to do research in the semester to come (filed under méthodologie générale, méthodologie documentaire spécialisée and ENT & EPI). Furthermore, the week started off with a language test based upon which you would be following language courses from Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. After these courses the courses of méthodologie and ENT/EPI would take place until 5 or 6 PM. Although the Semaine d'Intégration was thus very packed with academic courses and activities, it was still nice to meet people and be in this part of the city (Tolbiac) where I wouldn't have course again afterwards. Also there was a cocktail meeting on Friday after the last course at 6 pm which was a nice opportunity to finally talk to the people I didn't have time to talk to before. accommodation I have shared an apartment with my boyfriend (whom I've been with for over 3 years at that time) in Paris. Since he works and already had the apartment for some time I have only paid 250 euros rent a month. I only shared the shower, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and living room with my boyfriend and we shared the costs for food and toilet paper and other home-related things. We lived in the tenth arrondissement at Rue la Fayette. Although this arrondissement is close to Gare du Nord (which is not particularly known for being a good neighborhood) I liked this street and quartier a lot. In my street I could find all sorts of shops, there was a plethora of supermarkets to choose from for daily purchases and I have never felt unsafe. The metro line 7 was a five minute walk away from my house and Gare du Nord a ten minute walk. At night I did choose not to take the RER-train from or to Gare du Nord when I was alone. I realize my situation is quite particular and personal and might not be applicable to the greater part of students, but if you do have this opportunity I would most definitely recommend it! leisure & culture It is hard not to find a thing to do in Paris, especially if you are an Erasmus student. I would like to start by telling about a most memorable party that was organised by the CROUS Paris and took place in the Salle des Fêtes of the Hôtel de Ville. This was a magnificent evening in which the exchange students of Paris I were Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

welcomed into the city. The Salle des Fêtes is not a place anyone would normally come, so it was a unique opportunity and made everybody feel very welcome. Furthermore, there is a plethora of museums to see, it is magnificent to see your favorite art in real life: of course the well known Louvre is a must go, if only for the Mona Lisa. Musée d'Orsay hosts some of my favorite paintings (Lempicka, Jeune Fille Vert). Another museum I would recommend is the Musée de Quai Branly (an ethnographic museum). It is very easy to visit all the museums you want because when you are under 26 years old the entrance is always free for permanent collections! But you do not always need to enter a museum to see age-old, beautiful and surprising things. Just look around - walking through Paris I discovered for example the house of Victor Hugo and Nicolas Flamel - yes, the alchemist you read about in Harry Potter. It is impossible to name all the amazing things you can do in Paris : Party on a boat floating past the Eiffel Tower, meeting people from all around the world, have picnics with new friends at Parc du Luxembourg, go to the 'Grandes Eaux Nocturnes' in Versailles, celebrate Halloween at Disneyland Paris, but also just the day to day life : eating a freshly baked baguette, taking the metro, taking a Velib (bike), trying out different food and things and routes through the city and of course, speaking French all the time. suggestions/tips Follow all the facebookgroups that have anything in common with the university and Erasmus! This way, you will get invited to tons of events and get to choose to whichever event you feel like going. Either way, the ISAP foreign students organisation of the university will give you lots of opportunities to meet new people and the city. They also organise trips to other parts in France.

CONCLUSIONS would you recommend this university/destination abroad to others? please explain I would recommend this university to others, if only for the sheer pleasure of looking out of your window and seeing the age-old buildings of the Sorbonne and getting to see and experience Paris in a unique way. The courses are interesting and the professors are competent. I will never forget my time in Paris. do you have any additional advice or comments? Be patient yet persistent when it comes to administration. Administration will be complicated and contradictive, but stay calm and talk to other Erasmus-students : you'll find that they encounter the same problems and that you are not alone.

Report 2 faculty/college Geesteswetenschappen/Universiteit Utrecht level bachelor’s master’s PhD name study programme Liberal Arts & Sciences (UU) and UFR09 HIstoire (in Paris)

PREPARATION exchange application process I think in the end I underestimated the whole application process. Especially when going to Paris, the administration isn't very clear and the people often the least helpful. Matt Hulbert from the international office in Paris is luckily the utmost helpful and faster than the speed of light with replying. The other french people in departments at the Sorbonne were unfortunately not so helpful nor understanding the difficulty of a 'lost' Erasmus student new to the french university system. I don't think I wouldn't have gone studying abroad even if I Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

