Exchange Survival Guide: Lyon, France
Hello readers! My name is Brayden and I am studying a Bachelor of Laws at Bond University. For my final semester, I wanted to go out with a bang, so I spent the semester abroad at Universite Catholique de Lyon (UCLy) in Lyon, France. This blog will give you an idea of the highs and lows of the experience and provide you with a clear and concise outline in order to be prepared and make the most of your experience.
Travelling to France on a student visa is very easy, especially as an Australian. The first thing I did (not including the Bond University Exchange application) to prepare for my travels was look into my visa. However, the process is quick and painless if you have all the right documentation and they will provide you with your visa within 2 weeks. The hardest part about getting a French student visa is travelling to the Sydney consulate to hand in all your information because they do not accept the application at the Brisbane consulate or by email (ridiculous, right?). However, once that is done, all you have to do is sit back, relax and wait for your passport to arrive with the visa. One last note about the visa; make sure you provide an envelope with your address etc. so that they send it back to you, otherwise they will wait for you to pick it up (I made this mistake).
Contacting your host university
I got in contact with my host university rather early, to ensure the process went smoothly and I suggest you do the same. We corresponded by email which was difficult regarding the language difference, but they are very helpful and will answer any questions you may have. However, even if there is a question that is just not resonating with them, the Bond University Exchange office can get in touch with them as well and get the necessary answer.
If you are travelling in the last semester of your degree, I suggest that you plan in advance and only have your general electives to do. I had three general electives and one law elective to complete and it was a little bit harder because I had to study in two separate faculties. This may cause delays and issues with receiving the academic transcript in time for graduation.
The French Universities use a system called ECTS. Essentially 30 ECTS equals your 40 credit points or full-time load in Australia. Specifically, at UCLy the subjects can be as little as two ECTS for a single subject; so, depending on which subjects you choose you could potentially be studying approx. eight subjects for one semester. However, do not worry because that is a full-time load at French universities, so it is not abnormal.
I chose to stay with a family on my semester abroad so that I could learn the language. This was my main reason for choosing France. The process with UCLy was simple: you get in touch with the lodgement department of the University via email (email is on the UCLy website) and they will find you a family based on a questionnaire. This questionnaire will pair you with a family with similar interests, hobbies and take into account any requests you may have. The family I stayed with were absolutely sensational. They were the stereotypical French family who looked after me as if I was there child. The food was amazing and I definitely recommend considering this option for accommodation. The only downfall was that I lived about 40 minutes away from the University. However, the public transport in Lyon is very good so it was not too bad. If you decide to stay with a family and their name is Grivot-Bruhnes, then you are in luck and will have an amazing experience!
UCLy was a great university for partying, socialising and it was in a great location. The program for exchange students was….interesting. The organisation of the program was not great. It was difficult for many students to get their subjects right and the timetable changes weekly, so you really have to pay attention to your emails. However, in saying this, the University organises some great activities for you to participate in every Thursday.
Furthermore, even though you are a foreign student you have the opportunity to participate in all University activities and clubs. For example, I played rugby for the University. If you are a sporty person, I definitely recommend joining a team because it is a great way to immerse yourself in the French culture and language.
As I said above, the program provides numerous activities throughout the semester. These activities include:
Tours to small French towns
Dinner with a French family
I highly recommend doing as much as you can while on the exchange. The more immersed you become, the more you will get from the experience. The study is secondary when you are on exchange *wink*.
Lyon is a very beautiful city, which prides itself as being the art centre of France. It has some of the most awesome churches and traditional structures. However, the best part of the city is definitely the food, being Bouchon Lyonnais. The food is unique to the area and is delicious. Further, the biggest benefit of living in Lyon is the location. It is 2.5 hours from the Italian and Swiss border and about 6 hours by bus from the Spanish border. Therefore, there is a lot to do and see while you are there, so I recommend making a plan for what you want to see because the time will fly by at a ridiculously quick rate.
The one thing you have to get used to while in Lyon is the difference in culture and attitudes. The streets outside the tourist areas are, for the lack of a better word, creepy. So I suggest always walking around with a group, especially late at night.
Normandy (if you like WWII history)
Due to the exchange rate, travelling around Europe is quite expensive as an Australian. If you are on a budget, I suggest catching buses/trains everywhere as flights can be very expensive. The bus company that I highly recommend is ‘Flixbus’. Flixbus have great buses with good seats and at a very low price (23 Euro for a ticket to Paris). I travelled with them to Paris, Amsterdam, Annecy and Geneva.
It is also very easy to rent a car. I rented a car with my friends and travelled to Chamonix. I was nervous to drive on the other side of the road, but it does not take long for you to get used to the difference.
I hope this guide is helpful for you in making your decision or preparing to go to France. If you are unsure about whether to go or not, GO! It is honestly an insane experience. At the start of my trip, I wanted to go home because it was overwhelming and I missed my girlfriend and family, but I stuck it out and I am so glad I got past that moment. I met the most amazing people from all around the world and it is true that you make lifelong friends on exchange. I have heard that exchange is not for everyone, but I disagree. You will learn so much about yourself and create great connections and memories. It is difficult at times but the difficulties are worth it for the experience.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask. You can look me up on Facebook (Brayden Williams). I wish I had someone to consult with beforehand so please contact me if you need any advice.
Find out more about going on Exchange as part of your studies at Bond University.
