Contact
- International Office
Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. - Information sheet - University of Burgundy
- Erasmus+ charter for higher education
Exchange students
Do you want to spend a semester or a year at the University of Burgundy on an exchange programme? We have over 300 international partners all over the world!
Last update: August 30, 2024.
APPLICATIONS
Contact your home university in order to see if a bilateral agreement exists in your field and level of studies between the University of Burgundy and your home university.
Your home university will also inform you about the application procedure you need to follow for them to select you to study at the University of Burgundy as an exchange student.
If you have been selected to go on exchange by your home university, you must apply at the University of Burgundy as an exchange student.
STEP 1: fill out our online application form.
Application period:
- from mid-February to 15th May at the latest for first semester applicants;
- from mid-September to 15th November at the latest for second semester applicants.
STEP 2: after having sent your application via the online application form, you will receive an e-mail asking you to create your personal account. Once your personal account has been created, you will need to download all the requested documents directly:
- passport-size photo;
- identity document (passport or ID card);
- CV;
- cover letter;
- learning agreement signed by you and your home university. If your home institution does not provide you a learning agreement, please download and fill out the University of Burgundy's learning agreement with your desired courses listed.
- Learning agreement for Erasmus+ students.
- Learning agreement for other exchange students.
- To complete your learning agreement see our Courses section here below.
Your application must be complete :
- before 30th June if you are coming for the first semester ;
- before 30th November if you are coming for the second semester.
STEP 3: we will review your application and if accepted, you will receive an admission letter from the University of Burgundy.
No late applications will be accepted. All applications must be submitted online – we will not accept any file sent by e-mail or post.
COURSES
In order to complete your learning agreement you must pre-select the courses you would like to enrol in at the University of Burgundy.
All courses are open to exchange students, provided that you have the required language level, but be aware that at least 60% of the courses must be selected within your faculty, school or institute at the University of Burgundy.
All other courses can be taken in other faculties/schools/institutes or departments if the person responsible of the selected course agrees you enrol in their class.
Remember that your choice of courses must be validated by your uB coordinator and by your home university.
COURSES TAUGHT IN FRENCH
The majority of our courses are taught in French.
To find courses in your field and your level of study, consult all the courses offered at the University of Burgundy.
COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
We are developing courses in English in different areas.
To find out whether courses in English are offered in your discipline, write to the Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. who will put you in touch with your exchange coordinator at the University of Burgundy who will inform you on this topic.
Good to know: some institutes, schools and faculties have courses in English specially designed for exchange students:
In order to be able to come and study on exchange at the University of Burgundy you must have at least a B2 level in French and/or English, depending on the language of instruction of the pre-selected courses.
We do not require official diploma to prove your language level but if you have one, you can add it to your application file.
General structure of the academic year at the University of Burgundy:
- first semester: from September to December;
- first exam period: January;
- second semester: from January to June;
- second exam period: June.
Please note that this information is purely for informational purposes – each study programme operates according to their own schedule.
The academic calendar for each study programme is usually published in June or July for the following academic year.
- The academic calendar for 2024/2025 academic year is available here.
Good to know: if your courses start before your administrative enrolment, don't worry - you can (and should!) still go to class. The fact that you haven't yet been enrolled administratively does not prevent you from attending class.
20-point grading system
20 - Excellent
19 - Excellent
18 - Excellent
17 - Excellent
16 - Very good
15 - Very good
14 - Good
13 - Quite good
12 - Quite good
11 - Sufficient
10 - Sufficient
Less than 10 - Fail
Unlike many other countries, in France it is possible to pass your year even if you did not get a mark above 10 in all your subjects. This is possible thanks to the compensation system which allows you to 'make up' a bad mark in one subject or unit with a good mark in another. The "compensation" rules may differ from one university to another.
For more information on this topic, please contact your exchange coordinator at the University of Burgundy.
Courses at your faculty/school/institute
Your faculty, school or institute may offer courses in French as a foreign language. Write to the Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.who will put you in touch with your exchange coordinator at the University of Burgundy. Your coordinator will tell you if French as a foreign language courses exist for exchange students at your faculty/institute/school.
For example, the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy (UFR Lettres et philosophie) offers methodological preparatory writing lessons in humanities, literature, and social sciences for exchange students.
Transversal course unit Interculturalité
This unité d'enseignement transversale (UE), or transversal course unit, is a one-semester course that makes it possible to learn or perfect your skills in a foreign language (French for example) and to gain professional experience while working as a tutor (depending on your availability) at the University's Language Centre.
Additionally, it's a great opportunity to meet other students, both French and international.
This course unit is worth 5 additional ECTS credits, and can be added on to your curriculum in the majority of cases. You can visit the Language Centre's website to learn more.
Other tips for improving your French
- Register for French lessons at the Language Centre. If you are unable to take Interculturalité transversal course unit which gives you access to the free courses, you can choose to take paying French lessons with reduced prices for uB's students. The Centre often offers evening classes of about 2 hours per week.
- Remember that there are free online resources that can help you practice outside of a course! For example, on the France Éducation International website under the Services – Diplômes et tests de langues – DELF, DALF, TCF tabs, you will find examples of French tests.
- Participate in conversation groups organised by different associations. Practice French over drinks in a Dijon bar. Some examples of associations:
- ESN InsiDijon Café des langue;
- Café Polyglotte Dijon.
- Before arriving in France, you should also find out if similar conversation groups exist in your home town.
- There are a number of websites which offer language tandems: someone who can help you to learn or improve a foreign language in exchange for you helping them to learn your own native language. These conversations can take place online or face to face. Examples of tandem language websites: My language exchange, The Mixxer, Polyglot club, PenPal World, Inter Pals, Tandem linguistique.
- Think about reading in French, even if you don't understand everything. The aim is to successfully understand the text as a whole and to improve little by little. There are many editors who publish simplified works with simple phrases and a more limited vocabulary so that you can start. Download radio applications on your phone and listen to programmes and songs on French radio channels. When you watch TV and online content, try doing so in French.
- Before coming on exchange to the uB, you can improve your level of French in a language school. If you want to do it in Dijon, you can register at the International Centre for French Studies (CIEF) which offers intensive French courses all year long. You can choose which arrangement best fits your needs: the Centre offers year-long, semester-long, and month-long courses, as well as a summer course.
ENROLMENT
The exact list of documents needed to complete your registration is published here:
- in July for registrations taking place in September,
- in December for registrations taking place in January.
The list of documents required for registration in the 1st semester of the academic year 2024/2025.
- this enrolment file, filled and signed;
- one passport-size photo;
- one copy of your identity document (ID card or passport);
- one copy of your 2024-2025 admission letter for an exchange programme at the University of Burgundy;
- one copy of your student card or of your certificate of enrolment at your home university for 2024-2025 academic year;
- one copy of a French civil liability insurance certificate (to be taken at a French bank or a French insurance operator before the enrolment session). Price: around 20 euros. If your European university provides you with a civil liability insurance, please present an insurance certificate or a detailed receipt of your registration fees including the reference to "liability insurance". If your US university covers such liability insurance costs, please provide a proof. If you have any doubts about this, please ask the international relations office of your home university for information before registration at the University of Burgundy;
- if you have already been enrolled at a French higher education institution in the past: please attach a copy of a former student card or certificate of registration;
- ONLY students who DO NOT HAVE citizenship of a country within the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation: one copy of your passport with D-visa or long stay visa with the ''Etudiant'' (student) mention;
- only students who live in one of the countries on THIS list :
- vaccination record (vaccination recommendations);
- a lung X-ray exam (translated in French if possible) less than 3 months old. You must undergo this exam before your arrival in France. This request is part of tuberculosis screening.
Once you arrive at the University of Burgundy, we will guide you to the University Health Centre where you will get a certificate for an appointment for a free medical consultation.
Students coming on exchange under the Erasmus+ programme do not pay tuition fees.
The majority of exchange students coming under a cooperation agreement outside the Erasmus+ programme do not pay tuition fees either. To find out if you have to pay registration fees at the University of Burgundy, contact your home university.
Administrative enrolment usually takes place:
- at the beginning of September for first semester and whole year students;
- mid-January for second semester students.
Enrolling is a mandatory procedure that confirms your status as a student at the University and allows you to obtain your student card, access university resources, take courses, and pass exams.
Usually, detailed information and procedure for administrative enrolment are published here:
- in July for enrolment period in September;
- in December for enrolment period in January.
Administrative enrolment for 1st semester – year 2024/2025
Administrative registrations will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in room R03 of the Pôle AAFE building (point 20 on the Dijon campus map) on:
- Thursday August 29, 2024 and
- Mondays September 2 and 9, 2024.
