Why go abroad?
Reasons to go abroad. Advantages of exchange programmes. Testimonies from uB students abroad and international students at uB.
Consider what it is you would like to achieve during your time at university. What field of study will you choose? What courses will you take, and up to what academic level? After this, find out how you can integrate an international dimension into your course, keeping in mind that you can go abroad multiple times while in university with different exchange programmes, work experiences, and more. Each decision must be made in agreement with your corresponding academic advisor/exchange coordinator.
Undisputable reasons to go abroad and expand your international experience beyond France
- An exciting opportunity for both personal and professional development, an increased sense of responsibility and independence, and a different outlook on the world.
- An opportunity to discover another culture and way of life, be it educational, professional, political, or social.
- A chance to meet people from all over the world and enjoy numerous intercultural experiences.
- Undeniable linguistic progress.
- An invaluable addition to your CV. With more and more people choosing to go abroad, having international experience is becoming less of an asset and more of a necessity. The more international experience you have, the better your CV will appear to potential employers. Take advantage of uB's many options and choose to go abroad!
Advantages of exchange programmes
- Not a waste of time: provided that you obtain the required amount of ECTS credits at your partner university, uB will recognise your study period carried out abroad.
- No registration fees at partner universities: you pay only uB registration fees, and you are exempt from paying any academic, exam, laboratory, and library access fees at your partner university. However, some basic expenses (administrative, student organisations, health insurance, transport, etc.) may be necessary. Some agreements, such as those with the USA, may still require you to pay a percentage of the costs. Before applying, you can find out more precise details of each agreement by checking with the relevant exchange coordinator.
- If you are registered for a double or triple diploma study programme, you will study at several different universities but will only pay uB's registration fee. Upon finishing, you will receive a degree from each university at which you studied, making your degree even more valuable than a simple exchange programme.
- Many financial aid options are available to help cover the costs of your stay abroad.
Myths that might be holding you back
- Why should I even apply? It's only the highest-achieving students that get to go abroad!
This is a common misconception. uB's goal is for each student to go abroad at least once throughout their university experience, whether it's for an exchange or an internship. Many faculties allow all students who regularly validate their semester to go abroad. It's not only for the ''very best''.
- Oh, but I can't go; I'm not very good at languages.
If you know the basics of the language and can get by from day to day, go for it! You are not required to be bilingual to study abroad: one of the purposes of going abroad is to improve your language level. Be confident, apply, and your coordinator (the uB professor in charge of the agreement with your partner university) will determine, based on your language capabilities and your personal and professional plans, if you are ready for a period abroad. Don't forget that within a few weeks after arriving, your language level will improve quickly!
- I'd love to go to Korea, but I don't speak Korean.
It's not always necessary to speak the language of the country you'd like to go to, because at our partner universities, many courses are taught in English!
- I don't want to have to retake the year at uB after my exchange period.
As long as you pass all your courses at the partner university and obtain the sufficient amount of ECTS credits, studying abroad is not a waste of time – uB will recognise the credits from your exchange, and you will receive your uB diploma at the end of the academic year, provided that you pass your exams.
- But it's only language students who can go abroad.
Not true! uB has over 800 international agreements covering all disciplines. Every student at uB has a chance to go abroad, regardless of what they study. Even if you're unable to do an exchange because of the structure of your study programme at uB, you can still do an internship abroad!
- It's already hard to study in France – how on Earth am I going to study in a foreign language that's neither French nor English? I'm really worried that I won't pass my year abroad!
If you keep up with your coursework, participate in class, and make the necessary effort, you should have no problem passing the year. After a few weeks of adjusting, you will quickly get used to the new language. It's about finding the right balance between your studies and free time. If you really feel concerned that you might struggle to pass, talk to your coordinator at uB and at your host institution to find a solution before it's too late. Lastly, it's always possible to end your stay abroad and finish the semester in France without being penalised. To reassure you, it's worth noting that there are very few students who don't pass their year abroad. If you are struggling to pass in France, your exchange coordinator will knowingly advise against you going abroad to prevent you from facing such a situation. However, if you regularly pass your courses while in France, there's no reason you won't be eligible for international mobility – don't put up barriers for yourself! Apply, and your coordinator (or whoever is in charge of your study programme) will be the judge of your capability to study abroad!
Examples of former students that went abroad
- Robin, French. Went to South Korea on exchange, is still there and has become a model and TV star.
- Morgane, French. Went to the USA for a year during her Bachelor degree, then worked in international relations in a French university. Following this, she carried out another Erasmus+ exchange in Sweden within the second year of her Master's degree, then went to Canada with a work visa for a year and continued her international experience in Argentina.
- Claire, French. Went to Brussels through the Erasmus+ programme and then worked in international relations of a French university. Following this, she landed a job in Cambodia working for the Ministry where she was responsible for French-Cambodian double diplomas.
- Katarzyna, Polish. Erasmus in Norway during her Bachelor degree where she met her French partner then did a Master's degree in France. Currently, she is a civil servant for the French state.
- Clara, Spanish. Did an Erasmus exchange in France, a two year masters in France, became a French civil servant and now has 3 ''Erasmus+ babies''.
Student testimonies
To hear more about the experiences of those who have gone abroad, check out these examples:
- testimonies of students abroad with Erasmus on the European Commission website;
- accounts from international students at uB;
- interviews from uB students abroad, including Dylan's interview in English on his Cambridge internship experience;
- photos from uB students abroad;
- experiences by young people abroad on the regional mobility platform Agitateurs de Mobilité.
Co-funded by the European Union