Universities, technical colleges and elite universities – from a German perspective, the French study system is quite complex and elitist. In order to pass the entrance exam at one of the renowned Grandes Écoles, French high school graduates complete a two to four year preparatory course - the so-called Classe Préparatoire. That doesn't sound like French laissez-faire.
How do French students live their studies and where do they see room for improvement? UNIGLOBALE surveyed students who have a personal connection to their neighboring German country through language skills, study visits or internships.
1. What are you studying and why did you choose this subject?
2. What differences do you observe compared to the German study system?
3. What is student life like in France?
4. How do you spend the semester break?
Clémence Rottée (20)
1. I am in my sixth semester studying European Studies at the University of Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle. Before that, I completed a degree in Applied Foreign Languages English/German. With my current studies I would like to supplement my language skills with knowledge of European politics, economics, history and law.
2. After discussions with German friends, I have the impression that the German study system offers more opportunities to orientate yourself or reorient yourself. In France it is difficult to reorient yourself. The French study system lacks flexibility. If you don't have a clearly defined goal in front of you, you'll quickly find yourself sidelined.
3. Student life is dominated by coffee breaks in the bistro and bar evenings. You relax and have fun while talking about politics. In Paris, cultural events play a special role.
4. During the holidays I study for university. Since my studies don't allow me to earn money on the side, it can also happen that I have a summer job or do an internship to gain professional experience.
Alexia Jingand (20)
1. I am enrolled in the third year of my bachelor's degree at the Sorbonne in German-French Studies. Before that, I completed a two-year preparatory course in German literature.
2. The German study system is much freer, the courses are more relaxed and the expectations of the students are lower because learning progress is not constantly checked. A lot of things are voluntary. In France, on the other hand, there is a lot of homework and tests. Unfortunately, the workload hardly leaves enough room for hobbies. Independent thinking and less work would allow students to gain in-depth knowledge and independence.
3. French student life fluctuates between financial difficulties and pressure to perform. It is usually difficult to find a balance between work and university. Nevertheless, studying is a special phase of life because you meet many different people and get to know new topics and research areas every semester.
4. I can't remember having a vacation without having to do college work. However, the amount varies greatly. I usually work full-time because that is usually not possible during the semester. Otherwise, I try to relax and read everything that I didn't have time to do during the lectures.
Sergio Camachetty (23)
1. I study European law at the Université de Lorraine in Nancy. Since I speak several foreign languages, I wanted to integrate my studies into a European context. What fascinates me about EU law is the complexity of the various institutions.
2. Of the many differences between the two countries, what amazed me most was that you can choose your courses in Germany and specialize in this way. In France the course of study is predetermined. There are also didactic and methodological differences when it comes to language teaching. I like the German teaching system better because it gives students more freedom and allows them to develop according to their interests. In France we are forced to choose, and this sometimes affects our motivation.
3. This depends heavily on the field of study. For all students, it is divided into study and evening activities. Even if I'm not a big fan of the French study system, this rhythm at least promotes the development of the students.
4. Some students work during the holidays to complete personal projects. Vacations are a luxury that few students can afford. I try to work for two months in the summer so I can spend the third with my friends.
Mauranne Collignon (20)
1. I am a first year student at NEOMA Business School (École Supérieure de Commerce) in Reims. In order to pass the entrance exam, I previously completed a preparatory course in economics. I chose this university because it is renowned and has contact with many companies. I can also specialize here to go into auditing.
2. The biggest difference is the tuition fees: I pay €10,000 a year at my university. This would probably not be the case in Germany. The French system is very schooled. In foreign language lessons, for example, the focus should be on speaking and contact with native speakers, for example via Skype.
3. At my university there are many opportunities to organize yourself into clubs; events and joint evenings also take place regularly. However, I can hardly take part in this because I work almost thirty hours a week to finance my studies and my life.
4. At my university we only have half of the regular semester break. I use this to visit my family and enjoy the beautiful Alsatian landscape that I love so much.
Valentine Eutrope (19)
1. I study economics and German at the University of Nanterre and am taking part in the German-French double degree program at the German-French University (DFH). I find the combination of German knowledge with business knowledge useful for my professional future.
2. I have the impression that students in Germany have to learn the material by heart in order to then repeat it in one-hour exams. In France, on the other hand, we are supposed to think and write coherent texts. The exams usually last three or four hours. There are several intermediate exams during the semester that are intended to encourage us to study regularly. In addition, the grades balance out, so you can pass the semester despite a very bad grade in the final exam. However, we are very stressed due to the demands of the teachers and the amount of homework.
3. The Nanterre campus is very beautiful, there are lots of open spaces, meadows and animals. However, living in Paris is quite expensive. There are also problems with public transport: sometimes it is difficult to go out to party due to poor connections or traffic times. In addition, the universities themselves contribute little to student life. The student dormitories are also not as great as in Germany.
4. I travel a lot and do internships. You don't necessarily have to work, as most universities hardly charge any tuition fees and many state scholarships are available.
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Universities, technical colleges and elite universities – from a German perspective, the French study system is quite complex and elitist. In order to pass the entrance exam at one of the renowned Grandes Écoles, French high school graduates complete a two to four year preparatory course - the so-called Classe Préparatoire. That doesn't sound like French laissez-faire. How do French students live their studies and where