Procedure
- Come with all the necessary documents.
- The International office verifies your documents and carries out your registration if your file is complete. If the agreement between your institution and the University of Burgundy implies the payment of the registration fees you can pay by credit card or French bank check.
- You receive your student card and a welcome pack offered by the International office and the European Union's Erasmus+ programme.
- Students WITHOUT health insurance from one of the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland must apply for French social security (more information here below in Social security – Health paragraph).
If your study programme is not on the Dijon Campus but in Nevers, Auxerre, Chalon-sur-Saône or Le Creusot please contact the administrative office of your study programme and your exchange coordinator to find about the administrative and pedagogical registration there.
Once you have enrolled within the International office, you must contact the scolarité (administrative office for your study programme) in order to find out about your pedagogical enrolment (for example, to choose subjects, etc.) if necessary.
If your courses start before your administrative enrolment, don't worry: you can (and should!) still go to class. The fact that you haven't yet been enrolled administratively does not prevent you from attending class.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Students with citizenship of a country within the European Union, European Economic Area, or Swiss Confederation
- You do not have to have a student visa or residence permit to study or live in France.
Make sure you have valid ID card or a valid passport.
Students from countries with a Campus France - Studying in France procedure
If you DO NOT have citizenship of a country within the European Union, European Economic Area, or Swiss Confederation and you live in one of the countries from THIS list: in addition to the admission process above, you must contact Campus France in your country of residence in order to indicate that you will be coming to the University of Burgundy under an exchange cooperation agreement, and then follow the instructions that they give you to obtain your student visa.
All other students
- Contact Cultural Services of the French Embassy in your country of residence in order to find out the procedure for obtaining a student visa.
- If you live in a different country than that of your nationality, we advise you to contact the French embassy in your home country as well.
The official website for French visas as well as Campus France website contain helpful details about validating and renewing your visa/residence permit. Also take a look at this Campus France tutorial video.
Crous student residences on campus
As an exchange student you can apply for a room on campus at the student residences managed by the CROUS student centre. To do that, be sure to indicate your choice in the correct section inside the International Office application form. Please also specify your planned dates of arrival and departure. Our International Office will inform you if your request for Crous room has been taken into account.
Studapart platform
You have not obtained a room in student residences on campus and/or you are looking for another reliable housing solution? You can use the Studapart platform with which the University of Burgundy has a partnership.
- Special offers for University of Burgundy students, accommodation offers are verified and payment is secure.
- Rentals from 1 to 24 months in studios apartments, shared accommodation, private rooms, etc.
- If you do not have a guarantor living in France, Studapart can offer you the guarantee contract.
- For any questions, write to Studapart multilingual team at Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. or Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser..
- See Studapart's flyer and Housing Guide.
Other housing possibilities:
- list of accommodation listed by Campus France;
- flats to rent: Leboncoin, Pap, Fnaim, Se loger, Top annonces, Paru Vendu;
- flat sharing: La carte des colocs, Appartager;
- furnished rooms in someone's home: Roomlala, Airbnb shared rentals, Cohébergement;
- furnished student residences: International Students Residence, Nexity studéa, Immo jeune, Résidence étudiante, Fac Habitat, Les Estudines, Lokaviz;
- International House: a residential hotel on the Dijon campus;
- the practical housing guide for accommodation in Burgundy (in French only) also contains resources for finding housing options as well as useful advice.
Good to know
- Do you need a garant (guarantor) in order to obtain housing? On the Visale website, find out how you can obtain a guarantor at no cost to make it easier for you to access student housing. See also this explanatory video from Campus France.
- Did you know that you are potentially eligible for financial aid from the French state to help finance part of your housing costs? Once you have settled in your home in France, check the Caisse d'allocation familiales (Family allowance fund) website for more information.
Student card
Once you enrol, you will receive your student card which you can use to eat at the student restaurants, borrow books at the University's libraries, and get discounts at the cinema as well as other cultural institutions or events (theatre, museums, athletic events, etc.).
You can also load your card with money so that you can use it to pay at university restaurants.
In order to use this feature you must activate your card.
Electronic student account and digital services
48 hours after your administrative enrolment, you must activate your University of Burgundy student account, which will enable you to access several features, such as:
- uB student webmail, secured sharing of large files, event planning software...;
- administrative services, such as exam calendar, transcripts and grades, course enrolment, downloading your certificate of enrolment;
- online courses;
- informational resources;
- obtaining for free Microsoft Office which will also allow you to use TEAMS platform from which you may take some online courses. On TEAMS you can also join the conversation group of international students and easily be in touch with International office;
- and more.
