Exchanges for Australian & New Zealand students at the University of La Rochelle, France by peter.rawlingson@univ-larochelle.fr Sue Ryan Exchange Program Coordinator (Australia & NZ)
Outline - La Rochelle city and surrounding area - The University of La Rochelle - Studying on an exchange - Studying at the University of La Rochelle
Where is La Rochelle? Train links Paris : 3.5 hours Bordeaux : 2.5 hours Nantes : 2 hours Poitiers: 1.5 hours Direct flights to: Lyon Paris Belguim England Ireland Portugal
La Rochelle is a small coastal city (pop. 80,000) and the capital of the Charente-Maritime region. Historically, it was sea trading town. Today, it s a tourist, yachting and university city.
A winter view of the port-city from the university.
La Rochelle Events
Things to do in the surrounding region
Futuroscope, Poitiers
Le Marais Poitevin (Green Venice)
Dordogne Valley
Other Easy Destinations Cognac
Outline - La Rochelle city and surrounding area - The University of La Rochelle - Studying on an exchange - Studying at the University of La Rochelle
It s a 10-minute walk to the University of La Rochelle from the city.
The University of La Rochelle A modern university (1993)
The University of La Rochelle is small in size, with only 7,500 students including 1050 exchange / international students. 80 degrees 50 sporting and cultural activities
The University of La Rochelle has four faculties: - Law, Political Science and Management - Sciences and Engineering - Arts, Languages & Humanities - Institute of Technology
Institute of Technology Faculty of Arts, Languages and Humanities Law, Political Sciences and Management Faculty of Sciences and Engineering
This is the Faculty of Languages, Lettres, Arts & Humanities (FLASH).
Inside the FLASH, there are six departments: LEA CUFLE Lettres Modernes Géographie Histoire IUFM
The university library
Outline - La Rochelle city and surrounding area - The University of La Rochelle - Studying on an exchange - Studying at the University of La Rochelle
During an exchange, you study overseas for one or two semesters and you gain points to complete your home degree. You also improve your foreign language fluency and cultural knowledge very fast.
You usually make long-term friends from other countries. You get international experience for your CV. You learn life skills, like adaptability.
You ll quite likely have the best semester of your studies.
Outline - La Rochelle city and surrounding area - The University of La Rochelle - Studying on an exchange - Studying at the University of La Rochelle
Choose your semester Semester 1: Early September to mid December. Semester 2: Early January to late May or June, depending on the faculty.
Choose courses that advance your degree and/or your interests.
French Language? Other Languages? Law? Maths? Business? Sciences? French literature? Sports? Media Studies? Management? Marine Biology? You can find all the classes we teach here: www.univ-larochelle.fr/?lang=en
How many classes? French students study about 16 small (busy) courses per semester, each worth 2-6 ECTS. They need to pass 30 ECTS per semester. www.univ-larochelle.fr/?lang=en
Exchange students take 20-30 ECTS per semester. This depends on your government and university regulations. This means 5-8 courses which will typically be a mix of courses which count for home degree subjects and free choices which may (or not) count for unspecified credits.
One Australian/NZ paper = between 6 & 7.5 ECTS, depending on your government and university regulations. Or 1 3 La Rochelle courses N.B. Three 2 ECTS courses generally have more work than one 6 ECTS course. We recommend taking about 24 ECTS, but this is a sending institution decision.
Study French at your level. You will have three 2-hour classes (oral, written, theme) 6 ECTS Level test for next year : 9am on 06 September 2013
Study some classes in English Such as business courses, courses about NZ, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Canada and the USA and many EN< >FR translation classes.
Maybe study another language Spanish*, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean or Indonesian (* No beginner classes in Spanish, for other languages only in semester 1)
What did Rita, Gary and Molly like and dislike about the ULR?
Rita (Auckland) studied law and French. Liked: the beautiful, friendly city of La Rochelle Disliked: the lack of events
Gary (Auckland) studied law and French. Liked: the other exchange students Disliked: the lack of online university software
Molly (VUW) studied French language and literature. Liked: small, friendly size of the University of La Rochelle Disliked: the lack of communcation by the university
University Residence - Student Rooms cost : 175 to 425 per month (some of which is refunded by the CAF) - Is flatting an option?
The Cost of Living in La Rochelle (monthly maximum) - Rent: 425 euros (less CAF) - Food: 250 euros - Transport : 30 euros - Extras (telephone, laundry, parties) : 100 Total : 715 euros per month (less CAF) One-off costs : - Health Insurance : 200 euros - Rent Bond (1 month s rent) - Property Insurance : 50 euros - Set-up accommodation costs: (sheets, pillow, pans, plates, etc.)
Working Exchange students may work in France, but in a country with 10% unemployment, jobs are very hard to find.
The Big Academic Differences - French students study in class-groups and don t choose their courses. (This partly explains why course descriptions are very brief.) - Exchange students do just the opposite. - Some days can be very long (8am 8pm). - French students do more fact learning and less personal research. - They do more oral exams and less written assignments.
The Big Academic Differences - In France, 12/20 is a very good grade. In 2012, only 71% of the LEA students who were present at the examinations passed their year. In 2010, only 64% passed (400/624) and only 28% of students got above 12/20 (179/624).
Average Marks (Department of Applied Foreign Languages) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Highest Grade /20 Lowest Grade /20 Average Grade /20 17.93 16.06 16.72 6.39 8.40 8.17 10.59 11.29 11.78
Outline - La Rochelle city and surrounding area - The University of La Rochelle - Studying on an Exchange - Why study at ULR?
ULR is a friendly-sized university, with only 7,500 students.
La Rochelle is a beautiful, small, seaside city
with plenty of seaside activities.
50 sporting and cultural activities
France s second-best university rugby team
ULR is an exchange-oriented university
The Department of Applied Foreign Languages sends 1/3 of its students on exchanges. Students on Exchange (semesters) 125 38% Students not on Exchange (semesters) 204 62%
Other Exchange Destinations Wales Sweden Indonesia Portugal Holland China Spain Taiwan Korea Brazil USA Mexico Argentina Chili
You ll meet many La Rochelle students who have already studied in Australia or New Zealand (or who want to). In 2013, 22 La Rochelle exchange students went to Australia & NZ. In 2013-14 21 Australian and NZ students are studying in La Rochelle. Hello Peter, I have arrived in France after those extraordinary five months in New Zealand! Thank you so much for everything you have done and allowed us to go to this amazing country! It was an incredible and rewarding experience which I will never forget! Kind Regards, Mathilde
Un chargé d accueil (or buddy) for all exchange students.
And last but not least, you have a Kiwi exchange coordinator Peter.Rawlingson@univ-larochelle.fr For a copy of this presentation please email me.
This could be you www.univ-larochelle.fr/?lang=en