Croissants, a Flat near the Louvre and Studying the French Way: My Paris Exchange Story

Milana Ovsyankina, a second-year student in the Marketing and Market Analytics programme at HSE Graduate School of Business, shares her experience of an exchange at Paris-Est Créteil University and explains how to get a Schengen visa in four days, find a studio flat in central Paris at the last minute, and why studying the French way is nothing like studying at HSE.

Hi everyone!

My name is Milana, and I am a second-year student on the Marketing and Market Analytics programme. In this article, I would like to share my personal story — my impressions of the exchange programme at Université Paris-Est Créteil in Paris. I will tell the story in order: from applying for a visa to the moment my plane took off for Moscow. Let’s go!

Choosing a University and Preparing

When I learnt about the international exchange opportunities, I decided back in my first year that I would try to go abroad for the first semester of my second year. I’ll be honest: I made the final decision less than a month before the application deadline. And two weeks is very little time to choose a country, select a university and put together a strong set of documents.

For me, the choice of university and country was obvious: two years of studying French and a dream of living in Paris, even if only in a version slightly resembling the world of Emily in Paris.

I received the long-awaited acceptance letter from the international mobility office of the Paris university at the end of May, after sending a personal request; usually, students receive it by mid-June. After that, the real preparation began: the visa, packing and days spent waiting.

The visa process is a story of its own. I prepared all the documents entirely by myself in two and a half weeks — and this was during the exam period. On 30 June, I walked into the embassy, and by 4 July I was already holding my passport with a four-month Schengen visa inside.

A few tips on applying for a visa:

Read the embassy website carefully — everything is explained there in detail.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. The main thing is to reach out.

It is better to submit the documents yourself, without agencies. It is more than realistic and, in my experience, more reliable.

Do not forget the official French government website for students: you will need to submit an application and pay the fee there.

Find people who have already gone on exchange to France and ask them everything that worries you.

Most importantly, do not leave everything until the last minute.

Strangely enough, the most difficult stage began after I received the visa. The university does not provide student accommodation, so I also had to look for housing on my own. French landlords ask for documents that simply do not exist in Russia. Agencies, platforms, an unfamiliar payment system, an electronic contract with no chance to see the flat before moving in — more than once, I felt completely discouraged.

My advice is to allow at least two months for finding accommodation. It is a very stressful process. I started looking only a month in advance and then, by an incredibly lucky coincidence, found a wonderful studio in the 10th arrondissement a week before my flight. Just imagine: a 20-minute walk to the Louvre. This approach is not investment advice, but it worked for me.

On 31 August, late in the evening, I landed in Paris. Some acquaintances met me, helped me get to the flat, and from that moment on all the difficulties were behind me — apart from my lost luggage, but even that was found and returned. Four unforgettable and happy months began.

Adaptation and the City

Adapting to Paris was quick and easy for me. My first day in the city was sunny and warm. I went for a long walk, stopping only for coffee and incredible French pastries. At the time, it felt as if I had walked around half of Paris.

Getting around was not a problem: electronic navigation helps everywhere. On the metro, there is Navigo instead of Troika or a Moscow student card, and scooters have given way to bicycles. Paris is a city where every corner feels like a separate chapter in a history textbook.

I am hugely grateful to the university for its orientation meetings and adaptation materials. My strong advice to everyone is: do not skip the host university’s events. Thanks to them, I got a real feel for French culture, made peace with local bureaucracy — honestly, I can hardly confirm its terrifying reputation — and learnt about many student benefits. For example, entry to almost all museums in Paris is free for EU residents aged 18–25, and a long-stay visa gives you that status. But the most valuable thing was the people. The Paris university knows how to bring people together: different experiences, cultures and mindsets, yet complete mutual understanding. The university organised a cruise on the Seine, museum tours and trips to other French cities. I still keep in touch with people from the United States to Japan. That is the greatest gift of exchange.

Studies

Now for the most important part: studying. If your priority is professional skills and ready-made working models, Université Paris-Est Créteil may not feel entirely like “your” place. But my experience shows that what is valued here is freedom of thought, open dialogue with lecturers and the ability to give meaning to broader approaches.

The lecturers are always open, questions in class are encouraged, and difficult topics are explained individually.

One major contrast with the education system we are used to is the absence of lectures. The university is much smaller than HSE: there are fewer faculties and programmes, and one cohort consists of a single group of 30 people, at least in my faculty. Classes are held in these groups and are a mixture of seminars and lectures. One class lasts around four hours, usually with breaks of 15, 30 and 15 minutes, depending on the lecturer. Between the morning and afternoon classes, there is a long break of one and a half hours, which, in the best French tradition, is reserved for lunch. The final grade usually consists of a final group project and a written exam, which carry roughly equal weight.

At the same time, the approach to education is no less practice-oriented than at HSE.

My favourite subject was Principles of Finance, taught by a French lecturer. It was very challenging, but I never once regretted choosing to take it in France. The lecturer explained the material brilliantly and enriched the classes with jokes and examples from the French system.

Conclusion

Try it, travel, and come back with renewed energy.

This semester became a time of some of my brightest and warmest memories. I am immensely grateful to the Higher School of Business, Université Paris-Est Créteil and the international offices of both universities.

Looking back, I would advise everyone to take the opportunity to study in another culture. And remember: exchange is not only about studying. It is about new people and new places. Sometimes you can leave for a short trip on a Friday evening and be back in class on Monday morning. Give it a try. You can do it.