Karan (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at Sciences Po, Paris

I completed an exchange to Sciences Po, Paris, in my final semester as a conjoint BA/LLB student. I went in the Fall Semester. I took courses in Politics and International relations, with a focus on the Middle East as a region. From a teaching perspective, the papers are generally at a second-year level with a stronger emphasis on group assignments than in Auckland. It was common to have around 50% of your grade based on group presentations. However, the standard of teaching was generally excellent and superseded most Politics courses at Auckland. Unlike back home, most lecturers were not career academics but instead had active careers within the areas they taught. In addition, the breadth and depth of courses was far greater than in Auckland – you could study about politics from a range of comparative and social perspectives, alongside with a focus on many regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East not available in Auckland. 

In terms of the university, the campus is a city campus which means most students commute from their home to go to class during the day and leave in the evening. There is definitely a chasm between international students and native French students, with most French students not taking classes in English. This means your classes will be entirely made of exchange students unless you take French classes. The student culture is similar to Auckland – i.e. it is what you make of it. You can choose to get involved in associations or not. 

However, what makes Sciences Po a stand-out option is the opportunity to live in Paris – even if you do not ‘vibe’ with the campus, Paris offers an immense amount of fun and interesting things to do. There really is no city like it. The cultural venues and nightlife are immense, and you will certainly have lots of fun given that you will make some friends with the other students in exchange. 

The cost of living is more expensive than in Auckland for rent. Slightly cheaper for food at discount supermarkets. Cheaper than Auckland for a monthly transport pass. The food was really good – you can get a subsidised two-course meal for EUR 3.30 (NZD 6) at the local CROUS campus canteen for students. There are also cheap EUR 2 and EUR 1.50 lunch and breakfast sandwich options available to eat on the cheap. 

The main challenge with the exchange was navigating French bureaucracy – applying for the visa was definitely the hardest part. You have to book in advance through an unreliable portal and fly down to Wellington for it. I would recommend securing an appointment as early as possible once you’ve been confirmed on exchange and enrolled into Sciences Po. 

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

The breadth and depth of courses – you can take it about politics in most world regions and subject areas. Lecturers are generally engaging and subject matter experts. 

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

I’d say the main thing is access to Parisian cultural institutions – you can get discounted (or free) student tickets to the Parisian opera and local art exhibitions!  

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Get your French visa appointment booked early!
2. Learn some basic French and take a French class at Sciences Po 
3. Do not expect Kiwi warmth and niceties – just because people do not immediately smile at you does not mean they hate you

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

Accommodation: 6 months x EUR 1200 a month, including utilities 

Food: EUR 200 a month 

Transport: EUR 30 a month (NAVIGO student pass)

Phone: EUR 15 a month (Lebara)

Discretionary: EUR 100 a week 

I found that this budget was enough. The main thing is having at least EUR 5000 as ‘spare’ for large single expenses such as paying bond, which can often be 2 months of rent in advance!

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

1. Get rid of the Anglo-Saxon way of thinking about the world 

2. Language shapes how you perceive things

3. The Parisians are not as rude as people make them seem 

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

Definitely do cheap day trips on SNCF outside of Paris!