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University of Rennes I

France 2021/2022 Freemovers

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Education

Field of study:
French language for commerce

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
French

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2022

Period of placement (from-to):
2022-01-17 - 2022-05-31

Number of months:
4.50

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
The websites of University Rennes 1 are organized quite well and sorted by faculties and institutes, or from the local coordinators.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
I was at institute called IPAG and I needed an acceptance letter, Learning agreement, motivation letter and my CV all in French.

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
Around a month, it was quite quick on the french side

Did you need a visa?:
no

Documents and materials needed for a visa:

Length of wait for visa:

Fee for the visa:

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Sort of, teachers at my home department (french language and literature) are very flexible and we discussed everything before my departure.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
yes

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
Course registration works differently as IPAG is a very small institute. Usually everyone has the same courses so no registration is needed, only for the non-obligatory subjects like PE or languages. Changes are possible to make.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, around 25 exams, since system at IPAG works a little different

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
yes

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Very similar methods, lectures were quite well designed, laptop was needed during the lectures, discussions, projets...

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
Quite similar, differences could be only seen on the level of individual professors

How did you receive study materials?:
Moodle system, on paper from teachers

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Definitely PE course Musculation, International organisations, CIREFE french courses

How well is the school library equipped?:
All necessary literature for the courses is there

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Internet at school is very good, computers in the main library, laptop is usually needed during classes, except for language classes

Options from printing and copying:
Plenty of options

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
no

If yes then what?:

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
3

or describe in your own words:
French people are very hard to approach especially by a foreigner who has an accent when speaking french, but after a while it was okay and we became friends.

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
In a Crous campus student dorm

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
250 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
Price only includes the room and energies, laundry costs around 30€ a month, cleaning around 10€

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Everything necessary, linens, pots, plates, cutlery, like on a regular student dorm

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
I would recommend at least 2 months but the school administration helped me find accommodation

What are the catering options?:
Yes, IPAG has its own cantine, the campus as well and all around the city are around 7 cantines

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Much more expensive around 300-350€ a month, meat, sweets, fruits are very expensive, vegetables, dairy is about the same

Transport to location of placement:
Was easy but long, train from Poprad to Prague, plane from Prague to Paris and a train from Paris to Rennes

Rough prices for transportation:
500€ for airplane/train tickets, then 30€ a month for public transport in Rennes

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
monthly ticket offered by STAR, and then BREIZHGO in Bretagne region offers 5€ tickets anywhere in the region every first saturday of month

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Metro, buses, bikes, bikeroutes, Rennes is also quite small so on foot is fine - ticket of 30€ a month

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
CROUS requires in general a lot of documents: RIB, insurance of household, caution, guaranties, applications.. takes about a month to get everything

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
Travel insurance and european insurance also works

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
Yes I had an angine for two weeks but Rennes 1 University has its own doctors for students without a fee

Did you work during your studies?:
Yes I had an internship (non-paid)

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
Very good if you speak french

Tips for free-time activities:
Parc du Thabor, Gayeulles, travel around to St. Malo, Nantes, Dinard, Dinan, Quimper, cycling ...

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
63000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
14000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4,5

Total number of months:
4,5

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
My own savings, parents helped me and a special grant from faculty of pedagogy

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
special grant from faculty of pedagogy, around 18000czk

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 EUR

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 EUR

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 EUR

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 EUR

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
800 EUR

a/ of which for accommodation:
250 EUR

b/ of which for catering:
300 EUR

c/ travel and recreation:
150 EUR

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:
I was trying to save money and still ended up spending a lot because France is very expensive.

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
31

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
31

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
none

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
2

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
1

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
no

What would you recommend to take with you:
french-czech (slovak) dictionary - for exams, medications that are not available in France easily

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
The approach of the administration personnel and the director of the school who helped me very much, the level of courses and the professionalism of most teachers

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Some teachers were not that professional, but that is probably very subjective, amount of exams and the system of grading

Further comments: