Studying abroad offers the chance to experience a new culture, grow personally and make international connections. Three Business School students — Abi, Lauren and Sarah — spent a year studying at different universities across France. Here, they reflect on their experiences of student life in Nice, Grenoble and Bordeaux, and share their advice for others thinking about a year abroad.
Abi, International Business Management student
Studied at EDHEC Business School in Nice in 2023–24
The university organised a day of integration activities where all the international students could meet. The social scene was great, mainly thanks to the city's Erasmus student network. We could meet up with other international students for fun events like jet ski beach parties and karaoke nights, or go on hikes and day trips to explore other towns and cities in the Riviera. I also went to some social events organised by the student union.
Coming out of the experience, I am proud to have made so many friends and valuable connections for the future. I learnt not only about French culture, but also about the cultures of many other nationalities.
The main skills that I developed were resilience and adaptability. This came from the process of applying for study abroad, obtaining a visa and figuring out life in another country. I also developed these skills through the challenging subjects taken. Another skill (maybe more of an attribute) that I developed was confidence, which helps personally, academically and professionally.
My advice? Don’t be afraid to try the unknown, whether it's the subject you choose to study or the activity you choose for a work placement. If it turns out to not be the thing for you, at least you have learnt from the experience, which will help you in the future. It's a great experience and a chance to experiment with future career ideas.
Lauren, Accounting and Finance student
Studied at Grenoble Ecole de Management in 2022–23
To begin with, my main concern was about how daunting it was to move to another country all by myself, knowing no one and not speaking the language. However, I was put at ease straightaway. Grenoble Ecole de Management is a huge international school, with students from all over the globe, and lots of exchange programmes. There was a scheduled induction day where you could get to know everyone before school started. Here, I met some of my closest friends – I still speak to them all the time!
I was worried about how little French I knew, but I made loads of French friends (who were happy to practice their English with me). As an exchange student, I took French classes as well. So by the end of my experience, I felt very comfortable communicating around the city, especially in all the bars, cafes and restaurants.
Grenoble is known as the Capital of the Alps. There are mountains at the end of every street –it’s a beautiful city to be in. Being so close to the alps means it’s great for hiking in the summer and amazing for skiing in the winter. Grenoble held the Winter Olympics in 1968, so it's really close to lots of ski resorts. There are also student rates on buses and ski passes which make skiing a really affordable option in places like Les Deux Alpes.
Grenoble has great transport links. Its large train and bus station means cheap access to other French cities and even other countries. During my time here, I’ve been to Milan, Lyon, Barcelona, Chamonix, Annecy, Geneva and of course all the ski resorts!
Overall, I loved my study abroad experience. I'm so glad I did it – I’d recommend it to anyone! As an Accounting and Finance student, I was worried that I would be at a disadvantage by studying abroad instead of doing the more usual work placement. However, I've actually found my experience to be a huge advantage – I was able to secure a place on a Finance Graduate Scheme by talking about my international experiences in my interviews!
Sarah, International Business Management student
Studied at Kedge Business School in Bordeaux in 2022–23
The summer before I moved over, the group chat for all the exchange students at my host university was made. All through the summer people were asking questions, getting in touch, and organising meetups for those who had already arrived.
My visa was taking longer than expected and I was worrying. I had not used the group chat before, but I stuck a message in and got two replies. And those two people were my very first friends! I stayed in touch, and as soon as I arrived in the city, we were organising meet ups.
I also joined the Erasmus Student Network group for the city, and some more general Facebook groups for students in the city.
Bordeaux is most famous for its wine industry, and there's no shortage of vineyards and wine museums and in and around the city to keep you occupied. But I realised that my interest in wine was limited to drinking it rather than the history and production.
However, there is a lot more to Bordeaux than just wine,. in the city there are a number of amazing galleries, parks and museums to explore. My favourite was the Bassin des Lumières. In 2020, it was brought to life in a new way, and is now the worlds largest digital art centre. The building itself is incredibly impressive, with huge basins of water inside – it was like nothing I'd ever seen before!
Across three very different cities, these stories show how study abroad can shape you personally and academically. From meeting new friends to adapting to a new culture, each student came away with skills and memories that will stay with them long after their degree.
Want to study abroad as part of your degree?
Interested in adding an international experience to your degree but unsure where to go? NUBS has several partners around the world, with teaching available in English in all destinations.
Here’s how to get started:
- Visit the Business School’s Placements and Study Abroad webpage
- Check out the University’s Global Experience webpage
- Contact the Business School’s Placement and Study Abroad Team at nubs.placementandstudyabroad@ncl.ac.uk