knew about these administrative application troubles, but I think it was good I didn't know what was waiting for me exactly :-) counselling & support at Utrecht University The support and preparation was great in Utrecht. I think the pre-departure meeting was nice and informing. They noted us on the cultural shock when coming back and I kept that carefully in mind. I think I can 'diagnose' myself with that now, so it is very helpful to have been attended on it before leaving so that now I know what feeling I am having. What I did find very regrettable, was that I would have loved to study literature in Paris. I was told there was only a studying agreement with the department of History. However, on Osiris I could apply for the Université Paris Sorbonne IV. On the last day of applying I was very surprised and scared by the fact that the Université Paris Sorbonne I wasn't on the list in Osiris. The woman in the international office in Utrecht told me I was the first to notice, and told me there was no problem. It would be changed to Paris I - because that was the university I was applying for after all. When I was in Paris I learned that all the Sorbonne universities have different numbers and are actually all independent universities, offering different studies. I then learned that the Sorbonne IV is exactly where to study literature. When I heard this, my heart broke. How much I would have loved to study literature in Paris, which would have suited my studies of literature in Utrecht so well! It turned out the International Office in Utrecht wasn't even aware of this difference in Sorbonne universities and faculties… academic preparation I felt like my academic preparation was sufficient and good. It was a little difficult since I was following history courses, while never having really studied history. Nevertheless, it was doable and I managed! language preparation While being raised bilingually, I had some language barriers in the beginning. It might have to do with the somewhat "cultural shock" when arriving in Paris and in addition to that, having to express yourself in another language with people not too vigilent and indulgent if you can't come up with the correct words straight away. But it got better every day and in the end I didn't even notice it anymore. finances It was really helpful that my parents were willing to pay my housing, otherwise I wouldn't be sure if I would have been able to live so 'easily'. In addition to that, the life in Paris is I think, on average, 1.5 times more expensive than in the Netherlands. I never really got used to it, but that's litteraly the price you have to pay to live in such an enchanting and decadent city as Paris.

STUDY ABROAD PERIOD study programme (content and organisational issues) Since I never really took (university) history classes, it was quite a challenge to follow history courses (and then also in French). I didn't have any prior knowledge and I wasn't familiar with the historical jargon. The philosophy courses I followed as well as the choir classes and exam felt as if they were more corresponding to me and my prior curriculum. I also took classical dance classes every week, and I found it a shame that French students receive credits for these classical ballet classes. Apparently, as a foreign Erasmus student this isn't possible, although we were doing exactly the same classes and doing the same effort. I find this disappointing. Besides, it has to be repeated that French administration isn't the best (to say the least) and that French people in general aren't very helpful when it comes down to helping (foreigners). academic quality of education activities

My 'cultural shock' comprised an educational shock too. I found French education very 'parrot' like, meaning Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

that everything a professor says needs to be written down. It was shocking to me to see all French students with their laptop, blindly copying everything the professor was saying. There is very little room for critical thinking and asking questions. Especially in the beginning I had to adapt myself to this. counselling & support at receiving university abroad The 'Maison Internationale' where Matthieu Hulbert is seated is very nice and super helpful. Everything you ask him is answered within a day. Apart from that, the administrative part for choosing courses was quite complicated. Since I followed 2 philosophy courses and the choir, I had to go by several offices (with rigid and small opening hours) to confirm and register for the courses. Because I was subscribed at UFR09 Histoire this wasn't always easy (see next point) transfer of credits I still only received something like 4 grades from all the exams I did in Paris. I still am uncertain which grades I received and, most of all, if all my professors correctly transferred all my grades to the UFR09 Histoire office. The 2 courses in philosophy and the choir classes were not at the UFR09 so I asked all the professors several time to transmit my grade to the UFR09. Because the transfer of grades are going past the student, I am still simply praying that all the professors kindly followed my instructions and transferred all my grades to the UFR09.

STUDENT LIFE welcome & orientation programme The welcome programme was very formal and educational and far from 'simply socializing'. We had just one get together drink and besides that, a whole introduction week consisting of classes of French language with an exam at the end of the week as well as intensive French methodological classes. It was not the a relaxing 'get to know other foreign students' meeting. accommodation I stayed in a girls Foyer with around 90 other girls. It was in the 6th arrondissement and I could do everything easily by bike. It was an amazing spot! Besides that, an aunt of mine and many other friends live in Paris. I called myself lucky to know so many people beforehand. leisure & culture Paris is The City when it comes down to culture. The (Erasmus) student associations organised many activities which was very great. There is almost so much happening in Paris that sometimes I got nervous of all the things and options I had and the little time I in fact had for them. suggestions/tips

Biking is a wonderful way to get to know Paris - much cheaper and more sportive too :-)

CONCLUSIONS would you recommend this university/destination abroad to others? please explain Yes, I think Paris is an amazing city to live in and by studying you get really 'in' to French life, university, students. I really had to adapt to the different way of teaching but all in all it was a very rich experience - with all the good as well as the bad moments. do you have any additional advice or comments? Don't worry about the administrational side, you are not alone and everything will turn out fine. People will contradict one another in the information they give you, but just hold on and triple-check everything. And Exchange Experiences International Office France - Paris - Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

comfortingly enough: there are many more Erasmus students with exactly the same troubles. And everything is twice over worth it!