You can activate your account on the University's website under the Espace numérique de travail (ENT) tab - Mon compte – Étudiant – Activer mon compte.
Your account will also grant you access to the many Wi-Fi hotspots around campus, as well as to computers in the self-service labs.
To learn more, take a look at the pages Mes services numériques.
To get a rough idea about life expenses in France you can check the Campus France website, Preparing your budget rubric.
To find out the difference between the cost of living in your country of origin and in France, you can consult the following comparison sites: Numbeo or Expatistan.
Students who are required to obtain a visa for their stay in France must provide to the French authority delivering visas a proof of their financial resources.
There is no specific financial aids you could apply for once you arrived in France so be aware you must have a reliable solution of financing your studies in France.
Good to know: in the Student life paragraph here below you can find useful information on different types of help for students with social difficulties (food donation associations, state financial assistance for housing, etc.).
You can find plenty of useful information about student life on the uB-link student portal.
In particular, you will find information on:
- free access to the university medical centre, where you can consult a general practitioner, a psychiatrist, a gynaecologist, nurses, a psychologist, a marriage counsellor, and staff from the Diagnosis and Testing Centre for sexually transmitted infections (Centre Gratuit d'Information de Diagnostic et de Dépistage des infections sexuellement transmissibles);
- free access to sporting activities;
- disability services;
- day-care for students with children;
- student restaurants operated by the CROUS student centre.
To succeed in your studies and your professional insertion, you can access:
- libraries;
- Language Centre;
- career counselling (job and internship search, free CV and cover letter writing workshops, etc.) and entrepreneurship counselling.
If you encounter social difficulties, you can benefit from food aid for students in need: Epicerie solidaire, Febia and Campus comestible (community groceries) and consult a social worker, among several CROUS Social Services. Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. of the University of Burgundy also can help you with the issues related to housing, free food, administrative steps, loan of computers, finding student job… You may be eligible to receive financial aid from the French government through the CAF (Family Allowance Fund) to finance a portion of your rent or housing fees.
Dijon's cultural life is rich. The campus even has its own cultural centre Atheneum and its radio station Radio Dijon Campus in which you can participate. Also take a look at the Mansart theatre's programme, managed by CROUS. You can also get the city of Dijon's Carte culture (Culture Card) which offers discounts on numerous cultural events happening in the greater Dijon area.
Divia, the public transport service in Dijon, offers a variety of subscription passes and means of transport. Companies for traveling around Burgundy, France, and internationally: Mobigo, FlixBus, BlablaBus, SNCF discount rail cards.
Also take a look at the:
- City of Dijon information sheet;
- Campus France website where you will find numerous information useful to your stay in France.
General contacts at uB
- Student Mobility Unit at the International Office: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.. Our staff is multilingual – we can converse with you in French and English, and potentially in other languages (German, Spanish, Romanian, Croatian...).
- Office of Student Life (Pôle formation et vie universitaire): guidance, career advising, workshops on searching for jobs and internships, assistance for those with disabilities, and more: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser..
Contacts within your faculty, school or institute
- Your exchange coordinator. Their name and contact are indicated in your admission letter that you have received from our International office before your arrival at uB. If you don't know who your coordinator is, contact the Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. or the person in charge of international relations within your faculty, school or institute.
- Your professors.
- Your faculty, school or institute's administrative office. Some departments have a specific office dedicated to exchange students. To find out who to contact, check your faculty, school or institute's website.
The Contact page, as well as the ENT directory, contains the contact information of anyone at uB whom you wish to contact. All agents of the University of Burgundy are also present on the TEAMS platform.
In case of emergency, you must contact national services outside the University by dialling the following numbers according to your situation:
- 15: emergency medical services (SAMU);
- 17: emergency police number in cases of violence, theft, or burglary;
- 18: Fire department in cases of fire, gas leaks, water damage, natural disasters, or traffic accidents;
- 112: European emergency number, free and accessible anywhere throughout the European Union, in addition to national emergency numbers;
- 114: General emergency number centralising text and fax emergency messages for all situation types (police, fire department, and paramedics). It is particularly suited to those who have difficulty hearing or speaking, as well as to those in situations where it's impossible to speak (for example, during a terrorist attack where you must stay hidden and silent).
