Alyce – Université Catholique de Lille – France
Semester 1, 2024
Bachelor of Business (Accountancy)
Hi, I’m Alyce! Going on a university exchange semester had been a dream of mine since high school. In 2024, I finally got to achieve that dream when I studied at Université Catholique de Lille in France.
Life in Lille
Lille is a student city, making it a great exchange destination. Don’t be surprised to find Lille quiet if you arrive before the university semester starts. I remember thinking this to myself as I walked down the street when I first arrived just before orientation.
Accommodation
I chose to live in a student residence. Whilst there were advantages and disadvantages, on balance, I’m happy with that decision. I met some of my closest friends at my student residence. People are friendly and willing to strike up a conversation when cooking in the shared kitchen or washing in the laundry room.
University Life & Study
I studied at two of Université Catholique de Lille’s schools: The IÉSEG School of Management and the ISTC School of Communication. If you do choose to take classes at two separate schools, you might have two different timetables. Be sure to check that nothing clashes early in the semester!
At IÉSEG, I took a mix of intensive (week-long) and extensive (semester-long) courses. Intensives ran 8-12:20pm from Monday to Thursday, with assessment due the following Wednesday. The fast paced nature of intensives worked really well when it came to learning about certain topics.
I also took French language classes that ran for the full semester. Having not studied French since high school, I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn a foreign language again.
Moving to a new country can feel overwhelming. I was surprised by how much “life admin” there was to do, especially in the first month. I found the university orientation seminar really helpful. They explained things like validating our student visas, registering for the French healthcare system, securing housing aid and opening a French bank account. We also got to learn about clubs and associations available to students. The International Student Club hosted a walking tour of the city, which was a great way to connect with other exchange students.
Language
If your exchange destination speaks a language other than English, I recommend trying to learn the language. You don’t need to be perfectly fluent, but locals appreciate the effort. Even a few basics will help immensely and allow you to immerse yourself better throughout daily life.
Weather
The late sunrises and early sunsets were another big adjustment for me. In January, sunset was just before 5pm and sunrise just before 9am. With some of my classes starting at 8am sharp, that meant walking to class in the dark. Luckily for me, I lived close to campus. In summer, the sun set very late, especially once daylight savings started.
Lille could experience weeks of rainy, grey skies. Consider investing in a jacket or winter coat that doubles as a raincoat. A downpour of rain renders your layers useless! In Spring, Lille saw more sun, and the entire Lilloise population would come out to enjoy it. Lille’s “Parc de la Citadelle” and it’s large grassy areas would quickly fill with people ready to enjoy the good weather.
Getting Around
Lille was so easy to get around. I was a 12-minute walk from the university campus and lived around the corner from a metro and bus stop.
Tip: Consider whether a monthly public transport pass might be right for you. This will depend on your personal travel habits, but this was beneficial for me, and I loved that I didn’t have to keep track of individual tickets.
Travel
Lille’s location is ideal for day tripping in Europe. One of the first day trips I did was to Ghent, Belgium (1 hour from Lille by bus, with a 10€ round-trip ticket). You can also participate in organised day trips for students, another good way to meet people. I did two of these, one to the Opal Coast and another for “Le Carnival de Dunkerque”. On weekends and longer breaks, I explored more of France including a trip to Paris. I also visited the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, and England.
General Tips & Advice
- Plan as early as possible.
- Expect to be a bit homesick (everyone is!). Having a plan for these times will help. I was nervous about this before I went on exchange but was surprised by how connected I remained to my friends and family back home. I recommend using video calls and the family group chat. We share photos of our pets a lot in my family group chat, which was of great comfort to me.
- Pack light but bring small bits of home with you.
- Track your spending. Living overseas is a financial adjustment.
It still feels surreal that I’ve been on exchange, lived in a foreign country, and am now back home in Australia. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I learnt so much about the world, other cultures, and myself. I am grateful to have had this experience and for my new friendships. I really encourage everyone to consider the opportunity, you won’t regret it!
Find out how you can apply for exchange via the QUT Student Exchange website.
