Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
STUDENT HOUSING
Unlike in many anglophone countries, French schools almost
never deal with housing directly, and nobody lives on campus.
The French often continue living with their parents during
their entire college career. Many i nd cheap housing together.
It will be your responsibility to i nd an apartment or a room
with a host family. Listings at the ofi ces of organisations
like C.R.O.U.S. or in magazines like FUSAC may be helpful.
Some private companies catering to foreigners will also link
students to host families for a fee.
If you are planning to enroll in a French school and do
an entire degree program, there are certain rites of passage.
Many schools offer year-long “pre university” courses. These
will introduce you to the peculiarities of the French classroom,
grading system, and university life. They are also useful
training courses in navigating the administrative red tape. If
you decide to enroll in a real university program, you will be
required to pass whatever French l uency test the particular
school requires (there are several tests, all with dozens of
practice topics designed to help you ace them) and show
that you have the necessary prerequisites. Be sure to double-
check these prerequisites with the administration to avoid
unpleasant surprises. An American high school diploma,
for example, is not considered equivalent to a French
Baccalauréat, and you may also need a year or two of college
credits (or Advanced Placement credits) under your belt.
FRENCH STUDENT PROTESTS
French students, especially in the public system, are very
concerned with keeping education affordable and egalitarian,
especially since 1968 reforms. The smallest governmental
affront to this mission will provoke both students and
professors to take to the streets in protest. Student unions
(“les syndicats”) are very active.
In 2006 massive protests arose in response to a newly
proposed piece of legislation. The proposal was of minor
consequence and perhaps even a good idea: French
businesses would be able to offer new college graduates
two-year work contracts during which it would be quite
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