Social security - Health
You must come in France with your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) valid throughout your stay abroad. This is a free card issued by your health insurance organization which allows you to benefit from the French public health care that you would need during a temporary stay abroad under the same conditions and at the same price as people insured in France. Find more information on the EHIC on the European Commission website.
When you receive health care in France, you must present your European Health Insurance Card (or provisional certificate).
If you are obliged to pay in advance for health care that is usually free of charge in France, you have two options for reimbursement:
- make a reimbursement request to your health insurance organization in your country over presentation of the documents obtained in France (normally you will not need to have these documents translated into the language of your country as the European health systems are linked and reimburse without difficulty) OR
- contact the French health insurance system (Caisse primaire d'assurance maladie - CPAM)
If you wish to be reimbursed in France you must present the following documents to the CPAM:
- documents proving health care you received,
- a photocopy of your European Health Insurance Card (or photocopy of provisional certificate),
- your uB enrolment certificate (to be downloaded from your student digital account - ENT),
- your RIB (bank account details - the account can be in a foreign bank but it must be in your name),
- a written declaration on honour stating that you remain financially dependent on your parents.
Are you officially financially independent from your parents or are you working in France or working online from France for a company abroad? In this case you must register with the French social security system in order to benefit from French health insurance. How do you register? Once your administrative registration at the University of Burgundy is complete, follow the necessary steps by registering on the Etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr website. We also recommend that you take out additional health insurance, called "mutuelle", which can cover the part of the cost of care that is not covered by basic health insurance. Do you have a modest income and cannot afford to subscribe to a "mutuelle" ? Check if you are eligible for the state complementary health insurance (complémentaire santé solidaire) which will cost you nothing or less than 1 euro/day.
Good to know: in the case of hospitalisation, in general you will not be obliged to advance the costs because your European Health Insurance Card is sufficient (except in specific establishments not covered by the French health insurance system in cities like Paris).
French social security (Health Insurance)
Once your administrative enrolment has taken place, you must apply for social security online through the etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr website in order to be covered in case of health problems (illness, hospitalization, etc.).
- Read these instructions carefully on how to enrol for social security.
- Take a look at Campus France videos:
- Find more information about French social security system on their website.
Complementary health insurance (mutuelle)
Social security allows you to receive care in case of health problems and covers the majority of the cost (up to 70% on average), after which you must pay the remaining cost. To cover the expenses not covered by social security, we strongly advise you to obtain a complementary health insurance plan, called a mutuelle. This insurance is not mandatory, but can be very useful because it can cover one part or all (depending on the option you have chosen) of the costs that are not covered by social security. If you wish to enrol in a complementary health insurance plan, you can contact one of many organisations to find the offer that suits you best:
- student agencies: SMERRA or LMDE;
- general agencies: MGEN, AÉSIO, MAAF, AG2R, MAIF, MATMUT, MACIF, ...
Do you have a modest income and cannot afford to subscribe to a "mutuelle" ? Check if you are eligible for the state complementary health insurance (complémentaire santé solidaire) which will cost you nothing or less than 1 euro/day.
As a student at the University of Burgundy, you have free access to the University Health Centre, where you can consult a general practitioner, a psychiatrist, a gynaecologist, nurses, a psychologist, a marriage counsellor, and staff from the Diagnosis and Testing Centre for sexually transmitted infections.
SETTLING IN
There are more than 140 student organisations at the University of Burgundy, across all campuses. They are great opportunities for meeting people and making friends, and many of them were created specifically for students of different origins to help you get settled into university life.
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) InsiDijon
- The international students' association, ESN InsiDijon, offers to pair international students with a "buddy". This means that you will be paired with a University of Burgundy student who will be able to help you discover French culture and life in Burgundy. They will offer you support when you need it, and will be there for you as a helpful guide during your stay in Dijon.
- Sign up here to get in contact with your buddy!
- Once you arrive in Dijon, you can also become a member of the association and participate in different activities by:
- being actively involved in the association: organising events for students, administration, creating and managing local, regional, and international partnerships OR
- simply participating in the association's events and projects aimed at both French and international students, such as language cafés, excursions, cultural outings, international parties, aperitifs, and more!
- You can also join the WhatsApp group of international students who will be at our university in 2024/2025 academic year.
