Jill – Paris Dauphine University
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Communication
Jill in Paris
It has always been a dream of mine to live in Paris and in semester 2 of 2024 it became a reality. I currently study a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Public Relations and Advertising.
The Application Process:
The application process may seem daunting at first, but the STAE team are here for you. They were so helpful throughout the whole process and once you realise how much the team wants to get you to your dream host university, the less daunting it will be. In the end, I regret putting so much pressure on myself during this process. Everything worked out just fine.
When applying for my exchange, I only had one elective subject available so I last minute decided to change my minor to free up a total of three electives (luckily for me I had one match for a mandatory subject in my degree) – don’t be afraid to make these decisions, I lost one subject worth of credits but my exchange experience made it 1000% worth it.
Tips & Advice:
- Money: The question that everybody wants to know – how much do you need in savings? This is a complicated question as there are many factors involved; country, currency and what you want to do. I have visited Paris over 20 times (my family is French) so I knew I would not spend a lot of time or money on these typical tourist activities. Instead, I decided to spend my money on travel outside of France and living a ‘typical’ student lifestyle. To answer a long story short, I was comfortable with about $15,000 (excluding rent and a one-month trip to Italy, Greece and Croatia the month before exchange). During my semester I travelled to London, Mallorca, Copenhagen, Dublin, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Brussels, Prague & Berlin – shopping, eating out and clubbing in almost all these places!
- General day to day living: If you have never lived out of home before or do not know how to do your own washing or cooking, ask someone in your family to help teach you! There were dozens of students in my accommodation that did not know how to use a washing machine or cook. If you want to avoid your white clothes turning pink or eating two-minute noodles every day, teach yourself a few minimal ingredient recipes and how to use the washing machine!
- Socialising: Go to as many uni social events as possible. Although they may seem ‘lame’, this is such a good way to find friends quickly!
- Accommodation Pt.1: Research your accommodation extensively before committing. I thought the fact accommodation was recommended by my university that it would be reputable, it was not. My accommodation was the worst part of my experience, and I feel extremely let down. For example, I chose the ‘premium’ accommodation option which we were told was more comfortable and better situated (this option cost double the price of the regular accommodation option). This was not the case. I was outside of Paris in an area where all students felt extremely unsafe – the crime rate was extremely high (there was a shooting at the local McDonalds, people were often robbed on the street, you could not, under any circumstances walk alone during the day or night and it was a 15-minute walk from any means of public transport). In addition, the photos we were shown of our rooms were a complete scam. We were shown rooms with private bathrooms and kitchens, instead we were made to share with 15 other students. Whereas the cheaper and more standard accommodation was in the middle of Paris next to a metro station with multiple train lines, private kitchen and bathroom in all rooms and half the price. I had a multitude of other issues with my accommodation so please, please, please research!
- Accommodation Pt.2: Know what is and isn’t provided in your accommodation. I know a lot of students who just assumed their accommodation would come with bedding… it did not. They spent their first night on a dirty foam mattress. If you want to save money, bring what the accommodation does not provide from home e.g. sheets, some towels etc.
Smaller Tips & Advice:
- Go through TikTok and start pinning locations of restaurants, cafes, shops and streets you would like to visit. If you don’t know your host city very well, it’s a great asset to be able pull out your phone on a day you’re exploring and see you have 5 pins right next to you of things you want to explore. It saves so many times and you’re sure to tick off a lot on your to do list.
- Don’t pre plan too many trips! Give yourself some time to make friends and plan trips with them instead – you will make lifelong memories from people all around the world!
Studying abroad in Paris was a life-changing experience I’d do 100 times over and recommend to anyone considering exchange. Despite challenges—like navigating the application process and dealing with subpar accommodation—it was all part of an unforgettable journey. Exchange pushed me out of my comfort zone, gave me lifelong memories, and introduced me to friends from around the world including Singaporeans, Canadians, Argentinians and Australians from other cities. I learned valuable life skills, explored multiple countries, and fully embraced student life in a big city. Paris, with its charm and opportunities, is the perfect destination for exchange. Don’t let the struggles deter you—they’re part of the magic.
Find out how you can apply for exchange via the QUT Student Exchange website.
