Laura McCullough - Kedge Business School, Bordeaux, France

Erasmus Study 2022/23

“I did not expect to love it this much.”

Kedge Business School campus and French education

With Ulster University having 27,000 students throughout all 4 campuses, there are 14,800 at Kedge Business School Bordeaux campus.

The campus has many facilities, private study and rooms available for group study.

They also have a large courtyard area where many students gather during their breaks and lunches, and where they have hosted fairs during association promotion weeks.

The schooling system in France brought me back to my high school days with a shock to the system. Some days would start at 8:30am and some could end at 7pm.

In my university in particular, classes would be smaller (around 30 people), which allowed for more intimate discussions and group work.

I enjoyed this as it meant you could get to know your class better, allowing you to make more friends and more French friends in my case so I could then improve on the language.

Memorable moments

As I am in France for the full year I hope to gain more amazing memories but from last semester, there was not one thing that stands out but I always just enjoyed spending time with friends and meeting new people and watching those friendships blossom.

I have loved travelling whilst I have been in France, seeing more of the country and truly immersing myself into the culture.

Challenges

The French bureaucracy system can sometimes be a challenge. Whether that is applying for CAF funding or the rigid processes within the university system.

However with patience and perseverance, it has always worked out.

Making friends

The orientation week which Kedge held was really helpful for integrating all the international students.

This is how I have met some of my close friends I have here today. Also by living in a shared house, I was fortunate enough to create good friendships with everyone I lived with.

My house was quite international with a German girl, Swedish girl, English girl and two French boys, we always hung out together at weekends and we already have plans to meet up again soon!

Experience outside the classroom

Whilst being here I want to travel to as many cities as I can as the transport here is very cheap compared to Northern Ireland.

I have also been to small beach towns near Bordeaux - Arcachon and Lacanau, as well as St Emilion, Biarritz, Paris and La Rochelle.

I have loved trying new foods, taking day trips to nearby towns, meeting new people from a familiar place as Ireland to literally anywhere else you can imagine.

I loved having my friends and family visit me here and being able to show them the city. I have loved seeing Bordeaux at Christmas, having wine and cheese soirées with friends and being here for the World Cup final.

Advice

I would really encourage anyone who is considering studying abroad for a semester or a year.

Although I was apprehensive, it has been one of the best experiences for me and has really opened my eyes to the way different cultures function by living here in France and by meeting so many people from around the world.