Other student organisations
- Amicale des scolaires et universitaires des Burkinabés en Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (Association of Burkinabés school and university students and stuff in Burgundy-Franche-Comté region)
- ARAM (refugee students association)
- Association Bourgogne Brésil (Burgundy-Brazil association)
- Association Étudiants et amis du Congo (association Students and friends of the Congo)
- Association des jeunes et étudiants guinéens de Dijon (Association of students and young Guineans of Dijon)
- Association des étudiants et stagiaires sénégalais de Dijon (Association of Senegalese students and interns in Dijon)
- Association du Cursus Dijon Mayence (Association of Cursus intégrés Dijon-Mainz programme)
- Fédération des étudiants africains de Bourgogne (Federation of African students of Burgundy)
- InterCultural Association
- La Luna del Oriente (dance organisation)
All year long, there are a wide variety of events happening at the University, in Dijon, and around the Burgundy region: cultural, sporting events, scientific events, etc. Many events, especially those at the University, are free and open to all. It's a great way to meet other people and learn more about the environment around you.
To find out what's coming up, take a look at the various event calendars:
- University of Burgundy events’ calendar;
- City of Dijon events’ calendar;
- Côte-d'Or department events’ calendar;
- Burgundy region events’ calendar.
Events of particular interest to international students
International Student Welcome Days are hosted by the International Office, City of Dijon and the ESN InsiDijon student association at the beginning of every semester. This event is a great opportunity to get acquainted with both the campus environment and the city of Dijon, and to meet other students, both French and international.
- See the detailed programme for the next Welcome Days event taking place in September and October 2024.
Erasmus Days take place in October.
CROUS events Invitez le monde à votre table (Invite the World to Your Table).
Campus Days: all uB students are invited to join in various fun activities at the beginning of each academic year in September.
- Your faculty, school or institute may also host events for its students, sometimes specifically for international students.
- The International Office organises and provides information about different international events on uB's campus, in Burgundy, in France, and abroad. Feel free to like the International Office's Facebook page and join the conversation group of international students on TEAMS to stay up to date with all our upcoming events!
Keeping up with what uB alumni are doing can be very useful.
- University of Burgundy Linkedin page.
- France Alumni: network of international students in France.
- Your faculty, school or institute may also have an association of alumni of your study programme, which could be of use to you (career advice, events, mentoring, etc.) Here are some examples of such alumni networks: Master ICM; IAE Dijon; Alumni d'ISAT. You can check your faculty's website to find out if there is an alumni network for your study programme.
Since you will be spending several months in France, there are many resources available to you that can help speed up the adaptation period and avoid culture shock.
Culture shock and student mobility workshops
These workshops, conducted mainly in English by students in the Intercultural Management programme, allow uB students to learn more about different cultures and meet new people.
Discussion topics include: sensitivity to cultural differences; cultural differences in the working world; how to overcome culture shock while abroad; different concepts in other cultures: values, humour, stereotypes, table etiquette, food, etc.; group discussions about cultural experiences and more.
Workshop structure:
- option of participating in workshops the first or second semester of the academic year;
- weekly hour-long meetings generally occurring during the midday break on the Dijon campus or online via Teams or Zoom;
- free and open to all uB students;
- registration via an online form sent by e-mail to your etu.u-bourgogne.fr inbox;
- students registered for the workshops will receive a statement from the Faculty of Languages and Communication (UFR Langues et communication) confirming their participation.
More information:
- Contact: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser..
- Watch the Culture Shock Workshops video directed by uB students
Learning about French culture
Ensemble en France (Together in France) is an online platform with interactive tools to help those who have recently settled in France better understand its customs, habits, and traditions.
Before and during your time at the University of Burgundy, there are several options available to you for learning or improving your French level. Use the examples given in the French languages courses section here above.
French and international student testimonies
Reading other international students' experiences and reactions, as well as those written by French students who went abroad, can help you better understand cultural differences and familiarise yourself with the country in which you will be studying.
Take a look at the many pages online featuring student testimonies:
- Blogs E-ambassadeurs (E-Ambassador Blogs) written by international students in France who share their experiences and touch on multiple topics as told from their own perspective: studying, housing, the French language, traveling, entertainment, finances;
- testimonies of international students who came to study or intern at the University of Burgundy;
- uB student testimonies (French and international) who went abroad on an exchange programme or as an intern: interviews and photo slideshows with comments;
- Agitateurs de mobilité: experiences of young people who went abroad outside of France, as well as those who came to Burgundy via the regional international mobility programme.
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