Fun despite bureaucracy, profs friendly to foreigners Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

A large portion of courses available for exchange students are lectures- no discussions, no homework, just a professor talking for the length of the course. Students can find out if there's a textbook for the course by asking the professor, or from the course's bibliography. If you're having a lot of difficulty with a course, you can ask the professor if you can do a dossier- an essay on a subject related to the course- instead of the final exam. Students who want to take French language and culture courses can take them at Stendhal (Univ. Gren III). Courses did not seem to be any more difficult than those in the US, but keep in mind that you will be evaluated only with a final exam for most courses. However, history courses are much more difficult and rigorous. I was advised to take L1 (first year) courses only in history.

On-site administration of your program

Be wary of the fact that your coordinator might switch jobs while you are there! I almost never dealt with the ISEP host coordinator, but instead with someone who coordinated all of the exchange students at UPMF. Nicole, the coordinator as of the beginning of 2013, has been very helpful and is a native English speaker.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in a small room that included a bathroom/shower component and refrigerator. The kitchen was shared, which was sometimes a problem when other people using it wouldn't clean up after themselves. The secrétariat for my résidence didn't understand how the ISEP housing worked and insisted I pay a deposit- if this happens to you, do not pay it and instead give them contact information for your ISEP coordinator! A last note: heating is regulated in France. It turns on at a certain time in October and turns off around April.

While there was food available at the résidence restaurants, I wasn't very impressed by it or by the times they were open. However, it was a good amount of food for a low price- €3,10 for a main meal, plus two sides of your choice. If you don't like cooking and are fine with eating in a cafeteria setting then this would work for you.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The culture in Grenoble seemed much more open to foreigners than other cities that I've been to in France. Grenoble has a fairly large international population, and friendships with foreigners are welcomed by many of the people I've met. It's quite easy to integrate after making friends with a few of the locals.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The insurance costs just over €200. I had to buy it at the same time that I got my student card. I never received my carte vitale, and had a lot of difficulty with my agency (SMERRA). I was told in December, about 3 months after setting up my account, that I needed to have a apostille on my birth certificate before they could process my account. They then wanted my BC translated, despite information to the contrary on their website regarding translation requirements. I thankfully did not need to use my healthcare while I was in Grenoble. I did however need to get a prescription filled. The doctor I saw at the campus health center did not give me a French equivalent, which was therefore not covered for any sort of reimbursement in France. Normally this prescription is completely covered in the US. If you want to have a prescription that is reimbursable, be sure to mention this to the doctor you see (who may not speak any English). In terms of where to find things like ibuprofen, vitamins, contact lens solution, or even heating pads, you'll almost always need to go to a pharmacy. Grocery stores will not carry these things because of French law, though para-pharmacies might carry some things. Each pharmacy will carry different things and have differing prices.

Grenoble is pretty safe, though I have heard of muggings and knew someone whose car was broken into for the stereo. Students should take normal precautions and be aware of their surroundings. If you're not comfortable walking around at night, be aware of the closest tram and bus stops to where you will be as well as the latest times that they leave.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

My program gave me €500 every two months. If I spent about €60 every week on groceries or eating out as well as laundry, I would still have money left over at the end of the month to spend on miscellaneous stuff. It was manageable but seemed a bit ridiculous compared to how much I was paying for a "meal plan" at my private university.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• other students/international students
• professors friendly to international students

• Classes available to international students
• Help through the bureaucracy
• Housing